In response to Re the other (martin hainan)

Let's address the divergence from Martin Hainan who I feel ought to be directed here.

My remarks are always directed to the individuals who DO NOT post on this forum, readers who
are considering teaching in China. As you point out, critiques of schools that are
problem employers are certainly valuable contributions to readers of this forum.

Regardless whom you're replying to, this is a piece to follow. Since your original post is somewhat suggestive, your primary commentary may be interpreted in ways beyond your debatable intentions.

But on a daily basis this forum's contributors voice misogynist views of Chinese women,
racist commentary on Chinese society and 'Orientalist' perspectives of China's economic
development and government. I do support their right to express their views, however
poisonous and ill-informed I may consider them to be.

Having read some contributions retrospectively, I wouldn't be so assertive on this issue. However, being you now, I'd have to back pedal somewhere to keep respect of others. By the same token, I admit to be contributing my thoughts on the Chinese society, government and economic development that all demonstrate signs to be disliked. Claiming that posters' views on the issues are "poisonous" or "ill-informed", you seek to be cleared as it seems. Well, why don't you bring some examples of the toxic and lacking adequate knowledge posts either here or in a new topic?

But there are many foreigners in China, such as you and I, who have had rewarding experiences
assisting in the learning process of Chinese students and have enjoyed our life in
China, respecting its people and culture, while laboring cheerfully to navigate the
society's growing pains. Not surprisingly, most teachers who are happy in China do not
venture to contribute to a forum where their positive comments are subject to attack.

On the contrary, I don't see so many foreigners in the nation and I read somewhere there are fewer foreign travelers and teachers today than before. Further more, my worthwhile experiences are truly outweighed by the outright disrespect for the profession of foreign teacher whom most Chinese worshipped 20 years ago, and then by the shameless xenophobia that is intensifying everyday. Most often, I try not to blame the people as I am well aware of their lacking upbringing, but I do reserve my rights to point to the sources of the evil. Anyhow, to give you the benefit of doubt, I may be the only one of few with such degrading experiences as there probably are the other 600 000 foreigners in China today that are as "happy" as you are.

Readers considering teaching in China are entitled to positive and negative information.
Contributors that choose to label messengers of positive information about China as
'race traitors' or 'wumaos' or various vulgar homophobic British argot for collaborator
have their own psychic damage to project. Their whining is perhaps worthy of our pity,
but it is of no value to prospective teachers of English in China.

Although I agree that directing attacks at fellow users with such comments is reprehesible, I find it hard to connect with your suspiciously glowing approach on the board. Anyway, I'd have a lot more positive to add to forums about China in late 1990s than today, but again that's just me as you would probably say.