Shanghai Disneyland opens May 11

[Travel Junkie]

I have never said nor am I under any illusion that China doesn't have a myriad of problems, including many pertaining to the government, but I'm tired of people who obviously have no firsthand experience or knowledge of the situation making ignorant statements that very clearly imply that all people in that country are just impossibly ignorant stupid sheep when it's just not the case.

I have always struggled with how to engage the ignorant on topics like China. I have tried to educate at times, but many don't want to hear it. Most American's are in no position to talk about the complexities that is China.

 

[Lilofan]

I have always struggled with how to engage the ignorant on topics like China. I have tried to educate at times, but many don't want to hear it. Most American's are in no position to talk about the complexities that is China.

The ignorant also don't want to hear that most of our meds come from China. If China stopped sending the USA medication, the pharmacy store shelves would be empty, hospitals could not perform operations and our health care system would collapse.

 

[TROR]

The ignorant also don't want to hear that most of our meds come from China. If China stopped sending the USA medication, the pharmacy store shelves would be empty, hospitals could not perform operations and our health care system would collapse.

I agree, our reliance on China is a problem and the US should be more self sufficient.

 

[bryanfze55]

I have always struggled with how to engage the ignorant on topics like China. I have tried to educate at times, but many don't want to hear it. Most American's are in no position to talk about the complexities that is China.

Ah yes, the ignorant American... the one cultural generalization that isn’t taboo.

 

[TragicMike]

The guidelines are reasonable although I'm curious how it'll work in the States when Karen demands to speak to the regional manager because little Timmy needs "muh freedom" by being closer than 6 feet for his photo with Mickey.

 

[bryanfze55]

The guidelines are reasonable although I'm curious how it'll work in the States when Karen demands to speak to the regional manager because little Timmy needs "muh freedom" by being closer than 6 feet for his photo with Mickey.

That’s not a thing that will happen.

 

[Phroobar]

That’s not a thing that will happen.

Sure. Disney Moms are reasonable people.

 

[bryanfze55]

Sure. Disney Moms are reasonable people.

Just tired of the certain subset of people who are using this pandemic as an excuse to constantly attack American people and their attitudes, beliefs, and way of life.

 

[TROR]

Just tired of the certain subset of people who are using this pandemic as an excuse to constantly attack American people and their attitudes, beliefs, and way of life.

Don't you know that freedom is evil and we must bow before our government superior as they know everything and want only what's best for us? Don't question authority - that's not the American way!

 

[TragicMike]

That’s not a thing that will happen.

Saving this post for future reference.

 

[Disney Irish]

Just tired of the certain subset of people who are using this pandemic as an excuse to constantly attack American people and their attitudes, beliefs, and way of life.

I always love this quote from The American President which has become very apt in recent years:

"America isn't easy. America is advanced citizenship. You've gotta want it bad, 'cause it's gonna put up a fight.
It's gonna say, "You want free speech? Let's see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil, who's standing center stage and advocating at the top of his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours." You want to claim this land as the land of the free? Then the symbol of your country cannot just be a flag. The symbol also has to be one of its citizens exercising his right to burn that flag in protest. Now show me that, defend that, celebrate that in your classrooms. "

 

[PiratesMansion]

Just tired of the certain subset of people who are using this pandemic as an excuse to constantly attack American people and their attitudes, beliefs, and way of life.

Again, maybe I'm not looking in the right places, but I'm not really seeing this. Or maybe you're referring to me? I can't 100% tell.

No country/civilization is perfect and every country has room to grow, improve, self-examine. I think it is important to have a knowledge of history while also having self-awareness about the present in order to ensure the best possible future.

 

[bryanfze55]

Again, maybe I'm not looking in the right places, but I'm not really seeing this. Or maybe you're referring to me? I can't 100% tell.

No country/civilization is perfect and every country has room to grow, improve, self-examine. I think it is important to have a knowledge of history while also having self-awareness about the present in order to ensure the best possible future.

No, definitely not referring to you. And I’m not just referring to WDWMagic, of course, as we’re a small sample of the population.

But I see these comments everywhere, from Reddit to CNN to Yahoo News to yes, WDWMagic:
“How selfish of those people to protest!”
“This guy isn’t wearing a mask. How ignorant and selfish!”
“Americans are such idiots. They just need to stay inside for a bit and watch Netflix. How hard is it?”
“So typical of an American to put freedom above public health.”

People are upset because they’re losing their jobs and businesses. Yet, for too many people, their first instinct is to attack their fellow countrymen/women as selfish idiots.

Basically, it comes down to two things: people are anxious, and they’re impulsively putting obedience on a pedestal over freedom (even though these same people would speak out against obedience in other circumstances); and it’s all just become political, like everything else.

Of course no human, country, or civilization is perfect. And the US certainly has its flaws. I’m not a drum-beating patriot. My issue is that criticizing other nationalities is met with gasps, while criticizing the flaws of Americans is encouraged... even though, by all measures, American people are arguably the most generous on the whole damn planet. But nah, we’re “selfish” according to the naysayers.

 

[cmwade77]

The guidelines are reasonable although I'm curious how it'll work in the States when Karen demands to speak to the regional manager because little Timmy needs "muh freedom" by being closer than 6 feet for his photo with Mickey.

And Karen and Timmy will be told to respect the rules or leave the park without a refund.

 

[Sailor310]

And Karen and Timmy will be told to respect the rules or leave the park without a refund.

 

[Phroobar]

And Karen and Timmy will be told to respect the rules or leave the park without a refund.

Is Timmy Mike and Karen's kid? Last time we saw Karen, she was on a quest to turn Mike back from being a fly. Can little Timmy fly?

 

[fctiger]

I can't speak for ripping the Brazilians; I know through osmosis that such insulting occurs, but I cannot recall any specific thread where that has occurred that I have been a part of, nor do I have any personal experience with Brazilians or any other large tour groups. I tend to pop in and out of the WDW boards and don't usually explore them in any depth. I don't feel like I have the personal experience or knowledge to contribute intelligently to those sorts of discussions, and I tend to steer clear of obvious "I hate group X" or "Don't you hate when __________" threads.

I do, however, have personal experience spending time in and studying China over the past decade, and a lot of time in this specific part of the forum. And recently, since the spread of the virus, there has been an uptick in people making these sorts of comments (I'm sure in the WDW threads too, but as I've said, I don't frequent those as much or as thoroughly). I have never said nor am I under any illusion that China doesn't have a myriad of problems, including many pertaining to the government, but I'm tired of people who obviously have no firsthand experience or knowledge of the situation making ignorant statements that very clearly imply that all people in that country are just impossibly ignorant stupid sheep when it's just not the case.

As for why that is, I hear of far fewer people travelling to Brazil or spending significant time with people from Brazil outside of encountering them in large groups at Disney parks, whereas there are a number of Chinese students coming here and a seemingly larger number of people going to China for various reasons. But this is 100% anecdotal and based on nothing other than speculation.

Agree its really disgusting and ignorant. I really try to avoid those topics, especially since this mess started. China definitely has its problems, but that can be said of most countries including America, some of them are simply different.

 

[Nirya]

Just tired of the certain subset of people who are using this pandemic as an excuse to constantly attack American people and their attitudes, beliefs, and way of life.

Oh buddy, Americans attacking other Americans for their attitudes, beliefs, and way of life is maybe the most American thing imaginable and has existed long before this pandemic.

 

[bryanfze55]

Agree its really disgusting and ignorant. I really try to avoid those topics, especially since this mess started. China definitely has its problems, but that can be said of most countries including America, some of them are simply different.

Can you please give an example of something “disgusting” that has been said? Are you referring to my posts? @TROR posts? Was it his mention of Chinese tourists pushing up against him in line? Was it his (or my own) description of college classmates who were Chinese? I think we’ve both been clear we weren’t making blanket statements. But if these are real life experiences, it is what it is. Maybe his classmates were rich, rude, and racist. Mine happened to be very pleasant. Look, tolerance is important and all - but telling the truth is even more important.

 

[No Name]

Perhaps instead of a “please stop the generational insults” message, despite a lack of generational insults, the Mom should say something on this.

All I’ll say is that morals weren't created in the clouds and dropped upon humanity, they are something that have been defined naturally over a long period of time through societal interaction, in a world that hasn’t been as connected as it is today. People in different cultures behave differently, but we only view that as objectively worse or better through our experiences in our own cultures, which is often self-centric and biased. Understanding the above is kind of meta and definitely more complicated than being kind to your neighbor, but just like every other moral was defined through social interaction, so will that be, given time.