Some people don’t like this blog. Some hate it. Here are their reasons.
Why a Chinese uses English to Blog?
It is common comment. Someone said something really bad about this blog, because it is in English. Many people take France as a model of anti-English countries. I have to accept this. It is bitter sometimes. Well. Let me get back to the question, why I choosed to use English in this blog?
It was just for fun at the very begining. When I started, who knows what the site would be look like. Just as the URL of this site, I used http://home.wangjianshuo.com for simple reason – the computer was at my home. After that, I found the gap of communication and the hopeless visitors in Shanghai or planning to visit Shanghai. So I continued. It does not mean I don’t love my country or to show off – as some commented.
Bad Shanghaiese?
Some people just feel someone is bad because they are Shanghainese. This became popular, as I discussed at the Mercy! Tolerance section of Nice Meetup with Hailey and Roddy. I don’t want to comment on this. It does not make any sense.
As earthmilk said, why people keep giving comments and suggestions to other people’s life.
Mr. Wang
I understand your frustration, but don’t let it hamper the existence of the blog you created. People may be jealous for what you have accomplished and you must disregard it.
At any rate, keep the faith strong.
Stephen
I support you. Keep up the good work.
It is not easy to keep up the Blog, especially in English.
Most of negative comments on your blog should be out of jealousy hearts. Please do not let them get to you. Keep a good and balanced attitude!
In Switerland, students learn 5 languages–it is a pride of their educational system. Their own language, Switzdeutch, is hardly spoken outside Switzerland. This fluency, combined with their neutrality (such as it is) has helped make this tiny country prosperous and cultured.
Languages are bridges between cultures, they connect cultures but they don’t disconnect them. English is so difficult to learn and I admire you so much for blogging in a foreign language. You express yourself so beautifully and share the beauty of the Chinese culture and soul in your blog. Your mind and heart is open wider than those who cannot appreciate your accomplishment. You set a wonderful example. I hope you keep blogging in English and learn to understand that this kind of criticism comes from people who have not yet learned what you know—that communication is the first step to peace.
Dear Jian Shuo:
First of all, I would like to say “Thank you!” for a wonderful job you have done in the past few years in promoting the City of Shanghai and in helping visitors to Shanghai. I was born in Shanghai and have lived in the U.S. for a very long time. I must confess that your website really helped me a lot, bot in terms of giving me the practical information about the city when I decided to visit Shanghai and in explaining to the world how things are and what people are doing in the city of Shanghai. I sometimes even brag about this website to my relatives in Shanghai, because I can have insider information about Shanghai when some of my relatives living in Shanghai do not even know.
Secondly, English is THE language at this day and age. Let’s face it, if you travel to anywhere in the world, English is the language. Also, it is the language for business, IT and aviation. Pilot, banker, software engineers, all communicate in English.
I, as a frequently visitor to your wonderful website, really like your website. And I hope I can meet you personally some time when I visit Shanghai.
Donald
Jian Shou: I think it’s great that your site is in English. To be honest I wouldn’t visit it if it wasn’t. I’m bad with my own language (english), terrible with my native language (spanish), imagine what I would be like with Chinese. Not learning other languages is my own fault. Not for nationalistic pride or arrogance to other people and their cultures, but lack of time to travel abroad are the reasons I have never learned another language. Had I more time away from work and family, I would definetly learn some more languages, Chinese being on the top of the list. When I was in Shanghai I met several local people who knew more than one language. One person comes to mind because he was a chinese geologist working on the 3 Rivers project, he spoke German, French, English and Chinese. Because most business and technical terms did not translate so well between the different languages, English was the language used when talking with the other engineers from abroad.
I thank you that your site is in English and allows me insight into a place I have only had a fleeting glimpse of.
I enjoy reading your blogs. Please go on.
And you can never make everyone like you.
Just do what you want to do.
There exist many other sites in Chinese that share information about Shanghai, but foreigners and overseas folks do not visit them as often because, one, some of them may not have good informative quality and, two, they are not written in English. I trust a Spanish or German or French site would also have a readership if they provide quality information, and meanwhile those who wish to read and/or learn Chinese can go to the hundreds of other Shanghai sites but you have to pick the good ones.
Keeping a diary in a second language is challenging, and the challenges make it fun. I myself never was able to keep a Chinese diary for more than a few days but wrote many English diaries daily just to practise English writing. It was extremely helpful; especially rewarding was the process of going back to review and self-correct the previous entries again and again. If you are jealous of Jian Shuo’s English skills, then try to work an English blog yourself and, one day, you will be as good as he.
Is there an issue of patriotism here? No, absolutely not! On the contrary, Wang Jian Shuo is doing an excellent service to China and to Shanghai by promoting information sharing and cross-cultural understanding, and his site deals (honestly) with real issues such as SARS, traffic, the environment, and shopping. The country and the city should give him a huge award for starting and running this blog. I am sure the tourism bureau knows exactly what I mean. Even if someone is anti-English, he/she should be pleased to see that wangjianshuo.com has contributed to attracting English speakers to visit, to sample, and to learn Chinese traditions, names, culture, or language.
I do not know why there are so many “angry youth” in China these days. It certainly was not the case when I was in college not a long time ago. Maybe they did not learn English well in school and hence resent anyone who can use it? (Hint, it is too easy to get into college these days :) Maybe they think that refusing to use English is the only way China can show its power to the world? Either way, it is pathetic.
No one forced them to read your blog. Yet they still cannot control the urge to put out garbage comments. That fact speaks volumes about the nature of these people.
Hi, JianShuo,
Carry on your great blog in English! Forget those negative comments, these are from as someone pointed out, jealousy hearts; and forget hopeless French, they never travel or live outside their own place.
As a Chinese bit older than your generation, I believe China will always remain open and powerful as long as there are quality people like you back home.
Enjoy your life, and write for people who love your blog, and leave some mercy for those nagetive commenter: they have no other place to speak out, and annoying a humble Chinese guy like you is their great achievement. :-)
Thanks, thanks and thanks. I will keep, of cause. I was not in very good mood when I read some links from other website – typically BBS. It is OK for them to think that way, what ever they think.
Jianshuo, I love your blog. If you think the thing is right, just go ahead.
We are your strong supporters!
Hey, JS! I agree with what these commenters/fans-of-your-lovely-blog were saying. Do what your passion is, which is writing. It’s the greatest thing ever. Keep it up, JS! We’re just around. :-)
Thanks everyone for your support.
Jian Shuo,
You have done an excellent job with the blog.
It could be jealousy, it could be ignorance. Whatever it is, don’t let the negative comments get to you. Often times we must do what we believe it is right and ignore what people say. It’s hard, but you know what, leave the criticism alone, keep up your good work and your visitors will keep coming and coming.
I don’t visit your blog as ofen as I should, but I really admire and appreciate what you have done.
Best wishes,
your blog is excellent… i just discovered it as i may be moving to shanghai soon. keep up the great work and don’t listen to the jealous hearts.
Dear JS,
I’ve read your blog for two years, and find it helps me to understand Shanghai and China. I regularly travel to Shanghai on business, and your information has been a great help to me. More than that, though, I see a very good person shining through your writing. Please try to ignore the criticism- it’s the inevitable price of celebrity- and don’t let anyone change you.
I will keep it as it was – thanks for your comment. It gives me much courage. Oh. You have been with me for two years! That is a long time. I welcome you to stay with me and the other readers for the days to come.
Jian shuo’s blog is great.My favorite sites about shanghai: hom.wangjianshuo.com and shanghaiexpat.com .I like to visit your blog although I’m not post here frequently.
Have a nice weekend.
Li Jun
I love your blog! I have a question: I will be in Shanghai from Oct 1 to Oct 8 (during National day). How crowded is it? I was going to stay in Puxi but if its too crowded might stay in Pudong.
I read in your previous blog that they shut down the subways and cabs are hard to find. Is it for just one day? or is the crowds and shutdown for more than one day? any advice u can give is appreciated!
Allison, welcome to Shanghai. I suggest you to stay in Puxi, no matter how crowded it is. Being crowded is part of the life in Shanghai and you have to experience it. Oct 1 to Oct 7 will be the most crowded period in Shanghai, but you should be able to go to where you want. The metro MAY close on Oct 1 night, and take care. When Metro closes, all other transportation does not work due to the large number of passengers. So….. prepared to walk back to where you stay.
It is far easier to criticize than to create.
Keep creating!
And thanks for all your efforts!
I like your Blog.I read it everyday. and I introduced your Blog to my brothers in China. I’m going to back to Shanghai at the end of this year, maybe we can meet up too.
I keep an English blog too. And I did it for my summer school students. And then I thought: I can turn it into my “own” blog too. And there are people who will come to my site and leave really unfriendly comments. You know, sometimes you got to accept these with grace. There is always people who are critical about everything.