tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post3975323330913344688..comments2023-10-22T18:25:39.688+08:00Comments on The View from Taiwan: Compass Int'l Food and Music Festival in TaichungMichael Turtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17974403961870976346noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-60538939032479593522011-07-28T22:33:41.282+08:002011-07-28T22:33:41.282+08:00Herman and Robert, I really enjoyed reading your c...Herman and Robert, I really enjoyed reading your comments! Herman, you summed it all up perfectly - great job! Why are the Taiwanese/Chinese so blind to China's naked aggression? I don't know...it seems like all they see before their eyes is $$$, without realizing that China is f-ing over the people with their pretentious goodwill that will further make the average people of Taiwan think that China actually cares about Taiwan...uh, yeah, they care so much about Taiwan that they have 2,000 missiles pointed at us...geez! Let's hang out with them! They are such great buddies! Meanwhile, why doesn't the US warm up with Iran now! They have so much oil, and Washington is running out of money! Who cares if they hate each other! Iran has something to offer that's on the US's interest, so forget the animosity and let's do business!Alexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12020213827507465392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-56444244553829175962011-05-19T23:27:23.311+08:002011-05-19T23:27:23.311+08:00@Michael
I get where your coming from, this being...@Michael<br /><br />I get where your coming from, this being your blog and all. But my suggestion would be this: death threats, spam and all sorts of inappropriate conduct aside, let anyone -- "trolls" and all -- post their opinions. You can have a boilerplate response like "This is idiotic, as you would see if you read what I write here regularly." Then other posters can engage or ignore as they wish. Would it really get so crazy? I'm not familiar with the situation on Forumosa.Dnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-35235413318135199292011-05-19T23:19:15.560+08:002011-05-19T23:19:15.560+08:00Michael,
I've been terribly naive and totally...Michael,<br /><br />I've been terribly naive and totally forgot about the many ugly, cowardly death/rape threats that are showing up in comments all over the place. I'm sorry that you are subject to that too. Now I have much more respect for you and understand your posts better.Hermannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-81580439876616580782011-05-19T17:17:36.968+08:002011-05-19T17:17:36.968+08:00BTW D, one of the reasons the discussions on this ...BTW D, one of the reasons the discussions on this blog are of a reliably good level and the commenters so intelligent is because I don't permit the trolls to post here. Most of the people that I don't permit to post here are/have been banned on Forumosa (which is in many cases where I first met them). I also keep out the death threats (I have basically stopped posting pics of my family because of the flow of rape threats to my daughter), the spam linkers, and similar. This means that on your side all you see are rational individuals whereas I see the whole wearisome gamut. <br /><br />I have good reasons for what I do.<br /><br />MichaelMichael Turtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17974403961870976346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-79088285414622630742011-05-19T15:14:55.807+08:002011-05-19T15:14:55.807+08:00The irony is that this is the way the CCP deals wi...<b>The irony is that this is the way the CCP deals with "troublemakers".</b><br /><br />Yes, because not letting someone bent on being disruptive post to your blog is the same as imprisoning someone, executing someone, and making the family pay for the bullet. A bit overwrought, are we today?Michael Turtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17974403961870976346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-17564122333291294802011-05-19T13:08:43.196+08:002011-05-19T13:08:43.196+08:00@"End of discussion"
For now I'm wil...@"End of discussion"<br />For now I'm willing to take Michael's word on "Jan", but it is a fine line. The irony is that this is the way the CCP deals with "troublemakers".<br /><br />Herman is trying to think the issues through, so good for him. This blog, according to my understanding, is a way to facilitate that, not just a Taiwan advocacy site. Those two purposes are related, but they are not the same. There are many other sites for people who just want to read and write about how much the KMT sucks.Dnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-53927129149400458662011-05-19T12:24:41.301+08:002011-05-19T12:24:41.301+08:00The issue isn't that he has a different opinio...The issue isn't that he has a different opinion, but that his goal in posting is merely to create trouble. Posts meant to cause trouble will be removed. <br /><br />End of this discussion.Michael Turtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17974403961870976346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-81005943900077169992011-05-19T11:35:23.827+08:002011-05-19T11:35:23.827+08:00" Michael Turton said...
Herman, on the inte..." Michael Turton said... <br />Herman, on the internet a "troll" is someone who posts on a website merely to cause trouble. I've known Fell from many web forums and many sites and that is what he does.<br /><br />May 19, 2011 10:00 AM"<br /><br />is a different opinion 'trouble' to you now after years of being so open-minded?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-53472408301870256782011-05-19T10:00:51.264+08:002011-05-19T10:00:51.264+08:00Herman, on the internet a "troll" is som...Herman, on the internet a "troll" is someone who posts on a website merely to cause trouble. I've known Fell from many web forums and many sites and that is what he does.Michael Turtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17974403961870976346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-56066890470703550502011-05-19T09:37:58.242+08:002011-05-19T09:37:58.242+08:00Dead Roc in exile, Michael,
Insulting words can d...Dead Roc in exile, Michael,<br /><br />Insulting words can damage a person's psyche as effectively as fire and rocks can to the body. <br />Michael has gracefully apologized to D. But the real injured party here is Jan, by words such as "the chinese troll... polluting... unutterably stupid..." I believe you own him an apology.<br /><br />I just learned what troll means from D's comment. The dictionary says something about Scandinavian drawf living in a cave. And I wasn't quite sure why would people call me a troll. Now I read AiWeiWei's interview and it's clearer now.<br /><br />Excuse me for being a stranger and just suddenly popping out making so many dissenting comments. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Herman, family name Hsu. I grew up in Keelung, went to elementary and middle school there, then had an equivalent of 3 years of high school education in Taipei. My family emigrated to the U.S. and I've lived there for over 30 years. A lot of of my recent knowledge of Taiwan is from Michael's blog and a Chinese Newspaper called World Journal. I was very involved with a Japanese-style woodworking group called daikudojo.org and helped them built a website. You can find out more about me here:<br />www.daikudojo.org/search.html (just type in herman)<br /><br />I've never been to China. I detest the CCP mostly because what KMT had brainwashed me in my youth. Though I grew up in Taiwan, I identify myself as Chinese because I was educated in Chinese language and history and geography. My parents came from the same province where Chiang Kai-Shek was from. Though I could speak my parent's hometown dialect, I couldn't understand what Chiang was saying when his speech was broadcast in public. His dialect was supposed to be the same as my parents'. Well, they weren't to my ears.<br /><br />Now, about China, pro-China, pro-Taiwan, etc.<br /><br />From the comments and posts and links I read here I'm beginning to hear a common voice from various expats and visitors who lived or are living in Taiwan. And how that voice don't connect with some absentee Taiwanese/Chinese such as myself. So I hope maybe there's a way to connect, to agree. So here goes.<br /><br />Tell me if I'm wrong. The core issues here for you are that:<br /><br />-- China is a bully. They've absolutely inexcusably annexed Tibet, and they want to annex Taiwan.<br />-- China is pointing 1,200 or 1,500 or 2,000 missiles at Taiwan, threatening her to submit herself.<br />-- China will pull out all the ugly dirty tricks to coerce, to influence Taiwanese elections. The next one coming up is nigh.<br />-- The KMT government is kowtowing to China, showing no dignity and selling out sovereignty.<br />-- Why some Taiwanese/Chinese are blind to the naked aggression of China. Why they don't stand up for their own rights. Why they are pro-China. Why they identify themselves as Chinese.<br />-- Let CCP and KMT fight each other themselves. Leave Taiwan out of it. Taiwan was never involved in the civil war between CCP/KMT, nor did Taiwan chose to be on KMT's side in 1945. Taiwan was occupied by KMT at that time. Taiwan is an independent nation.<br /><br /><br />So! That's what I see that you are mainly concerned with. Yes? Anything else? If there's nothing else, then I'm going to take a break and leave you alone. I'll reflect on these points and examine my own thoughts and feelings and not bug you for a good long while.Hermannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-4175884922910440022011-05-18T19:19:42.537+08:002011-05-18T19:19:42.537+08:00@Jan
"I don't think there is majority for...@Jan<br />"I don't think there is majority for a Republic of Taiwan / State of Formosa "<br /><br />I would argue that most people in Taiwan would love to have their country name corrected to "Republic of Taiwan". Why did they elect KMT to run their country? That is a good question I always try to find an answer to. While the world think highly of Taiwanese, I can not understand why some Taiwanese people still call themselves Chinese. Some people may say, Hong Kong has some form of autonomy, my opinion is that it is because, China still has a goal to annex Taiwan and until then a total control of Hong Kong would be destructive to win the hearts of Taiwanese people. Do you beleive when China's army roll over Taiwan, you can still elect your own "governor"?Jadenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-12350983895022164562011-05-18T17:33:14.917+08:002011-05-18T17:33:14.917+08:00No worries. You the man.
I guess I like "un...No worries. You the man.<br /><br />I guess I like "unification", in scare quotes, or just plain and simple "take over". The occasional "annex" does carry a nice frisson though....Dnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-62644957130338999132011-05-18T16:57:53.914+08:002011-05-18T16:57:53.914+08:00Actually, doesn't PRC say re-unify?
How about...Actually, doesn't PRC say re-unify?<br /><br />How about a compromise at re-annex?Robert R.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12956389352825464115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-88967393657263203262011-05-18T16:13:31.763+08:002011-05-18T16:13:31.763+08:00" Michael Turton said...
OK, I understand th..." Michael Turton said... <br />OK, I understand that. What word would you suggest, then?<br /><br />May 18, 2011 3:49 PM<br />"<br /><br />Naruwan Republic!<br /><br />Bolai Bolai son!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-780521994597155352011-05-18T16:05:55.153+08:002011-05-18T16:05:55.153+08:00Naruwan is also colonial.
It takes an Austronesi...Naruwan is also colonial. <br /><br />It takes an Austronesian vocalization that was assigned meaning by non-indigenes and re-projects it as "more authentic" than anything else.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-64594124133877111082011-05-18T16:05:13.671+08:002011-05-18T16:05:13.671+08:00BTW, D, apologies. Been testy lately.BTW, D, apologies. Been testy lately.Michael Turtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17974403961870976346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-8120524087067566772011-05-18T15:49:09.316+08:002011-05-18T15:49:09.316+08:00OK, I understand that. What word would you suggest...OK, I understand that. What word would you suggest, then?Michael Turtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17974403961870976346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-77553803336598017872011-05-18T15:09:58.198+08:002011-05-18T15:09:58.198+08:00@"If you want to change the discourse, you ha...@"If you want to change the discourse, you have to start somewhere."<br /><br />I understand your point but mine remains that you use "annex" as a rhetorical club, much the same way the PRC uses "unification". I just don't think that's much of an improvement in the discourse.Dnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-42303330824113846152011-05-18T14:46:41.777+08:002011-05-18T14:46:41.777+08:00And D, quit lecturing me like that. I use "an...And D, quit lecturing me like that. I use "annexation" for a reason, the mirror of the reason that people use "unification." The difference is not that "unification" doesn't represent a viewpoint of its own or that it is somehow weightier, it's that "unification" has guns and bombs and Serious People behind it. So it is used Seriously. <br /><br />If you want to change the discourse, you have to start somewhere.Michael Turtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17974403961870976346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-30252302881648333592011-05-18T14:34:12.926+08:002011-05-18T14:34:12.926+08:00D, Jan is a well-known pro-China troll from many v...D, Jan is a well-known pro-China troll from many venues, whom I have seen on many occasions. So have many other people, hence the anonymous comment above.<br /><br />MichaelMichael Turtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17974403961870976346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-13259768109158643642011-05-18T12:55:20.306+08:002011-05-18T12:55:20.306+08:00@"It proves again and again that no rational ...@"It proves again and again that no rational argument can be made for annexing Taiwan to China."<br /><br />Yes, except that "Jan" didn't make any "rational argument" to this effect.<br /><br />At the risk of being labelled one, this whole "trolling" thing needs to be rethought. Maybe "Jan" said something elsewhere that identifies him/her as a 50-cent-er, but his/her comments here aren't anything beyond the pale (except possibly the invective in the first post). I don't see how the label "troll" is any use at all, except in its very specific meaning (I hope I have it right) of people who go on to blogs and spout nonsense just to stir things up. <br /><br />"Annexation" is the "homicide bomber" term of this blog. I mean, you can see it that way and there's some truth in it, but it's more a way of hammering the "stupid people who can't see the facts" than a viewpoint of its own.<br /><br />By the way, here's a link I don't think has been posted here. It's Ai Weiwei's interview with a CCP 50-cent-er. Really interesting account of how one person will create various identities in a discussion forum just to lead readers along. http://cmp.hku.hk/2011/05/09/12125/ .Dnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-76731795190766530642011-05-18T12:02:32.392+08:002011-05-18T12:02:32.392+08:00I just love how some people imagine "cultural...I just love how some people imagine "cultural ties" to be an umbilical cord; a tube through which culture flows from mother to child. <br /><br />Cultural ties are imaginary. They are like Nietzsche's God. They die when we quit believing in them. That is why the KMT has been so adamant about constructing the Chinese cultural image and has dedicated an entire branch of the executive (GIO) to help us better imagine what their dreams look like.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-10103843493145272872011-05-18T11:40:03.320+08:002011-05-18T11:40:03.320+08:00jan fell the chinese troll is also polluting this ...<b>jan fell the chinese troll is also polluting this great blog??</b><br /><br />It's my policy to give the loons one bite. That way everyone can see how unutterably stupid their ideas are. The Republic of Taiwan is about cutting cultural ties with China *snort* <br /><br />Actually, I think it is great that they post here. It proves again and again that no rational argument can be made for annexing Taiwan to China.<br /><br />MichaelMichael Turtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17974403961870976346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-24281154683412890812011-05-18T10:51:53.234+08:002011-05-18T10:51:53.234+08:00Actually Herman most of your arguments don't m...Actually Herman most of your arguments don't make sense and I don't get the point of most of your analogies, so...yeah.Herman doesn't get itnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-42692372828688292312011-05-18T10:47:40.883+08:002011-05-18T10:47:40.883+08:00The point isn't to protest against KMT corrupt...The point isn't to protest against KMT corruption but to protest against the KMT party, their constitution, and their stated goal, which is reunification of Taiwan with China.<br /><br />And yes, officially changing our country's name to "Taiwan" or "Formosa" instead of R.O.C. IS a political act, intended to formally separate Taiwan from the PROC. Oh and I don't care if it eventually does become Formosa (via a democratic process of course) although I would prefer Taiwan, and just because it may seem strange on a passport to you is no reason not to have it.<br /><br />@Jan: A majority of people wanting to keep the status quo might be due to, oh, I don't know, China threatening military action if we move towards independence, and also having about 2000 missiles pointed at us? And isn't it strange that, "90% of party members were born on Taiwan and after 1949" and yet they still think that they are a political party of China and actively work towards reunification?Hermen doesn't get itnoreply@blogger.com