My Peking Duck Dinner

The contents of this post are subject to a public health warning – please do not read around your meal-time.

So the restaurant I went to with my friend Bill on Saturday night is known as a relatively upscale local Peking Duck house up in the far-north section of Chaoyang off the Third Ring Road. It’s got a beautiful painted sign outside and is well appointed and classy.

As soon as we sat down my eye was drawn to the table to my right. There were four well-dressed young people, three guys and a girl, sitting there enjoying their kaoya, and, judging by the number of tall empty beer bottles on the table, it was evident they were having a good time. Three were eating; it was the fourth who caught my eye because of his unusual pose: his arms were folded on the edge of the table and his forehead was sitting on his forearms. His legs were spread wide apart, and he appeared to be out cold. The three friends were totally ignoring him, as if he weren’t even there.

This isn’t really that unusual; you see people sleeping just about everywhere in China, whether it’s in an Internet bar or at their desk or on the sidewalk. This phenomenon triggered a conversation between Bill and me about how unpredictable China is compared to a country like Singapore. (Expats always talk about how unpredictable China is, in some form or another. “Only in China” is a well-worn cliche.) Well, Bill and I had no idea that the show was only just starting. We had yet to learn the meaning of “unpredictable.”

As we started eating our excellently prepared duck, I became aware of a sound like a waterfall, of liquid crashing down on a hard surface; I felt for a moment like I was at Tiger Leaping Gorge. I looked around trying to discern the source of such an out-of-place roar, when I saw the floor a few feet away: a reservoir of brown liquid was rapidly taking shape around our sleeping friend at the next table. I looked up from the floor and the whole thing took me a couple of seconds to process, because I couldn’t possibly be seeing what my brain was telling me. The young man’s head was in the exact same position and his body was totally immobile, just as before. Only now, his mouth was wide open, and a geyser of mainly liquid puke was cascading down from his mouth and splashing onto the floor between his feet.

This was no ordinary case of someone losing his dinner. This was like a barrel spigot that was open all the way, the liquid just pouring out in volume. It seemed like it would never stop. Soon he was completely surrounded by the lake of his own making, and like the scenic Halong Bay in Vietnam, the “waters” were dotted with little islands of undigested kaoya.

I said to Bill, “Oh my god, look – that guy is throwing up!” Bill turned, and we both watched in stunned fascination, wondering how one human body can possibly contain so much disposable liquid. But most amazing of all, the other three friends at the table never flinched or even looked. Two of them kept eating and chatting, looking into one another’s eyes, and the third continued a conversation on his mobile phone as if the guy wasn’t even there.

All things are finite, however, and eventually the gushing sounds ceased. The staff, as unfazed as the diners at the table (and at the other surrounding tables), walked over with a big bucket of ash from the wood-burning duck oven and methodically spread its content on the floor around the table. They then spread newspaper over the soaking-wet ash, deftly working around the still-unconscious man’s feet. Okay, I thought, that’s that. But no. A few minutes later, the scene repeated itself. The exact same thing: his mouth opened, and the remaining chunks of his meal splashed onto the newspaper, creating a multi-sense kaleidoscope of color and texture and aroma. And it just kept coming and coming, just like before. This time, the friend sitting next to him patted him a few times on the back, but never lost eye contact with the young lady sitting opposite him; both of them kept eating.

In the US, we’re used to the waitress coming up to the table to offer more butter or water. Here, the waitress came back to offer more ash, which was gratefully accepted. At this point, every time the front door opened on the breezy December night, we were treated to a whiff of the pungent mess. And yet we kept eating, and tried not to look, kind of like when you’re at the scene of a bloody accident and you try to look away, but your eyes can’t help but grab another glimpse.

We survived the ordeal, and by the time we left, the provider of the night’s entertainment was sitting upright and chatting on his phone, while the other friend opposite him had his head on the table and appeared to be asleep. We didn’t wait to see if any encores would follow.

While this was certainly one of the grossest, most nauseating moments of my life abroad – in fact, of my entire life – Bill and I agreed that it was all part of the “China experience,” part of what makes living here so, um, unique. I am trying to visualize a similar scene taking place in Singapore or Taipei or Tokyo, with the buckets of ash and the rising reservoir and no one paying any attention, and I just can’t do it. “Only in China” took on a whole new dimension on Saturday night. Most tragically, I can never again look at a Peking duck dinner without at least a brief flashback to that night’s pyrotechnics.

The Discussion: 68 Comments

It’s not a “unique” experience Richard. It is primitive, ugly, crude behavior that is right up there with people who not only allow but help their kids defficate and urinate all over the public sphere.

I’ve seen this happen numerous times in restaurants and even on the subway. It is disgusting and barbaric behavior and the world will get to see it all in 9 short months.

December 4, 2007 @ 12:45 am | Comment

i think it’s a little better than american “college students” spending all their time vomitting in toilets, if not scratching in pictures of vaginas and swastikas on the stalls.

December 4, 2007 @ 1:19 am | Comment

That kind of logic is why China is a primitive, backward, filthy country.

December 4, 2007 @ 1:41 am | Comment

That kind of attitude is why America is a fat, disgusting, subhuman terrorist nation.

πŸ™‚

December 4, 2007 @ 2:34 am | Comment

haha. Colorful writing. I couldn’t help but laugh my ass off as I read through this post.
Just imagine if there had been a crowd of unseasoned tourists from the US or the UK eating nearby who were visiting for their first time. Now that would have been priceless!

December 4, 2007 @ 5:28 am | Comment

I guess if I called it barbaric and uncivilized, some might call it the Chinese culture or the China experience.

I wonder at what level of incivility do things cross the boundary of culturally normal and into just plain uncivilized? Were his friend trying to save face by acting cool?

Barbaric by any standard folks.

December 4, 2007 @ 6:00 am | Comment

I don’t know if I’d go so far as to call it barbaric, but It’s certainly very uncivil.

Barbaric is a term better reserved for the government.

December 4, 2007 @ 8:08 am | Comment

“I guess if I called it barbaric and uncivilized, some might call it the Chinese culture or the China experience.”

I call the well dressed guy drunk, his friends trying not to show their embarrassment, and do praise the restaurant staff for doing a dirty job well without the least fusses.
Public spitting, littering, puking, screaming into the cellphone, mindlessly honking the car horn, etc all are part of the China experience indeed.
I will call a lot of what disgust and gross us city folks out to be peasant culture ill adopted in modern cities, but I wouldn’t call it the Chinese Culture.
As for making a country out to be uncivilized and barbaric, that’d be haughtiness on our part.
Yes, Richard, very colorful writing indeed. I couldn’t help but laugh my ass off either. Thanks for preparing us, seasoning us, if you will, so that we will not look stupid like unseasoned tourists next time. (Oh, yes there’ll be many more such encounters in China, definitely, for years to come.)

December 4, 2007 @ 8:26 am | Comment

“That kind of logic is why China is a primitive, backward, filthy country.”Posted by: nanheyangrouchuan at December 4, 2007 01:41 AM

“Blind and naked Ignorance delivers brawling judgements,unashamed.”—Lord A Tennyson

December 4, 2007 @ 8:47 am | Comment

What a story! And written very nicely. But I am happy to only have read it and not experienced myself. Prefering to eat my duck without pictures of rivers of puke popping up in my mind. Hope you get over this experience well and can enjoy your next duck.

December 4, 2007 @ 9:25 am | Comment

Chinese people always urinate and vomit in public like animals? Only Westerners are civilized and clean?

What about the strong body odor of Westerners? If a Westerner does not use a oder-remover for 24 hours, he’ll smell so bad he cannot enter a bus.

What about Japanese AV? Look at how many disgusting acts those porn players do on video and sell online? Like Japanese girls eating human shit and then throwing it out and then eating that back again? As entertainment?

What about the blacks in America?

You are a racist.

December 4, 2007 @ 10:02 am | Comment

Predictable comment from Red Star. HX, I just reported what I saw. I never even said the people were Chinese. As a matter of fact, they were. But no matter what nationality they were, I would have told this story. It is what it is, and there is no racism here. The Chinese do not adhere to all the niceties of Western civilization – referring to a case in point does not make me a racist. I think if you read this blog you will see a strong defense of the Chinese people against racist attacks and an overwhelming sense of compassion for the Chinese people. This was still a funny story. If you see it as a racist attack, it speaks to your own sensitivities, born out of your famous inferiority complex that turns you into a fireball of white-hot rage. Otherwise, great comment and good to see you back!

December 4, 2007 @ 10:19 am | Comment

“Most tragically, I can never again look at a Peking duck dinner without at least a brief flashback to that night’s pyrotechnics.”

And now, neither can we.

Interestingly enough, I *have* seen the same thing in Singapore, at the Macpherson Hawker Center (admittedly not an indoor restaurant). Four friends were sitting around a table eating grilled seafood and drinking tall Tigers. One of them had passed out and was face down in a puddle of his own vomit. His friends’ solution to this predicament was to build a little dyke out of empty bottles and napkins to contain the vomit slick and ensure that it dripped into their buddy’s lap rather than running onto the rest of the table.

If that isn’t true friendship, I don’t know what is.

December 4, 2007 @ 10:23 am | Comment

“people who not only allow but help their kids defficate and urinate all over the public sphere.”Posted by: nanheyangrouchuan at December 4, 2007 12:45 AM

I think Red Star HX was responding to Nanhe Skewered Mutton not Richard.

December 4, 2007 @ 10:37 am | Comment

Will, thanks for sharing! Now tell us, why do you hate the Singaporean people?

(Totally joking, trying to make a point that will surely go several miles over HongXing’s head.)

UPDATE: Ah, Hkger, I think you’re right. Hard to tell who’s saying what to whom sometimes.

In this case, I apologize to HX – nanhe really IS being a racist. And he is practically begging to be banned.

Finally, back to Will: If it had been outside or at a typical hole in the wall it would have been far less of a story. The fact that this was a really nice Beijing duck house made all the difference. It seemed soooo out of place.

December 4, 2007 @ 10:49 am | Comment

If that isn’t true friendship, I don’t know what is.

Ah, yes. The internet is full of such displays of western-style camaraderie. Oh..wait! You were talking about
Singapore, weren’t you?

December 4, 2007 @ 10:50 am | Comment

The Chinese do not adhere to all the niceties of Western civilization

What is this crap? You think “Westerners” don’t vomit or something?

I’ve never actually seen it happen but I’ve seen a puddle of barf being cleaned up or just lying around stinking up the place.

And this is a nice area, no trailer trash around.

December 4, 2007 @ 11:20 am | Comment

When I noticed the post “Miss China Is Miss World 2007” in CLB, I bet that mutton kebab must be the first commentor, and I saw that I was right.

I’m right again here. Interesting.

This is truly one of the ugliest scenes that as a local I have hated but have also grown numb and insensitive about, especially when in Beijing or north/north-east where many groups of people have the stupid notion of showing off (stupidity in fact) by drinking stupidly. Based on the reaction of staff I bet this is a resturant not lacking such – if I were you (saw the number of bottles on the table) I’d have known better to ask for a table far away from there (they must also be “smoking like Chinese”!) or just leave.

This, and spitting, queue-jumping, speaking at top of voice, honking for no reason etc. etc. – there’s a long list. These might be barbaric and uncivilized behaviours but they only happen (and become problems) in civilized society, and are part of the problems of development. They are not inherent with Chinese people and are caused by environment. (I have seen some long staying expats getting assimilated.)

I do believe that the government in spite of all past campaigns of “socialist civilization” has done a bad job in promoting public awareness of such problems, and that the general public has become too insensitive to this issue.

At bottom line, I hope that the next generations (starting with urban areas) are getting rid of these traits – but that’s not guaranteed if no efforts done.

Thanks for the post.

p.s. I think HongXing is in danger of becoming the mutton on the other end of the stick πŸ™‚

December 4, 2007 @ 11:48 am | Comment

Richard, such egregious behaviour is not just a Chinese phenomenon.

I saw it … in the Mr. Creosote scene in “Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life”. At least your drunk didn’t explode at the end.

But every culture has its flaws. One endearing memory from one of my last visits to London was seeing a young drunk at midday pissing in a doorway of Victoria Coach Station, absolutely oblivious to the people around him.

December 4, 2007 @ 12:09 pm | Comment

I’m not even calling it a “flaw.” It’s just something I saw. It is not something you see every day, and I am sure you will sometimes see it in other places. What I did think was unique to China was the response of those away from the table – unfazed, unsurprised, as if they were impervious to shock. It was like one of the stories in Simon Winchester’s River at the Center of the World, where he describes people eating dinner with a corpse at the table – a real dead person. Things we see as extraordinary in our world are routine in the world of others.

jc, excellent observations. Next time I’ll be on the lookout for the tell-tale batallion of empty beer bottles and ask for a table across the room.

December 4, 2007 @ 12:16 pm | Comment

What about blacks in America? loll………….

December 4, 2007 @ 1:19 pm | Comment

“What about the strong body odor of Westerners? If a Westerner does not use a oder-remover for 24 hours, he’ll smell so bad he cannot enter a bus.”

Chinese get their glands removed from their armpits. This surgery has been going on since the 20s.

December 4, 2007 @ 1:52 pm | Comment

Chinese get their glands removed from their armpits. This surgery has been going on since the 20s.

I can’t tell if you’re joking because you’re an idiot, but East Asian people do not produce much body odor, have fewer sweat glands, and have dry earwax as opposed to wet earwax with odor.

In Japan noticeable body odor is considered a disease.

December 4, 2007 @ 2:10 pm | Comment

Once again, Nanhe destroys another thread…

December 4, 2007 @ 2:17 pm | Comment

“What about the strong body odor of Westerners?” Russians, French, Africans? As far as the b.o., I wouldn’t exclude Asians totally. The guys sitting next to me on 984 were reaking the other day, and had the chive/jiu/Honghe breath to ‘enhance the effect’.

I have ‘wet’ earwax, but never noticed the odor. Quit smelling earwax, for crying out loud.

I do guess it is better to puke ‘incognito’. One time I was sck, but tried to make it outside. No luck, I ended up spewing all around the door, which made it worse for everyone entering or leaving. I still have horrors thinking about that.

Nanheyangrouchuan, quit posting! Now I am going to be thinking armpits the next time I order some chuanrs (just kidding, ha ha ha).

December 4, 2007 @ 2:24 pm | Comment

As far as the b.o., I wouldn’t exclude Asians totally.

Probably has some Australo-Melanesian/Oceanian admixture, dry ear wax and little body odor is a characteristic trait of East Asians and northern Amerinds iirc.

December 4, 2007 @ 5:23 pm | Comment

You have led a sheltered life Richard. This kind of scene is played out every weekend in my northern English hometown. Except the vomiting is done outside and the victim is surrounded by his mates cheering him on. At least the Chinese are pragmatic in their approach: live and let live.

December 4, 2007 @ 8:20 pm | Comment

sorry for your bad experience, richard. when I was young and crazy…ah now I have the same feeling about this kind of things…

December 4, 2007 @ 9:39 pm | Comment

I definitely live and let live. But I haven’t led a sheltered life, not by ny stretch of the imagination. I was a taxi driver in NYC for a year and have seen the seamy side of life close-up. I’ve seen people relieving themselves on the streets here in China, and I don’t mean just number 1. I saw guys throwing up in the Hofbrauhaus in Munich, and in other bars. You expect to see that in the Hofbruhaus, no big surprise But I have never seen a sight quite like this. I have never seen someone do so in a high-end restaurant where the staff and surrounding diners were so blase about the whole thing. And the ash…and the newspapers…and the lack of interest by his co-diners. No, it was definitely a first, even for someone who has seen the underbelly of the world and explored some of the seamiest environments imaginable.

December 4, 2007 @ 9:40 pm | Comment

This, and spitting, queue-jumping, speaking at top of voice, honking for no reason etc. etc. – there’s a long list. These might be barbaric and uncivilized behaviours but they only happen (and become problems) in civilized society, and are part of the problems of development. They are not inherent with Chinese people and are caused by environment. (I have seen some long staying expats getting assimilated.)

Yup. Dicken’s book on his trip to America is filled with commentaries on the American habit of spitting and other grossness. I think it is part of the peasant experience — the world is a place where goods are limited, life is a zero-sum game, and all transactions are thought to produce winners and losers, as opposed to growing up in a full flexible market economy with civil society, where goods are essentially overflowing and transactions are thought to be amenable to arrangement to everyone’s satisfaction.

Michael

December 4, 2007 @ 9:45 pm | Comment

“…where the staff and surrounding diners were so blase about the whole thing. And the ash…and the newspapers…and the lack of interest by his co-diners. …”

This is why we take “non-intervene” policy to our heart…Actually it is really discusting…

December 4, 2007 @ 10:35 pm | Comment

seen the underbelly of the world

oh boy, i can think of a few places that are worse. like ghetto crack dens for one.

right now at least, “high-end” is very ill-defined in modern China to say the least.

December 4, 2007 @ 10:47 pm | Comment

I’m trying to envision what would happen to a group like this, where I live in Atlanta.

If it were in a restaurant: well, the friends would have probably gotten the guy out of there before he puked… but certainly afterwards. And once the guy puked, I guarantee that the restaurant owner or manager would have quickly gotten the guy and the group off premises.

In a bar, somewhat different, slightly more common there of course… but still: the bouncers would be on this group like white on rice, and the guy would be hustled right out the door.

Sitting there, in a restaurant, puking? And everyone being nonchalant? Wouldn’t happen here…. it just wouldn’t.

December 5, 2007 @ 1:10 am | Comment

@HongXing

“Chinese people always urinate and vomit in public like animals? Only Westerners are civilized and clean?”

Urinating and vomiting in public is a common sight in the People’s Republic of China, more common than in any other countries I’ve been to.

“What about the strong body odor of Westerners? If a Westerner does not use a oder-remover for 24 hours, he’ll smell so bad he cannot enter a bus.”

Most “Westerners” use “oder-removers” at least once every 24 hours. Talking about bad smells, many Chinese people have yet to find out what a tooth brush is.

“What about Japanese AV? Look at how many disgusting acts those porn players do on video and sell online? Like Japanese girls eating human shit and then throwing it out and then eating that back again? As entertainment?”

You know how I found out about those disgusting porn movies? They sell them in the streets – in broad daylight – of Chinese cities.

“What about the blacks in America?”

What’s that supposed to mean?

“You are a racist.”

After the remark you just made, you dare call others racist?

December 5, 2007 @ 1:31 am | Comment

Sitting there, in a restaurant, puking? And everyone being nonchalant? Wouldn’t happen here…. it just wouldn’t.

Then you’d open the doors with a flourish to the smiles of 100 children shining in the sunny day among rainbows and meadows and unicorns.

Talk about overanalyzing and spinning anecdotes.

Urinating and vomiting in public is a common sight in the People’s Republic of China

And bestiality, child porn and anal rape are a “common sight” in “Western” countries if their self-polls and crime agencies aren’t lying.

December 5, 2007 @ 2:13 am | Comment

Dude, if a guy was puking uncontrollably, and not moving, and continuing to puke… in a restaurant in most parts of the places I’ve been in the U.S. and Europe, there would be movement by someone to get him out of there.

December 5, 2007 @ 2:29 am | Comment

Right, can’t forget that anecdotes on pekingduck.org are all the norm.

It’s just a random occurrence with absolutely no cultural significance.

December 5, 2007 @ 2:41 am | Comment

So…is the new blog name going to be ‘The Puking Duck’? Just remember, cultures are different, but Chinese seem to be able to change pretty quickly.

December 5, 2007 @ 7:44 am | Comment

max, that’s the whole point of my post – cultures are different. And you’re right, the Chinese are quite resilient.

December 5, 2007 @ 8:38 am | Comment

Um. Eyewww.

Okay, there is certainly lots of bad behavior in the west in bars. I have certainly witnessed puking in public spaces. in a bar, yes.

Never in a good restaurant.

I hope we aren’t talking about Dong Da!

December 5, 2007 @ 10:59 am | Comment

No, Da Dong is far too genteel a place for that to be tolerated. It was a local but classy place far from the CBD and Sanlitun.

December 5, 2007 @ 11:24 am | Comment

me said:

“And bestiality, child porn and anal rape are a “common sight” in “Western” countries if their self-polls and crime agencies aren’t lying.”

No, they are not.
Richard, I really would like to know why you constantly pick on nanhe while people like me can let out all kinds of BS without you even noticing.

December 5, 2007 @ 6:48 pm | Comment

By the way, ME, can you just change your stupid name?

December 5, 2007 @ 6:50 pm | Comment

“ME” is the commenter who used to use the name Ferins.

He can make some good points and can be quite obnoxious, and you’re right, the comment you refer to is pretty vile and I just didn’t see it.

Ferins, grow up. You are smarter than that.

December 5, 2007 @ 10:15 pm | Comment

@mor;

Because richard knows his place and practices bowing before pics of CCP leadership (and Da Shan) every morning while wearing three watches.

December 6, 2007 @ 1:11 am | Comment

the comment you refer to is pretty vile and I just didn’t see it.

is it? i mean, i know the standards for “low” on this site. letting comments about the “racial inferiority” of “effeminate chinese men” go is alright, so is letting some PETA psychopath talk about killing Chinese families and equating them to dogs.

everything I say is in good humor but I have a messed up sense of humor.

here’s a quote from the “Effeminate Chinese Men?” Thread:

“In general, white men are bigger and stronger physically than asian men. They also look much more handsome than asian men (Bigger and rounder eyes. Color hair and color eyes. Whiter skin color, etc). They also produce much better looking offsprings because their mixed kids generally look white (double folded and big round eyes). Their dicks are bigger and longer. Think it doesn’t matter. How come so many white women prefer big strong, and muscular black men who are champions of big dicks. Lastly, because of social and culture reasons, white men tend to be more romantic, tender, and more communicative to women.”

Lovely. And what I said about bestiality and child-rape is true, it happens more in all “Western” countries than “Eastern” countries. Go read the statistics.

December 6, 2007 @ 11:45 am | Comment

oh and glorious superior western american culture of the day:

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hVYXjOfGYMebpWYh7i02fTan43VQD8TBI76O0

not that it’s a big deal, 12,000 people die a year to guns so 8 more in a day is just a 25% increase.

December 6, 2007 @ 11:53 am | Comment

“Because richard knows his place and practices bowing before pics of CCP leadership (and Da Shan) every morning while wearing three watches.”

Dear kebab boy, after this remark I DO understand why Richard constantly picks on you. You are asking for it.

“everything I say is in good humor but I have a messed up sense of humor.”

Dear Ferins, everything you say neither makes sense nor is it funny. What does the quote from another thread have to do with the discussion on this thread? And please provide some links for the statistics you want us to read!

December 6, 2007 @ 4:26 pm | Comment

go google some FBI statistics or look at interpol.

i’ve posted them plenty of times, if you want some stuff like disease and child abuse I can dig it up again.

December 6, 2007 @ 4:45 pm | Comment

One more thing, Ferins, we do have access to TV, radio, newspapers and so on, there’s no need to post a piece of news that has absolutely nothing to do with the topic of this threat.
Richard simply wrote about a rather special restaurant experience. The tone of the story was not “Oh, look how bad and uncivilized China is”, it was more like “guess what happened the other day, people back home are never going to believe this”. (Ferins, this is what we call saying something in good humor.) Everybody who’s spent some time in China has had at least a few of these “only in China” experiences. Richard shared one of these with us, but as usual the thread turns into a China vs. USA bashing competition. Now the question is, why are people like Ferins so obsessed with the US of A? Dear Ferins, where do you live right now? Let me guess: it’s not China.

December 6, 2007 @ 4:46 pm | Comment

I didn’t say anything about the event. I’m just responding to idiots who are interpreting it poorly; is that hard to glean from my posts? Because I almost explicitly say so and have what I’m responding to in italics.

And no, I don’t live in China, it’s the U.S or Taiwan depending on the day.

December 6, 2007 @ 5:46 pm | Comment

assistants, please note MAJ has highjacked Sojourner’s identity and is posting comments that, as always, point readers to threads of his on other blogs. Please delete them as they come in, thanks. Every day, always the same psychosis.

December 6, 2007 @ 6:30 pm | Comment

Ferins, just because you can find another vile comment by another commenter does not make your own comment about bestiality less vile. Please be careful – I give you this platform, and I expect you to be mature.

Same for you, nanhe. If you repeat that nonsense about my worshipping the CCP you are out for good, and that’s a promise.

December 6, 2007 @ 7:40 pm | Comment

So “me” is just like Charles Liu, hates the US, loves China but hasn’t got the guts to live in “heaven” for even one month.

December 7, 2007 @ 12:14 am | Comment

I don’t love China, not what it’s become. But I still like most Chinese people.

December 7, 2007 @ 3:18 am | Comment

“Think it doesn’t matter. How come so many white women prefer big strong, and muscular black men who are champions of big dicks. “Posted by: me at December 6, 2007 11:45 AM (“Effeminate Chinese Men?” Thread)

Ah, the age-old question, does size matter?

http://drruth.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=334&Itemid=53

“To say size does not matter 100% of the time is not true. There are women who really need a big penis in order to fully enjoy sex. There are also women who are scared of big penises and prefer a small penis. But since a majority of women cannot have an orgasm from intercourse alone, most of the time penis size does not matter.” Dr. Ruth

I think the quality (hardness) and duration of the male erection is extremely important. But I guess none of it matters if a man is rude to women, throws up in restaurents and behaves badly in public. What say you , Lisa?

December 7, 2007 @ 8:58 am | Comment

Never thought I’d see a Dr. Ruth quote in a Peking Duck thread….well done youguys!

Incredible story Richard, and I’m amazed you weren’t more annoyed that you lost your appetite at a nice duck restaurant. I think my favorite part was that he managed to recover later while his friend took his position as “the really drunk passed out guy at the table”.

Not that I (ahem) have ever been that guy ever in my life πŸ™‚

December 7, 2007 @ 9:53 am | Comment

Wow. That’ll teach me to wade into a thread like this one.

(backing out slowly)

December 7, 2007 @ 9:56 am | Comment

“I’m just responding to idiots who are interpreting it poorly;”

Meaning what? That people like me who happen to disagree with “me” are all idiots?

“And no, I don’t live in China, it’s the U.S or Taiwan depending on the day.”

Haha… I guessed right. Obviously people like me know people like “me” very well.

“I don’t love China, not what it’s become. But I still like most Chinese people.”

In this case, people like me happen to agree with “me”.

December 7, 2007 @ 5:27 pm | Comment

I’m Singaporean, and to say that such incidents are restricted to mainland China is untrue. For sure, such people/incidents exist everywhere. I think the funny part is that it happened in a supposedly upclass eating place (assuming it really is upclass).

In Singapore, people like these will be swiftly kicked out of the general vicinity should they perform such atrocities.

Alas, stupid people still exist, amongst other stupid people, in places plagued by stupid people – just like this article where stupid people argue about penis size over the internets.

Speaking of Japan, you’d be surprise the things that can happen in public places. People can be having sex in their subways, and nobody around even so much as bats an eyelid.

December 7, 2007 @ 9:14 pm | Comment

I’m Singaporean, and to say that such incidents are restricted to mainland China is untrue. For sure, such people/incidents exist everywhere. I think the funny part is that it happened in a supposedly upclass eating place (assuming it really is upclass).

First, it was upscale, but not a high-priced Quanjude type of place; it was in a more suburban part of town, but it is considered upscale by the people who live there and the guest who invited me there. He told me before we went that it was considered a “fancy” place.

I am sure these things happen elsewhere. I have simply never seen it happen elsewhere. If it had happened in a nice restaurant in Bangkok I would have blogged it in basically the same way. I write about what I see every day. As it happens, other Chinese friends of mine who have read this post have told me it’s not that uncommon to see this in China, but I don’t know – I’ve never seen it happen here before or since. It struck me and my friend Bill as an “only in China” moment, probably because we’d never seen anything like it anywhere else before; I have many, many anecdotes that I put in this category, though I am sure some of the examples do happen elsewhere, but again, I simply haven’t seen them anywhere else.

December 8, 2007 @ 1:51 am | Comment

“I am sure these things happen elsewhere. I have simply never seen it happen elsewhere.”

Like China’s subways?! I’ve seen more puking in subway cars than I care to remember.

December 8, 2007 @ 5:03 am | Comment

To sleep, barf or to break the law?

“[In the UK]…the widespread concern here over drunkenness and alcohol-related crime in both urban and rural areas….on busy streets, in the subways below and amid the tight, after-work squeeze on commuter trains, a menacing, befuddled and reeling regiment is on the attack….emboldened by alcohol and loosely allied by behavior, are known as ”lager louts” and are being accused of sexual assault, harassment, disorderly conduct and other offenses.” London Journal.

December 8, 2007 @ 9:26 am | Comment

In Singapore, people like these will be swiftly kicked out …Alas, stupid people still exist, argue about penis size over the internets.[Japan]….People can be having sex in their subways, and nobody around even so much as bats an eyelid. Posted by: Mike at December 7, 2007 09:14 PM

Um…Mike of Singapore, please read your OWN comment before casting stones and missing the log in your eyes. Thank you.

December 8, 2007 @ 3:29 pm | Comment

@richard
I understand. I’m not pointing out whether you were putting down the chinese people with your article. I know you weren’t, and to be honest, I can’t care if anyone wishes to put down any people on the internets. I was merely pointing out what I thought to be the humor in the article, and you’re right it will still be funny even if it happened anywhere else in the world πŸ™‚

People on the internets like to argue about the silliest thing, and they’re ever so eager to react and reply to the tiniest things…like some oppressed sensitive prissy taking every chance to prove their worth. i don’t know why.

December 8, 2007 @ 5:05 pm | Comment

People on the internets like to argue about the silliest thing, and they’re ever so eager to react and reply to the tiniest things…like some oppressed sensitive prissy taking every chance to prove their worth. i don’t know why.Posted by: Mike at December 8, 2007 05:05 PM

What? Is Richard your priest, mentor, father, now?
Jeez, your oh- don’t-look-at-me-I -don’t-judge self-righteousness really gives me the creeps.
It is said, if you can’t ignore an insult, top it; if you can’t top it, laugh it off; and if you can’t laugh it off, it’s probably deserved.

December 8, 2007 @ 11:42 pm | Comment

omgwtfbbq richard is teh new found god!!!!111!one1eleven

December 9, 2007 @ 12:17 am | Comment

Who would have thought that a story about throwing up could be so fascinating?

Who would have thought that a story about throwing up would make so many people go at each other’s throats?

Point is, interesting tale. I enjoyed it.

December 9, 2007 @ 11:56 pm | Comment

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