From: Harvey Newstrom (mail@HarveyNewstrom.com)
Date: Thu Jun 20 2002 - 09:52:09 MDT
On Wednesday, June 19, 2002, at 09:35 pm, Phil Osborn wrote:
> Bottom line: unless you are a member of a Chinese
> family, do not expect any contract with a Chinese
> business to be honored if it is cheaper to renege at
> some point. They assume that you would do the same
> and if not, then you are simply a stupid barbarian.
> It's not that they have evil intent as such. They are
> not necessarily malign at all, and may genuinely like
> you and enjoy your company.
>
> However, business is business and they have manuals on
> how to conduct business as war that make Machievelli
> look like an amateur. Only a few of them have ever
> been translated out of Chinese and some of them are
> even banned in China (e.g., "Thick, Black Theory") -
> which doesn't stop them from being best sellers there.
>
> Given this general business culture, backed
> historically by an empire that could send its people
> in to corrupt and extort the whole wealth of their
> neighbors - which is why their neighbors universally
> hate them - it is hardly surprising that China is
> known for piracy. Or that they will sue at the drop
> of a hat over their own patents and trademarks
> registered in the U.S.
Yes, I'm sure you believe that China is more of a mono-culture than the
U.S. You believe that all the billions of Chinese are all the same, and
that all Chinese can be pre-judged by your experience with some
Chinese. You expect us all to distrust all Chinese because you report
how they all are.
Luckily, I have known many honest Chinese people and have known many
people who have been to China who also report good things. I don't find
them all to be crooks or dishonest. I have worked with many Chinese
programmers who had a very honorable work ethic and do not support
software piracy. I have known Chinese Buddhists and vegetarians who
wouldn't hurt a fly. I have known Chinese businessmen ranging from
executives to restaurant owners. None of them seemed intent on cheating
their customers.
I am glad that I have had these experiences. Otherwise I could become
prejudiced against a quarter of the Earth's population based on biased
reports like these.
-- Harvey Newstrom, CISSP <www.HarveyNewstrom.com> Principal Security Consultant <www.Newstaff.com>
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