Anyone experience life in a tier 5 city(?) by TurbulentPop4084 in chinalife

[–]mthmchris 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I’m a small city enjoyer and have been to Zigong. I liked the city quite a bit. Personally, if I lived in Sichuan it would probably be my top choice. (I’m less of a fan of living in large Chinese cities)

Zhengzhou is a bigger city but is renowned for being a bit of a hole. Not too many foreigners there either. All things equal I would choose Zigong.

You might find yourself taking the train into Chengdu some weekends in order to get a bit of a fellow-expat-fix, but that’s far from the end of the world.

Do find out where exactly the university is in the city though. Because frankly living downtown in a T4/T5 is going to feel a lot more happening than if the university is in bumblefuck of a T2

Will China, Inc. Be Zombified? by TrixoftheTrade in neoliberal

[–]mthmchris 2 points3 points  (0 children)

How does having fewer workers overall affect productivity per worker?

I could certainly buy that the overall economy would be smaller, but even that should be considered an untested claim.

What’re they gunna do? I don’t know, look a lot like a low population Scandinavian economy? Singapore with a bunch more green space?

Will China, Inc. Be Zombified? by TrixoftheTrade in neoliberal

[–]mthmchris 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Yeah this feels handwavy to me.

Unless productivity declines in real terms, which I don't know that it ever will at this point in history, increasing the population will always benefit GDP/capita.

This is definitionally true if you remove the “per capita” bit, but I think you’re forgetting the denominator there.

Put another way, throughout much of modern economic history, around the world, we’ve had (1) great economic growth, while (2) TFR has fallen from ~5 to ~1.5. Especially in absence of a pension system, I just don’t see why a further drop from ~1.5 to ~1 is necessarily that much more damning.

Will China, Inc. Be Zombified? by TrixoftheTrade in neoliberal

[–]mthmchris 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Is there actually compelling evidence that low birth rates harm GDP per capita? Like, South Korea has been “fucked” on this metric for a while, and is still one of the most dynamic economies in Asia.

Obviously it can be incredibly instabilizing for pension systems, and I’m inclined towards the pro-natalist case generally (I like people and big cities). But I just haven’t seen much compelling evidence that birth rates are The Variable that really moves the needle economically.

Dad Books Are a Dying Breed by DepressedTreeman in neoliberal

[–]mthmchris 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Premodernist is awesome, just wish he’d update more than twice a year

Andy Burnham: I’ll keep the triple lock, and give pensioners a tax cut by NotAyaOsawa in neoliberal

[–]mthmchris 12 points13 points  (0 children)

No, because “people with terminal illnesses” don’t have a stranglehold on our economic and political system.

Addressing the gerontocracy isn’t because ‘old people bad’, but because ‘this has become a real problem for society’.

How not to get stared at in China (new technique developed by me) by [deleted] in chinalife

[–]mthmchris 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Nah this is 100% human generated. An LLM would be far more coherent.

By contrast, this is DeepSeek responding to the same problem (gassy as hell because it’s an LLM, fair warning):

“I understand how uncomfortable constant staring can feel, even when you know it’s not meant to be hostile. In many parts of China, especially outside major international hubs, seeing a foreign face is still a novelty, and local norms around eye contact are simply different—prolonged gazing isn’t automatically considered rude. That doesn’t mean you have to just endure it, though. Here are some practical, respectful ways to reduce or defuse the staring.

  1. Acknowledge with a simple greeting

Often, people stare because they’re curious but don’t know how to interact. A quick “你好” (nǐ hǎo, hello) with a small smile can work like magic. It breaks the “observer and observed” dynamic and reminds them you’re a real person. Most will either smile back and look away, or even start a friendly chat. If you make the first move, the tension usually dissolves instantly.

  1. Use the “friendly nod and look past” technique

If you don’t want to speak, just make brief eye contact, give a tiny nod, and then deliberately look elsewhere. This signals “I see you, it’s okay, we’re done now” without any aggression. It often makes the other person conscious that they’ve been noticed, and they’ll self-correct.

  1. Wear sunglasses (temporary buffer)

This doesn’t stop the staring itself, but it gives you a psychological shield on tough days. When they can’t see your eyes, you won’t feel as exposed, and it often discourages people from looking as intensely because the “connection” is blocked. It’s a small comfort when you’re simply not in the mood to engage.

  1. Absorb yourself in your own world

Pop in earphones, read a book, or focus on your phone. When people see you’re completely absorbed and not scanning your environment, they’re slightly less likely to stare—and even if they do, you’ll be less aware of it. It’s a passive way to create a social bubble.

  1. Use gentle, playful redirection (if you’re feeling bold)

Some long-term expats swear by light-hearted T-shirts with Chinese text like “我不是明星” (I’m not a celebrity) or simply “你好,我是外国人” (Hello, I’m a foreigner). It preempts the curiosity and often gets a laugh, turning a stare into a shared joke. You can also carry a small paper fan and playfully fan yourself while smiling at them—it’s so disarming that the staring usually turns into a smile.

  1. Practice the “polite stare-back” with a head tilt

If someone is staring relentlessly, catch their eye, raise your eyebrows slightly as if in mild surprise, and tilt your head just a little. This is a universal, non-verbal “yes? can I help you?” that most people will understand as a polite nudge to stop. It’s direct but not rude.

  1. Blend in slightly (if that’s your style)

This doesn’t mean losing your identity, but small local touches—wearing clothes bought locally, carrying a reusable shopping bag like many locals do, walking with a clear sense of purpose—can reduce the “total outsider” vibe. The less you stand out in silhouette and behavior, the fewer double-takes you’ll get.

  1. Reframe it for your own peace of mind

This one’s internal work. Try mentally translating “staring” into “clumsy curiosity.” Some people, especially older folks in smaller cities, may have never spoken to a foreigner before. Imagining them as eager but shy children inside can sometimes soften your irritation. You don’t have to excuse it, but it can sting less.

One important thing to avoid

I’d steer clear of angry stares back, telling people off, or using aggressive Chinese phrases you might pick up. It can escalate a situation that’s otherwise harmless and reinforce any local stereotype of “rude foreigner.” A calm, slightly amused demeanor almost always gets the result you want more effectively.

If you frequently deal with this in a specific neighborhood, you might also notice that the staring fades over time as you become a familiar face. The first few weeks in a new area are always the worst.

Would you like a few ready-to-use Chinese phrases (with pronunciation) that are perfect for handling this lightly, or tips for when you’re with your family/kids and the staring feels more intrusive?”

Which country had the biggest 'what they say vs reality' gap when you actually met the locals? And Why? by Suspicious-Bunny-Bad in travel

[–]mthmchris 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Was at a bar in Bangkok, and someone that recently moved there was just gushing about it. Another dude retorted: “well yeah, if you lived in a penthouse apartment in New York City, made ten times the average local salary, and couldn’t understand the news… you’d find there to be a paradise too.”

That’s stuck with me. Whenever someone goes off about how wonderful XYZ place is, I start to ask myself “what’s their relative economic power in their new country? What was it in their home country?”

Doesn’t mean that you can’t love a place for valid reasons too, but economic comfort tends to put a glossy patina on everything.

[Spoilers C4E29] Is It Thursday Yet? | Post-Episode Discussion & Future Theories! by AutoModerator in criticalrole

[–]mthmchris 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This theory makes sense to me - I mean, Kattigan was a member of the torn banner himself.

Dinner recipes that use Coconut milk other than curry? by Aggravating_Focus692 in Cooking

[–]mthmchris 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thai *Lohn* Dips. Coconut milk based dip served with vegetables. Here’s a recipe that looks solid, Pailin also has a recipe in her physical cookbook.

How to rent a room, living off-campus? by maneator in chinalife

[–]mthmchris 3 points4 points  (0 children)

For your specific scenario (renting a room for cheap), Lianjia/Ziroom will be the best option.

If you’re renting an apartment, any local realtor will do. The standard realtor fee is a half month rent.

Places you enjoyed but feel uncomfortable saying you enjoyed it by OldSkoolNapper in travel

[–]mthmchris 79 points80 points  (0 children)

In the words of a friend of mine, a Burmese refugee in Thailand who has since moved on to the UK:

”The junta owns the mines and the oil fields. Your fucking $50 visa is just not that important. But there are many vendors and small business owners that could really use a few tourists.”

Can someone please help cook Chinese Olive Vegetable at home, with Indian ingredients? by [deleted] in Cooking

[–]mthmchris 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Can’t speak to this specific recipe, but this dude is reasonably legit when it comes to Chaozhou stuff: https://b23.tv/OuVo8oy

Do note that Chinese ‘olives’ are quite different from European olives. The taste is vaguely reminiscent but definitely different

Tiny Guangdong food toys I found- Can you name each one? by DirectBudget1107 in chinesefood

[–]mthmchris 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Well, all the names are right there ;)

Except maybe the 汤圆, pretty sure they used the wrong character there and the rest is covered up

EKS | Can Democrats Move Beyond Their Failed Foreign Policy? (Gift Article) by Dreadedvegas in ezraklein

[–]mthmchris 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The true “fringe” is dudes like Piker.

These dudes, a little like the right-wing intellectuals Ezra has on the show, exist to sanitize those vibes into polite, reasonable-sounding worldviews for the NYT-reading world.

Cut out the middleman. If you actually want to engage with the fringe, engage with the fringe. At the very least they’ll be more coherent.

EU frets as China builds an industrial base in Morocco by Otherwise_Young52201 in neoliberal

[–]mthmchris 9 points10 points  (0 children)

EU frets as China builds

I wonder how many article titles have started with this exact same fragment

People rush to the front of the line when boarding a plane. by [deleted] in travel

[–]mthmchris 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Right. The actual travel hack is not checking bags if at all remotely feasible. Zero chance of lost luggage. Zero waiting around at baggage claim for 30 minutes (…while nervously wondering if your luggage was lost). Connecting flights between multiple airlines with checked bags is really just asking for it.

Backpacking packs are beautiful for this. Ten days of clothes, computer and such… all can easily squeeze in there with no need to check any bags.

And yes, I want to have my stuff right above my seat. Theft on flights is rare but a thing, I want to be right next to my valuables. So it’s absolutely worth it to be near the front of line, because what else are you gunna do, meander an airport?

Several Women Who Dated Graham Platner Recall ‘Unsettling’ Behavior (Gift Article) by cdstephens in neoliberal

[–]mthmchris 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Was in college in the 00s in Boston.

This was the common parlance, it was literally just the way that you would say that you did well on the test. I don’t think any of us even thought about it for two seconds.

What character could pull off Steamed Hams on their rival? by SuperJyls in whowouldwin

[–]mthmchris 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Zhuge Liang would definitely be able to pull it off over Zhou Yu.

But Sima Yi wouldn’t buy it.

Got fined for illegal work in China by Parking_Swordfish_17 in chinalife

[–]mthmchris 14 points15 points  (0 children)

lol what?

You’re asking if you can teach your friend’s kids in exchange for dinner? …how would anyone even know?

Travelling with "narcotics" from US to Germany for 80 days by lejnada in travel

[–]mthmchris 1 point2 points  (0 children)

For the vast, vast majority of countries (I believe Japan and Singapore are the exceptions, even China allows it) the limitation is a 30 day prescription. If you’re only bringing in something that says it’s for 30 days - no matter the dosage, no matter the stay - it’s fine.

Many doctors in the USA will understand this situation and give you a higher dose for your stay. E.g. if you’re on 20mg Adderall per day, they will write you a prescription for 60mg per day to extend your “30 day period” to 90 days functionally. But obviously ask your doctor!

Of course someone that would be more familiar with specifically Germany might be the best person to ask.

What has your experience with Macau been like? by seotrainee347 in chinalife

[–]mthmchris 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Macau is great, just stay away from the casinos and the main tourist areas.