On ChinaSmack (I believe) it wasn’t even mentioned that George was Asian (or that his last name was Ding). It was meant to somehow confuse people into thinking Mark Kitto and Charlie Custer (real White Devils who packed their bags) had gone home, failed, then come back to China to look for a job. This is not what happened. George’s piece is fiction… so .. yea.

Once you realize that George Ding is his name, and he is ethnically Chinese, the joke goes nowhere…apart from lining up a list of ‘anti-laowai’ myths about what white guys are doing in China ( I know, crazy right? Working in another country? What’s next, flying cars?)

By the way, when 90% of your audience is non-Asian, and you do a hit-piece on foreigners, don’t expect a raucous applause. I know. I know. It was meant to be funny. All 6 Chinese guys laughed their asses off.

BTW. If you think being stared at, glared at everywhere you go is a ‘good thing’, you have no idea what it’s like to be a 洋鬼子 in China. 90% of the time its annoying as hell, and often antagonistic. Being treated like an ‘outsider’ 90% of the time is not a reason to come back to China, it’s a reason to get the hell out.

The whole point of satire is to have shit blow up in your face, and thereby expose the stupidity and prejudices of others. Otherwise, why bother?

Satirists who out themselves are shanzhai satirists, and not the real thing.

Well, I “get” it but I just don’t think it very funny.

Take George’s guide to “surviving” the floods this summer. As usual, it appeared weeks after, with all the freshness of month-old durian, and it mocked motorists and pedestrians for their inadequate response. Yo, George, nearly 100 drowned that night. Geddit? No? But it’s satire!! The ‘leaving China’ column duly appeared just after that entire meme had shark-jumped into the ether.

So, to me the “racism” angle is a total sideshow. The problem is that George fancies himself a wit and The Beijinger is a glossy piece of paper that advertisers use to wipe their behinds – the two are perfectly suited. George’s self-censored “satire” gets rave reviews from his housemates on the site, so long as it doesn’t ventures into the greater Internet, which always rains a golden shower on George’s parade. Am I the only one who’s actually wished Kaiser Kuo was back writing his knackered old column, sometimes? Hen, just kidding.

Just a note here, I certainly don’t believe Ding intended any of this. It’s just that in the long run it’s not really his ass on the line when reason is lost on those who just like to see what suits their views. The negative view of foreigners is already strong enough and it’s not like hate crimes don’t happen in China. And lest we forget, anti-Japanese sentiment and consequent attacks show that mob mentality lingers on.

http://www.charismaman.com/CMweb_5.98.jpg

Ding’s column wasn’t bad, but lacks the fiery wasabi kick of the original.

The first poster put this well:

“With articles that could easily be misconstrued as real ramblings, whatever backlash there may be, Ding doesn’t have to worry as he is not part of the foreigners who are easily recognizable in the street. Throwing rocks at people who live in glass houses, claiming you’re one of them as well so it’s fair, while actually your glass is bullet-proof.”

If I (a white man) wrote a “satire” article pretending to be a back man and threw in a bunch of unflattering stereotypes would it still be ok? You are Chinese, George Ding, your articles aren’t funny, they are just tired stereotypes rehashed by a weak writer who sits on both sides of the laowai/Chinese fence depending on which one is “hipper” or safer.

Although to be fair pushing it too far might have made it inappropriate for the magazine. Not sure if that’s Ding’s fault or not.

You must be a real hoot at parties~

Only because I was told it’s satire before did I manage to notice it. The article itself is comprised of exaggerated smaller and larger sins and lies that could easily be believed to be true. Some might deem calling a kennel part of the supply chain of Chinese restaurants satire, but for people back in the west it may as well be seen as a long-hidden truth to their gossip and reason to become more disgruntled.

While there is no explicit reference to the character being described as a non-Asian foreigner, the few close calls do lean in that direction. (“…missed not being the center of attention just because I was foreign.” as well as “a language made up of squiggles”.) With articles that could easily be misconstrued as real ramblings, whatever backlash there may be, Ding doesn’t have to worry as he is not part of the foreigners who are easily recognizable in the street. Throwing rocks at people who live in glass houses, claiming you’re one of them as well so it’s fair, while actually your glass is bullet-proof.

However, I wouldn’t go as far as call Ding a racist. He’s just not a very good writer and his attempt at satire ended up as failed whiteface comedy.