I have a mediation date set this week and have been advised to ham it up for the mediator when I give my side of the story. I should not just say ‘I’m sorry. Let’s just settle this now.’ I should say I’m so very sorry for the pain and suffering I have caused you. The guilt has kept me up at nights 
. Please, Please, PLEASE take my generous offer of 6,000 NT. It’s all I make in a month. Life has been so hard on me these past few months. Please don’t ask for more. PLEASE 
The problem with this is that I don’t have the ability to cry on cue just like that. But I am told I may meet with more forgiveness, if I take some acting lessons.
Do the Taiwanese really do things this way in their legal system? I have a feeling the other side may be a bunch of drama queens in how much I hurt them.
The only question you should asking is “How do I come out of this situation the best I can?”
I know. The problem is I have to use drama in order to do that.
So let me get this straight: you rode drunk and got into an accident. Now, you have an arbitration hearing to settle and the Taiwanese are “a bunch of drama queens?” You got yourself into this situation through your own actions. Take responsibility for what you’ve done and stop placing blame on others for what you’re going through. (And thank your higher power this didn’t happen in your home country where far worse things than having to “ham it up” for mercy would have happened)
I know. The problem is I have to use drama in order to do that.[/quote]
So?
Normal, standard, typical Taiwan culture at every level.
Look at the advantages. Shed a few tears, offer some small monetary gift, move on.
I am not saying that I am not responsible for this. However, I am entitled to a fair hearing and trial, even if I have done wrong. What I am saying is that I may have to roll out the tears in order to defend myself here and that the plaintiff may over play how much her injury hurt her.
And how am I trying to place blame on others here?
No need. Just watch the evening news on any given night and you’ll get plenty of examples. Anywhere from begging for forgiveness for cheating on uni exams to murder.
I am not saying that I am not responsible for this. However, I am entitled to a fair hearing and trial, even if I have done wrong. What I am saying is that I may have to roll out the tears in order to defend myself here and that the plaintiff may over play how much her injury hurt her.
And how am I trying to place blame on others here?[/quote]
Lotta, follow the suggestions for the local culture, get it over with, move on and get on with your life. Mediation is an accepted step in the process in Taiwan and many places in Asia.
Don’t try to follow any of your own thoughts about rules back home, and don’t try to change the culture here.
After it’s all over, then try to understand the culture if you feel you must for closure. But otherwise, just move on with your life, don’t feel guilty or cheated.
I am not saying that I am not responsible for this. However, I am entitled to a fair hearing and trial, even if I have done wrong. What I am saying is that I may have to roll out the tears in order to defend myself here and that the plaintiff may over play how much her injury hurt her.
And how am I trying to place blame on others here?[/quote]
Lotta, follow the suggestions for the local culture, get it over with, move on and get on with your life. Mediation is an accepted step in the process in Taiwan and many places in Asia.
Don’t try to follow any of your own thoughts about rules back home, and don’t try to change the culture here.
After it’s all over, then try to understand the culture if you feel you must for closure. But otherwise, just move on with your life, don’t feel guilty or cheated.[/quote]
Being in Rome…
Few years ago, a Taiwanese engineer in the Bay area had a fight with his Taiwanese wife. Wife called 911. Cops showed up with guns drawn. This young man probably still thought he was back home dealing with Taiwan cops, started to wave a broom. Cops shot him without hesitations.
They shot him just for waving a broom? I’ll take the Taiwan cops any day. Jesus.
The odd thing I find about all this is that they say when in Asia you are taught never to show too much emotion. I was taught that big emotional outburst will get you nowhere on this continent. Then I come over here and I see arguments that you would never see back home. At home a man waving a broom is crazy. Here a man waving a broom is just having an emotional argument with his wife? And us westerners are taught never to show emotional outburst of anger here :loco: ? Is there any consistancy?
Well a real drama queen would take out a knife and slit his own throat. I take it thats not your intention. NT$6,000 doesnt sound like a lot for injuring somebody. I’d expect that just for a broken fingernail. The poor lass will probably have life long nightmares about being smahed into by drunk laowais for the rest of her life. The flash backs and post accident trauma could go on for years. Offer her 60,000 maybe.
Wait a minute. Aren’t you the guy who rode without a scooter licence because after 5 tries you still couldn’t pass the written test. You then got your scooter impounded and came on the flob and railed about how unreasonable it was that the Taiwanese wouldn’t give you back your illegal scooter. So (I’m assuming) you finally got your license and a legal scooter after which, you go out get impaired and hit someone. And, now you’re back on here complaining about the Taiwanese. Sport, the Taiwanese and Taiwan are not the problem here!!
I am not saying that I am not responsible for this. However, I am entitled to a fair hearing and trial, even if I have done wrong. What I am saying is that I may have to roll out the tears in order to defend myself here and that the plaintiff may over play how much her injury hurt her.
And how am I trying to place blame on others here?[/quote]
You’re having me on, right? The very title you chose for this thread suggests something wrong with the Taiwanese and the way they do things. It’s as if the problem were them, and not your DUI, unlicensed, uninsured riding and ensuing at-fault accident. “Fair hearing and trial” is code for “I want to weasle my way out of taking responsibility for my poor decisions.” You do not know how lucky you are to be facing this here, with Taiwan’s relatively lax enforcement and lower monetary awards and fines. In a western country, for your “fair hearing and trial,” take your 6000nt figure, remove the ‘nt,’ replace it with ‘USD’ and add a zero.
If I was you I’d go in with raggedy clothes, disheveled look, bring down the cash expectations. Next time don’t drink and drive. I believe the fine is very substantial for drink driving so could be worse.
So can we establish a few facts?
- You didn’t have a legal driving licence? (Not sure on this one).
- You got drunk and smashed into another driver causing them (minor) hospitalisation and injuries?
- You aren’t going to go to prison or have your licence suspended over this but you have to pay 6000nt (200 US, £130 UK, 194 Oz) to the person you injured?
- You need to say sorry to the person you hit in a way which you find a little publicly OTT?
- You are concluding that Taiwanese people are a little bit over dramatic when it comes to dealing with the above actions?
Just want to be clear here because I know if the above happened to you in the UK we wouldn’t really be tripping over ourselves to get a bronze statue of you erected in the town square.
I am beginning to realize that. I know I am part of the problem. The license is no longer an issue though.
I am not saying that I am not responsible for this. However, I am entitled to a fair hearing and trial, even if I have done wrong. What I am saying is that I may have to roll out the tears in order to defend myself here and that the plaintiff may over play how much her injury hurt her.
And how am I trying to place blame on others here?[/quote]
You’re having me on, right? The very title you chose for this thread suggests something wrong with the Taiwanese and the way they do things. It’s as if the problem were them, and not your DUI, unlicensed, uninsured riding and ensuing at-fault accident. “Fair hearing and trial” is code for “I want to weasle my way out of taking responsibility for my poor decisions.” You do not know how lucky you are to be facing this here, with Taiwan’s relatively lax enforcement and lower monetary awards and fines. In a western country, for your “fair hearing and trial,” take your 6000nt figure, remove the ‘nt,’ replace it with ‘USD’ and add a zero.[/quote]
I am not saying that I am not repsonsible for my DUI because I AM! What I am saying is that I want to make sure that I do not get more than what is coming to me. I want to make the best of this situation. I also want to make sure that the girl, who was only in the hospital for a cut knee and was out in under an hour, is not a money grubbing shark only out to exploit the situation to get money out some jerk foreigner. I could have taken my scooter and ran off in this situation. I did not. I gave the girl my contact number for the ensuing things that are going on.
Since when is wanting a fair trial code for wanting to weasel your way out of things? The last time I checked this was a democracy and people are entitled to fair trials. (A-Bian sure didn’t get one, but you guys are probably a bunch of KMT supporters) I, like every other foreigner who has been through the legal system my critics would want one, if they should ever need one. Even child murderers are entitled to a fair trial.
And I don’t think anybody would have to pay 60,000 US dollars over a DUI (which was not over the legal limit in the states (I know, we are in Taiwan 
) and a scratched knee, even in the litiguous US.
As for the title of this thread, I stand by it. What I meant was it sounds like my best course of action is going in there and acting out and crying. OK. I’ll do that. I was just saying that were I come from in court we would talk about the facts of the accident and the suffering caused to the injured parties. They would be required to show proof of their injuries, doctor’s bills, time off work, and a way to quantify ‘emotional suffering.’ I have sat on a jury before and have experience in the American court system (And no, not as the defendant) If this were the west, we would be using Vulcan logic instead of Human emotion. But if the way things are done here is to show compassion for the girl and that I am really sorry for my wrongdoings (I really am). That is what I will do. I am sorry for what I have done. But I don’t think anybody in their right mind would say that she deserves much over a cut knee.
Well a real drama queen would take out a knife and slit his own throat. I take it thats not your intention. NT$6,000 doesnt sound like a lot for injuring somebody. I’d expect that just for a broken fingernail. The poor lass will probably have life long nightmares about being smahed into by drunk laowais for the rest of her life. The flash backs and post accident trauma could go on for years. Offer her 60,000 maybe.[/quote]
This is what I am afraid of. Taiwan is becoming the litiguous west where people at McDonalds can drive away with an open cup of coffee in their lap, spill some on their crotch and become an instant millionaire. Is this what we really want? Taiwan becoming more like the west in the good ways as well as the bad. And I have Taiwanese friends who know of my situation and that is what they are saying.