A poster in another thread recently made mention of the “foreigner pecking order” in Taiwan. As a keen social observer and amateur sociologist, I’d like to get y’all’s opinion on the proper ranking of these foreigners based on how “foreigner society” in Taiwan would view them (not necessarily on their prestige in the eyes of the Taiwanese, income, whatever). Just “status” in Taiwan, please.
A foreigner at Shi-da studying Mandarin
A foreigner who owns and operates an English school
A foreigner backpacking around Asia on a 2-week stop in Taiwan
A foreigner working in a buxiban and picking up extra hours in kindy
A foreign overseas contract worker working in a factory in Xinzhuang
The foreign general manager of the Taiwan branch of a foreign company
A foreign teacher at TAS
A foreign ambassador, consular representative or similar
A long-term foreign resident whose visa expired 3 years ago and who makes a living busking in pedestrian underpasses
I personally am not aware of any pecking order among foreigners.
What I do sense sometimes on this forum is a kind of inverted snobbery.
Comments like “the nimrods from Am Cham” or “the suits” or that working for a large corporation in a reasonably senior position is some how a sell out, or if you are a member of the American Club then your children must be spoilt brats.
Other comments like “the suits in Carnegies gave me a cold stare because I was wearing shorts”. I suspect the suits did no such thing but rather the shorts wearer felt uncomfortable & that he was dressed differently.
I confess. I am a member of Am Cham (though very rarely attend their social events) because its useful for my business. I am a member of ACC (not sure why actually …). I have a big house & car because my company provides them to me .I also have a beat up old scooter because its fun to ride. I am no better & no worse than anyone else on this forum.
If you want to find a serious pecking order , go to Hong Kong.
The pecking order is based on how much you make. Not fancy clothes or namecards, or the title of your job. Find out who makes the most on your list and there you go.
I wear a suit to work but wish I wore shorts, especially with the Summer heat building. :uhhuh:
Pecking order?
I want to live in a world without a pecking order where English teachers, restauranteurs, GMs of multi-nationals, illegal aliens, lawyers, convicted felons and AMCham types can all get along as one big peace pipe smoking community.
Unfortunately, I live in a world where my boss can come into my office at 5 mins. before quitting time and say “need this ASAP!” That’s the most important pecking order to me at the moment and I’m not at the top. :raspberry:
The pecking order is based on how much you make. Not fancy clothes or namecards, or the title of your job. Find out who makes the most on your list and there you go.[/quote]
Evidence please. Most people I know here dont discuss thier income. I dont know exactly how much I make let alone what anyone else makes.
The pecking order is based on how much you make. Not fancy clothes or namecards, or the title of your job. Find out who makes the most on your list and there you go.[/quote]
Evidence please. Most people I know here dont discuss thier income. I don’t know exactly how much I make let alone what anyone else makes.[/quote]
I didn’t say that I personally find out… I already know…
The pecking order is based on how much you make. Not fancy clothes or namecards, or the title of your job. Find out who makes the most on your list and there you go.[/quote]
Evidence please. Most people I know here dont discuss thier income. I don’t know exactly how much I make let alone what anyone else makes.[/quote]
I didn’t say that I personally find out… I already know…[/quote]
Not sure I understand your point. You mean you know without evidence ? so in other words this is how you position people on a pecking order? If you do, how do you know how much someone earns to be able to estimate how superior or inferior they are?
Scuba, there is another way of looking at that, if he puts everyone into an order based on income, but has no idea what their incomes are then i imagine they are all on the same level, ie no order.
The pecking order is based on how much you make. Not fancy clothes or namecards, or the title of your job. Find out who makes the most on your list and there you go.[/quote]
A very middle class suburbanish trait. Cultured French families will have no idea about how much their parents make etc. Are you saying that a “bushiban owner” from a modest background is higher on a totem pole than a “sex crazed trust fund baby 20-year old” looking to discover him-/her-self etc. I think not. Pidgeonholing anyone is stupid, although we all do it in one form or another. My own opinion is whoever has the most interesting stories, charisma, and personal warmth is highest on the pole, irrespective of education, money etc.
[quote=“Scuba”]
Not sure I understand your point. You mean you know without evidence ? so in other words this is how you position people on a pecking order? If you do, how do you know how much someone earns to be able to estimate how superior or inferior they are?[/quote]
Actually, I try not to put anybody in any sort of pecking order. But if people are concerned about pecking orders, why not use money to set the parameters for our judgement?
I know many ex-pat self-made millionaires (before the age of 40) and you would never know that they are such judging by their clothes, or their job titles, or where they eat, or what they drink, or who they rub elbows with.
