Will You Be a Robot or Bum? Is There a Third Alternative?

  

By Winston Wu (Founder of HappierAbroad.com)  

While at the hospital today I had some deep realizations. I think the collective mode of people in the hospital, who are in a "crisis state of consciousness" actually puts me in a higher level of awareness to see things at a higher level, thus these realizations. Here they are.

There are several types of people in this world:

1. Most are conformists who follow the crowd and believe what they are told. They are empty inside and find their identity in groups or organizations of some kind, whether it be cliques or professional groups. They do not think for themselves and have a blindspot toward taboo subjects.

2. Others are loners and have no friends, only acquaintances and casual contacts at work. They are often lonely, but genuine and authentic people, since they have not compromised their identities by joining a group.

3. Then there are the counter culture types who are anti-society, anti-capitalism, anti-materialism and anti-system/government. So they join a hippie group or "alternative group" and do drugs or smoke pot. These range from deviant screw ups to peaceful hippie types. But they still conform to their group and find their identity in them. They aren't always independent thinkers, but they are closer to it than the conventional conformist types are.

4. Then there are free independent thinkers (like me) who really don't fit anywhere and do not naturally conform to any group or establishment. We have friends, but they are usually scattered about in different places and times. And sometimes we break into cliques of like-minded people with similar interests or views, but when we do it's temporary in that we do NOT attach our identity to those groups, nor do we see them everyday or live with them. Instead, we "free-float" between cliques and friends according to our circumstances and location.

I was like that in high school too. I did not identify with or establish myself with any cliques or stereotypical types/categories of people. Instead, I free floated between people (when I could) and cliques, never really belonging to any of them. Thus my nature was evident at an early age.

In essence, we stand for the truth, rather than for any organization or country. In that sense, we do not really belong to this world, because this world is for followers and conformists. Yet we are still stuck physically in this world. So we either run off and live anonymous lives, or we create a purpose for ourselves, either by helping others, or trying to wake up the world to the truth of their condition to try to make a difference. Some do this by becoming lovey dovey peaceful hippies and New Agers who spread peace, love and positive energy everywhere, while others become militant revolutionaries and activists who believe they are fighting evil established forces in the world for the cause of liberating mankind from the shackles of illusion and oppression.

Of course, these are only general guidelines. Some people are a combination of the above, or float between the categories outlined above.

However, inherently the system is rigged so that those who conform to it become robots and slaves, while those who defy it face becoming bums or delinquents. Basically, if you conform to the system of servitude and slavery, you get rewarded with material benefits. If you don't, you get punished with deprivation of your material and essential needs. It's a form of "forced servitude", in which freedom is a total lie.

You have to understand that society is not there to give you truth or freedom, but to CONTROL you. Society is ironic in this regard, for on the one hand, it tells you that you are a free individual in a free society, while on the other, it tells you that you have to conform - and become a slave who lives to work. (Yet ironically, what's the point of working to make a living, if most of your living consists of working?)

It is very difficult not to be independent and free of the system, yet able to live a functional, fulfilling and meaningful life at the same time. To do so requires a higher level of consciousness and ability to think outside the box. It requires one to find a way to make a living on one's own terms, either through self-employment, as a freelancer, or some other way. Few can do that, but most can't and so are forced to submit to the slavery of the system.

It also takes a deep sense of higher purpose and calling to make a difference in some way, which fills one with such conviction that they are not afraid to go against the grain or defy conventional teachings.

I think most of us at Happier Abroad are of the last type I described. Plus we are not cliquish antisocial people either, which is why we are complaining about our society being that way. You see, antisocial people do not complain about other people being antisocial, just like a lion does not complain about other animals being lions. We don't complain about others who are like us. It's those who are very social and need to connect with others who complain about it.

Sadly, in a sense, our society has no use for types like us. We are expected to be busy working and consuming and not complain about social disconnectedness, lack of dating, or dysfunctionality in America. If we don't, then we are ostracized and not given any voice. Essentially the system ignores us, our problems and complaints as if they doesn't exist. That's the injustice we hate.

Anyway, we are all in this together, so let's try to work together somehow to bring awareness, freedom and help for the suffering.

Thanks,
Winston

Update:

If you can't wait to get out of the system that forces you to submit to servitude to meet your material needs, here are some ways you can make money online and start the path to freeing yourself from the slavery system:

http://www.happierabroad.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=11535

You can also make money online from anywhere in the world as a freelancer. If you have any programming skills, web design skills, or just good solid writing skills, you can put them to use as a freelancer. And if you're good, the client may request more of your services on an ongoing basis. Here are a list of sites that offer jobs for freelancers.

http://myseoblog.net/2008/04/07/lists-of-freelance-sites/

http://www.freelancer.com

http://www.getafreelancer.com

http://www.elance.com

https://www.demandstudios.com

http://www.essaybay.com

As of now, you can even make money teaching English online! For example:

http://www.verbalplanet.com/teach-english.asp

Remember that where there's a will, there's a way.


For more freethinking and truth articles: http://www.happierabroad.com/articles.php

Taiwan vs. America: Differences and Similarities (w/ Chinese Translation)

Cultural comparisons tend to put one in hot water because they often incur accusations of overgeneralizing and stereotyping. Nevertheless, patterns and differences in culture and people DO EXIST and are demonstratable. So in the name of truth, I do not fear offending others and will merely call it as I see it.

Differences

- Taiwanese are more group and family oriented (collectivist), while America is more individual oriented. For example, a person marrying someone that their parents disapprove of would not care in the US, but in Taiwan the parents’ feelings would be a strong factor. However, some say that this is changing in Taiwan.

- The Taiwanese are more subtle and indirect in their communication. They prefer dropping hints and cues rather than being upfront. On the other hand, Western communication is more assertive, articulate and direct.

- On the exterior, Taiwanese people are more reserved and cold toward strangers. They are less apt to smile or make eye contact. But once you get to know them, they become more hospitable and generous. Americans smile and chat politely with strangers easily, but do not invite you into their homes or personal lives easily.

- Taiwanese are taught to be modest, humble and obedient, rather than outspoken, aggressive or assertive. American culture teaches the opposite, that assertiveness is a valuable communication skill in one’s personal and professional life. Being quiet, submissive and obedient is seen in the US as a weakness that allows others to walk all over you. Bullies see such types as easy targets to bully. But in Asia, no one will make fun of such types.

- Confidence is not taught as a good attribute in Taiwan, nor is it encouraged (at least not the western version of confidence). Instead, Taiwanese think that it is better to live in fear and worry, and yield to others to avoid trouble. Compliance, respect and hard work are the attributes of their ideal citizen. But in America, confidence is seen as power, and the key ingredient behind image, hence the slogan “Image is everything”.

- Lighter skin is seen as more attractive in Asia, so that darker Asians prefer to whiten their skin. But in America, having a slight tan is seen as healthier and more attractive than being too pale.

- Girls in Taiwan are more shy and introverted than their western counterparts, but they are more feminine, tender and caring toward their family and partners as well.

Similarities

- American and Taiwanese cultures are VERY workaholic. They share an inherent belief that humans were created to work. Thus they “live to work” and feel empty and purposeless without it. Most Taiwanese work 6 or 7 days a week. Having too much freedom or vacation time is seen as deviant to the corporate culture. Being a slave to your job is seen as a good thing. Most have little or no interests outside of their work. They have no identity outside of their work, organization or culture. People are conditioned this way to serve the interests of their corporatocracy.

- Both cultures are very materialistic in their values, and teach that wealth and assets are the keys to happiness. They are programmed to work and consume to fill their emptiness, rather than cultivating inner assets (spirituality, knowledge, intellectualism). There is a lot of misery and depression. Suicide rates are high in both cultures.

- In general, people are socially conservative and cliquish. Social interaction is usually confined within closed cliques established early on in life. People don’t talk to strangers in both countries unless it’s business related. There is a paranoia toward strangers, which is unjustified since both countries are relatively safe, and violence is greatly exaggerated by the media.

- People live in structured routines and life is a business, not a passion. Everything is highly compartmentalized.

- People in both countries are not generally educated or informed about the rest of the world. Instead, they harbor stereotypes about other countries that aren’t true, largely due to Hollywood movies, myths and propaganda.

- Citizens of both cultures do not tend to be good at critical thinking. Instead, they blindly believe whatever they are told by their government and media like zombies. They forget the fact that their governments have lied many times in the past and committed crimes. Instead, they live passively and assume that authority = truth.

- Their education system is rigged so that if you conform, you become a robot (rewarded with pay), but if you don’t you become a bum. Thus defying the system brings suffering and makes it difficult to live a good life. Essentially, they want you to be smart enough to perform in a job, but not to think too critically, deeply or “out of the box”.

Chinese Translation by Google Translator:

台灣主場迎戰美國：異同

文化比較傾向於把一個熱水，因為他們往往招致指責的overgeneralizing和成見。然而，模式和文化差異，人們確實存在，而且是demonstratable。因此，在真理的名義，我不擔心得罪人，並只會叫我看。

差異

- 台灣人以上的團體和家庭導向的（集體），而美國更個人化。例如，一個人結婚的人，他們的父母不贊成不會理會美國，但在台灣的父母的感情會是一個強有力的因素。然而，有些人說這是改變台灣。
- 台灣更加微妙和間接的溝通。他們寧願下降暗示和線索，而不是前期。另一方面，西方的溝通更加自信，善於表達和直接。
- 從外表看，台灣人民更保留，冷對陌生人。他們不太容易微笑或眼神接觸。但是，一旦你了解他們，他們變得更加好客和慷慨。美國人的微笑，禮貌地與陌生人聊天很容易，但不邀請你到他們家中或個人生活很容易。
- 台灣被教導要謙虛，謙虛，聽話，而不是坦率，積極的還是自信。美國文化教導相反，這自信是一種寶貴的溝通技巧在自己的個人生活和職業生涯。安靜，順從，聽話，是出現在美國作為一個弱點，讓其他人都走了你。惡霸看到這種類型，很容易欺負的目標。但在亞洲，沒有人會取笑這種類型。
- 信心是沒有教導作為一個很好的屬性在台灣，也不是鼓勵（至少不是西方版本的信心）。相反，台灣人認為，最好是生活在恐懼和不安，對他人的產量，以避免麻煩。遵守，尊重和努力，是他們理想的公民屬性。但是在美國，被視為權力的信心和形象背後的關鍵因素，因此，口號是“形象就是一切”。
- 打火機皮膚被視為在亞洲的吸引力，使黑暗亞洲人喜歡美白自己的皮膚。但是在美國，有一個輕微的棕褐色，被視為健康，更具吸引力，過於蒼白。
- 在台灣的女生比較害羞，內向他們的西方同行相比，但他們更女性化，溫柔和關心對他們的家庭和合作夥伴以及。

異同

- 美國和台灣的文化是非常工作狂。它們有一個共同的信仰，人類創造了工作。因此，他們“為工作而生活”，並感到空虛和目的沒有它。大多數台灣工作6或7天。有太多的自由或休假時間，被視為離經叛道的企業文化。作為一個奴隸對你的工作被看作是一件好事。大多數人很少或沒有興趣以外的工作。他們沒有身份以外的工作，組織或文化。人們對空調這樣的利益服務的corporatocracy。
- 兩種文化是很現實在他們的價值觀，並教導財富和資產的關鍵是幸福的。他們的工作程序和消費，以填補他們的空虛，而不是培養內部資產（靈性，知識，理智）。有很多的痛苦和抑鬱。自殺率都很高的文化。
- 在一般情況下，人是社會保守，自成一個小集團。社會互動，通常只局限在封閉集團成立初期就在生活中。人們不與陌生人交談，除非它在這兩個國家的業務關係。有一種妄想對陌生人，這是不合理的，因為兩國都比較安全，暴力是大大誇大了的媒體。
- 人民生活在結構化程序和生活是一種商業，而不是激情。一切都非常支離破碎的。
- 人民在這兩個國家一般沒有受過教育或通報了世界其他地區。相反，他們對其他國家的成見是不正確的，這主要是由於好萊塢電影，神話和宣傳。
- 公民的兩種文化不傾向於善於獨立思考。相反，他們盲目地相信，不管他們告訴他們的政府和媒體喜歡殭屍。他們忘記了一個事實，他們的政府已經多次說謊，並在過去犯下的罪行。相反，他們生活被動，並假定權威 =真理。
- 他們的教育體系是作弊，如果你符合這樣，你成為一個機器人（獎勵工資），但是如果你沒有你成為一個流浪漢。因此，無視系統帶來的痛苦和難以過上美好的生活。從本質上講，他們要你足夠聰明的演出工作，但不能想太多批判，深入或“開箱即用”。

See also:

Observations about Taiwanese People

Observations about Asian Mentality and Culture

Missionary confirms my observations about Taiwan

Swiss Journalist concurs with my observations about Taiwan

Winston vs. East Asians - Differences and Similarities

Taiwan vs. America: Differences and Similarities

Taboo Observations and Truths About Taiwan That No One Would Dare Say

Taboo Observations and Truths About Taiwan
That No One Would Dare Say

By Winston Wu

A Taiwanese American Freethinker
(an oxymoron I know, but I’m a rare kind)

“The only thing that counts for these people is food and making money...” 
- A Swiss woman who lived in Taiwan

Chinese version here (computer translated, not completely accurate)

Warning: These observations and truths that are taboo and politically incorrect which may be offensive. 

Note: There are two versions of this page on my site. Every time I update this list, I've had to update both of them, which is tedious. So I will just post the link to the other one below. After reading it, you may return here and post your comments below. Thanks.

http://www.happierabroad.com/Observations_Taiwan.htm

Why do many people lie about Taiwan being friendly?

I know I'm going to take flak from the politically correct crowd for this one, but it's one of those things like "The Emperor's New Clothes" where no one wants to admit something obvious for fear of condemnation and ostracization. So they say what they're supposed to.

Taiwan being friendly is one example. In reality though, Taiwanese may be friendly to those they know if they like them, but they are very closed, STONE FACED and cold to strangers. In Taiwan there is no eye contact or smiling to others in public. No one talks to you if they don't know you. To them, that's normal. But in the rest of the world it is not.

People are not just shy and introverted, they are EXTREMELY shy and introverted, to the point where if you are outgoing, you will feel awkward and out of place, like you should not be outgoing when everyone else is not. Thus that part of you will feel "suppressed".

The only types that talk to strangers in Taiwan are the elderly/senior citizens. Not young adults and especially not young adult females. No way. Hell no. That makes Taiwan an ice cold place. And it tells you that since the older generation is more friendly, it must have been friendlier in the past.

In fact, there is no social energy at all in Taiwan. Zilch. Nada. If you've never left Taiwan, you might not understand what that means. But if you live in high social energy places like Latin America, Russia, parts of Europe, the Philippines, Southeast Asia, etc. you will know exactly what I mean.

In Taiwan, people only work, work and work, 6 or 7 days a week. There is no passion, no excitement and no social energy. The events that go on have very weak social energy in them. The people are simply stifled, turned into robots, giving away 80 percent or more of their lives to slavery in order to make money and work. It's a sickening existence where you basically give up your humanity, life and mind in order to conform to their repressive system.

Mainstream Taiwanese do not deny any of the above. They admit to it and say that it is their culture, and that they are not like foreign countries. They even consider America, one of the loneliest and most isolating countries in the world, to be open and friendly. What does that tell you?!

The only people who deny the above are certain groups of expats who somehow claim to be unusually lucky in Taiwan's social and dating scene, hippies and backpackers who always say that people are friendly in every culture no matter what, politically correct folks, and of course Travel Channel hosts like Janet Hsieh, who are PAID to say how wonderful, exciting and friendly Taiwan is.

But those who are unbrainwashed and who sees things as they are will find the above to be obvious. Few people will admit and see things as they are. Many only see what they WANT to see.

This is a sick world of illusion, propaganda and lies. And I'm glad to be one of the few who are free and liberated of that.

For more observations about Taiwan, click here

PS - Check this out. A Taiwanese girl I emailed, who told me that Taiwan was friendly because it was the popular cool thing to say, was sent my observations above. Upon reading it, she admitted that I WAS RIGHT! See what she had to say below. It's quite revealing coming from a mainstream Taiwanese girl.

"hi,winston,

what a long letter! haha

actually, i admit i feel a little offended when i read ur mail first time...(sorry)

but then, i thought u r right. :D

if we compare taiwan with other countries, i know, our people r colder and more shy. it is truth. i think it is because of our culture and traditon. we r not so welcome to strangers, just most people want to protect themselves first.

i totally agree u that people affect each other. so when your surrounding is a close space(people just chat or talk with their friends),u will be a member of them, no doubt.

but i still notice sth different between our sentences,

i think why u feel so disappointed about taiwanese,maybe one reason is just cuz of u r a male. people r usually more freindly to female than to male. :)

another reason is maybe u go to wrong place, for example,if on the road,maybe most people don't want to talk to u because they r busy or they are teached don't talk to strangers. but if u go to social places, like pubs,concerts,night markets,restaueants,shopping streets, etc. u might find sth a little different.

and i said that people in chiayi r kind and friendly,

i mean people who live in southern part of taiwan r more friendly than northern part of taiwan. :D (every taiwanese knows this.)

ofcourse we can't compare with USA,europe and other western countries i know... but heyhey i am very sure that we r better than china! :D

so how is ur trip in taiwan? maybe u can try other couchsurfers!

enjoy!

Amber"

See also:

Observations about Taiwanese People

Observations about Asian Mentality and Culture

Missionary confirms my observations about Taiwan

Swiss Journalist concurs with my observations about Taiwan

Comparison Chart: Winston vs. Taiwanese/Chinese people - Differences and Similarities

Taiwan vs. America: Differences and Similarities

Debunking the LIE that Taiwan is "friendly". Everyone ignores you. No one wants to make friends with you.

I know I'm going to take heat from the politically correct crowd for this one, but it's one of those things like "The Emperor's New Clothes" where no one wants to admit something obvious for fear of condemnation and ostracization. So they say what they're supposed to.

Taiwan being friendly is one example. In reality though, Taiwanese may be friendly to those they know if they like them, but they are very closed, stone faced and cold to strangers. In Taiwan there is no eye contact or smiling to others in public. No one talks to you if they don't know you. To them, that's normal. But in the rest of the world it is not. 

Taiwanese are extremely shy and introverted, to the point where if you are outgoing, you will feel awkward and out of place, like you should not be outgoing when everyone else is not. Thus that part of you will feel "suppressed".

The only people that talk to strangers in Taiwan are the elderly/senior citizens. Not young adults and especially not young adult females. No way. Hell no. That makes Taiwan an ice cold place. And it tells you that since the older generation is more friendly, it must have been friendlier in the past. If you are White though, Taiwanese can sometimes be friendly to you, but if you're Asian, they treat you like you don't exist and always show you that repressed, self-hating face with a negative vibe. Especially the women and girls. 

In fact, there is no social energy at all in Taiwan. Zilch. Nada. If you've never left Taiwan, you might not understand what that means. But if you live in high social energy places like Latin America, Russia, parts of Europe, the Philippines, Southeast Asia, etc. you will know exactly what I mean.

In Taiwan, people only work, work and work, 6 or 7 days a week. There is no passion, no excitement and no social energy. The events that go on have very weak social energy in them. The people are simply stifled, turned into robots, giving away 80 percent or more of their lives to slavery in order to make money and work. It's a sickening existence where you basically give up your humanity, life and mind in order to conform to their repressive system. 

Mainstream Taiwanese do not deny any of the above. They admit to it and say that it is their culture, and that they are not like foreign countries. They even consider America, one of the loneliest and most isolating countries in the world, to be open and friendly. What does that tell you?!

The only people who deny the above are certain groups of expats who somehow claim to be unusually lucky in Taiwan's social and dating scene, hippies and backpackers who always say that people are friendly in every culture no matter what, politically correct folks, and of course Travel Channel hosts like Janet Hsieh, who are PAID to say how wonderful, exciting and friendly Taiwan is.

But those who are unbrainwashed and who sees things as they are will find the above to be obvious. Few people will admit and see things as they are. Many only see what they want to see.

This is a sick world of illusion, propaganda and lies. And I'm glad to be one of the few who are free and liberated of that.

For more observations about Taiwan, click here

PS - Check this out. A Taiwanese girl I emailed, who told me that Taiwan was friendly because it was the popular cool thing to say, was sent my observations above. Upon reading it, she admitted that I WAS RIGHT! See what she had to say below. It's quite revealing coming from a mainstream Taiwanese girl.

"hi,winston,
what a long letter! haha
actually, i admit i feel a little offended when i read ur mail first time...(sorry)
but then, i thought u r right. :D
if we compare taiwan with other countries, i know, our people r colder and more shy. it is truth. i think it is because of our culture and traditon. we r not so welcome to strangers, just most people want to protect themselves first.
i totally agree u that people affect each other. so when your surrounding is a close space(people just chat or talk with their friends),u will be a member of them, no doubt.

but i still notice sth different between our sentences,
i think why u feel so disappointed about taiwanese,maybe one reason is just cuz of u r a male. people r usually more freindly to female than to male. :)
another reason is maybe u go to wrong place, for example,if on the road,maybe most people don't want to talk to u because they r busy or they are teached don't talk to strangers. but if u go to social places, like pubs,concerts,night markets,restaueants,shopping streets, etc. u might find sth a little different.
and i said that people in chiayi r kind and friendly,
i mean people who live in southern part of taiwan r more friendly than northern part of taiwan. :D (every taiwanese knows this.)
ofcourse we can't compare with USA,europe and other western countries i know... but heyhey i am very sure that we r better than china! :D
so how is ur trip in taiwan? maybe u can try other couchsurfers!
enjoy!

Amber"

See also:

Taboo Observations and Truths About Taiwan

Critical Observations about East Asian Mentality and Culture

Missionary confirms my observations about Taiwan

Swiss Journalist concurs with my observations about Taiwan

Winston vs. East Asians - Differences and Similarities

Taiwan vs. America: Differences and Similarities

Chinese translation by Google Translator:

Chinese Translation:

我知道我會為此從政治上正確的人群中挑釁，但這是“皇帝的新裝”之類的事情之一，沒有人願意因為害怕受到譴責和排斥而承認明顯的事情。所以他們說了應該做的。

台灣友好就是一個例子。儘管實際上，台灣人可能對他們喜歡的人很友好，但是他們非常封閉，面無表情，對陌生人很冷。在台灣，沒有公開的眼神交流或微笑。如果他們不認識你，沒人會和你說話。對他們來說，這很正常。但是在世界其他地方卻並非如此。

台灣人非常害羞和內向，到了外向的地步，您會感到尷尬和不適，就像在其他人都不外向時不要外向。因此，您那部分會感到“被壓抑”。

在台灣與陌生人說話的唯一人是老年人。不是年輕的成年人，尤其不是年輕的成年女性。沒門。一定不行。那使台灣成為冰冷的地方。它告訴您，由於老一輩更加友好，因此過去一定比較友好。如果您是白人，台灣人有時對您會很友好，但是如果您是亞洲人，他們會像對待您不存在一樣對待您，並始終向您展示那張帶有負面情緒的壓抑，自我討厭的臉。尤其是婦女和女孩。

實際上，台灣根本沒有社會力量。齊爾奇娜達如果您從未離開過台灣，那麼您可能不明白這意味著什麼。但是，如果您生活在社會活力充沛的地方，例如拉丁美洲，俄羅斯，部分歐洲，菲律賓，東南亞等，您將完全明白我的意思。

在台灣，人們只工作，工作和工作，每週工作6或7天。沒有激情，沒有興奮，也沒有社會能量。發生的事件具有很弱的社會能量。人們被扼殺了，變成了機器人，為了賺錢和工作而將80％或更多的生命獻給奴隸制。這是一個令人作嘔的生活，您基本上會為了適應他們的壓制系統而放棄人性，生活和思想。

主流台灣人並不否認以上任何一個。他們承認這一點，並說這是他們的文化，他們不像外國。他們甚至認為美國是世界上最孤獨和最孤立的國家之一，是開放和友好的。這告訴你什麼？

唯一拒絕上述說法的人是某些外國人，他們以某種方式聲稱在台灣的社交和約會場合中是幸運的，嬉皮士和背包客則總是說，無論哪種文化，在政治上正確的人，當然，人們在每種文化中都很友好，當然Travel Channel主持人謝珍妮（Janet Hsieh）表示，台灣是多麼美好，令人興奮和友好。

但是，那些沒有洗腦並且看到事物原樣的人會發現上述顯而易見。很少有人會承認並看到他們的真實狀態。許多人只看到他們想看到的東西。

這是一個充滿幻想，宣傳和謊言的世界。我很高興成為少數幾個自由自在的人之一。

有關台灣的更多信息，請單擊此處

PS-看看這個。我通過電子郵件發送了一個台灣女孩，她告訴我台灣很友善，因為這是流行的很酷的說法，上面給我發了評論。閱讀後，她承認我是對的！請在下面查看她要說的內容。來自台灣主流女孩的故事頗有啟發。

“嗨，溫斯頓，

多長的信！哈哈

實際上，我承認當我第一次閱讀您的郵件時，我感到有點冒犯...（對不起）

但是，我認為你是對的。 ：D

如果我們將台灣與其他國家進行比較，我知道，我們的人民會變得更冷，更害羞。這是事實。我認為這是因為我們的文化和傳統。我們不歡迎陌生人，只是大多數人都想首先保護自己。

我完全同意你，人們之間會互相影響。因此，當您的周圍是一個封閉的空間（人們只是與朋友聊天或交談）時，毫無疑問，您將成為其中的一員。

但是我仍然注意到我們的句子之間有些不同，

我認為您為什麼對台灣人感到失望，也許一個原因就是您是男性。人們通常對女性比對男性更友善。 :)

另一個原因可能是您去了錯誤的地方，例如，在旅途中，也許大多數人都不想因為忙碌或不想跟陌生人說話而與您交談。但是如果您去社交場所，例如酒吧，音樂會，夜市，餐廳，購物街等，您可能會發現有些不同。

我說嘉義人民友善友善，

我的意思是，住在台灣南部的人們比台灣北部更加友好。 ：D（每個台灣人都知道這一點。）

當然，我們無法與美國，歐洲和其他西方國家相提並論……但是，嘿，我敢肯定，我們要比中國更好！ ：D

那麼您在台灣的旅行怎麼樣？也許你可以嘗試其他的沙發衝浪者！

請享用！

琥珀色”

Taiwan - No social, cultural or intellectual stimulation. Very boring

In Taiwan, I am basically bored to death, suffocated and depressed. The culture and environment there makes me feel repressed, as if it wants to suppress who I am. Basically, I don't get any social, cultural or intellectual stimulation there. Let me explain.

No social stimulation

I don't get any social stimulation in Taiwan because people there do not talk to strangers, and are cold, repressed, inhibited, stuck up and closed. Their body movements are stiff, and they ignore strangers unless it's for business. It's like they are almost inhuman.

This is especially true with young people, who in family gatherings (like my own) sit there like statues with no expression, not talking or having any opinion on anything, while their parents chat away with each other about trivial things.

Whenever I go out, I don't meet anyone, even in a crowded city. People are standoffish, closed, introverted, shy, and prefer to ignore you completely if they don't know you. Taiwan is like a Twilight Zone in that I often feel like I'm the only normal human there, while everyone else has been artificially altered to become zombies, like in a bad sci fi movie.

Basically, if they don't know you, you don't exist to them.

Worst of all, when you see a beautiful girl, you can't say hi to her or "excuse me" or anything that will get her to stop and talk to you (like you can in most of the rest of the world). She will usually ignore you and walk through you like you don't exist. Terrible.

It's one of the worst places to be if you're an extrovert, like me. How can I not suffocate in Taiwan? I'm outgoing and like fun, excitement and meeting people. But Taiwan is one of the worst cultures for that. Everyone only works and talks to people in their cliques. Nothing else. There is no social energy at all. None. I am VERY sensitive to vibes and energy, so I know what I'm talking about. Plus I am known to possess deep insight about people.

Sometimes in Taiwan, I go so crazy of boredom and lack of social stimulation that I want to yell out into a crowd, "Taiwan is so antisocial!" just to get attention and feel like I exist. That's how terrible it gets. Taiwan simply brings out the worst in me. It tries to put me into a mechanical box that is lifeless, for it falsely assumes that I am shy, introverted, antisocial, and workaholic, like its own people are, since I am ethnically Taiwanese (though not in mind and soul).

If anyone claims that I am wrong, let them prove it and demonstrate that what I say above does not apply to the vast majority of Taiwanese (one or two exceptions does NOT count, if 99 percent of the population fit what I describe above!). If they can, I'll give them $500. Otherwise, they are all talk and BS. The fact that no one can prove me wrong, even for $500, says a lot about the truth of these observations.

No cultural stimulation

As for culture, I do not find much culture in Taiwan, other than the variety of Chinese food there.

Basically, the culture is one of a staunch workaholic attitude. Most people's only interest is in food and making money. There is no love of knowledge, wisdom, spirituality, adventure, or intellectualism.

The buildings have no culture in them at all. They are basically concrete slabs stacked together with commercial signs in Chinese at the bottom. There is no beauty in them at all. Every street pretty much looks the same. I would not call that culture.

Sure there are a few temples and shrines here and there, but that's it. There is nothing in Taiwan that you can't find anywhere else, either natural or artificial.

The only thing that Taiwan has a big variety of is food. There are so many variations of food in Taiwan that even locals have not tried everything there is to try there. New variations of cuisine and snacks pop up all the time. But this is because Taiwanese view food as their primary interest in life, besides making money that is.

And of course, if you want to count Chinese language as "culture" be my guest. But my standards are far higher than yours.

No intellectual stimulation

You will not get much intellectual stimulation in Taiwan, not from their TV programs and not from most people, who are not well read or learned in a variety of topics.

Most Taiwanese people are simple and understand only simple practical things. They do not think about abstract topics or converse about intellingent deep meaningful things. As I mentioned, there is no love of knowledge, wisdom, spirituality, adventure, or intellectualism.

If you could listen in on their conversations in Chinese or Taiwanese, and understand them, you'd see that they are basically talking about boring trivial shit. The conversations are about practical things and shallow in nature. Not deep, sophisticated, or intelligent.

Occasionally, the elderly and middle aged in Taiwan may give you intelligent meaningful conversation. But not the young crowd. No way. They are as unopinionated and expressionless as you can get. I don't mean to be mean, but that's what I always see in them.

As for me, the only intellectual stimulation I get in Taiwan is from my work and interactions on the internet, or from foreign expats there. But from the locals (especially young locals) forget it.

Now I would like to add "no sexual stimulation" to this list, but I shouldn't because it would make me look like a horny bastard or pervert. So I'll leave that out of this for now.

Conclusion:

Other than a variety of good Chinese food, hot looking Chinese barbie dolls that are "look (briefly) but don't touch", and jobs for English teachers, Taiwan really has nothing to offer, and nothing you can't get anywhere else.

What's odd about all this is that no one else on the internet admits to it. They all claim Taiwan is wonderful, friendly and interesting. Some say the girls are loose and easy too! On the big Forumosa Forum, comprised of expats in Taiwan, some do admit to Taiwanese girls being antisocial to strangers, but only occasionally. The rest deny it or are afraid to talk about it and get defensive if you do. Very bizarre. How can something as obvious as the blue sky or 2+2=4 be denied?

Now, I did go to an expat party in Taiwan once, full of English teachers. Most of them described Taiwan as "weird and stuck up" and wished they were somewhere else. So I have heard negative comments about Taiwan in real life from foreigners. Yet for some reason you won't find them online much. I'm surprised about that and can't fully explain it.

Put yourself in my shoes though. If you saw that the sky was blue, yet no one wanted to admit it or they denied it, what would you do? Speak the truth, or lie to avoid looking like a freak to others?

See also:

Observations about Taiwanese People

Observations about Asian Mentality and Culture

Missionary confirms my observations about Taiwan

Swiss Journalist concurs with my observations about Taiwan

Comparison Chart: Winston vs. Taiwanese/Chinese people - Differences and Similarities

Taiwan vs. America: Differences and Similarities

Navy Top Gun unable to fly like the 9/11 hijackers allegedly did!

Check this out folks.

This guy is as qualified and experienced as it gets when it comes to flying. This is NOT some crackpot conspiracy theorist, but a TRAINED PROFESSIONAL with a long prestigious career in the US Navy and commercial Airline industry.

Commander Ralph Kolstad, U.S. Navy (ret) – Retired commercial airline captain with 27 years experience. Aircraft flown: Boeing 727, 757 and 767, McDonnell Douglas MD-80, and Fokker F-100. Retired fighter pilot. Former Air Combat Instructor, U.S. Navy Fighter Weapons School (Topgun). 20-year Navy career. Aircraft flown: McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom, Douglas A-4 Skyhawk, and Grumman F-14 Tomcat. 23,000+ total hours flown.

Listen to his interview with Kevin Barrett about the 767's flying into the WTC at 500 knots on 9/11. It's very revealing.

http://noliesradio.org/archives/FB20090929__RalphKolstad_web.mp3

In the first half of the interview, Kolstad explains why flying a 767 into the WTC isn't as easy as you think. You can't just point the plane at the towers. Steering an airliner is very tricky, especially at sea level. The aerodynamics are more complicated than people assume.

A 767 can only do 500 knots in two scenarios - at cruising altitude (above the clouds), or in a straight nose dive. If you were at the altitute of the WTC, you cannot do 500 knots on a 767. And if you pulled the throttle at full speed at that altitude, you'd lose control of the plane and could not even steer it. That's true even if you're the best pilot in the world.

Hitting a target he explains, especially a narrow one like the WTC, is very difficult and only achievable when you come in at LANDING SPEED, not at full throttle like the hijackers did.

In fact, he saw highly trained professional pilots in flight simulators try to hit the WTC and ALL of them failed. They were only able to hit it when they came in at landing speed. (which is NOT the speed that the 9/11 hijackers came under)

Most astonishing of all, he said that HE HIMSELF COULD NOT HAVE FLOWN those 767's into the WTC like the hijackers did on 9/11, despite all his vast experience, training and skill!!!!!!

Imagine that! That says A LOT.

As to how the planes on 9/11 hit the WTC, he admits he does not know the answer and does not like to speculate. To say that it was a military plane disguised as a 767 or a remote controlled jet, or whatever, would be speculating and he does not want to go there. All he knows for sure, he says, is that a trained professional pilot in a 767 flying 500 knots at sea level would NOT be able to hit the WTC, for various reasons. Anything else is purely speculative.

Now if one of the most experienced and qualified pilots in the world is saying this, that really does mean something. This is NOT some crackpot conspiracy theorist, but a TRAINED PROFESSIONAL with a long prestigious career in the US Navy and commercial Airline industry.

He also gives us some insight into what other airline pilots he's talked to thinks about the whole thing, and how many would rather not even talk about it at all.

And he said that most debunkers on the internet are not qualified to know what they are talking about (you know who you are).

Listen to the interview here:

http://noliesradio.org/archives/FB20090929__RalphKolstad_web.mp3

See Kolstad's official statements and qualifications here:

http://www.patriotsquestion911.com/pilots.html

Also see these three clips from the film "Zero An Investigation into 9/11". They are compelling, riveting, engaging and feature many credible experts. This is the BEST film about 9/11 that I've ever seen:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMvJUjZ8rlM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OPxDSKY2pE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAMd9b2JiFo

To watch the whole film:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2296490368603788739#

10 Surprises for Foreigners and Asians who think America is very open, expressive and wild (like in the movies)

It always amazes me how many foreigners, especially in Asia, still think that America is very "open, expressive and wild" simply because of Hollywood's bald faced lies and false portrayals of reality. Nothing could be further from the truth. There are so many real life testimonies by immigrants which testify to the exact opposite, that it's amazing that this myth persists.

This perception in Asia obviously comes from Hollywood movies, which portray America as a fun, carefree culture where everyone is expressive, emotional, wild, loose, having a good time, very sociable and communicative toward others.

But movies tend to portray the opposite of reality, especially in this case. In reality, yes, America is great for getting a good paying job, as foreigners believe. However, when it comes to dating, love, romance, human connection, social inclusiveness, America is one of the WORST places for such things. For some reason, this fact isn't well publicized, even though most immigrants in America know about it and share it by word of mouth. (See what many immigrants and foreigners have said about it in their own words) Thus, oddly enough, the mythos continues to persist that America is very open and expressive, even though it's been long debunked.

So for all those Foreigners and Asians who think Americans are like the actors shown in the movies, here are some revealing links and videos to show them about the real America - a land of isolation and social disconnectedness, where people in general do not like each other, prefer to be alone, and do not like to be bothered.

1. First, check out my friend Steve Hoca's video rant about me called "Winston Wu is right: Americans are socially disconnected" where he expresses his frustration at the complete lack of human connection in modern day America:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REKN7y53OCI

2. Next, see these video clips by my friend Kyle from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he shows firsthand with a hidden camera, how hard it is to talk to strangers in America or say hello to them. Watch him try to greet people on the street. See how different the reality is compared to the movies.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REuWyftROA4

3. Here is a short documentary about "The Seattle Freeze" and about how difficult it is to make friends in Seattle, Washington. Several people in the film talk about their experiences there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roC_nsdyi1I

4. In fact, the major newspaper in Seattle, The Seattle Times, did a story about how hard it is to make friends in Seattle, documenting the "Seattle Freeze" phenomenon as real. You can read the story at:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/pacificnw/2005/0213/cover.html

5. I also have personal evidence of the isolation and disconnectedness in Seattle. Check out these photos I took on a Seattle ferry (same one as in the top above) compared to the ones I took on a ferry in Riga, Lativa (Eastern Europe). The Seattle ferry photos show you the real America that Hollywood never shows you - where people prefer to be alone, isolated, disconnected and not bothered, because they simply do not like other people. It depicts how people are in most public places in America. Notice the difference: While the Seattle people are isolated in their own private bubbles, the people on the ferry in Latvia are dancing together, even in the middle of the day.

http://intellectualexpat.blogspot.com/2008/01/ferry-photos-seattle-vs-riga-latvia.html

6. Here is a revealing article by Little India magazine about how isolated, lonely and disconnected Indian immigrants in America feel, many of which regret coming to the US and miss the warm connections in their home country:

http://www.littleindia.com/august2004/UnhappyinAmerica.htm

7. Next, check out this big collection of quotes and comments about America I put together from immigrants and foreigners who have been there. As you can see, they describe it as anything but "open, friendly and expressive."

http://www.happierabroad.com/ebook/Page32.htm

8. These are some news articles that report on the growing problem of loneliness in America, describing it as an epidemic that is hazardous to health:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/22/AR2006062201763_pf.html

http://www.livescience.com/health/060331_loneliness.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/02/weekinreview/02fountain.html

9. Here is my own video lecture about how unnatural it is to try to meet people in America and talk to strangers, and how there is no sense of social or human connection there. See part 1 of my video lecture series here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsDbEwmCMz0

10. Finally, my friend and cultural advisor, a former US immigrant who speaks 10 languages and has lived in 9 countries long-term, made this observation about what the biggest culture shock in the US is, which says it all:

http://www.happierabroad.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8855

"I think generally, the biggest culture shock that people experience in the US is not between their country and the US but between what they thought the US would be and what it actually is. Books and movies about America make the place appear very free and exciting and happening and the people are so interesting and emotional. There is sex and fun and romance going on. When they arrive, the place looks very conservative and the people appear robotic and quiet. Sex is subdued and hard to come by. The people are not open at all, they look closed and mistrustful. Everybody is just working and looking tired and apathetic. Talking to strangers is taboo. There are thousands of little rules and laws and social mores that seem as dogmatic and strict as those in a Muslim society. And every time you are at risk of breaking yet another law and facing very dire consequences. That is the biggest culture shock of all."


Here are some more posts in my forum about how different America is in reality compared to the media portrayal of it.

http://www.happierabroad.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=23902#23902

"And by the way, I am back in the matrix and miserable about it. Can't talk to strangers, can't make eye contact, neighbors don't interact, social groups in public do not interact or over lap, extreme social cliqishness, nothing going on for social life in the community, women unapproachable to the point that it feels taboo to talk to them at all, and lonely, isolated lives are standard, people spend more time with a TV than with people, and the relationships/dating scene here and the disintigration of family, marriage, and community is downright shocking.

Just seeing how my family members live on in this isolated and dysfunctional matrix, oblivious to what a wonderful, open, natural welcoming social life exists outside of the US, depresses me. I can't wait to get out myself. And so I have a lot of work to do on not letting that whole mess consume me now while trying to get enough healthy human contact to stay sane in this incredibly frigid and mistrustful and disconnected social atmosphere."

http://www.happierabroad.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7510

"This is not the picture that Hollywood beams into billions of households around the world. In it, women on roller skates in bikinis zoom through suburbs and cities and at the first beck and call go with you to the nearest motel for a roll in the hay for no money at all. This is how everybody sees America around the world.

I see America now as Iran or Saudi Arabia in terms of female availability, if not worse. Because in the latter the local men will have girls lined up by family connections- meetings will be arranged and a wedding date with a virgin bride will be set as soon as you are ready. In other Muslim countries that are cheaper, it will be even easier. Yeah the girls are dressed modestly all right but you will soon get married to a a good girl who will be open only to you.

The great deception that Hollywood pulls on the world public is monstrous."

-------------------------------------------------

"Your right, when I watch sitcoms on tv, the women are always friendly towards men, they flirt with men and are easy to ask out and sleep with. Watching American made movies are the same. The women are friendly, approachable, smile a lot and will easily give a man her phone number! Now we all know this is NOT reality, it's a fantasy that Hollywood puts out.

When is the last time a single woman in America flirted with you? Or when was the last time a single woman in America started a conversation with you?

For most guys the answer is either NEVER or ALMOST NEVER! Women in America ignore men, even if the guy is good looking. Of course, tv shows and movies in America show women as friendly and flirtacious with men. NOTHING can be further from the truth!"

------------------------------------------------

So you see, the mythos that Asians have of America being so "open, expressive and friendly" is a fiction and illusion created by Hollywood, not actual reality. Sorry to disappoint them.

Feel free to forward this page to other Asians or foreigners you know who think America is "open, expressive and friendly".

The good news is that there are many cultures in the world that really are open, friendly, sociable and inclusive, where you can make friends easily or get dates without having to break into closed cliques, joining schools and organizations, or being introduced by friends. I have experienced them myself. I will tell you where they are:

- Latin America and Mexico (very open and friendly and easy to meet people)

- Russia (very open and friendly and easy to meet people)

- Half of Europe (some European cultures are more open while others are more reserved)

- China (very direct and open with strangers)

- Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, known as Southeast Asia (very open and friendly and easy to meet people)

- Africa (very open and friendly and easy to meet people)

- Australia (not super friendly but more so than America)

- England, France and Germany (some say these countries are very socially open, but others disagree, the opinions are mixed)

On the other hand, here are countries that are more socially closed, where people do not talk to strangers and it takes work to break into cliques, making it far more difficult and unnatural to meet people and make friends:

- America and Canada (generally non-inclusive, isolated and disconnected, but not always)

- Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea, NE Asia (highly repressed and conservative, socially closed and cliquish, but white people will get more attention there)

- Sweden, Finland, Norway (Scandinavian people are reputed to be cold and stoic)

The Seattle Freeze, Bellingham Curse, and Simple Solution to it

When I lived in Washington state, it was like a religion. Everyone thought it was wonderful and great and expected you to agree. If you didn't, you would be seen as weird and negative. Seattleites got defensive if you had negative things to say about their beloved land.

But the reality is that there is a "Seattle Freeze" that affects the social environment which makes it hard to make friends and connect with others. Simply put, people were very polite, but distant and non-inclusive. They didn't like to connect with others or meet new people. The motto was "Have a nice day. Somewhere else."

Yet if you were not allowed to complain about this. If you did, Washingtonians became defensive and condemning, telling you that you're the only one who thinks that and that everyone else loves Washington. They refused to hear any evidence to the contrary.

Yet this "Seattle Freeze" was real. The media even reported on it. Here is an article about it in the Seattle Times:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/pacificnw/2005/0213/cover.html

And more recently, a YouTube documentary about it has been created, citing the phenomenon as real. You can see the video here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roC_nsdyi1I

I even have some photos that show this "Seattle Freeze" in public, taken aboard a Seattle Ferry. Notice how everyone is isolated in their own bubble, wanting to be alone, not needing any social interaction. Obviously, this is not the right environment for an extrovert.

Now, contrast that with these photos I took during a ferry ride in Riga, Latvia (in Eastern Europe). Even though the ride was in the late afternoon, people still knew how to party and dance. Here you see a mini-disco lounge on board the ferry being enjoyed by the passengers.

This "freeze" is an intrinsic part of the Pacific Northwest in general, not just Seattle. People are just reserved, ghost-like and introverted. It is one of the hardest places in the world to make friends or get dates.

Being stuck in Bellingham, WA for years, I even wrote a long treatise about what a nightmare it was, which you can see here:

http://www.happierabroad.com/Bellingham_Curse.htm

Now the GOOD NEWS is that I have an easy solution to it. It involves not only leaving the Northwest, but the country altogether! Doing so works wonders and changes your universe! Just look at all these testimonials.

See here in pictures of how my dating life went from zero to abundance overseas. And also see my Dating Abroad slide shows.

Visit my website to learn more, and to learn that the problem is NOT you, but the society you live in!

http://www.happierabroad.com

Thanks,

Winston