Why do Taiwanese Americans think that Taiwan and its culture represents the whole of (East) Asia?

Question

http://www.geocities.com/wwu777us/Asian_Mentality.htm

Don't they realise that (East) Asia is more diverse than he thinks? Taiwan is Taiwan, it's not Japan, China or Korea.

Overseas Chinese or Taiwanese tend to have this confusion.... Taiwan is just a tiny little island. China is big, but not the whole of Asia.

They say, "in Asia, it's blah-blah-blah" when they are only talking about something specific to one country.

Answer 1

My Taiwanese manager in the office is a hard working man. He works diligently. He is humble and polite.

When you posted this question, what is your hiden intention? For God's sake, let your conscience, not your bias rule your actions.

Please love your neighbors the way you like yourself. Respect others and earn their respect in return.

Answer 2

Boy am I glad I haven't met such a Taiwanese yet. Most Taiwanese I worked with are pretty humble people, except for this one guy who lies a lot... wait a minute! He's a Taiwanese in living Seattle!! He fits into your criteria!!! My GOD!!! You're right!!! Taiwanese Americans SUCKS!!!

I have a theory regarding this. In my opinion, only rich kids (Taiwanese) can afford to study in the U.S. And I guess being rich and pampered their whole life must have an adverse effect on their character. Perhaps they grew up feeling that they are the center of the universe, everything revolves around them. Therefore, its only natural for them to feel that they represent the entire E.Asia.

The liar I mentioned above is also a snicky, calculating, suck-up. I am a S'porean Chinese. I did not come from a wealthy background. I worked hard to get to where I am today. When I was first introduced to him by my Japanese buddy, he was cold & distant. He didn't even bother to look me in the eyes and I also felt the vibes. But when he visited our Japan site and heard stuff about me, he suddenly warmed up to me, inviting me to drinking sessions and dinner. I am just so disgusted! Whats worse, before he visited Japan, when we were in the U.S. there was another newly hired Taiwanese, from Taiwan, who complained to me that he was unfriendly and unapproachable. Thats when It struck me at that time, that he is a rat. He was extremely friendly and warm towards my Japanese colleagues and high position Taiwanese colleagues but cold towards other people. People whom he feels carry no influence or couldn't 'help' him out.

But I'm sure not all Taiwanese-Americans are like him. Its just my ill-luck to have the misfortune of meeting him. He was only an intern back then, by the way. An intern who look down on people.

Answer 3

I disagree with pointdexter. He must be Taiwanese himself.

It is not only the Taiwanese but the Chinese in general. This is because of the 'ancientness' of their civilization. After all, they do go far back by more than 3000 years.

You have to know their culture to understand why they look upon other peoples as barbarians. To understand their condescending treatment of other races.

Don't let them get to you. Live your own life and be proud of what you are. Be condescending too.

Answer 4

I have never met any Taiwanese thinks that way, you must have it confused or mis-interpreted. Taiwan has same culture as China, and many Southeast Asian countries has Chinese influence in their cultures because of the early Chinese settlement. Your statement is totally wrong.

Answer 5

You did not read the post of the Taiwanese American.
Again you are generalising as not all ABTs have that attitude.

He says that He is a TA and that what he writes will have a Taiwanese slant to it because of it. He also mentions that it could also represent other Asians with similar backgrounds.

HE is writing from his perspective again mentioning thatAsia is indeed very large encompasing Indian Sub continent, SEA, EA e.t.c.

Answer 6

Actually I read through the site. I would say the author also suffers from his own broad generalization bias, but what he says does quite possibly apply to about 80% of oriental confucian based cultural members and it is relevant to the problems we all face here. There are seeds of truth but as the man himself proves- there are exceptions. I suffer from the same generalization bias, but when I find someone who differs from the norm I try to encourage them.

I would not say that my wife is closed minded or stuck on some kind of work/baby making robot function. We actually are open to having a kid but at this point don't see it as a need in our lives.

She is a creative individual who is faced by the dark prospect of being inside a strange society that is very much a masochistic society that beats itself down into pulp. Hence the relative lack of respect the rest of the world will give taiwan for the current time. its awfully hard to respect the world equilivant of the 'gimp' from Resevoir Dogs.

But the wider society also needs some encouragement and facing away from a psychological problem on this scale is an affront to our own values. Great progress is being made in many areas in Taiwan and more and more parents and people are learning the value of being able to stand up for themselves and to value differences rather than to crush them.
it just will probably take about 15-20 years for those members to become dominant members of society. Most of the people in power hub positions in society suffer from mental disorders brought about by the cultural revolution and the weirdness that a sadistic madman introduced to an entire society. All you can do with the gimp is try and give more healthy coping mechanisms that help 'it' escape its box eventually.

If you are out here to teach, the job is not just on the students. Its also part of our job to inform the parents of the values we wish to instill. The reality is most of them will likely not care if you try to encourage any thought outside of the box, but will not oppose you either. The kids will likely enjoy it and love you forever.

Chances are if you are here to teach you will have a set box to work in and people wont care as long as you complete the majority of assigned work, what you do outside of that work. Thats where you can try and introduce some ideas and ask your students about other things outside of work. If you are set up with complete BS that is nonsense, its time to make your own more reasonable set of curriculae.

I highly suggest challenging students. If they fail, dont berate them. Just state a fact and give the chance for the student to learn an effective coping mechanism. More often than not they will deal with it. Failure is the best teacher out there. Remember to always allow for correction and to have time to do so. Prepare said parents for the possibility of failure by specifically stating, violence is not an option. Nothing is taught by beatings but that everything else is BS and only violence matters. The truth is that violence only creates more problems. Facing failure means (at least faking) humility and a desire to improve and evaluate and learn from the mistakes made.

Anyways he seems to talk mostly about Taiwan based on his experiences and it seems ok. its generalized a bit. But we all tend to do that when we get lazy. The key is to force yourself awake and aware that when you do it, you point it out to yourself and get past it and apologize if need be to anyone who got sucked in by your mental laziness.<-- (racism)

Answer 7

hmm........ why do you think that taiwanese americans think that taiwan and its culture represents the whole of asia? huh ? eh ? eh ?

Answer 8

they thought that they are the best, they are wrong cause they dont know the history of taiwan.

Answer 9

Because it does represent the whole of East Asia. Why do you doubt this intelligent person? Do you think you know everything?

Answer 10

hmm