This thread is closed

Anyone STILL not heard from Imperial?

Ammonia

I don't see how I could possibly be branded a "racist" because I've never actually expressed any racist attitude in my posts. Anyway I'm Chinese myself, so I don't see how I can be racist towards people of my own race? :confused:

I'm not saying you are, but its easy to be racist against your own race if you dislike them and generalise in some way.

Reply 361

username156679

OP

wais

I'm not saying you are, but its easy to be racist against your own race if you dislike them and generalise in some way.

Sorry wais, that was directed at Master Polhem. :smile:

and I don't think I've ever actually expressed my dislike for Chinese people.

Reply 362

Gimperial

11

Ammonia

erm I did read the thread.... But it'd help if your sentences are slightly more grammatically accurate.

I don't see how I could possibly be branded a "racist" because I've never actually expressed any racist attitude in my posts. Anyway I'm Chinese myself, so I don't see how I can be racist towards people of my own race? :confused:

Yep this competitiveness is encouraged from a very young age. I went to a primary school in China for three years and bloody hell, the classes (Maths especially)were so unbelievably intense. The teachers regularly made fun of students with low test scores, while the ones with top scores were constantly being praised which made a pretty intense divide in the class. Everybody wanted to get good exam results so we all hid our notes (oh cringe! :redface:

) from each other. If you were ill and couldn't go to school, forget copying the notes you've missed because nobody's going to let you borrow their notes. The teachers were really cruel, I remember once this guy got the crappest score in the class, and the teacher tore up his test paper in front of the whole class and ranted on for half an hour about how he'll never do well in life and probably end up in prison (?!!?!?). I was so glad when I left.

Oh yeah, I forgot to add we were all around 8 or 9 back then.

Competition like that is really unhealthy.

Reply 363

Master Polhem

15

spencer smith

1. Singapore is small country with a population smaller than that of London. The people are highly competitive but they won't be winning a Nobel Prize soon because there's just so few of them.

2. Who is/are the "you"?

1. You just glorified Singaporians, while they might be wonderful, that is just stupid.

2. "You" is a general note to all non-social students.

Reply 364

Master Polhem

15

Ammonia

erm I did read the thread.... But it'd help if your sentences are slightly more grammatically accurate.

I don't see how I could possibly be branded a "racist" because I've never actually expressed any racist attitude in my posts. Anyway I'm Chinese myself, so I don't see how I can be racist towards people of my own race? :confused:

You certainly aren't the sharpest tool in toolbox. I was talking of myself being called a racist.

Reply 365

Master Polhem

15

Ammonia

Sorry wais, that was directed at Master Polhem. :smile:

and I don't think I've ever actually expressed my dislike for Chinese people.

No one this thread has ever expressed their dislike for Chinese people, I have pointed out how they don't contribute to a more relaxed student environment at Imperial by keeping to their own kind and not socialising. I have furthermore stated three times that I was in not in any way expressing 'dislike' for them as a people.

Here is a shout-out; just because someone (i.e. myself) identifies a flaw in a persons/peoples character does not mean that he or she is a racist. Though that might be the easier road to go down for simplicity of creating an argument which people can identify with.
I certainly am no über-mench, as you so pointed out I am a bit of 'Raj', yet I don't call you a racist. Nor do I or British people in general have the moral values of Jesus Christ if you should so choose to believe in him.

Reply 366

xaxa

1

Master Polhem

Here is a shout-out; just because someone (i.e. myself) identifies a flaw in a persons/peoples character does not mean that he or she is a racist.

"According to the Oxford English Dictionary, racism is a belief or ideology that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race, especially to distinguish it as being either superior or inferior to another race or races." (nicked from Wikipedia)

By that definition, the claim that there is a flaw in Chinese peoples' character is racist.

Reply 367

xinolisss

10

God can this thread be a bit more off topic... maybe sometime we'll end up arguing whether werewolves exist or not... :biggrin:

but still a very interesting read jeje

Reply 368

Master Polhem

15

xaxa

"According to the Oxford English Dictionary, racism is a belief or ideology that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race, especially to distinguish it as being either superior or inferior to another race or races." (nicked from Wikipedia)

By that definition, the claim that there is a flaw in Chinese peoples' character is racist.

So Chinese people at Imperial are thus social?

That definition goes by the criteria that we are all equal. That is not true biologically or mentally. But I am not going to take this thread there. As I said before if you want to convince yourself that the world is an ideal place and that we are all equal you are more than happy to do so, but you have not convinced me that by saying that 'the majority of Chinese people at Imperial are non interactive with the rest of the student population' is racist.

Reply 369

xinolisss

10

Master Polhem

So Chinese people at Imperial are thus social?

We would have to look up the word social in the dictionary... and when you do... you'll probably find out the answer is no... :wink:

with a few exceptions of course.

Reply 370

Peel

10

I don't mean to barge in on the arguement. But from what I gather the arguement that Chinese people are unsociable is based around the fact that are 'non interactive with the rest of the student population'. If this is the arguement there is an obvious flaw by virtue of the fact we have already coneeded the Chinese population are sociable - just within certain limits.

Taking the definition of sociable to be 'Living together in communities' doesn't change the above idea.

I don't really see much point in arguing about it though, much less get worked up over what appears to be quite a trivial issue. Having said that, I do think its easier for international students to socialise amongst themselves because they can relate to one another more easily. I also imagine it's quite difficult communicating when you have a strong accent at times.

Reply 371

Sophiaih

OK...changing the topic. Imperial sent me a letter saying "At this time I am unable to confirm an offer of a place. Your application has been placed on a small reserve stack untill such time that the number of suitable applicants is clear." Has anyone else had this? I applied for Aero.

Ah finally :wink:

I dont understand what the great deal is about people thinking racist thoughts.

EVERYONE does it, I dont care how PC you get. Its one of our biologically hardcoded survival tactics, to be wary of people outside your "tribe" (obviously referring to races here). Its absolutely normal to be afraid / threatened by people who are 'different', and unfortunately, this does include race.

I'd say the only difference between a racist and everyone else, is that a racist will not change his mind even if he finds an individual who goes against the stereotype of his race, incites some kind of violence or hatred against other races, or really discriminates them in things like work.

Reply 374

Master Polhem

15

wais

I dont understand what the great deal is about people thinking racist thoughts.

EVERYONE does it, I dont care how PC you get. Its one of our biologically hardcoded survival tactics, to be wary of people outside your "tribe" (obviously reffering to races here). Its absolutely normal to be afraid / threatened by people who are 'different', and unfortunately, this does include race.

I'd say the only difference between a racist and everyone else, is that a racist will not change his mind even if he finds an individual who goes against the stereotype of his race, incites some kind of violence or hatred against other races, or really discriminates them in things like work.