I have a question.
How do you get along with those "positive attitude junkies" who act like life is a wonderland 24/7? They're everywhere now in the Western World and countries exposed to the West. Many good looking Gen Yers usually develop that attitude for some reason, esp if they are popular and hip. You know what I mean?
There are many people in the young generation today who act like everything is awesome 24/7. They frequently use words like "Life is beautiful", "Awesome", "Great" etc. They act like life is a wonderland 24/7 and nothing negative exists. I thought they only existed on TV, but they exist in real life too. They are usually on a superficial wavelength too, not a deep one. And they are usually well liked, praised, and hip.
Most of these types are from America, and are usually female and good looking, but I've noticed that many English speaking Taiwanese girls are like that too (such as Janet Hsieh on Discovery Channel's Fun Taiwan series). Where does that delusion come from exactly? How do they get that way? Are they serious? Or in denial?
How do you get along with these types? How do you have a conversation with them? Around them, I get the feeling like if I say even one thing negative, they'll avoid me. I also get the vibe that deep meaningful topics are "abnormal" to their wavelength.
Many of these types are attractive, good looking, and hip. So they draw people to them. A perfect example is Janet Hsieh, host of Fun Taiwan on the Discovery Channel and TLC. She is good looking, bubbly, and acts like everything is a 24/7 wonderland. That combo makes her popular. But her act looks superficial and phony to people who are realists or deeper than her. Plus, no one feels special when she is nice to them, because she's superficially nice to everyone, young and old. Gee.
Not all of them are celebrities though. They also include surfers, skateboarders, backpackers, hippies, New Agers, and lots of other young people.
But how do you get along with these types? By just acting fake and saying positive things about everything? Ick. (I guess some people derive pleasure from negativity and cynicism)
Have any of you met these types before? They seem to be everywhere now, esp among Gen Y. They act so hip and positive that it kind of makes you feel "uncool" if you don't share their attitude. The good thing about them is that they aren't mean to anyone. They aren't very cliquish or judgmental either, but rather, quite inclusive, albeit in a superficial way. You know?
In fact, they are so nice to everyone, that their niceness becomes meaningless, so that when they are nice to you, it feels like nothing special, since they are that way to everyone. lol. Know what I mean?
You also feel like you can't really bond or connect with them, cause they sort of "belong to everyone". So if they are hot, then they have tons of admirers. She is nice to all of them, but never serious about any of them.
Don't these 24/7 positive attitude types know that 75 percent of people are in poverty, that there's more suffering in the world than happiness, that life is not a wonderful, but a cycle of happiness and suffering?
Don't they know that evil people run the world, and that most things you're told are lies and propaganda, that most people aren't happy, etc.?
Are these types really able to avoid suffering by denying it out of their reality? They certainly act like they can. And if you ask them, they will say that they don't like to focus on the negative. They focus on the positive, and attract positive things, and that's their secret to happiness. Is it really that simple? Geez. So that's the key to happiness? It's been in front of our noses all the time! LOL OK!
I would venture to guess that since they're usually good looking, they were treated very well from birth, and given a lot of love and attention by everyone, hence their overly positive peppy attitude. So they can't really relate to anyone beneath them. They harbor no resentment, ill will, or regret either, since they've never really suffered. And no one has ever treated them like shit. So when they grow up, they are able to return all that niceness back, by acting superficially nice to everyone, and having a positive attitude 24/7. Is that why they are like that? If so, then I guess only those resentful in life, who have suffered a lot, dislike their attitude?
Could that be? Are there really people in life who have never suffered?
These types avoid comparing cultures and people like the plague. And they avoid all forms of political incorrectness. Nothing politically incorrect ever comes out of their mouths. If they hear me give my culture comparisons in my usual detailed insightful way, they will remain silent, since they avoid argument, debate or negative observations of any sort, no matter how true. Or they will disagree with me in a polite way, but when I bring up many examples, experiences and facts to support my comparisons, they usually quit and go into silent mode, for they seem incapable of offering counter-argument points other than the popular female cliche "Not all are like that" which women love to use for some reason, but is pointless since no one is saying that "all are like that".
For some reason, these people are blind to patterns, as though everything were equal everywhere, which is not true, but they can never define their views clearly and have no real argument. They simply dislike observations, patterns and debate of any kind. All they want to do is have fun and act cool, like everything is great 24/7, and that's all. Such people would probably make the worst chess players. lol
Do any of you understand these types? Have you met them? Any experiences you've had with them? Any insights into them?
What are they called exactly? I know they hate labels, but what can you call them? I don't know. Perhaps "positive attitude junkies"? lol
Core delusions of positive attitude junkie types:
1. Everything is wonderful.
2. Everyone is friendly.
3. Life is beautiful.
4. Happiness is a choice. You can choose it any time.
5. If you are always positive and allow no negativity in your life, then nothing bad can happen to you.
Anything that contradicts those things is ignored, no matter how obvious or true. They are not in touch with reality. They are not realists at all. If you have a problem or complaint, don't expect any sympathy or empathy from these types. They won't give it to you because in their world, your problems don't exist. Unfriendly people don't exist. Nothing sucks. Etc.
These people don't make good friends. They will not be your shoulder to cry on. You cannot talk to them about your problems. They won't want to listen. And if you complain, they will deny everything that's negative or doesn't fit their rosy wonderland world. Do you want friends like that? They may be ok as hang out friends, but you can't have any deep meaningful discussion with them, not if you're a realist, because they are not realists. You can't have a realistic discussion with them. Are those the kind of people you like?
I knew one in Poland. She was a wonderful positive person and a freespirit. She was an avid hitchhiker and well known in hitchhiking circles. Well she went to Africa with her positive attitude, believing that nothing could go wrong as long as she was positive and allowed no negativity into her life. And she ended up dying of malaria. You can see a tribute to her here:
http://www.digihitch.com/tribute/kinga
Here is a Wikipedia article about her:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinga_Choszcz
She ought to serve as a lesson to other positive attitude junkie types, to be realistic and be prepared. You can't just go around with an attitude that if you allow no negativity in your life, then nothing bad will happen to you. It doesn't work that way. You should not enter high risk areas with that attitude either. It's foolish, reckless and could result in terrible consequences. You should not drive with that attitude either, or else you could cause accidents and endanger others. Quit these stupid "you create your reality" delusions, and BE REALISTIC and LOGICAL. Sheesh.
In fact, studies show that happy-go-lucky types often die younger, because they take careless risks with their life and health, falsely thinking that everything will be fine or great as long as they think so. See here: http://www.world-science.net/othernews/110311_happy.htm
Live and let live...
ReplyDeleteHahaha you are such a -ve soul man. Lighten up and have a drink, smoke a joint, spank the monkey and just chill. Do you expect Janet Hsieh or any other TV host to act all morose and surly? Who would want to go wh
ReplyDeleteReward is most fulfilling when inherent with risk - the greater the risk, the greater the reward. Going through life referencing profound anecdotes as ultimate truths leaves no room for one's own potential for discovery, which, if not possible for you to envision Mr. Wu, will realistically result in a long and sad life.
ReplyDeletePART I: I have to applaud you Winston. As Col Kertz said in Apocalypse Now "the "sheer will" to start this blog and keep it running is remarkable.
ReplyDeleteI'm a Taipei-based foreign journalist, and like you, I was revolted by Janice after about five minutes of her inane, dull schoolgirl act. But like a car wreck, I couldn't help but watch and hurl abuse at the screen every time she whitewashed something about Taiwan, its present and its past.
I'm pretty sure she is an invention of the GIO, which probably pays TLC to air this drivel. While its true that travel shows are often on the sunny side of the street. They should NOT be paid for advertising content from a corporation or body. The fact that other shows lie doesn't make it OK for her to lie too.
This is journalism 101 people. Frankly, it saddens me that so many Taiwanese have so little internal focus that it is OK for them to support PAID-FOR advertising. I just don't get it. It makes me wonder if just being a celebrity is enough to be liked in Taiwan. Like success, no matter how it is attained, is all that's important, so she can sell flog off shampoo and herbal products.
It's sad really, and paints a picture of shallow, mentally and morally regressing society.
Janice's complete lack of context in everything she covers is little more than a lie. And I am insulted by her, the GIO and TLC every time I see her programme. There needs to be some professional balance. No country is utopia, but to paint a picture of it as such is used car salesman douchery of the highest order.
This also speaks to the Taiwan government's totally dated profile-raising playbook. Pick an Asian American girl so she straddles both cultures. She must be American because they are the only people who count, although I doubt this farce is shown outside of Asia. Make her a smiling dolcit retard so she doesn't offend. And then plug OVER AND OVER AND OVER again about how great everything is.
Go to a beach with three foot waves and talk up this massive surf culture that doesn't exist. Go to Sun Moon Lake and dance with Aboriginals but don't mention that there are only about 300 of them left because Taipei has been hammering them for generations to the point that they will be EXTINCT within a generation. But that's OK because the tourist dollars count more.
Go to Orchid Island and don't get down to how it is a nuclear waste dump and how cancer rates there are through the roof.
PART II: Now I know a lot of you retards might come back and say that I hate Taiwan and I should leave. But the truth is I am personally a supporter of Taiwan. My wife is Taiwanese (who loathes Janice BTW). I've spent years in the country. BUT if you care about a place you should care about its problems, which all countries have. By shining a light on them you hope to forward change.
ReplyDeleteBesides a personal supporter is one thing. You need to be professional and do your job. I had some media friends from outfits like Bloomberg, WSJ, the Guardian etc come for a visit recently and they just hammered her. In short, she does as much damage as good, if not more so.
These sycophantic ramblings from a dull, tired, bland looking woman, who compares most things to America, a sure sign of an amateur who doesn't work on the minimal skills she has, are exactly what Winston claims them to be: lies. total lies.
I don't care if Winston is driven by bitterness to be honest, like many have claimed. the crux of his argument is correct. She is a walking billboard. A vessel for interest groups. And these people are the bottom of the barrel. They have no soul. No opinion and worse no thoughts of responsibility to the public.
At least public relations professionals are upfront about what they do. Janice alludes to a balanced professionalism that doesn't exist.
As Kurtz also said: "We must kill them. We must incinerate them. Pig after pig. Cow after cow. Village after village. Army after army. And they call me an assassin. What do you call it when the assassins accuse the assassin? They lie. They lie, and we have to be merciful, for those who lie. Those nabobs. I hate them. I do hate them."
Remember people: every time she is on that show, she is lying to YOU for money. And she knows she is doing it. Why would you support her?
Winston: good job, and you may want to check out her links to that terrible not hop outfit LA Boyz. Apparently that's where she got her start. Might have a lot to do with the tongue button. I mean really? A tongue button? How tacky.
Cain,
DeleteThanks for your insightful comments and analysis. What publication do you work for in Taiwan?
I've made use of your comments by publishing them in this blog article along with other comments:
http://janet-hsieh-sucks.blogspot.com/2012/07/janet-hsieh-and-failure-of-taiwanese.html
And also in my forum here:
http://www.happierabroad.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=92502#92502
Winston