I’m in discussion with an occasional reader, more like receiving a tirade. This person thinks the west is bad (and getting worse) and China is good (and getting better). All the problems we have in Hong Kong, all the international tensions, are due to the machinations of the west, mainly the US. Trump and Pompeo.
I’m basically silent in the face of this. But presently I feel something is required of me, so I ask: “Do you think China has any responsibility for the fact that pretty much the rest of the world is pissed off with it? Not just America?”
Occasional Reader: So what you’re saying is China is responsible for all the problems?
Me: No, don’t Cathy Newman me. I’m just asking the question, can these international tensions be all the fault of the US and the west?
[Reminding me of the infamous Cathy Newman interview with Jordan Peterson where she kept putting words into his mouth — “so what you’re saying is…” — which he promptly refuted].*
O.R.: Of course China has some responsibility. They have been too successful. That’s why people hate them.
[Reminding me of the non-answer answer to the job interview question “what are your weaknesses?” where you offer something like “well, I work too hard” or “I expect too much of others” or “I’m too much of a perfectionist”…]
Me: Well, I’m thinking more of things like IP theft, or forced technology transfer, or protectionism…
O.R.: (interrupting) That’s just more of that right wing stuff…
Me: (looses it)…
So you see what’s happened here. Putting words into my mouth. Straw-manning (“so what you’re saying is China is 100% responsible”), and finally, inevitably, ad hominem (“that right wing stuff“).
Oh dear …
I’m basically silent in the face of this. But presently I feel something is required of me, so I ask: “Do you think China has any responsibility for the fact that pretty much the rest of the world is pissed off with it? Not just America?”
Occasional Reader: So what you’re saying is China is responsible for all the problems?
Me: No, don’t Cathy Newman me. I’m just asking the question, can these international tensions be all the fault of the US and the west?
[Reminding me of the infamous Cathy Newman interview with Jordan Peterson where she kept putting words into his mouth — “so what you’re saying is…” — which he promptly refuted].*
O.R.: Of course China has some responsibility. They have been too successful. That’s why people hate them.
[Reminding me of the non-answer answer to the job interview question “what are your weaknesses?” where you offer something like “well, I work too hard” or “I expect too much of others” or “I’m too much of a perfectionist”…]
Me: Well, I’m thinking more of things like IP theft, or forced technology transfer, or protectionism…
O.R.: (interrupting) That’s just more of that right wing stuff…
Me: (looses it)…
So you see what’s happened here. Putting words into my mouth. Straw-manning (“so what you’re saying is China is 100% responsible”), and finally, inevitably, ad hominem (“that right wing stuff“).
Oh dear …
********
*”So what you’re saying is…” is now the title of well-known video interview program hosted by Peter Whittle.
