I've raised this issue a few times in the D & D in regard to why the model minority stereotype is in many ways a harmful stereotype to Asians and I think this topic is a good example. Yes there are many aspects of Chinese culture that emphasizes communal harmony and in general Chinese are taught to avoid direct confrontation. This is why social interactions and relationships are often complicated but also prized in Chinese culture. At the same time Chinese growing up are often taught things "The nail that sticks out is hammered down." and along with things like filiel piety and respect for authority. At the same time though Chinese culture also prizes heroes and celebrates athletic achievement. So while yes Yao's nice demeanor might have something to do with his upbringing but there's nothing about Chinese culture that wouldn't teach him to play hard and aggressive or not make him demand the ball. Yao's personality is Yao's and while he is definately greatly influenced by his upbringing it would be a mistake to blame his seeming lack of aggressiveness or dominance as we would consider it to be due to Chinese culture or by extension say that because Yao is like that most Chinese are like that. On a related note I wanted to comment on this: As an instructor and practitioner of martial arts I would hesitate to read this as an example of Asian culture. Martial arts particularly the Japanese arts has much more to do with militaristic values than as a reflection of Asian societies as a whole. To say that Asian culture is what you would find in a martial arts school is like saying that American culture is what you would find on a Marine base or a football team. Also the culture of Japanese and Korean martial arts is different from that of Chinese and SE Asian martial arts. In both arts there is a respect for teachers but Chinese arts aren't generally as rigidly hierarchical as the Japanese arts. The respect and submissiveness that you're reading in Yao to Van Gundy probably has more to do with Yao being raised in the quasi militaristic system of PRC atheletes than it being an Asian martial arts thing or that Yao wants to win and is willing to go along with the coach. This shouldn't be that hard to understand since even Steve Francis who most consider a product of American street ball still for the most part went along with Van Gundy's game plan.
This is really abusing. Been on this board for more than 2 years I've seldom seen any positive word about Yao from you. It's fine that you don't like him, but at least show some RESPECT, at least don't commend on his family like that based on *(^*&(%^#& information. Geez.
CULTURE ARE GUIDELINES. Every culture has their values blah blah blah but who really follows them? American culture supports the idea of individualism but is everyone independant? NO dipsh!t. You say culture is defined by the people, by what the people's actions or ideas? B/c every culture has this utopia idea of living life but majority of the people don't even follow it. If culture is defined by the people's actions, then china is a nation who's culture is to murder babies and america is a culture of fat american's who opress and kill people in other nations through labor so they can buy everything for cheap. So which is it? Culture is defined by the people's actions or ideas? If majority of the people don't follow the ideas then how can it be defined by the people? If culture is defined by actions then America is a country of labor exploitation. Culture are just guidelines embedded into society to maintain peace and understanding of the world PERIOD. You say im a anthropologist dipsh!t? btw, anthropologist do extensive research in culture unlike you ranting off with no concrete support of what you have to say.
Did you read the article or the book? Let me guess, the answer to that question is that you did not. Ergo, you have less information, verifiable or no, than I do on the situation, and if you did you would realize where I was coming from. I did not write the goddamned article, or the book. But the information that was presented is presumably fact - If Da Fang (since you did not read the article, I will let you know that that's her nickname - Da means "big" in Chinese, or so I have been informed - perhaps you already know this, but regardless...) was not in the Red Guards, then obviously a lawsuit or correction would follow, but the tale of Yao and Fang and her overwhelming influence on his life is made crystal clear according to the article, which you did not read. for whatever it's worth. Anyway, since you're arguing from a position of absolute ignorance in this matter, I'll allow you to just call me a racist and biased against Chinese/Asians for no legitimate reason and then back down like a douche, since you didnt' read the book or article, like all the oversensitive YOF's do when confronted with anything that disturbs their version of reality.
Sports Illustrade magazine. The Creation Of Yao Ming by Brook Larmer. Sept 26, 2005, Volume 103, No 12
Sam's just a regular jerk j/k Don't lump Sam into a category simply because he has somethign critical to say about Yao. I find him to be a pretty even-keeled guy until you play the race card on him
You just gave yourself away!! Eminem of the East from Houston! http://www.modelminority.com/printout460.html if its all true that is...
For your information, even as 'ignorant' as I am, I HAD read that article. For your information again, in some other thread I HAD said most Chinese fans think that article is a joke, was mainly based on imagination. But anyway why does that matter? I just ask you to RESPECT him as a PERSON. What would you think if someone comment your parents in that way? Maybe it's fine with you, but absolutely abusing to me. Well, in this matter I don't see why it's necessary to throw the YOF label, although I do realize it's your favorite. Drawing the race card is simply ridiculous and 'oversensitive'. To hotballa: yeah it's fine that anybody be critical to Yao or even dislike Yao. It's not my intension to bring up racial stuff (and I don't think I did in this case) coz that'll piss most people off including myself. I just jump on people who talk without respect. If somebody talk about other player like that, I'll speak as well. To me, commenting on other people's family in a bad way is just unbearable, no matter what's the purpose or where is it from.
Yao is afraid of people of the western cultures because all the movie he watched. No seriously...it's a different culture, I dont know if he will ever feel comfortable swearing shouting and send death threats to peopl he doesn't like. He should watch some southpark or family guy.
Cultures have internal mechanisms to balance out things. In the Chinese culture achieving harmony is a goal between man and nature, between man and man. It doesn't really discourage confrontation in all cases. Avoidance of confrontation takes place from children to their parents, between working peers, between leader and subordinates. Harmony in social affairs should be achieved through peaceful measures. These goals are ideals, not be all end all measures. When Chinese are violated, they tend to fight back fiercely most of the time. The time they didn't fight back fiercely are the times they got totally conquered. How many times did that happen? Twice in thousands of years of her history. Once by the Mongolians, and once by the Manchurias. Both later on overthrown by Chinese. China wouldn't last for thousands of years if they are a bunch of timid sheep, particularly when China has the misfortune of locating beside the biggest grassland in the world, the Mongolian grassland, home of endless, nomad tribes that get strong in turn. Yao is a product more of circumstance than cultural upbringing.
Damn, this is gonna be a long post. Please excuse this for everyone not interested. If culture were guidelines, it would remain constant. Unfortunately culture does evolve. It's shaped by technology, fashion, fads, globalization, and various other external influences. These factors are driven by the people--surely by their actions and ideologies, but also from their habits, lifesyltes, common struggles, and much much more. That is why the people define the culture. Oy...it's ok. Thanks for trying tho. I'll just excuse your brain for its diarrhea. Neither. But the people as a whole work and define a particular set of habits, lifestyle, ideologies, etc. And all of those influence and help shape a culture. A good analogy would be ants. Although no single ant does everything a culture does, however ants as a super-organism defines its culture. Close. America is a country of out-sourcing labor to minimize production costs. AHhahaaha.. It's funny how you feel compelled to discredit me since you're incapable of really dealing with the issue.
