Old Chinese!

Been drinking too much lately. My gut feels upside down. While at home recovering I was checking out this new website, Associated Content, I just happen to come across after searching for stuff of interest after the previous post. I found stuff on Chinese tradition, about giving face (給面子) etc. So it lead me to think about old Chinese tradition.

Staying in Hong Kong lead me to think about these kind of old traditions. Respect your elders, I am sure everyone think this is the something you do anyway. But what happens if the elders, knowing this, saying actually takes advantage of this. One morning my sister and I went to the restaurant, early to have dim sum, and I mean early! We waited out side the restaurant for it to open at 6.30am. The restaurant did not open till about 6.45am. As soon as the shutter starting rising slowly the old folks just ducked under the shutter and literally ran to get a table. We walked calmly to an empty table and was just about to parked our asses down when an old lady came up to us and said, 'this table is ours we sit here every day, go to another table, this table is ours'!! At this point I thought, this is not right. How could a table belong to anyone? I thought it was first come first serve! I told her there are plenty of tables and that we were here first.

After that incident I thought, are we disrespectful for doing this? Are going to go to hell because we stood our ground and done what we thought was right? Why did the old lady think that the table belong to her and her gang? I understand that they probably go everyday and sit at the same table but why did she have to ask in that manner? Is it because back in the old days where status in family is important and male rule is absolute.

Young people should respect old people. But times have changed and I believe it is because some elderly people throw their weight around that have lead to the current situation where you would not get anyone giving up a seat on public transports for the elderly, another HK trend I've noticed.

What HK people do not realise is that these kind of actions teaches the new generation to act in the same way. The ducking under the shutter and running for their seats have all been adapted by the next generation. You will see this on the public transport, when the train doors open people just slide tackle across the long metallic seat to save a space for their friends, mum, dad, who ever they are with.

Like what I always say, if you want people to give you respect you need to respect others first!