What kind of reaction do you get from mainland officials/contacts when you try to get genealogical information? I’ve heard that the dalu’s attitude has changed a lot over the past few decades - true? Stories?
I think you’re barking up the wrong tree, here.
Hey Tigerman,
Thanks for the response, but I’d appreciate something constructive. Why barking up the wrong tree? Do you have any experiences(/non-experiences) yourself?
I’ve talked to a number of people who have perspectives about the topics and dealings with mainland officials. Some people really enjoy sharing them, so I’d appreciate it if you didn’t categorically dismiss it (without any reasons for doing so), thus discouraging others from discussing.
Back to the topic then - I’ve heard from some people that mainland officials (local especially) can be difficult to work with, but that it’s getting better. Do you agree?
[quote=“DevinRB”]Hey Tigerman,
Thanks for the response, but I’d appreciate something constructive.[/quote]
This is Forumosa. Get used to it.
As for your original question, I think that only a tiny percentage of the people here have any experience on the Mainland at all. Of course, they are full of opinions, mostly cloned from the editorial page of the Taipei Times.
I did actually spend quite a lot of time in the Mainland during the 1990s, but nothing more recent, so I probably can’t help you much with your question. I can say that I noticed some major improvements in the way things were run between 1985 and 1997 (those being the years I was in-and-out of China). In 1985, at least half the population was still wearing Mao uniforms and the place hadn’t yet recovered from The Cultural Revolution. Since then, big economic improvements, more educated populace, but repressive cave-man politics. Criticizing the government seems to be as risky now as it was 30 years ago.
Maybe you can find an expat forum in China to ask more specific questions, though I’m not sure how freely foreigners living there can speak out without getting their Internet access blocked.
Actually, I was trying to be constructive in a humorous way. You know, barking up the wrong [genealogic] tree? Sorry if my attempt at constructive humor failed.
That was my point, exactly… This is the wrong tree to bark up for the type of info the OP seeks. This is Forumosa, a site primarily for and visited by expats living in Taiwan. The OP is not likely, IMO, to get any good info per his question from us.
Thank you for making my point.
Indeed. The OP should bark up a different tree. That’s what I said.