I've lived in Chinatowns in New York City and Paris.

In those diaspora, I've often observed groups of Chinese heatedly discussing in Mandarin and Cantonese and various Fujian dialects their lives in their adopted country. As much as I wish to eavesdrop, I'm unable to understand their conversations. I wonder if they are busy criticizing and critiquing the economies and culture of the U.S. and France. I wonder how their conversations compare to the commentary, nonsense and vitriol that occur in this forum.

China is successfully forging its new powerful position in the world, nijao (poor pinyin? 泥沼?). Fear not: the Sound and Fury of online expats truly signifies nothing.