If I were the administrator of the website,when I found there are someone debating about politics or something like that,I would close the thread as soon as possible.I think it's appropriate to discuss the"sensitive" topic here.In chinese forum,we usually close or delete right away as soon as the thread is meaningless or related to "sensitive" topic.

NG is the site for people who are new to ningbo seeking for help especially this section so that I suppose it should show the positive side instead of negative.

Conclusion:It's really stupid to post such thread.

Yes, I agree entirely. However, we have already been through this in 2005-2006. I tried to insist that the board was not for politics, but the users were upset. After that, I decided that the board is for the users - as administrator, my role is to keep the place clean. I'm sort of like the housekeeper. I remove spam postings, move advertisements to the advertising forum, and so on. I don't decide what should and should not be discussed. That is censorship, and in English, censorship is a very ugly word. If topics make anyone uncomfortable, then this is a good thing.  It's better to think and debate, than to close your mind and let the television create your opinions.  Of course, I must respect local sensibilities, and topics like seperatism will cause problems for our users. (One particularly memorable rant back in 2005 advocated the reestablishment of the Kingdom of Wu.) One foreigner received an email threatening to kidnap his 4-year-old child, complete with his child's name and his home address.

It's a fine line to walk on. I don't want this forum to get out of hand, like other English forums in China. I know of several forums where posters regularly attack each other. I am proud that on Ningbo Guide, the users maintain a civilized tone so everyone can feel comfortable.

Administrator, www.NingboGuide.com.

You have probably seen this before. Doesn't it explain some of the hectic discussions here?

http://deser.org/show_Chinesse-Culture-vs-German-Culture.php

I also ran into this (old?) article. Curious if anyone agrees on the contents.

http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-78729185.html

Both expat's and Chinese input would be nice.

Efjot...

"Jack Sparrow" was just Hairy Porter/Jared again.  Deleted/banned.  He is not welcome here.

Administrator, www.NingboGuide.com.

yes people like Craig are very interested in making fun of others' and try his best to dig out ugliness thing of china, as he thinks he can lecture chinese people to " open mindiness "in this way.

 How great american people are, they not only bring peach to iraq but also trying their best to bring "open mind" to china!!

if it was anyone else or any other misspelling i probably wouldn't have said anything...

but trying to bring "peach" (or any other fruit)to Iraq is pretty funny.  

Nothing personal, but "peach" made me smile as well.

But seriously:

"people like Craig": requires a definition; Does he represent a group, minority or political movement?

"as he thinks he can lecture chinese people to " open mindiness "in this way": You mean that should be done differently, or you mean that it is impossible to do so?

"How great american people are": I know many and none are the same. It varies from Amish in PA to Chinese/American immigrants in LA.

"also trying their best to bring "open mind" to china": You are welcome to do the same to America or anywhere you like, even here at this site. Isn't life wonderful?

Efjot...

To Jason Hu.

Go and read some books/newspapers that aren't published by the state media, if you want an open mind!

Unfortunately, there are no unattached media in China, all TV program,books,newspapers are under censorship.

   Westerners will misunderstand chinese due to culture difference.So do we.

   It's better to look the world from a  big picture.

There are nice and bad guys everywhere over the world at large,just take it easy and  treat them by different ways.   

Hey ,I am sorry I can't agree with you.

Going to Iraq I think is not the american citizens' decision and I do think there are some great americans:People who creat National Geography ,Discovery Channel,Steve Jobs ,Bill Gates,Steven Spielberg.etc and so many great movies and music.You can't ignore those just by the war.I often read news on npr about soliers fighting in iraq ,most of whom suffer post-war traumatic so that they are victims as well.

 I don't think "open-minded" is a bad thing.We talk,communicate,share thoughts and that's how we get improved!

For some westerners who want for truth of tibent event or somethig else, below website is highly recommended

http://www.anti-cnn.com/

This website is established to expose the lies and distortions  in the western media. The site is maintained by volunteers, who are not associated with  any government officials.

To seaknight,

i think you are very naive to say that "Westerners will misunderstand chinese due to culture difference.So do we"

What i want to say is what recently happened from 14 March were not just culture difference, i think you really need to read more and grow up your mind about the "world" which is not just "nice guy or bad guy"

well it certainly is a moderate and objective name for a website, and I'm sure the contents are equally balanced.

I didn't mean to discuss about iraq war...

As a chinese as well i hope you can understand "when you put nice words to western country their media lied and distorted the truth for your own country" I don't think you were aware of what you has said as a chinese.

And i don't think you are really "open mind" enough when you said "open mind " is not bad thing as i don't think you are really aware of the situation about china:

30 years ago: chinese were suffering from hunger

10years ago: there's very few cellphone or computer in china and now china's economic rank fourth in the world in terms of scale.

2008: there's only 5% chinese get chance to study in university in china, the rate was below 1% 10 years ago (while it is 30% in western country) 40 years old or above 40years old chinese who hold/ most parts of china's economic and political materials/source got very few chance to get well education, you should understand or partly accept some of their ugliness behaviors instead of point finger to them.

slogan like "open mind" can't improve the situation, only education works. what i'm trying to say is westerners are not aware of "open mind" taks time when they lecture us to open mind and they didn't aware of there's 1.3billion people in china and i don't think they understand how hard the job to improve education in china. what they can see are the ugliness things in china only and point their fingers to us or tease or make fun of ugliness behaviors for some chinese people.

Lastly, as china's young generation, we got to have confidence that the siutation will be improved in future and lecture some of the westerners to the bringht side not just say " i don't think open mind is bad thing" only.

Maybe you haven't been to western country or study there, but from what oversea chinese and the serial events what happened recently you can easy got the information that "how great igorant and arrogant those westerners are"

Hope you can understand what i said

I don't think you understand about china's young generation (born after 1980years) as you don't know what we read and what we really trust.

Hey Jason:

  I totally understand what you wrote .

 I have asked many chinese students who have already been there for a period of time .They told me most americans are friendly yet there indeed exist some ugly ones.

"westerners"what what..I don't think it's appropriate to call that.After all ,most westerners are good I think.Not all westerners are arrogant or whatever

   But u need to know and learn about the way they think,it helps u.

It's better to care politics,others more over the world ,coz the world is the global village now.Maybe u should support the enviroment-friendly american president candidate in the next general-election,it does help to decrease the emission of CO2 which results to climate change. 

Jason,

Ever insightful again....

No doubt you read lots of rumour generating internet blogs clearly frequented by friendless paraniod types!