Are the Chinese REALLY a great bunch of lads?

Hammer89 · 07-08-2019 10:01PM #1

That's what they say, us Irish, but in my experience a lot of them are very grumpy, even the young.

I'm sure there are some happy-go-lucky ones floating around, but I've no recollection of meeting one. The ones I've met treat life as an obligation, as if they have to live, with the demeanour of that Harry Enfield character Kevin. I don't know what 'That's so unfair' is in Chinese but I'm sure I've heard it without knowing as much.

Thing is, maybe they say the same about us, that we're always moaning, which we are kind of. No point holding back on the blanket statements now. We're both miserable, us and the Chinese. Neither of us are a great bunch of lads.

Canadians, now there's a great bunch of lads. I've spent time in Canada and America and the Canadians are just way sounder. It's not even a debate. They're sounder than us and the Chinese, but the interesting thing, the REALLY interesting thing, is that the Chinese aren't any cheerier over there. Despite being in a generally happy country, they're still a bunch of Kevins, whereas the Irish make an effort over there to assimilate to happiness.

Dunno, I think we may have to stop calling them a great bunch of lads.

Yurt2 · 07-08-2019 10:03PM

There's approx 1.4bn of them. You're sample size might be a bit low to draw robust conclusions from your data points.

banie01 · 07-08-2019 10:05PM

There is a long standing and fairly numerous Chinese community in Ireland.
They seem to be a productive and happy section of our society and I do love a good chow mein...

But?
Considering how long we have had a Chinese community and how numerous they are, I've yet to ever see a Chinese headstone!?

On a serious note tho, great bunch of lads and considering how good they are at building walls...
Very open and integrated.

branie2 · 07-08-2019 10:08PM

New Englanders are a great bunch of lads

Leg End Reject · 07-08-2019 10:09PM

Given their track record on human rights, and the fact that any I've seen work in Chinese only businesses (restaurants and salons), I suspect they're working too hard to be cheery.

Mass generalisation, but based on my limited experience with them.

Franz Von Peppercorn II · 07-08-2019 10:11PM

Yurt! wrote: »

There's approx 1.4bn of them. You're sample size might be a bit low to draw robust conclusions from your data points.

Depends on the priors.

Lil Sally Anne Jnr. · 07-08-2019 10:12PM

I heard they have "Just Eat" for organs

Strumms · 07-08-2019 10:13PM

I wouldnt be ‘friends’ with any Chinese per say but I’ve known a few through work and another avenue of life and I have been impressed with them. What I might not have expected through my ignorance is their sense of humor and how funny they are is off the scale....hard workers too and genuine.

SEPT 23 1989 · 07-08-2019 10:14PM

Good lads to deal with no fcuking around

dxhound2005 · 07-08-2019 10:21PM

Hammer89 wrote: »

That's what they say, us Irish, but in my experience a lot of them are very grumpy, even the young.

Dunno, I think we may have to stop calling them a great bunch of lads.

You do know where the phrase came from??

Leg End Reject · 07-08-2019 10:22PM

dxhound2005 wrote: »

You do know where the phrase came from??

I hear you're a racist now father.

banie01 · 07-08-2019 10:23PM

dxhound2005 wrote: »

You do know where the phrase came from??

And let's not forget that they all have lovely bottoms too!

1.4bln of 'em, lovely bottoms all round

JohnnyFlash · 07-08-2019 10:23PM

I’d be over there a few times a year at trade shows and the like. Strange people. They are extremely intelligent, yet strangely insular. They are fascinated with western culture, yet also repulsed by some of it. They’d rip you off the very first chance they’d get, and consider that part and parcel of doing business.

auspicious · 07-08-2019 10:25PM

They are a really good bunch of lads.
The reason why some "act like Kevin" is because they've ended up in Ireland.

retalivity · 07-08-2019 10:26PM

Hammer89 wrote: »

Canadians, now there's a great bunch of lads. I've spent time in Canada and America and the Canadians are just way sounder. It's not even a debate. They're sounder than us and the Chinese, but the interesting thing, the REALLY interesting thing, is that the Chinese aren't any cheerier over there.

Canadians are as dull as dishwater, minus a million craic.

Hammer89 · 07-08-2019 10:31PM

retalivity wrote: »

Canadians are as dull as dishwater, minus a million craic.

The Chinese Canadians yeah.

archer22 · 07-08-2019 10:32PM

JohnnyFlash wrote: »

I’d be over there a few times a year at trade shows and the like. Strange people. They are extremely intelligent, yet strangely insular. They are fascinated with western culture, yet also repulsed by some of it. They’d rip you off the very first chance they’d get, and consider that part and parcel of doing business.

I don't know, generally I find them to be quite honest.

As for "They'd rip you off the first chance they get"...I would be far more concerned and wary about that in Ireland than I would in China any day.

ArchXStanton · 07-08-2019 10:35PM

They are, I've dealt with loads of them in a business sense, friendly, humorous and shrewd business folk

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 07-08-2019 10:40PM

Once you build a mutual trust they are a fantastic bunch. I worked with many some years ago; good fun, generous and hospitable. Of course it's a different culture but that applies across many peoples.

Edgware · 07-08-2019 10:55PM

Hammer89 wrote: »

That's what they say, us Irish, but in my experience a lot of them are very grumpy, even the young.

I'm sure there are some happy-go-lucky ones floating around, but I've no recollection of meeting one. The ones I've met treat life as an obligation, as if they have to live, with the demeanour of that Harry Enfield character Kevin. I don't know what 'That's so unfair' is in Chinese but I'm sure I've heard it without knowing as much.

Thing is, maybe they say the same about us, that we're always moaning, which we are kind of. No point holding back on the blanket statements now. We're both miserable, us and the Chinese. Neither of us are a great bunch of lads.

Canadians, now there's a great bunch of lads. I've spent time in Canada and America and the Canadians are just way sounder. It's not even a debate. They're sounder than us and the Chinese, but the interesting thing, the REALLY interesting thing, is that the Chinese aren't any cheerier over there. Despite being in a generally happy country, they're still a bunch of Kevins, whereas the Irish make an effort over there to assimilate to happiness.

Dunno, I think we may have to stop calling them a great bunch of lads.

The Chinese are good for a happy ending though

SEPT 23 1989 · 07-08-2019 10:57PM

Abdullah Lazy Magician wrote: »

Once you build a mutual trust they are a fantastic bunch. I worked with many some years ago; good fun, generous and hospital. Of course it's a different culture but that applies across many peoples.

Very family run operations

They have total respect for the elders

What they say goes

Edgware · 07-08-2019 11:00PM

retalivity wrote: »

Canadians are as dull as dishwater, minus a million craic.

When the Canadians have a house party or barbecue they will say its between 6 pm and 9 pm and they then expect you to leave at 9 p.m.

Paddy usually arrives around 8.45 and stays till 4.00 a.m.

artanevilla · 07-08-2019 11:03PM

I don't care if they are a great bunch of lads as long as I get to have a go at the Greeks. They invented gayness.

Dr. Bre · 07-08-2019 11:05PM

I love a Chinese but wouldn’t eat a whole one..

Spleerbun · 07-08-2019 11:11PM

My main experiences of them in college was finding them passed out asleep in various chairs around the library - seemed very stereotypical but boy can they sleep, gotta admire that.

When you consider the fact that many species of animals around the world are reportedly endangered and cruelly hunted as a direct consequence of their weird traditions, the incredible amount of smog and general pollution produced by all their factories and the like, the Communism stuff, the reported organ harvesting, as well as just the general strangeness of a lot of them (at least to us), maybe they aren't that great after all.

Oh and a pet peeve, walking around with umbrellas up when it's not raining!! thats a bit annoying I must say, although that could be various Asian countries not just China

Strumms · 07-08-2019 11:33PM

retalivity wrote: »

Canadians are as dull as dishwater, minus a million craic.

Perhaps the ones you may have encountered although a couple I know would have you change you mind :eek:

ArchXStanton · 08-08-2019 12:34AM

Spleerbun wrote: »

My main experiences of them in college was finding them passed out asleep in various chairs around the library - seemed very stereotypical but boy can they sleep, gotta admire that.

When you consider the fact that many species of animals around the world are reportedly endangered and cruelly hunted as a direct consequence of their weird traditions, the incredible amount of smog and general pollution produced by all their factories and the like, the Communism stuff, the reported organ harvesting, as well as just the general strangeness of a lot of them (at least to us), maybe they aren't that great after all.

Oh and a pet peeve, walking around with umbrellas up when it's not raining!! thats a bit annoying I must say, although that could be various Asian countries not just China

Like the Thai and Vietnamese, never ceased to amaze me how they could stretch out fast asleep on top of a scooter in the middle of the busiest, noisiest most chaotic cities in the world

Hammer89 · 08-08-2019 05:04PM

Right so we're concluding they're not a great bunch of lads.

colm_mcm · 08-08-2019 05:11PM

auspicious wrote: »

They are a really good bunch of lads.
The reason why some "act like Kevin" is because they've ended up in Ireland.

Who’s Kevin? Seriously

Dick phelan · 08-08-2019 05:14PM

Not as open as other nationalities i'v met overall however once you get to know them and they open up more they can be very sound. Generally they are more abrupt than Western culture but i actually have found them very generous, go out to dinner with them and often they will insist paying. Also their better crack than you'd expect, they work hard but a lot of them can play hard too. I will say though i think the one child policy has messed them up a little socially. A lot of Chinese lads are god awful when it comes to talking to women comparable to other countries.

Pinch Flat · 08-08-2019 05:16PM

banie01 wrote: »

There is a long standing and fairly numerous Chinese community in Ireland.
They seem to be a productive and happy section of our society and I do love a good chow mein...

A lot of Chinese takeaways were actually established by Vietnamese refugees in the late 70s / early 80s. A Chinese takeaway sounded more palatable than a Vietnamese one apparently

Are the Chinese REALLY a great bunch of lads?

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