Glad I could make you laugh. I’m sure watching me COMPLETELY fall down was pretty amusing. I’ll admit, I’m a little clumsier lately since I’m EIGHT MONTHS PREGNANT. Don’t worry about me though, go on about your day - look right at me, walk around me, walk away, and laugh. I’m not hurt, not too bad anyway. My knees are bleeding and my back is sore. But, I think the baby is fine. Thanks for not asking. Thanks for not helping. That’s right - I can get back on my feet, without any one’s help. Just one thing, I thought Taiwan people were friendly? I thought the people here were kind?
Thanks Taiwan guy, you showed me a new side to the island.
Sorry to hear that. That’s a tough experience. Did the fact that most flooring materials used here in Taiwan are unsuitable and made to make people fall play a part in the accident?
Not sure why I fell, it just happened. Being pregnant, my ligaments aren’t as tight and my center of gravity is off, so I’m a little clumsier. But, for such a developed country, the sidewalks in Taipei are horrible! Especially when it rains, they are so slick! I can’t believe more people aren’t hurt.
Aw, that sucks. People can be cool, but not if you fall. People either laugh or ignore you to minimise their (and by extension your) embarrassment. I have a balance disorder and wipeout fairly regularly. People never help. Don’t take it personally: it’s not meant to be shitty.
Wow, that’s interesting. I never would have thought of that. It’s just amazing that for such an otherwise helpful, friendly place, this guy’s first response was to laugh at a pregnant lady falling down, clearly falling down HARD too. I could have very easily been very hurt, or the baby! Just crazy! Appreciate your insight though. So odd!!
Sorry to hear that emarie624. Glad that you’re OK at least.
Examples like this are relevant when delving deeper into what “friendliness” in Taiwan really means.
Is Taiwan genuinely friendly, or does it simply lack the aggression that many of us are accustomed to?
There’s definitely a friendly veneer that covers Taiwanese society. But I find that tends to come from not wanting to rock the boat more than it does from showing care for others.
I’d never really thought about it, but most of the friendly interactions that I’ve experienced have come from the service industry: taxi drivers, servers, bus drivers, etc. It’s worth noting that being friendly is part of their job.
How about the way that people treat each other on the MRT or in public spaces? Not rude, but not really friendly IMO.
Civic-mindedness or a sense of community pride is not something that I’ve witnessed on many occasions. YMMV.
Was it a Taiwan guy, someone who looked like a Taiwanese, or just a random guy could be from any place in the world? There are bad people everywhere but Taiwanis probably one place where they have less bad people causing grief on strangers in the street.
Taipei is definitely much less friendly than other cities in Taiwan and at times cold.
Sorry to hear that you fell down and hope everything is okay.
Yes, I agree that there are dicks, mentally ill guys, rude people, and kind people found everywhere. I wasn’t extrapolating to all Taiwanese people. I was only offering a counterpoint to the extrapolation that Taiwan is friendly place.
I’m still curious to know what makes certain places earn a reputation for being friendlier than others? At least when it comes to Taipei, I’d rank its convenience way higher than I would its friendliness. Maybe that’s just life in a big city.
To the OP: I hope you’re OK! You’re right that the sidewalks here can be (ahem) a little uneven in quality. If it’s any consolation, the situation in Taipei City has definitely improved over the years, with aggressive moves to make the sidewalks wider. In other parts of Taiwan though…not so much.
It occurred to me that the laughter you heard could be the “Asian laugh” (sometimes smile) which causes confusion–and sometimes confrontation!–with people who grew up in the west. That laugh could be (of course I’m not sure in this specific case) a marker of embarrassment, not mirth.
Yes, I agree that there are dicks, mentally ill guys, rude people, and kind people found everywhere. I wasn’t extrapolating to all Taiwanese people. I was only offering a counterpoint to the extrapolation that Taiwan is friendly place.
I’m still curious to know what makes certain places earn a reputation for being friendlier than others? At least when it comes to Taipei, I’d rank its convenience way higher than I would its friendliness. Maybe that’s just life in a big city.[/quote]
Yeah, That was more for the OP – to not think too much about it and think people are generally unfriendly.
I guess how people perceive the friendliness or lack of it depends where they are from. I remember being hugely taken aback the first time I was in London, from the north, and I see Taipei as the same kind of busybusy place.
I guess it’s also a little of – and I don’t want to upset the OP – who wants to deal with a person who may not speak Chinese and who may be seriously hurt when visibly pregnant with no insurance? Easier to just ignore it than to possibly miss work or whatever, to deal with a disaster. Are they going to hail a cab and take you into hospital and deal with you? Probably not because that’s a stressful thing to deal with, without even considering the possibility of weird Samaritan lawsuits.
Yes, I agree that there are dicks, mentally ill guys, rude people, and kind people found everywhere. I wasn’t extrapolating to all Taiwanese people. I was only offering a counterpoint to the extrapolation that Taiwan is friendly place.
I’m still curious to know what makes certain places earn a reputation for being friendlier than others? At least when it comes to Taipei, I’d rank its convenience way higher than I would its friendliness. Maybe that’s just life in a big city.[/quote]
Yeah, That was more for the OP – to not think too much about it and think people are generally unfriendly.
I guess how people perceive the friendliness or lack of it depends where they are from. I remember being hugely taken aback the first time I was in London, from the north, and I see Taipei as the same kind of busybusy place.
I guess it’s also a little of – and I don’t want to upset the OP – who wants to deal with a person who may not speak Chinese and who may be seriously hurt when visibly pregnant with no insurance? Easier to just ignore it than to possibly miss work or whatever, to deal with a disaster. Are they going to hail a cab and take you into hospital and deal with you? Probably not because that’s a stressful thing to deal with, without even considering the possibility of weird Samaritan lawsuits.[/quote]
To the op: don’t take that attitude into your heart… Trust me.
Two weeks ago I was in the mrt at the transfer between the blue line and the yellow line (zhongxia xinseng) and there was this very old lady with this huuuuge bag. I was 3 steps behind and it was like 18:30. At this time it is packed with people. She was getting ready to go downstairs for the yellow line. Everyone is pushing everyone but as soon as she was 2 feet away from the stairs, an invisible circle was formed around her. Not a single friendly dude thought that it may be a good idea to give her a hand. She was kind of invisible. I showed my elbows, push 2/3 guys in front, get hold on that suitcase, give a smile and took that stuff downstairs. A xiexie was answered by my bukachi. And done ( I do not speak mandarin).
This is just to tell you. It has nothing to do with friendly… It has everything to do with education, or the lack of it.
Don’t get offended or hurt. Just accept it and live with it but never change your own attitude. It happened once and will happen many many times and they will never feel guilty for it.
Most important you r fine and the baby too.
I don’t find people here any more friendly than any other part of the world, especially towards strangers. I get treated well, sure, but compared to where I grew up people are down right cold.
Don’t judge by one instance and one person.
That said, Taiwanese aren’t so great at dealing with traffic accidents, there’s a culture of
Avoidance,
Somewhat linked to fear of getting sued but mostly ‘pa mafan’.
[quote=“headhonchoII”]Don’t judge by one instance and one person.
That said, Taiwanese aren’t so great at dealing with traffic accidents, there’s a culture of
Avoidance,
Somewhat linked to fear of getting sued but mostly ‘pa mafan’.[/quote]
Dude. Edit your posts. They are cha bu duo. It must be your app, but some verge on unreadable.
I thought Westerners were supposed to be more civic-minded until I started encountering the white dude riding his bicycle over the Bitan pedestrian bridge yelling at all the old people (in English) who were in his way. Still, I’m sure he just can’t read the Chinese signs saying you’re supposed to walk your bike over, and thinks it’s just a coincidence that every time he crosses nobody else is riding.
I have always found the notion of Taiwanese being “friendly” quite silly. There are friendly people everywhere, and there are unfriendly people everywhere as well, it entirely depends on whom you meet.
I’m really sorry for what happened to you though. I would’ve given you a hand if I were there, and I’m glad that your baby is ok.
Yes, I agree that there are dicks, mentally ill guys, rude people, and kind people found everywhere. I wasn’t extrapolating to all Taiwanese people. I was only offering a counterpoint to the extrapolation that Taiwan is friendly place.
I’m still curious to know what makes certain places earn a reputation for being friendlier than others? At least when it comes to Taipei, I’d rank its convenience way higher than I would its friendliness. Maybe that’s just life in a big city.[/quote]
Yeah, That was more for the OP – to not think too much about it and think people are generally unfriendly.
I guess how people perceive the friendliness or lack of it depends where they are from. I remember being hugely taken aback the first time I was in London, from the north, and I see Taipei as the same kind of busybusy place.
I guess it’s also a little of – and I don’t want to upset the OP – who wants to deal with a person who may not speak Chinese and who may be seriously hurt when visibly pregnant with no insurance? Easier to just ignore it than to possibly miss work or whatever, to deal with a disaster. Are they going to hail a cab and take you into hospital and deal with you? Probably not because that’s a stressful thing to deal with, without even considering the possibility of weird Samaritan lawsuits.[/quote]
Damn, lady. You cold.
Guy[/quote]
No, I’ve been the visibly pregnant whitey in trouble. People don’t help. It’s kind of horrible, but what can you do ? Decide everyone’s a dick, or look for reasons?
.