At one point or another I think it’s fair to say that most of us (i.e. foreigners in Taiwan) have admitted to hating Taiwan - or at least certain aspects of it.
Having said that, I postulate the following:
Is it possible that those very aspects that we despise (dislike, loathe, hate, etc.), are in fact the main reason we stay???
What do I mean?
Well, is it possible that unconsciously we judge certain aspects of Taiwan, and in our judging feel a sense of superiority? And that feeling of superiority (call it “uniqueness” if you prefer) feeds our ego’s need to feel special. Which in turn motivates us to stay.
Basically we look at the shite and internally (and UNconsciously) we say to ourselves …“See that garbage, or that fool, or that idiot … I’m nothing like him … I’m better than him.”
Okay, we don’t say those exact words, but that’s the underlying thought as we’re judging/blaming/criticising something. I mean we all do it, probably more than we like (or are willing) to admit.
Problem is, this all goes on subconsciously.
So I guess I’m wondering if anyone else has the sense that their criticisms of Taiwan may in fact be feeding their ego, and in return, keeping them here?
I thought about this, but I concluded that the answer is no, at least for me.
I think the good things certainly outweigh the bad things here and I certainly don’t look down on the people of Taiwan, unless, of course, they happen to be a taxi driver.
Interesting, but I don’t think it applies to me. I can think of two factors that keep me here: One, I like the dynamism of the place. Canada’s standard of living is higher, but Taiwan is improving faster. Two, I like the perspective of the spectator. I don’t associate myself or my values with the things I dislike about Taiwan, but I find it difficult to not identify with Canada and things Canadian, good or bad. So it’s not so much that I feel superior to the things I criticize in Taiwan, but that I feel apart and separate from them, and to me that can be very liberating.
I can walk to the store in the middle of the night, buy milk, and walk home. Never worried that I will be murdered or raped. I know it DOES happen, but not as often as at home.
I love my friends. They are so honest with who they are.
The Taiwanese seem judgmental. I hear a lot that they are. But the fact is that they see what is wrong with someone and still love that person. You hear them talk shit about celebs all the time. But when you say “well why you do like him” they will go off on how great they are. They just know that no one is perfect.
The Taiwanese are laid back to a fault. But it is better than being as uptight as people are at home.
I hear a lot of people talk abotu how ugly it is. I really do thing they have a very limited spectrum of beauty. Because I think this place is stunningly beautiful. So lush.
The guys are cute.
The girls are cute.
Work is easier.
Hours are less.
Friends are more loyal.
Yeah. So no. It isn’t because I feel superior. Maybe it is that I feel I have something I need toi learn from them…
[quote=“MAW”]Okay, we don’t say those exact words, but that’s the underlying thought as we’re judging/blaming/criticising something. I mean we all do it, probably more than we like (or are willing) to admit.
Problem is, this all goes on subconsciously.[/quote]
It’s an interesting theory, but the problem is that if it’s all subconscious, we would never really know to tell you. I’m not trying to be flip, it’s just a complicating factor with anything that happens without conscious realization.
Is there any kind of objective test we could do to find out what’s in the subconscious? Maybe it might help to ask, “What is there, if it changed, that would make you leave Taiwan?”
(which is still far from perfect, but it’s a little bit further from ‘is this what is happening in your brain without you realizing it’)
The place I come from is far, far prettier than Taiwan. Taiwan has no nature. And even the nature I see in Taiwan is far, far inferior to the wonders of nature I can see at home. Ah, the rolling hills reminiscent of northern Italy, the crystal clear streams springing mineral water, the shining lakes and rivers for lazy summer fishing…
But like must unspoiled country places, the place I hail from is severely lacking in job opportunities and intellectual stimulation. Such are the tradeoffs of life. Where I come from, it’s a great, very great place to retire, to spend your elderly days fishing in crystal clear streams and lazing about in the spring sun…but if you’re a young person, looking for a job and wanting a bit more than small town life? There ain’t nothing for you. So, Taiwan gives me more opportunities than back home.
I will admit to that superior thinking when I first came here. Not proud at all.
I’m starting to take off on the motorcycle without looking behind me because “I’m first, I don’t have to look” so, I’m starting to fit in better. Not quite up to eating in filthy restaurants yet and still disgusted with the attitudes to cleanliness, so I guess I still have a superior attitude at times.
A series of decisions and events led me to Taiwan originally and those play a part still in keeping me here. But, for the most part, I stay because my wife’s family is here and because my wife and I have our careers here. Nothing complicated about this for us. But then, we’re simple folks. We don’t have an unconscious…
I agree with Maoman on the dynamism of Taiwan. It’s a very interesting place to be, whether it’s watching how things change so quickly, or the political situation (domestic or in regards to relations with China), and as a sociology buff, Taiwanese society is loads of fun to watch and analyze. It’s also good training for learning to be an objective social scientist, as Max Weber would advocate. Also, since my field of research is Chinese studies, I have access to resources here that I wouldn’t have back home. It’s true that Chinese studies in the West is more advanced than here (simply because the Taiwanese/Chinese have no concept of research methodology), but at the same time, I like the fact that I may be able to make some sort of small contribution to the field here by being able to bring my Western training and apply it to my research here. Taiwan can be as annoying as hell sometimes, but it’s certainly an interesting place to be. Within a period of 48 hours we have a major, upset election that will have a major impact on the future of Taiwan AND a super typhoon. What more could you ask for?
That’s not why I stay, BTW never did meet any hot girl. :s How you guys do it?
I stay because many things are easier done than at home, many things in Taiwan are more convenient … and more things are possible.
Maybe an other reason is that living too close to family sometimes can be troublesome, don’t misunderstand, I love my family but being with them day in day out wouldn’t be for me.
I have to say, the “hot girls” aren’t the reason I stay … shrug However, the cute little 20 year old Taiwanese boys who have never known any real affection from their parents or Taiwanese boyfriends and who just love to cuddle are definitely a nice thing (although certainly not the reason I came here).
It’s like water off of a duck’s ass compared to the filth I lived in before I came here.
I stay here because I have learned to be a bit more forgiving of myself, learned not to “think too much” and I like the weather, food, job, hot girls, culture, etc.
Maybe I just don’t understand the OP’s post.
Can’t type today. Must be the full moon coming and the weather stressing me out.
I stay here because I have learned to be a bit more forgiving of myself, learned not to “think too much” and I like the weather, food, job, hot girls, culture, etc.
Maoman nailed my thoughts: dynamism and liberating spectatorship.
The filth will drive me AWAY… it already has. I came back for love, but its the filth that causes me to dig in my heels and say, “I WILL NOT stay.” If Taiwan had clean air and clean water it’d be a difficult choice.
The next thing on the list that would drive me out would be the public idiocy, by which I mean the nearly complete lack of any daily notion of “public space.” There’s plenty of idiocy to go around back home, but thankfully most of it (save for the SUVs) is confined to the private sphere.
Okay, maybe I need to rephrase the question. I wasn’t asking WHY you choose to stay in Taiwan, after all that topic has been addressed and/or answered a million times. Yes, Taiwan has its many bright sides - different for each depending on one’s interests and perspective.
Let’s put that aside.
What I’m really curious about is the negative aspects of Taiwan and whether or not they contribute to one staying. And I’m not suggesting that they’re the sole reason - heaven forbid - but instead, a small (or large) part of it.
The question is … are we willing to dig a little deeper to find out the truth about our judgments? As opposed to, “Nah, that’s not me.”
The way I see it, any criticism naturally creates a duality of right/wrong, better/worse, educated/uneducated, love/hate, clean/dirty, etc. … wherein ‘I’ (the ego) derives a certain degree of satisfaction or even pleasure from coming out on ‘top.’
And that pleasure, inadvertently, contributes to our ‘liking’ of Taiwan.
Any thoughts?
p.s. The reason I started this thread is due to a mini brain-fart I had while riding along the coast the other day. Caught up in my usual plethora of criticisms, it occured to me that my self-righteous attitude was ‘serving’ me in more ways than one.
