German and British Research Centers of Taiwanese Studies

[niuc]

Hi Hong & Sim

Communication indeed is a delicate matter. It's even more difficult here as we can't see each other, but only our writings.

Hong, I don't know you personally but I know that actually you are willing to help other by answering questions, sending articles/links, etc. Yet Sim has his point i.e. in writing you tend to appear as not friendly. While "please" is used, nonetheless the overall tone still sounds not so hospitable. [Btw being polite doesn't necessarily mean friendly.] I believe that it's not your intention to appear unfriendly, but unfortunately the way you write tends to give that impression.

If I am allowed to give an example, your reply to Heruler would have not been [badly] misunderstood if it were something like "Hi Heruler. Thank you for the information. Actually we already know about this, as it's there in the older postings." I am not trying to lecture you about how to write, if this appears as so and offends you, I apologize. The point is that we have our own blind spots, and it's good for friends to help each other overcoming them.

I believe Sim has a good intention in "waking you up" about this. To think about it, the fact that he took the pain to tell you, actually shows that he is more a friend to you than I am. While it's true that we are busy and may have no time for "mushy" words, nonetheless to express ourselves amicably is important. It's not only for the sake of other or the forum, but mainly for our own benefit. Hopefully you can agree.

Thank you both (& all) for allowing me to comment. Have a great weekend (TGIF)! Cheers!

[ong]

This is what I am tyring to say ,since we cannot hear the tone we really have no idea at all .Some people can say I am stupid right in front of me but I still feel okay because thier tone is not harsh at all.But I certainly cannot do it in internet.
I don't think we need to say hi and thanks for each post. Just keep it short will do.
I find it hard to befriend with english educated people in malaysia ,we chinese educated people find that their always think us as some kind of rude people.
This is minnan words I want sim to know what I think of him
无事生非＝生空生缝，无事生事，生事生端

[SimL]

汝伤过分 and 无事生非＝生空生缝，无事生事，生事生端

Thanks for these additional vocabulary items, Ong. I can already read some of these characters in Mandarin, but not the complete phrases.

I look forward to the time when I have mastered Hokkien (and I really intend to do this one day!), and will be able to read and understand the full impact of what you are trying to say to me.

Regards,
Sim.

[SimL]

Hi Heruler,

I have met Henning several times, and he has posted (quite a while ago) to this Forum too. Indeed, I had mentioned the book when it first appeared. I think it's a great book. I helped a bit with proof-reading it (and my name got mentioned in the introduction, which thrilled me to bits!).

Still, I didn't know about these links, and will examine them carefully when I have some time.

Thanks for posting them!

Regards,
Sim.

[SimL]

... Have a great weekend (TGIF)! Cheers!

You too have a great weekend, Niuc! I've almost caught up to the level of Mandarin which I'll getting when I start in the new class this coming Saturday!

Cheers,
Sim.

[Andrew]

I don't want to get into whether it is rude or not, or intentional or not, but the point in my view is that especially when we have trouble with having enough posts on this forum it is extremely unhelpful to have people telling people not to post. Hong, if you don't find the post interesting or useful, just ignore it.