Comments on: The Air in China http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/08/07/the-air-in-china/ Curiously Long Posts Fri, 19 Mar 2010 03:53:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Sven http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/08/07/the-air-in-china/#comment-27073 Sven Thu, 14 Aug 2008 18:06:12 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/08/08/the-air-in-china/#comment-27073 Humma - The Amber Room was over-rated -Just too gaudy. Joe - I lived in Russia for two years. The queuing thing is touch and go. Historically, the Russians have been good line-waiters (they had to be - "No - This is line for 'No Fish', the line for 'No Meat' is across the street". But today, it's a very different story. It's strange, but there are some places where people are totally orderly and others where it's complete chaos. Getting into a football stadium, driving in traffic, getting on the subway - complete every man for himself (you feel happy getting felt up by the security guards at the football stadium, b/c you've been released by the mob) If no one is coming in the other direction, feel free to drive on the other side of the road. But at stores and tourist sites, it's a different story. Maybe it has to do with the Babushka's barking out orders to toe the line, but the crowds are docile and orderly. Humma -

The Amber Room was over-rated -Just too gaudy.

Joe -

I lived in Russia for two years. The queuing thing is touch and go. Historically, the Russians have been good line-waiters (they had to be – “No – This is line for ‘No Fish’, the line for ‘No Meat’ is across the street”. But today, it’s a very different story.

It’s strange, but there are some places where people are totally orderly and others where it’s complete chaos.

Getting into a football stadium, driving in traffic, getting on the subway – complete every man for himself (you feel happy getting felt up by the security guards at the football stadium, b/c you’ve been released by the mob) If no one is coming in the other direction, feel free to drive on the other side of the road.

But at stores and tourist sites, it’s a different story. Maybe it has to do with the Babushka’s barking out orders to toe the line, but the crowds are docile and orderly.

]]> By: Brent http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/08/07/the-air-in-china/#comment-26675 Brent Mon, 11 Aug 2008 15:52:46 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/08/08/the-air-in-china/#comment-26675 It is simple. In American, GB, Japan and some other countries (I am guessing Australia, Canada, South Africa, hmm, what do they all have in common), the first thing, I mean, the very first thing we teach our children in school is to stand in line quietly and respectfully. If you do, you get rewarded, if you don't you get punished. It doesn't take Pavlov to figure out why those children grow up to be line respectors as adults. It is simple. In American, GB, Japan and some other countries (I am guessing Australia, Canada, South Africa, hmm, what do they all have in common), the first thing, I mean, the very first thing we teach our children in school is to stand in line quietly and respectfully. If you do, you get rewarded, if you don’t you get punished. It doesn’t take Pavlov to figure out why those children grow up to be line respectors as adults.

]]> By: Bryan http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/08/07/the-air-in-china/#comment-26638 Bryan Mon, 11 Aug 2008 07:45:38 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/08/08/the-air-in-china/#comment-26638 Personally, the most enjoyable line-waiting experience i've ever had was at in the "Queue" at Wimbledon. A beautiful scene, respectful people, and incredibly well-organized by all involved. All i could think about was that if that was in the United States it would devolve into an angry stampede rather quickly. Personally, the most enjoyable line-waiting experience i’ve ever had was at in the “Queue” at Wimbledon. A beautiful scene, respectful people, and incredibly well-organized by all involved. All i could think about was that if that was in the United States it would devolve into an angry stampede rather quickly.

]]> By: Art Radley http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/08/07/the-air-in-china/#comment-26602 Art Radley Sun, 10 Aug 2008 21:07:31 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/08/08/the-air-in-china/#comment-26602 As as right now Maddux and Pedro are in a dead heat. Shades of the Costner/Cruise battle. As as right now Maddux and Pedro are in a dead heat. Shades of the Costner/Cruise battle.

]]> By: buckweaver http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/08/07/the-air-in-china/#comment-26571 buckweaver Sun, 10 Aug 2008 09:18:25 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/08/08/the-air-in-china/#comment-26571 "That was right around the time I invented standing in line." "You invented standing in line?" "Yes, before that everybody just gathered around. It was all a big mess, so I said, 'Why don't we just make a line?' " "Oh yeah, what was the line for? "To get in." “That was right around the time I invented standing in line.”
“You invented standing in line?”
“Yes, before that everybody just gathered around. It was all a big mess, so I said, ‘Why don’t we just make a line?’ ”
“Oh yeah, what was the line for?
“To get in.”

]]> By: scott http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/08/07/the-air-in-china/#comment-26557 scott Sun, 10 Aug 2008 04:34:42 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/08/08/the-air-in-china/#comment-26557 After having lived in Beijing last year, I need to tell you that the only plush beds in the entire country are those at the highest quality hotels catering to western businessmen. Everywhere else you're more or less sleeping on a plank. The smog was the most incredible thing about working in Beijing- once in a while it would rain and the sun would come out, and i'd be squinting and wondering where all the extra light came from. When I lived there there was talk about reducing the number of cars on the road and halting construction projects to reduce the worst of the particulate matter, but my ex-pat friends tell me that didn't happen. Btw- The beijinger accent is terrible. If you have a lonely planet book or a translator you should be fine for sightseeing but if you have a more traditional guidebook the words will not be pronounced by locals as they are in the book. To be safe, toss a spare "r" onto the end of every word. Think of it as the Reverse Bostonian. After having lived in Beijing last year, I need to tell you that the only plush beds in the entire country are those at the highest quality hotels catering to western businessmen. Everywhere else you’re more or less sleeping on a plank.

The smog was the most incredible thing about working in Beijing- once in a while it would rain and the sun would come out, and i’d be squinting and wondering where all the extra light came from. When I lived there there was talk about reducing the number of cars on the road and halting construction projects to reduce the worst of the particulate matter, but my ex-pat friends tell me that didn’t happen.

Btw- The beijinger accent is terrible. If you have a lonely planet book or a translator you should be fine for sightseeing but if you have a more traditional guidebook the words will not be pronounced by locals as they are in the book. To be safe, toss a spare “r” onto the end of every word. Think of it as the Reverse Bostonian.

]]> By: Matt http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/08/07/the-air-in-china/#comment-26541 Matt Sat, 09 Aug 2008 20:14:07 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/08/08/the-air-in-china/#comment-26541 Joe, I just wanted to know why Bill didn't invite you to eat penis with him? I thought you guys were friends. Joe,

I just wanted to know why Bill didn’t invite you to eat penis with him? I thought you guys were friends.

]]> By: Zach http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/08/07/the-air-in-china/#comment-26533 Zach Sat, 09 Aug 2008 18:32:02 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/08/08/the-air-in-china/#comment-26533 The key phrase in the line controversy is "get to the back of the line <i>just like everybody else.</i>" It's not property rights, it's social equality. The bank story is a good example. In America, you could have a separate first class line and nobody will complain -- airlines do it all the time. People pay extra to be in that line. But you can't walk a first class customer up to the front of an existing line. The key phrase in the line controversy is “get to the back of the line just like everybody else.” It’s not property rights, it’s social equality.

The bank story is a good example. In America, you could have a separate first class line and nobody will complain — airlines do it all the time. People pay extra to be in that line. But you can’t walk a first class customer up to the front of an existing line.

]]> By: maaaty http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/08/07/the-air-in-china/#comment-26527 maaaty Sat, 09 Aug 2008 16:04:31 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/08/08/the-air-in-china/#comment-26527 Hey Dan, I completely agree with you -- Bryson and Joe have a similarly, great "everyman" persona. Love them both. Hey Dan,
I completely agree with you — Bryson and Joe have a similarly, great “everyman” persona. Love them both.

]]> By: Geoffrey http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/08/07/the-air-in-china/#comment-26522 Geoffrey Sat, 09 Aug 2008 14:21:37 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/08/08/the-air-in-china/#comment-26522 If theres one thing we love to do in Britain* it's queue. I'm guessing that America has adopted that sensibility from us. If I has to make a list of things that were quintessentially English, Id have queuing right up there near the top of the list. *I personally really hate referring to myself as British. I'm English** and proud but it just seems that the rest of the world can't handle England, Scotland, Wales and N. Ireland as separate entities so we just get called British. **On another note, technically I am British and not English. Our passports all say British (which I'm not keen on). If theres one thing we love to do in Britain* it’s queue. I’m guessing that America has adopted that sensibility from us. If I has to make a list of things that were quintessentially English, Id have queuing right up there near the top of the list.

*I personally really hate referring to myself as British. I’m English** and proud but it just seems that the rest of the world can’t handle England, Scotland, Wales and N. Ireland as separate entities so we just get called British.

**On another note, technically I am British and not English. Our passports all say British (which I’m not keen on).

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