Just you wait till you stop being a student and start working for a living now thats a whole new ball game!
Just you wait till you stop being a student and start working for a living now thats a whole new ball game!
I know that Hong Kong is small and crowded place, and for being objective I also know that "westerners" are not so good at sharing stuff like space. But are the reason that Hong Kong is small and crowded really an excuse for not being kind to each other???? No matter where you come from?
The thinking have further never appeared to you that I am taller, larger, stronger and are moving faster because of this compared to Hong Kong people. To be honest, this is what exchange student hate when they are coming here. Some are getting so irritated about this that they actually don’t care anymore and are letting Hong Kong people take the crash. Because cant a person move that is smaller I guess I will not being the one that will be hurt.
And further, it is not about being first or not while looking at things in a store. In civilized countries people showing considerations about that other also want to look. Do small guys really need to block all the space...i don't think so!
I second that motion !
Mettre les voiles, Mircolan
o.k, just kidding...
Mircolan, it sounds like you are very new to Hong Kong, and going through the early adaption phase. We all went through it, and after a few years, you don't even notice the crowds, and eventually, when you cannot beat them, you join em....
I'll just have to remember when I am in Melbourne over Easter, that i don't rush for the lift, block tram/train doors before people exit, queue jump and resist some of the unique HK habits, that I have adopted, ha ha or there might be a gun fight lol.
Last edited by Skyhook; 02-04-2009 at 04:48 PM.
There are differences in behaviour that are annoying no doubt about it (see the many many threads on this on this site of which I have joined in many) but to categorise the whole of the local Hong Kong population as selfish is just a bit of an overstatement don't you think?
This thread is no different to my bumping thread last year or Sophies MTR rant of a few weeks ago. I don't see why this OP is being given such a hard time! S/he is right - people on the streets do not give way; I have been looking at a shoe in a shop and a person pushed their way between me and the shoe (no mean feat!) just so they could answer their phone - they were not even looking at the products!
And we all enjoyed the literary elegance of the umbrella wars .....
Lighten up those who are giving the OP a hard time. S/he just needs to let off some steam. Just like we all do from time to time!
It's not that HK people are selfish, but their behaviour is certainly different to other places. And for example, i am in Singapore right now, and I notice how non-HK-like the people are! No pushing, no bumping - yet Singapore is also full and tiny! I don't think we can use city size as a reason. It's a pure HKesque trait.
But yes - I do agree with those who say - lighten up and let it go. Breathe deeply (but not if you are close to the roadside pollution!); count to ten; learn to adjust and push your way through the crowds if they don't move (and remember to adjust back when you leave !).
But it is acctually all about being selfish. That is all that matters in Hong Kong, I have understand that. All members of the family can be treated kind, but the rest...
I think further it is very rare to see 87 people cueing up for checking a product in a store. Lets take for example, the breadrack on Welcome. No one will ever move. People don't even think that i also want to check it. And do i really need to ask such a simple think. Cant they just have some consideration?
Hmmm, I had a horrible experience in Parknshop. I have lived here for a very long time and was shocked at the attitude of the local guy. It was Sunday and the shop was packed, I was walking and suddenly someone clipped me on my ankle (it was painful) with their trolley wheel. Thinking it was my daughter I turned to tell her off, but it was a youngish guy and he just passed me without an apology. So I asked him to apologize. His replied"you were walking slow". Me " Why didn't you just say excuse me instead of hitting me with the trolley?" Then he said "F**k you and walked off"!!
I couldn't swear back at him as my kids were with me, but I was so angry.
I know not all locals have bad manners like him, but I just wanted to tell you my experience as I am still shocked.
Actually, I have to say that the getting-between-me-and-a-shop-shelf-that-I'm-obviously-looking-at thing is still very annoying. Plus when you ask them to move, they have this look of complete tranquil innocence on their faces, like little darling angels. You KNOW you were in the way, and now you've made it impossible for me to have a public attack of IGS. Grrrr!