May 27, 2004

Is that your nose in my ear?

Beijing, China

With crowds of people everywhere there's very little privacy in China. This has an interesting effect on people's inhibitions, or lack of them. In public parks people will sing as if they were Pavarotti and dance like they were Ginger Rogers. They are, of course, generally completely talentless but that doesn't stop them giving it their all in public places.

The corrollary of this is that they have an amazing ability to ignore others in their surroundings. It serves to prevent them from being distracted but they'll also quite happily stop and stand right in front of you when looking at a sight, as if you weren't there, because, to them, you aren't.

They also will not hesitate to stop and investigate some interesting behaviour. Taking a photo with a tripod, writing in a journal, or reading an english-language web-site all fall in to this category. They will happily take the guide book from your hands and I've had people lean over my shoulder, their face right next to mine, and slowly read aloud an email that I am reading, fascinated as they are to see a real-world use of english. The concepts of privacy and personal space just does not exist.

Posted by David at May 27, 2004 08:20 PM