In Taiwan, society is seen as the top source of meaning in life

[afterspivak]

@OysterOmelet

Confucius is rolling over in his grave

I think colonial imports like that deserve some scrutiny and revision, so I am less troubled about this (apparent?) shift than you.

Guy

[afterspivak]

@TaipeiGuy2000

It may be true that there is an above-average appreciation for newly acquired freedoms and institutions.

Right on cue, the PRC provides helpful reminders about that, doesn’t it.

Guy

[Dr_Milker]

@TaipeiGuy2000

I agree that society in Taiwanese minds is probably translated as “社會”

The term 社會 was created by the Japanese as a translation of “society,” and then borrowed by the Chinese. The concept didn’t exist in either Japanese or Chinese prior to that.

[OysterOmelet]

@Dr_Milker

The term 社會 was created by the Japanese as a translation of “society,” and then borrowed by the Chinese. The concept didn’t exist in either Japanese or Chinese prior to that.

Etymology doesn’t tell us much about what that word means to Taiwanese.

[Dr_Milker]

@OysterOmelet

Etymology doesn’t tell us much about what that word means to Taiwanese.

Probably something close to “civil society.” Of course, 社會新聞 is crime reporting. Take from that what you will.

[OysterOmelet]

@TaipeiGuy2000

The Chinese she-hui includes family and friends and work and institutions. Basically, it’s everything

So when cops come after his dad, does a Taiwanese turn in his dad?

[TaipeiGuy2000]

@OysterOmelet

So when cops come after his dad, does a Taiwanese turn in his dad?

My kids have a subject at school called “社會”. I think it is social studies. Make of that what you will.

[humpty]

@OysterOmelet

So when cops come after his dad, does a Taiwanese turn in his dad?

Pa’s got keys to the inheritence, so no.

[superking]

@afterspivak

For the UK, it’s interesting to me that the notion of “society” is missing from the top five.

Thatcher told us society doesn’t exist. Then Cameron told us we live in a big society and we need to tackle crime ourselves.

Society can get stuffed.

[crusher]

@fuji

@izzy

As for family and friends - i think the declining population is a clear indicator that people dont value family life that much - they prefer the freedom of being single.

@Baxter

Family is seen as a social duty, much more than in the West.

Yeah so far I haven’t met a lot of Taiwanese with real family relationship based on love, understanding and freedom of choice. Most of the families here are based on diferent kind of dependacies and duties you MUST obey. Parents grinding their kids and forcing them to become doctors or lawyes so kids can pay for their retirement. Parents forcing children to marry and have a male heir. People waiting for their parents to die (and openly admiting that!) so they don’t have to listen to them anymore and they can inherit their wealth. Grandparents don’t spending time with grandchildren and pushing strollers with these stupid minature dogs rather than with their newborn grandchildren.
Even the ammount of hotels and motels where you go with your 小三 offering rooms by hours where you can “rest” (on a tiny island that you can drive around in 12 hours!) shows how important family is for them.

Thus whenever Taiwanese brag about how FAMILY is SO IMPORTANT for them compared to the western world I call BS on that…

Could you drive around the island in 12 hours? Probably just about possible. An interesting challenge. You’d have to avoid traffic hot spots…

[crusher]

@humpty

@OysterOmelet

So when cops come after his dad, does a Taiwanese turn in his dad?

Pa’s got keys to the inheritence, so no.

You’d have to be pretty scummy to snitch your own dad

[OysterOmelet]

@TaipeiGuy2000

My kids have a subject at school called “社會”. I think it is social studies. Make of that what you will.

In the US that’s just history.

[OysterOmelet]

@fuji

Yeah so far I haven’t met a lot of Taiwanese with real family relationship based on love, understanding and freedom of choice. Most of the families here are based on diferent kind of dependacies and duties you MUST obey. Parents grinding their kids and forcing them to become doctors or lawyes so kids can pay for their retirement.

You are smoking crack, dude.

My sister married into a white family that’s way more loaded than mine, and he’s not getting a cent of inheritance. His father bought a Lamborghini.

Asians all pay for their kids’ college tuitions (if they can afford it).

[Dr_Milker]

@OysterOmelet

Asians all pay for their kids’ college tuitions (if they can afford it).

Money does not equal love. This isn’t rocket surgery.

[OysterOmelet]

@Dr_Milker

Money does not equal love. This isn’t rocket surgery.

Of course not, but it shows sacrifice for the next generation.

[tempogain]

@OysterOmelet

In the US that’s just history.

Eh? There’s social studies in the US.

[OysterOmelet]

@tempogain

Eh? There’s social studies in the US.

Yeah social studies is just history.

[tempogain]

No it’s not.

[OysterOmelet]

@tempogain

No it’s not.

Are we talking about those classes you take in middle school?

[tempogain]

It depends on the school, could be other levels as well. It includes history but also studies of other cultures and other social issues. Same as here, I believe.