• After 15+ years, we've made a big change: Android Forums is now Early Bird Club. Learn more here.

Curious Cultural Phenomenon...

rootabaga

rootabaga

Android Expert
I don't mean this to have undertones of race or creed, but there's no way to ask it otherwise, and I'm hoping someone like @mikedt who is more familiar with Chinese culture may have some greater insight.

I live in a dramatically diverse area (S.F. Bay Area) which sports many different Asian cultures (Chinese, Taiwanese, Vietnamese, Laotians, Indians, Koreans, Japanese, Filipino and a few others I'm sure I'm forgetting at the moment). I have noticed in the past few months many of our Chinese population, and particularly Chinese women, tend to use their cellphones in speaker mode, holding them out in front of their head and talking at the phone. If the other end of their conversation is also a Chinese female, you can hear that typical hollow sound and background noise which suggests they are doing the same thing.

I almost never see this with those of other cultures (Asian or otherwise) or with Chinese men.

Does anyone have any idea or insight into why this might be? My Pinoy friends are also at a loss to explain it (that's the largest Asian population in my area) so I was hoping someone here might be able to help me understand it.
 
I usually use my mobile phone in speaker mode to avoid a concentration of microwave transmissions directly at my head.
 
That is something I have noticed, many Chinese do that, hold their phone out in front of them and use speaker mode. Not really noticed if it's mostly women though, both genders seem to do it. Reason, I have no idea, maybe they are doing it to avoid microwave radiation close to the head and brain. I could ask around in the next few days, maybe bring it up in conversation at English corner next week. :)

I've noticed a big increase in Wechat and QQ IM usage, where more people will be sending short voice messages to each other and playing them through the speaker, rather than having a real-time phone conversation. I often do that myself, in preference to actually phoning someone.
 
Make sure you remember to ask Mike, it might be time to bring out the aluminum hats again if you are right!!:D

mikedt said:
That is something I have noticed, many Chinese do that, hold their phone out in front of them and use speaker mode. Not really noticed if it's mostly women though, both genders seem to do it. Reason, I have no idea, maybe they are doing it to avoid microwave radiation close to the head and brain. I could ask around in the next few days, maybe bring it up in conversation at English corner next week. :)
Click to expand...
 
The Chinese kids who work for/live with my neighbor do this in the wee hours of the morning outside on the sidewalk. I always figured they were talking to relatives in China because of the time and they had to shout because of the distance.
 
Beats two cans and a VERY loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong string for sure!!!!!

lunatic59 said:
The Chinese kids who work for/live with my neighbor do this in the wee hours of the morning outside on the sidewalk. I always figured they were talking to relatives in China because of the time and they had to shout because of the distance.
Click to expand...
 
I will take a guess...

why women due it?
maybe because you notice them more.. because they are on the phone more. :p
men have short conversations on the phone.. so.. not really needing to do all that.

why speaker phone?
because they figure.. not many in general ear shot can understand... so it is private to them.
sometimes it is hard to hear the other person.. because they might speaker might not lineup with their ears.
phones are getting bigger and thinner.. making it hard to hold up to the ear for long periods
 
dan330 said:
making it hard to hold up to the ear for long periods
Click to expand...

Except, that contradicts all the women I see driving top model cars who do not use the hands-free option. They insist on holding their phone to their ear while driving.
 
rootabaga said:
I don't mean this to have undertones of race or creed, but there's no way to ask it otherwise, and I'm hoping.....................
Click to expand...

I'm hoping to address a few other interesting cultural observations, from time to time,(having nothing valuable to add to the above discussion.) Hopefully without unnecessarily derailing this thread, or starting another of my own.

Like rootabaga, I have no interest in seeing his thread turn mean spirited, or to use it to single out any group for bashing. I do, however, personally believe that often there is a kernel of truth to stereotypes, and that they can be explored with both sensitivity and humor. I believe almost nothing should be off limits for discussion, provided the basis is one of genuine curiosity, and any humor is good natured. Also with the understanding that occasionally it is each of our turn "in the barrel", the humor everyone else in the room is enjoying might be directed toward one's self. If ever in doubt, pull your punches.....While also bracing for impact.:D
I trust none will mistake the above for an invitation to "cleverly" conceal something otherwise ugly within the conversation.

That said: A few weeks ago, I was having lunch in a local dining establishment, minding my own business, enjoying my "meal".

A group of four other people came in and took a table near me. I stopped minding my own business, and started minding theirs; To an extent that likely would have made them uncomfortable, had they any idea how closely the were being scrutinized.

Everything which follows is pure speculation on my part, but I feel I'm on pretty solid ground with most of my observations.

I'm pretty sure they were a family; A man and a woman in their mid to late '30s, and two young boys, aprox. 12 and 14.
The young ones certainly appeared related to the elder ones; All four shared similar facial structures, features, and other characteristics, all speaking to their common ancestry. Medium to slender builds, blonde hair, blue eyes.

Some odd fashion choices and haircuts, but nothing outlandish; Nothing even noteworthy, to anyone truly minding their own business. But just "off" enough to strike me as a little different from everyone else around here.

They spoke no English, just some other crazy language, and the man was toting a big 'ol SLR camera. (Sorry all, I didn't even pay attention to other devices, what kinds of phones they had.;))

To me, it was clear this was a German family, here on summer holiday; Furriners! Tourists, here in my town.:mad:;)

Welcome! There is much to see and enjoy, have a nice stay!!!
This is a beautiful little seaside community; The Mediterranean climate is nearly perfect, there is almost no end of things to do and see. Flora and fauna, farming and fishing, beauty everywhere; Mission style architecture, Spanish / Mexican influences abound; Experience as much of it as you can while you are here, with my blessing!

So what the HELL are you doing here in this TACO BELL????????

I'm the ugly American in this joint, no doubt about it......I have that job covered, I don't need any help from the likes of you!;)
I eat this glop (occasionally), even though I know better, and fully recognize that it is to Mexican food as Barney is to dinosaurs, what's your excuse?

I don't ever want to see you lot in here again!!!!!
And if I'm ever fortunate enough to visit your home.........Ya' better not take me to "Brat-Hut" and offer me a Coors Lite, 'cause I'll be mighty disappointed!!!!!:mad::p

What were they thinking?
I could only come up with a few explanations for their choice, neither particularly satisfying.

1) Is it the lure and appeal of the new; The strange, exotic, and foreign, that which is normally unavailable to them? They wanted the "local" experience when here? Perhaps "The Bell" is exactly what they wanted, just for a laugh; If so, enjoy. But please know that we have better to offer our friends.:)

2) (Far more chilling possibility)......Such "restaurants" are becoming ubiquitous throughout the world; They have become accustomed to it, and actually needed a "fix", some "taste of home". In that case, all I can offer is my apologies to the world.:(;)
 
Last edited:
As ever, standard disclaimers apply; I'm confident no racist ever looks in the mirror and sees a racist, so what follows may make no sense........Before I even start writing, I can feel this thing going off the rails, and the reader rolling his or her eyes with contempt.........But I think I'm on solid ground, and have never been one to seek the comfort and convenience of keeping silent.:rolleyes:

As a general rule, I go through life believing that within any group of people you could mention, there are many wonderful individuals. And within that same group, there are a whole bunch of individuals I wouldn't want to know on a dare.
It has nothing to do with race, gender, sexual orientation, education level, age, political beliefs........It's just the nature of people, and how some of em' just stink. No matter where you go, no matter what the group, my group being no exception. So let's take xxxxx-ism off the table right now.

That said; To my way of thinking, all women are by default assumed to be inherently beautiful treasures to be cherished and respected; Until some individually proven otherwise, full stop.

But I am only physically attracted to some of them, within any subgroup. That's my problem, (and hardly their loss).:D
I haven't exactly cut a triumphant swathe through the field of women in my town, but I am grateful to have experienced a little of this, and a little of that; And some of the most memorable relationships I have experienced have been with Asian women, for a variety of reasons.

And let's face it, Asian men and women often share some particular, characteristic facial features. Not universally, but as a general rule, Asians do in fact have distinctive eyes. Stop snickering, get over it.

I don't reflexively fall to my knees and propose marriage to any random Asian woman I meet because of those eyes, but I can't deny, that when I am in a relationship with an Asian woman, those eyes can be a real point of fascination and attraction.

So my question is: Why is there a segment of Asians (young and old, men and women) who undertake elective cosmetic surgery, to give themselves more "Western" eyes?

I don't get it.....One of the very things that is the real you, a trait that makes you special and attractive to me (in some instances)......You want to correct / butcher it?

I do understand, that from another's perspective, you may be asking "what is so special about a facial feature we all have"?........ And you might want to set yourself apart from "the crowd"........(And by the way, shame on you, for being so racist)!:p;)
And perhaps you have (an unfortunate) sense, that in order to advance in this part of the world, there may be some pressure to either "fit in" or "set yourself apart from the crowd".

Perhaps there are a dozen other explanations?

"Body modification" for no reason other than body modification?

From where I'm standing, when you undertake that cosmetic surgery, you destroy the real you, and in exchange you will never truly replicate the "Western" appearance you seem to value. You are creating some bizarre hybrid appearance, a Frankenstein feature never meant to exist in nature..........Perhaps that is your goal, and I am missing the point entirely?

And true to form, in my perverse, tortured logic........I look at the group of women who have undertaken this surgery (with greater and lesser degrees of success).....And can't deny that a subset of them are now very, very attractive, (in some freaky, bizarre, odd way).......What's wrong with me, doc?;)
 
^^ I get what you are sayin...

and my guess.. it is marketing and media...

example is Japan.. they love the western culture...
this very odd.. as USA nuked them 2 times!!!
but they envy the powerful..

but it has always bothered me...
if you look at their comics .. ANIME.. and cartoons
the characters have a very strong WESTERN look. very little Asian.
 
Talking about cultural phenomenons :)

Halloween! This typical American phenomenon is taking over Europe.
At least it does here in the Netherlands. And I like it. Like every good reason to throw a party, for kids to have some fun :)
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Liquid center eyeball chewing gum, I hope!:confused:;)

Edit: P.S. a quote from another thread (Kaat's) "Post your last purchase" entry does not automatically create a link to that post. Did I simply miss a step, or is it not supported in this software? Just curious.:)
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom