Awkward thing happened in China

[Feedmeketamine]

Chinas weird, dont they have a kind of free market with stocks and shares but communism as well?

 

[PromethianSpark]

I really feel for you here. I am Irish, and we joke like this all the time, often bordering on the inappropriate (think everyone in the British isles is like that in fact). This is ofc fine amongst ourselves, but it can seldom lead to problems when dealing with other nationalities, particularly none westerners. I'd just put it down to a cultural misunderstanding and stop beating yourself up about it.

 

[Flutterguy]

I would apologize. Not directly though. Say so in a conversation, but don't start a conversation by saying it.

Small fuckups like that people will not hold against you after a short time (generally 3 months max). As long as nobody got hurt or deeply offended all will be fine.

That being said, don't mock communism. All political systems have their flaws. Don't think yours superior, if you do have plenty of evidence thats not opinion based ready, politics can be fight'n words.

 

[Bloodstain]

1. There's nothing with wrong being a communist

2. Lol at calling the Chinese communist. Possibly one of the most capitalist peoples on the planet, if we're gonna generalise populations. As a government it certainly is.

Both points are absolutely correct. OP, I am sorry, but if you think that China is a communist state then you really have little idea about what communism is.
Anyway, try to avoid the topics of politics and religion in the future.

 

[CaptainMarvelous]

Yeah, just imagine you took her to your country and the reaction was

"Yeah, it's a nice place, people are friendly, good food, it's a shame you're all capitalists"

It comes out of freakin' nowhere, I mean if you want a closer to home one "It's a shame you're all republicans"

 

[OneCatch]

However, in the last day there she asked me what do I think of the city, and my response was "I like the city. There's lots of beautiful temples, the food is good, and the people are nice. It's just too bad you are all communists".

That last sentence is where I fucked up. She then got a straight face and asked me "What's wrong with being a communist?" And I didn't know what to say.

If you can't justify an assertion then you probably shouldn't say it!
Just because a nation has a particular system it doesn't mean everyone is an adherent. They aren't 'all communists'. Most people (no matter where you go) aren't that politically involved and are just trying to live and let live. And dismissing their entire civil system out of hand is a bit rude.

But we all say stupid crap from time to time, so don't worry about it. Perhaps read up on Communism (as other posters have mentioned, you'd be surprised by how little China's political system resembles the stereotypical Soviet behemoth), and then if it comes up in conversation again you'll understand more and can be a little more diplomatic. And broadening your horizons is good in itself.

I wouldn't dredge it all up again though - she's probably forgotten it or dismissed it as actually being a joke. Just try to make up for it in future conversation!

 

[Multi-Hobbyist]

You know if someone had come to the United States and said that they liked it here except for being capitalist I would have laughed it off. Sometimes I think people are a bit too sensitive, especially when it comes to these vague political ideas.

^This, exactly this. This, the whole this, nothing but the this. Actually, sensitive is the wrong word for it. There's a difference between being sensitive, and being a dildos whinesbaby.

I'd say they've found the mix between capitalism and communism that makes the most money. For the rich, that is. The poor stay poor, ofcourse.

So, exactly what the United States has been building to achieve for the past couple decades now.

 

[Piorn]

I have yet to see a form of Communism that didn't devolve into a Monarchy in a matter of years.
You'd think Communism would make for the purest form of Democracy, but somehow it never seems to work.

 

[NearLifeExperience]

How can anyone be so tactless? I'd like to see OP go to America;
"What a beautiful country, too bad you're all fat capitalists"

Honestly man, what were you thinking?

 

[RJ 17]

Wow...that facepalm damn near broke my glasses...

I'm just curious what possessed you to make you feel like saying such a thing would be perfectly fine. >.>

But yeah, I'm...pretty sure you likely offended her when you said that. You pretty much just insulted a big part of her society's way of life.

 

[Lord Garnaat]

I wouldn't dwell on it too much, at least from what you've written here. It seems like she accepted your explanation that it was a joke and hasn't thought much about it since, so there doesn't seem to be much point in bringing it up again. It was probably a little tactless to criticize communism while visiting China (as awful as a political and economic system as it is), considering that they're still communist in name at least (though not in practice at all), but I don't think you have much to worry about. Hopefully the rest of your trip was nice: I've heard China is a beautiful country if you visit the right parts of it. I'd love to see the Forbidden Palace sometime in my life.

 

[cikame]

There's nothing wrong with communism, there is no end of great people who happen to live in communist countries. Some decisions they make regarding the care of their civilians can be questionable but that's a political issue, and it's fine to bring up issues with government, "you're all communists" is incorrect and just sounds judgemental.

 

[Malty Milk Whistle]

1. There's nothing with wrong being a communist

2. Lol at calling the Chinese communist. Possibly one of the most capitalist peoples on the planet, if we're gonna generalise populations. As a government it certainly is.


What you said might've been little offensive. Don't apologise though, unless she brings it up again herself.

Pretty much this, just apologise and blame it on being a silly westerner ignorant of their ways.
(that was a joke)
(not a very good one)
(I'll stop now)

But seriously, just apologise and it should be all peachy.

 

[Something Amyss]

You know if someone had come to the United States and said that they liked it here except for being capitalist I would have laughed it off. Sometimes I think people are a bit too sensitive, especially when it comes to these vague political ideas.

Probably would still be a bad thing to say in America, especially certain parts of it.

 

[ckam]

Yeah, that was kind of rude and out of nowhere. Whatever, though. People have a slip of the tongue sometimes.

 

[Someone Depressing]

If she was at least 20-ish, then it's probably the way she has just grown up.

If you speak Chinese yourself, she might feel a little betrayed. I don't think Asian coutnries let eachers talk about politics or religion to a great extent, so she's probably just been told "liberals are evil, disgusting, pig pens who fuck people of the same sex and smoke weed, conservatives are satan who worship the false god", and that's all many people are ever really told, unless they specifically study politics.

It's just a cultural difference. And yes, you should apologise.

 

[chozo_hybrid]

So this person you had only met online before was nice enough to show you around and in the end, you decide to insult her country... Nice going. I'm sure it wasn't meant as hateful, so you should just apologize to the person and make sure it doesn't happen again.

 

[Moth_Monk]

You know if someone had come to the United States and said that they liked it here except for being capitalist I would have laughed it off. Sometimes I think people are a bit too sensitive, especially when it comes to these vague political ideas.

You are a capitalist though, right? You believe having society based on a market and monetary profit incentive is the best way to have things.

 

[[REDACTED]]

Dude... I have autism and this made me cringe. Yes, you should apologize for attacking her country right out of fucking nowhere. That's generally considered a bit rude.

 

[Crazy Zaul]

Just say 'And I'm a lazy white liberal' or something like that like Jim does all the time to cover for it.