People Are Now Coping With Beijing’s Pollution By Building Giant Domes

Pollution dome

An international school in Beijing has built two “pollution domes” to protect their students during physical activity. A Financial Times article describes these domes as “giant pressurised canopies that can cover sports fields, playgrounds or tennis courts” — specifically, at the International School of Beijing, it covers six tennis courts, a track, a miniature soccer field, and basketball/handball courts. You won’t be surprised to learn that tuition here can run up to $35,000 (218,000 yuan) per year.

PE teacher Mary Wenstrom tells FT:

“Last year we had 39 days when the kids could not go outside for recess at all or for physical education, out of 180 school days in the year. That is well over a month of school when kids could not go outside,” Wenstrom said. The domes contain air filtration systems and temperature control systems, so that students can safely exercise all year round.

Just to reiterate: to enable spoiled and bratty kids to exercise with peace of mind, a school has installed pressurized canopies over courts that look an awful lot like they’re already indoors. Do rich people live on the same Earth as the rest of us?

The story for this occasion is Steven Millhauser’s “The Dome,” from Dangerous Laughter. Excerpt:

Each of the early models, made of transparent Viviglas, was designed to fit directly over a house and its property. Now, emerging from the front or back door in summer, the owner of a dome could step comfortably into a world of air-conditioned lawns and gardens, thanks to a highly efficient system of filters and evaporator coils built into the Viviglas. There were other advantages. Recessed fluorescent lighting with dimmer switches permitted the property to be illuminated at night, so that you could read a book or newspaper in the cool outdoors on the hottest, muggiest evenings. Owners were encouraged to practice their golf sings, play badminton after dark, and enjoy a bit of night gardening, in the always perfect weather under the dome. In fact it was a boast of the manufacturer, much quoted at that time, that “Inside our dome, rain never falls.” As if that wasn’t enough, the manufacturer promised future models that would heat the enclosures in winter, though a number of difficulties still needed to be ironed out. It was above all as technological achievements that the early domes impressed most observers, who nevertheless remained skeptical. Questions were raised about the extent to which such excesses were likely to be shared by the average American household, since the domes at that time cost nearly as much as the states they encapsulated. Nor could a number of journalists resist reflecting on the metaphorical implications of those glistening, crystalline structures, which enclosed the rich in little princedoms that insulated them even further from the everyday world.

Please check out Alec Baldwin’s reading of Millhauser’s story here.

New on Beijing skyline: pollution domes (Financial Times)

    131 Responses to “People Are Now Coping With Beijing’s Pollution By Building Giant Domes”

    1. Chackie Jan

      Or, you can just hook up your child to a life simulator. That way he/she doesn’t even have to be exposed to actual life, which is very deadly. Scientists claim a 0% survival rate, something that most parents seem to take into consideration these days.

      Reply
      • josh

        The dome facility goes public on March 1.

        Why must so many label the students as spoiled brats? Yes they are the top 1% of the world. They are also human, filled with emotion, ambitions, hurts, joys.

        International School of Beijing is only a high school; the students are not INSULATED from the world.

        Please, as adults, be respectful. Yes, there may be an income gap between you and them.

        Josh

        Reply
      • John Doe

        Assuming that’s sarcasm, let me educate you. Air pollution in Beijing was horrible without this Winter’s record highs. Up until this year, the US Embassy only tracked air pollution up to 500ppm (parts per million). However, now they have begun to measure above that. If your impeded understanding is a question of scale, Seattle’s air quality index (AQI) only goes up to 100ppm, which is considered extremely hazardous. I would assume that those at ISB are not depriving themselves of “actual life”, so much as trying not to die choking to death on dust while playing tennis.

        Reply
      • Susan

        I really don’t see how exercising in a dome does not allow kids “to be exposed to actual life”. Exercising in a dome is very similar to exercising indoor. Is indoor activities part of your “actual life”? If most of your solutions for problems are that extreme and impractical, such as carrying a life simulator, then you do need to reconsider your approaches.

        Reply
    2. ThinkBlue

      But isn’t the inside of the dome filled with air? And didn’t that air come from the polluted outside air? So isn’t it still the same? Does air magically clean itself when it is inside?

      Reply
    3. Fred

      Been there, seen that, it has less to do with pollution and more to do with having a large climate-controlled area. They spent a good chunk on the facilities and it lowers maintenance costs and lowers liability risk. Dulwich has a similar facility. They still have outdoor facilities as well.

      Reply
      • HATERS: PLEASE THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK

        We’re just a school, you honestly think we can fix Beijing’s air? Only the government can take action like that. And we aren’t ignoring it. We have to live with this everyday, do you know that? There is nothing we can do to solve a matter like this. All we can do is try to stay away from the bad air by staying within places that have AIR FILTERS. If you actually think that the dome was built to be filled with polluted air, then you are just making assumptions. Please Be Considerate.

        Reply
      • Jeff

        Your ignorance is so laughable I am in tears. I think I get why you are so jealous of these students now, you’ve never had a decent enough education to read properly so you are channeling your anger to people you have never met with your impossibly low intelligence. I wonder if you will even do HALF as well as the bratty and spoiled kids in a standardized reading test. Heck, I’d be surprised if you can even get 10% of what a monkey can get.

        Reply
    4. 这是中国!!!

      Read the story, retards. The domes have air filtration systems. The domes are not filled with polluted air. Lucky expat-brats. I want a dome.

      Reply
    5. Wonderchief

      Seen these before in Calgary, but not for pollution, for heat in winter. Seems like a fair idea to me but would be nice if they were public.

      Reply
      • Jeff

        Just because their parents have worked hard while they are young does not mean that the kids are spoiled by their parent’s hard work. In fact, they may be inspired to put in more effort into their education. Your ignorant and brute judgment makes me feel like this article seems like it was pretty hypocritical and unsophisticated, considering that it’s just taking a few quotes from another article in “Financial Times” and adding a few opinions that are based on no actual facts but jealousy.

        Reply
    6. Tom Shaw

      yes , that is huge different between inside and outside for the air quality. there are complicated air treatment stuff in the mechanic unit. when the AQI of PM2.5 outside is 650, the AQI inside only 25. that is proof.

      Reply
    7. Abou

      This is pretty hypocritical. You’ve labelled kids as bratty when it seems like you know nothing about them (shown through the moment where you mentioned that you haven’t visited the school before.) You’re acting spiteful purely based off the fact these kids had the privilege to be born to families who have worked hard to achieve the success that the kids are now enjoying.

      Furthermore it seems like you’ve barely done any journalism whatsoever. You’re practically just quoting parts of the financial times article and just inserting some opinion which has no basis whatsoever because you haven’t come in contact with this.

      Reply
    8. TT

      This article seems pretty hypocritical. You know nothing about these kids and you’re labeling them as spoiled and bratty purely based off the conception that all kids with successful parents are spoiled. You’ve never visited this school and never interacted with anything to do with this school so what basis does your knowledge have? It seems like you’re being extremely spiteful just because these kids are given the random privilege of being born to a pair of parents who have worked extremely hard to attain the financial power that allows the school to build the dome. Their money is their own to use.

      Furthermore it seems like you’ve barely done any journalism whatsoever. You’re just quoting parts of a financial times article and injecting parts of your personal opinion which has no validity because you have nothing to do with the school.

      Reply
    9. josh

      The dome facility goes public on March 1.

      Why must so many label the students as spoiled brats? Yes they are the top 1% of the world. They are also human, filled with emotion, ambitions, hurts, joys.

      International School of Beijing is only a high school; the students are not INSULATED from the world.

      Please, as adults, be respectful. Yes, there may be an income gap between you and them.

      josh

      Reply
    10. International School of Beijing students

      Hey you judgmental people out there calling us “expat brats,”
      It’s not like we were asking for a freaking dome. It’s not our decision to make.
      We find it offensive that people are jumping to the conclusion that simply because our parents pay high tuition fees (much of which is actually covered by companies/embassies), we are spoilt ignorant brats who are disconnected from the real world. Kids here are very, very hardworking and highly value education, and we are completely aware of the high costs our parents pay for us to be in such a privileged position.

      “…a school has installed pressurized canopies over courts that look an awful lot like they’re already indoors…” –> this is sloppy “journalism” at best. The dome was a new construction that stands by itself…please stop assuming things.

      And the dome will become public soon, they’re just not public yet. But there are already indoor fitness centers in Beijing with air filtration, so what’s the point?! We’re a school, not a sports center.

      Reply
      • International School of Beijing students (cont.)

        Air quality in Beijing was already bad, but this Winter we’ve experienced record breaking pollution that has forced the US Embassy to record pollution above 500 parts per million. For some context, Seattle, Washington’s Air Quality Index maxes out at 100ppm, and that is considered “extremely hazardous”. We are thankful for the domes, and we don’t appreciate being accused of being cut off from “actual life”. All the domes provide is the ability not to choke to death while playing tennis, certainly not part of any “actual life” we’d like to be a part of.

        Reply
      • International School of Beijing students (cont.)

        Air quality in Beijing was already bad, but this Winter we’ve experienced record breaking pollution that has forced the US Embassy to record pollution above 500 parts per million. For some context, Seattle, Washington’s Air Quality Index maxes out at 100ppm, and that is considered “extremely hazardous”. We are thankful for the domes, and we don’t appreciate being accused of being cut off from “actual life”. All that the domes provide is the ability not to choke on dust and smoke while playing tennis or running track, certainly not part of any “actual life” we’d like to be a part of. This roast of high schoolers is below the belt and not in any way supposed mature adults should be behaving without the presence of all the facts.

        Reply
    11. ISB student

      Hey you judgmental people out there calling us “expat brats,”
      It’s not like we were asking for a freaking dome. It’s not our decision to make.
      We find it offensive that people are jumping to the conclusion that simply because our parents pay high tuition fees (much of which is actually covered by companies/embassies), we are spoilt ignorant brats who are disconnected from the real world. Kids here are very, very hardworking and highly value education, and we are completely aware of the high costs our parents pay for us to be in such a privileged position.

      “…a school has installed pressurized canopies over courts that look an awful lot like they’re already indoors…” –> The dome was a new construction that stands by itself…please stop assuming things.

      And the dome will become public soon, they’re just not public yet. But there are already indoor fitness centers in Beijing with air filtration, so what’s the point?! We’re a school, not a sports center.

      Reply
    12. Amonymous

      I really don’t understand the point of this “article”. Are you trying to say that rich people…spend money? Even I, a “spoiled and bratty” kid, know that, given the opportunity, people will spend their money like theres no tomorrow. Besides following the most basic conventions of writing, how can this even be classified as “news” in any way, shape or form? This sounds much more like the bitter rants of a wannabe writer trying to make his first “big” story. To make things clear, the students at ISB had little to no say regarding the installation of the domes, so your conclusions about their “spoiled and bratty” nature is entirely laughable. I don’t deny that there aren’t parents out their who adhere to the every need and want of their little princes/princesses but your attempt to depict that entire community as the “pretentious” upper class is as feeble as your attempts to portray yourself as the crusader of the lower/middle class. As I finish this up, I can honestly say that the thing that bothers me most about this “article”, is the fact that my comment will pile on to that little bit of controversy that “writers” like you live off of.

      Reply
        • yet another isb student

          Just to reiterate: Anthony: You’re probably single.

          To begin with, on behalf of the International School of Beijing, and as a student of it, I find your bias judgements and opinions highly offensive. Everything else has been concluded by my fellow peers. I have nothing else I have to say.

          Reply
    13. Another ISB Student

      This article is so biased it’s laughable. That’s what happens when news is written by those from poor families who have never worked hard. My parents work very hard by having a lot of low-life asses like you work in factories. They then sell this product with their incredible skill and ask a mark-up of about 90%. Most of this goes straight into my parent’s pockets, and then on to me and my expensive hobbies. We also give a bit to the factory manager and accountants, so that we don’t actually have to be there to do that low class work. My dad is really amazing at dinner parties with officials and clients, so every penny we have is deserved! So what if we spend it on large domes, massive tuition fees that shield us from schools for the poor? Screw you poor guys. Go choke on that air that comes out of my dad’s factories!
      Sent from my back-up iPhone 5

      Reply
      • REAL "another ISB student"

        Fucking retard, stop trying to pose as an ISB kid. Both my parents actually were born to peasant families in China – what do you know about hard work? My dad worked hard in school and won a physics scholarship for postgraduate studies at a US university and earned his PhD there (another 5 years of hard work), which opened up opportunities for him in the US. My mother left China with 200 dollars in her pocket the first day she was in the US, and supported herself through university by working as a babysitter and waitress (Chinatown restaurants). The room my mom lived in didn’t even have windows because the facilities were so poor. I guess you would call these “low life jobs.”

        As for “expensive hobbies,” most students here are heavily involved in community service. What do you know about dedicating 3 hours every week to teaching underprivileged Chinese children English? Or dance? Or forgoing the chance to travel and live in hotels on other schooltrips to go on the building trip, logging around bricks everyday and living in conditions that you would find appalling (assuming you have reasonable living conditions since you have the spare time to post stupid comments)?

        Reply
        • Big Pile O' Fragrant Roses

          LOL, talk about posting stupid comments. While that guy’s comment was obviously intended to be satirical in nature, I wonder what your comment is supposed to be. Just because you give one superrare example all ISB students are angels? That’s about as preposterous as Anthony’s piece calling all ISB students brats.

          Also, your example is still talking about parents. Not you. You get it all handed to you. Sure, you can work hard at school, but are you saying others don’t? What about all the hardworking kids at other schools? And 3 hours of community service? Fuck me, that is nothing. 3 measly hours teaching some English and you call that work? You see yourself as some amazing charitable person? What about kids who have to work hard and also take care of handicapped family members? Seriously, I don’t want to get angry but fuck you and your 3 hour a week charity. That’s not even half an hour a day. I take shits that take longer than that.

          Go buy off your guilt trip with barely thirty minutes of teaching. Then go back home and watch movies on your 60 inch plasma screen, whilst fapping with diamond gloves on. PLEASE TEACH US HOW CHARITABLE YOU ARE!!!

          Reply
          • ISB student

            Um, shit pile of roses, please read what I’m responding to before you jump to vapid conclusions. The original post says:

            “My parents work very hard by having a lot of low-life asses like you work in factories.”

            So I was responding to this by saying that my parents did in fact work hard, as did many other Chinese expat parents here who grew up during the latter stages of the cultural revolution. I was not making a statement as to whether I work hard.

            Um, since when did I say 3 hours of community service is hard work? Yes fuck you, because you clearly can’t read. I was making a point about “expensive hobbies” by noting that community service is hardly a posh activity. I don’t think it’s hard work at all; in fact I find it enjoyable. The fact that you automatically consider community service to be “hard work” strikes me as hypocritical. And there are students who dedicate entire summers to volunteer work.

            Read before you speak. You’re not helping your case.

            Reply
          • Kingsley

            People from ISB are more intellectually capable than you can even imagine.

            So be angry all you want – they’ll be leaving you behind.

            That is all.

            Reply
    14. Spoiled Rich Kid

      dey dnt evn let uz hav chokolat melk 4 lunch!!!!1!!1!1!!
      we dnt hav a senier towar
      dey dnt let uz wer hatz
      we cnt turn rite ow
      help uz
      =
      lyf her in da jing iz hard
      lyf iz tuf

      we gta b dodgin buletz left n left cuz we b thugin it

      u hurt or felingz
      ow
      #thüg łįfë

      Reply
    15. Student ISB

      EVERYONE FIRST STOP COMPLAINING. On behalf of many students I speak. This is ridiculous, what ISB does is irrelevant to most of the people writing about this, in fact its irrelevant to EVERYONE besides the ISB community. “Just to reiterate: to enable spoiled and bratty kids to exercise with peace of mind, a school has installed pressurized canopies over courts that look an awful lot like they’re already indoors. Do rich people live on the same Earth as the rest of us?” is a ridiculous phrase from the article.

      Reply
    16. Galatea

      I’m surprised at the lack of facts of this article, in fact instead of article I’d say this is more of a opinionated rant regarding matters that have not been researched well enough or delved into with well regard of the situation.

      First of all the tuition has less to do with the dome itself and more with the education offered at this institution. The average SAT and IB scores recorded and present at ISB appear to be top tier in regards to other schools around the world using the same grading systems and sending grades to the same IB organization. The school attempts to offers inbuilt wireless connections all around school, also constantly updating it’s appliances and technological reserves to provide students with the most recent and most up to date education to prepare it’s students, who are paying the school. Each student is provided with a mac in the attempt to equalize the opportunities and maximize the abilities of the students seeking to expand their knowledge bank. The school must also pay for the teachers which all have international teaching permits and appropriate educational degrees. Also the recent insurance policy required employees to pay more to the firms which would then pay to secure insurance, which then in turn forced the school to increase the teachers pay so that the teachers could receive the payment that they originally had before the policy was implemented; this meant more tuition had to be drawn from the students to ensure that top quality teachers still stay at ISB. With that said the tuition is used more for the purposes of the school and education, not only to allow the “spoiled and bratty kids to exercise.” don’t even get me started on the school upkeep, had the author taken the time to go and personally tour ISB he/she would realize that electricity alone for this fine institution would require a mass amount of money.

      Spoiled and bratty kids are a little tad bit harsh in a certain perspective. In this competitive world parents are willing to pay the fee to ensure their child is prepared for the future. With disregard to facts, coming to a simple conclusion that they are spoiled and bratty is beyond insanity and stupidity. I’m not stating that all the students at ISB are “not spoiled,” I am simply correlating with facts and coming to a conclusion that ISB students also labor for their futures. In regards to the large excerpt, it is clear that the author would like to state that ISB students are shielded and disconnected from the outside world. That’s true. There are students that are shielded and are oblivious to the outside world, but there are always those kinds of people in society. Point in case, the United States and its American dream in the 20th century, which in that period in time proved Americans to be more than ignorant. Regarding the “do rich people…..” I would like to say that rich people do live on the same “Earth” as the rest of us. It’s a very cold, competitive, and bloody world and people have ways to make their money. If you would like to see what this fabled world of the rich is, maybe…you could stop poor journalism and begin to scam people, hack bank accounts, rob the bank, or work your way up.

      By the way maybe…you should try interviewing the students for a start…maybe try a bit of what I did for fun.

      Reply
    17. Galatea

      I’m surprised at the lack of facts of this article, in fact instead of article I’d say this is more of a opinionated rant regarding matters that have not been researched well enough or delved into with well regard of the situation.

      First of all the tuition has less to do with the dome itself and more with the education offered at this institution. The average SAT and IB scores recorded and present at ISB appear to be top tier in regards to other schools around the world using the same grading systems and sending grades to the same IB organization. The school attempts to offers inbuilt wireless connections all around school, also constantly updating it’s appliances and technological reserves to provide students with the most recent and most up to date education to prepare it’s students, who are paying the school. Each student is provided with a mac in the attempt to equalize the opportunities and maximize the abilities of the students seeking to expand their knowledge bank. The school must also pay for the teachers which all have international teaching permits and appropriate educational degrees. Also the recent insurance policy required employees to pay more to the firms which would then pay to secure insurance, which then in turn forced the school to increase the teachers pay so that the teachers could receive the payment that they originally had before the policy was implemented; this meant more tuition had to be drawn from the students to ensure that top quality teachers still stay at ISB. With that said the tuition is used more for the purposes of the school and education, not only to allow the “spoiled and bratty kids to exercise.” don’t even get me started on the school upkeep, had the author taken the time to go and personally tour ISB he/she would realize that electricity alone for this fine institution would require a mass amount of money.

      Spoiled and bratty kids are a little tad bit harsh in a certain perspective. In this competitive world parents are willing to pay the fee to ensure their child is prepared for the future. With disregard to facts, coming to a simple conclusion that they are spoiled and bratty is beyond insanity and stupidity. I’m not stating that all the students at ISB are “not spoiled,” I am simply correlating with facts and coming to a conclusion that ISB students also labor for their futures. In regards to the large excerpt, it is clear that the author would like to state that ISB students ar shielded and disconnected from the outside world. That’s true. There are students that are shielded and are oblivious to the outside world, but there are always those kinds of people in society. Point in case, the United States and its American dream in the 20th century, which in that period in time proved Americans to be more than ignorant. Regarding the “do rich people…..” I would like to say that rich people do live on the same “Earth” as the rest of us. It’s a very cold, competitive, and bloody world and people have ways to make their money. If you would like to see what this fabled world of the rich is, maybe…you could stop poor journalism and begin to scam people, hack bank accounts, rob the bank, or work your way up.

      By the way maybe…you should try interviewing the students for a start…maybe try a bit of what I did for fun.

      Reply
    18. anon

      It seems like you, Anthony Tao, are very biased against the decision to make this dome. This school has the capacity to make their life healthier by breathing cleaner air, so why is it that just because they have this ability to do so, that the kids are immediately labelled as “bratty”? It’s like saying, if you’re hungry, and you have money to buy yourself a meal, you do it. In the same manner, if you live in an industrialized city like Beijing and you fear the air you breathe, then you buy a humidifier. Your clear lack of care for the health of the children of this community is appalling.

      Reply
    19. isb student

      Honestly, we are spoiled brats. We are rich. We get what we want. We wanted a dome for the pollution, we got one.

      Reply
    20. arnold

      hey, reporter, go fuck yourself you little shit, ISB is a good school. We didn’t build this to spoil kids, but to help them have physical activities while breathing good air, it isn’t our fault Beijing has horrible air, we just learnt to adapt and to build something useful. So shut the fuck up, who are you to say ISB is spoiling kids.

      Reply
    21. ISB student

      Hey! You assuming reporter, just because you weren’t rich enough to goto a good school, and the fact that you are a horrible reporter, who can’t bring his kids to a good school, doesn’t mean you can assume that ISB students are spoiled and bratty. You’re argument is the same as why we have indoor pools, or indoor basketball courts, why people run on treadmills instead of outside, it’s exactly the same thing. Don’t judge someone else’s life just because yours sucks. ISB only built this so students have a way of exercise when the weather is bad, if Beijing had good weather, I’m sure the majority of students would spend it outside.

      Reply
    22. Confused and offended ISB student

      Sorry, but reiterate? Reiterate? Please reconsider your word choice. Who are you trying to appeal to by writing an article with this slant? A slant towards what, the less fortunate Beijingers who you think will be enraged by the two domes that a school has provided children with? Domes that will allow those children to partake in activities other children in other countries are able to partake in without the slightest hesitation?

      Were you thinking when you wrote this “article”? Could you please tell us, the ISB community, what you were trying to accomplish? Is it so satisfying to take a stab at the people in our community who are fortunate enough to have access to an environment where they are free from the limitations of Beijing pollution? What have we done to you and the rest of Beijing except show a method, albeit an expensive one, of bypassing the limitations of pollution?

      Because this is what it reads like: you’re angry that there are richer people who have access to advanced technology – advanced technology that you would never dreamt of using – and those people seem to get by with their lives while using said facilities without a second’s hesitation. My question is why. Why are you angry? Why are you so bent on dehumanizing us “spoiled and bratty kids”? And while you’re at it, why italicize “pressurized [canopy]”? Is it so otherworldly to you? Domes all over the world are supported by a pressurized interior. Is it a question of your ignorance, or do you just find it so unbelievable that a canopy is pressurized? I doubt it’s either: you’re studying at/graduated from Northwestern, aren’t you? I think you’re trying to manipulate readers into questioning the construction of the domes, but I still don’t understand why.

      Please, explain your thought process. I’d love to see what a Northwestern student/alumni has to say on this topic. And feel free to add any personal experience you’ve had with the domes and/or Beijing pollution. I’m sure if you knew the extent of the damage caused by Beijing pollution, you’d reconsider your slant.

      I personally love the domes. Seeing as they’ll be open for public use, I don’t think the school is hoarding the facility for itself. Sure, it’d be a pro for teachers coming from abroad to teach at the school, as the Beijing pollution is one of the largest cons in coming to work in Beijing, but the dome is so useful in many other regards, for students, parents, and soon, Beijingers who can afford its membership fee. Prior to the dome’s opening, many outdoor sporting events have been cancelled as a result of dangerous pollution levels, and as the International School of Beijing strives to provide not only a world-class education but also world-class facilities, the dome is a great addition. I mean, if we have access to it, why not? Why not? It’s not like we’re destroying the rest of Beijing with the domes – not like we’re some sort of energy guzzling monstrosity that will kick Beijing’s AQI into the quadruple digits.

      We, the international community, are not as bratty and spoiled as you think. And you know what, if we are, we’re not nearly as close-minded as you read to be – which then raises the question, who’s the one that’s bratty and spoiled? Even further, who ISN’T bratty and spoiled?

      Reply
      • International School of Beijing Students

        Agreed. It wasn’t our choice to build the domes, and you, Mr. Anthony Tao, have NO right to call us “spoiled and bratty kids”. It’s an inaccurate generalization and just because we go to an expensive school does not mean we are spoiled and bratty. We are extremely grateful for having these domes, and they are being put to good use. The pollution in Beijing is generally very high, and by building these domes, children have a chance to constantly exercise and be healthy without having to depend on Beijing’s pollution index being low enough.

        Reply
    23. ISB Students (cont.)

      Air quality in Beijing was already bad, but this Winter we’ve experienced record breaking pollution that has forced the US Embassy to record pollution above 500 parts per million. For some context, Seattle, Washington’s Air Quality Index maxes out at 100ppm, and that is considered “extremely hazardous”. We are thankful for the domes, and we don’t appreciate being accused of being cut off from “actual life”. All that the domes provide is the ability not to choke on dust and smoke while playing tennis or running track, certainly not part of any “actual life” we’d like to be a part of. This roast of high schoolers is below the belt and not in any way supposed mature adults should be behaving without the presence of all the facts.

      Reply
    24. ISB kids

      I would like to correct some of your facts. Most of us are not the rich posh kids you make us out to be, although our tuition is quite expensive, our parent’s companies pay for either all of most of the tuition. Also the domes are filtered by the way and what would you like us to do? Filter the air in Beijing, that is the job of the government, besides it is part of being a developing country. Now there are ways to turn energy and pollution into green energy. There are certainly some aspects of the matter that could be fixed however; I would like to point out that your diction focuses more on bullying kids and your post has no real point other than victimizing kids who did nothing to you. If people really have nothing better to rather than scrutinize 8 year olds, there is a much bigger problem here. Another point, no one is going to give the time of day to a news site whose top viewed posts are Porn Not Blocked in China, Sex Mushroom, Kim Jong-un, Sexiest Man, and Porking Pigs.

      An “expat brat” from ISB

      Reply
      • Senior

        Unfortunately that’s called “child abuse”. And “assault on a minor”. And for all purposes, I hope you were joking (it wasn’t funny) or just drunk (that’s still not funny), because I don’t think you would want some random adult threatening your own kid in a foreign country. And I don’t think it looks too good for China Radio International either when it’s own director implies a random act of violence against students.

        Kids from ISB are some of the most hard-working people you will ever meet. We just don’t take kindly to being called “spoiled brats”, because it seems to take away everything we’ve ever worked for.

        So the next time you see an ISB alumnus do something great on TV, think back to when you threatened to hurt that kid. That’s going to be a memory you’re going to be ashamed about, even if it was a hollow, in-the-moment fit of frustration.

        You’re a graduate from the University of Texas, Austin. The lack of discipline is a little bit disappointing.

        Reply
        • Big Pile O' Fragrant Roses

          “So the next time you see an ISB alumnus do something great on TV.”

          Get off your high horse mate.

          “Kids from ISB are some of the most hard-working people you will ever meet.”

          What do we look like to you from your ivory tower? Just like small ants who don’t do anything, probably.

          Reply
      • Meff

        You would exactly be the type of kid the article is talking about, without the part about being rich. Rich people would be more well mannered, behaved, and have more social etiquette. You sir, however, are just a little bitch trying to channel your jealousy to violence. Your narrow-minded and rash judgment of people is so simpleminded and barbaric I almost feel sorry for you.

        Reply
    25. shab

      So I’ve read your so-called article a few times, and I fail to see the whole point of it. You seem to be attacking both rich, ISB students, who are “spoiled brats”, as well as the usefulness of the new domes, but with no coherent argument whatsoever. I’m going to have to call you out on both of your poorly-structured opinions. I know everything that is to be said has probably been said, but “just to reiterate”:

      It’s been tested, and the AQI (Air Quality Index) was around 60 in the domes, when it was 500+ outside. We had no say in the new domes – our parents pay for tuition, we work hard, and reap the rewards. We know how privileged and fortunate we are to be attending ISB, we know that not many people have access to the resources we have, but that doesn’t make us spoiled. There’s a difference, there’s a clear distinct line between spoiled and privileged.

      We, the students of ISB, have paid for the tuition of school – and it’s not because we’re spoiled. It’s because our parents worked hard enough to afford to put us in an exceptional school – and we acknowledge that. Does that make us spoiled? Maybe some people our taking it for granted, but I guarantee that the majority of us are working hard day and night and are constantly reminded of how lucky we are to be at such a great school. So don’t make a hasty generaliziation, I thought you as an op-ed writer would definitely know that.

      So what really is the thesis of your argument? I’d honestly like to know. What is it that drove you to write this? Was it jealousy, or was it just to spark some controversy and get some wanted attention? I think your article summed up, is: “Mommy, ISB students have a better toy than me”. The truth is, as I’ve said before – we’re lucky. We had problems with pollution, and luckily enough, we were able to fix it with the construction of domes. If we have the money to do it, then why not? Should we have just sat and done nothing all day, when we CAN take action? We did take action, because we’re privileged enough to have the money to do so. However, it doesn’t in any way whatsoever make it justifiable for you to call us out on it – just mind your own business, and don’t go attacking people who have things you don’t have.

      Reply
    26. Dragons

      You guys have no right to call ISB students “spoiled and bratty kids.” Have you been to ISB? Do you personally know the students? Majority of the kids are humble enough that you wouldn’t ever guess the financial situation of their families.

      Reply
    27. Thomas Banks

      Dear Mr. Tao,

      Are you suggesting the school to clean up beijing’s air? Calling these kids outright “spoiled and bratty” just because their school installed innovative facilities to protect their own selves is completely below the belt. It’s like calling you obnoxious and arrogant just because you wrote this article and published it. Also, you obviously did not do your research because these facilities are open to the PUBLIC. So please, Mr Anthony Tao, if you would like to hate on “spoiled and bratty” kids because you are jealous, please do it quietly and with the correct information next time.

      Reply
    28. THE BRATS THAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT

      you sir. are horrible
      so now its OUR fault that we have a dome?
      okay fine. it isn’t fair that some people have it better than others, and ISB has helped PLENTY of other people, so you can’t judge us like that. Our school donates so much to others you have no idea. We BUILT schools for others.

      So what is your purpose in insulting kids that did nothing wrong?

      Love,
      “the brats”

      Reply
    29. Big Pile O' Fragrant Roses

      Lol at all the ISB students feeling the need to yell in the comments. Why would you even bother if you didn’t feel guilty about being at least a bit of a brat?

      Reply
      • Cupcakes

        Someone calls you an idiot. You respond by explaining how you aren’t an idiot. By your logic, the fact that you responded shows an internal confliction of your idiocy. I don’t follow this logic at all.

        Here’s a tip: think before you write. It helps.

        Reply
        • Big Pile O' Fragrant Roses

          Not at all. It’s about the content of the comments. If you respond to someone calling you a racist by shouting ‘what do you know, you’re a f*ng n*gg*r’ then how serious should we take that rebuttal? I don’t see how ISB students calling Anthony a virgin or asking him to suck their nuts does anything to show they are not brats.

          On-topic: I’m totally on board with people spending their hard-earned money in whichever way they like. However, these kids have earned nothing but by virtue of being born with a silver spoon can enjoy what 90% can’t. I can totally understand the parents though who want the best for their kids, but it does have an impact on a kid’s view of the world. Just like being born in a ghetto does.

          Either way, just like they’re entitled to have their pure air domes, we’re entitled to a mix of jealousy and contempt. Besides, who cares? It’s not like it’s very likely these two groups are going to mix, socially. Just because we live in the same city doesn’t mean we have anything in common. People in a ghetto in NY and rich folk downtown NY live in the same city but do they have anything in common? Are they ever going to mix socially? Doubtful. For all intents and purposes there are multiply New Yorks just like there are multiple Beijings. This is more of a Harlem Beijing Cream, so of course most content doesn’t mean anything to those from upstate Beijing.

          Reply
          • Cupcakes

            So, Roses, how about the other comments? The ones where points are being made? You’re picking the minority of comments by ISB students that have responded to this article with quite a level of immaturity, and sure, I’ll admit there are definitely some bratty and spoiled kids in ISB but where aren’t there? There’s always going to be an upper class, even in the lower class – in the sense that even among the poor, there is someone who’s least poor.

            Beyond your decision to ignore the students who actually have points worth considering, I agree with you. This article seems to be have been written mostly out is disdain, and has triggered a hate-riddled discussion that’s like any other Internet flame war. And yes, you’re right again: that these people ho are born into rich families are just as deserving of their wealth as others are deserving of hate and jealously. At the end of the day, we’re all human I suppose, and we’ll always be jealous of each other in some way. But I think what makes ISB students angry is that the hate an jealousy that these outsiders are feeling is being directed to the ISB students in a less than prudent way. I mean, to stoop as low as using a stereotype to make a point in an article is completely amateur. And Anthony Tao goes to Northwestern. It’s not like Northwestern’s any cheaper. He’d do we’ll to realize how thankful he should be for his chance at a great education as well. I imagine Northwestern’s campus would provide air filtered domes for their students too if the AQI there bet gets as bad as Beijing’s.

            Reply
            • Big Pile O' Fragrant Roses

              I totally agree with most of those points. (That’s what I meant by, people can spend their money in whichever way they like.) In fact, it’s the school that decides to build these domes so they can boast even more and ask even higher tuition. Whether that decision is financially prudent really depends on how bad Beijing’s pollution is (or at least is perceived to be). I’d say it’s a good move by the school that makes economic sense, since Beijing’s air quality is not going to improve a lot in the short term.

              However, there’s this one particular line of reasoning, and I see this coming back quite a few times on here and in conversations with people in real life. This line of reasoning shows a certain blindness to one’s own arrogance, especially among kids who happen to have rich(er) parents. Let me illustrate by one example, but it’s shown here multiple times:

              “We, the students of ISB, have paid for the tuition of school – and it’s not because we’re spoiled. It’s because our parents worked hard enough to afford to put us in an exceptional school – and we acknowledge that.”

              Apart from the fact that those who paid for the tuition aren’t the students but their parents, or companies/embassies having the parents over, the second line is like a big punch in the face. “Our parents who worked hard enough.” This shows a kind of disdain for all people who cannot afford it, as if the only reason they cannot afford it is because they don’t work hard enough. And that is arrogance, exonerating you from any guilt you might feel when you recognize that income differences are also based on exploitation. By this token a factory manager who has employed people at minimum wage for 12 hours a day, works harder and has earned it more to send his kid to such a school.

              In the end, a lot of people think they’re not spoiled or not jealous but they are. Anthony’s piece is simplistic and shows jealousy, but it’s not an insane kind of jealousy. The ISB comments show that they are unaware of their own arrogance. And perhaps blissfully unaware of how most people view them. (Anthony just wrote it down, but it’s a very common view of expat/diplomat kids.) I wouldn’t go as far as to say they’re spoiled and bratty, just like I wouldn’t call Anthony a jealous person. In this case however, both sides show spoiled and jealous behavior.

              Again, as I said in my previous comment, normally the two sides don’t even mix socially, so this argument wouldn’t have even happened. Thanks to the internet we can enjoy these kind of flame wars though, in which both sides are so blind to their own behavior that they’ll never agree. I think it’s fun.

        • Fred

          RhZ, 53 comments were not visible at the time of my post. Just 9 were, hence my post. You’ll notice, I am sure, that more than two hours elapsed between my post and your response to it. I am sure that you are capable of understanding that the blogger unblocked and/or confirmed comments in this time. You should also be aware that between 4pm yesterday evening and at least 10.30 am this morning, the blogger had removed a number of comments that had been visible earlier in the day on 1st February.

          Reply
          • RhZ

            Fred, there are 20+ comments from several days ago. I would ask you for your point, but I don’t really care.

            Besides, if you bothered to check, this post has been taken out of the post stream entirely! Surely that proves your point, whatever pointless point you are trying miserably to deliver.

            Reply
          • Anthony Tao

            Nope, didn’t remove any comments whatsoever, and never have. You’ll note that even though you “made shit up,” as parlance goes, your comment remains visible to everyone.

            Re: RhZ: “Post Stream” only shows the 50 most recent.

            Reply
            • RhZ

              Yeah, I didn’t go back far enough to find it, so I thought maybe you had pulled in out. But, I also didn’t care if it was removed. Or if you deleted any of these genius comments.

    30. jeff

      Just because their parents have worked hard while they are young does not mean that the kids are spoiled by their parent’s hard work. In fact, they may be inspired to put in more effort into their education. Your ignorant and brute judgment makes me feel like this article seems like it was pretty hypocritical and unsophisticated, considering that it’s just taking a few quotes from another article in “Financial Times” and adding a few opinions that are based on no actual facts but jealousy.

      Reply
    31. Sarah

      Oh yes, instead of discussing the actual problem – Beijing’s horrible problems with pollution – let’s make fun of people who are trying to stay healthy by not breathing it in! Clearly the ONLY reason they have these domes is because they’re spoilt brats, not because, you know, the pollution in Beijing is regularly more than 200 times the maximum recommended level. And don’t forget! It’s the children’s fault that their parents make enough money to send them to a good school!

      Reply
    32. PARENT

      Yes sir, it is totally the children’s falt that their parents make enough money, or their parents jobs pay compensation towards schooling. It’s the children’s falt that their parents want to give them the gift of education. Can we not spend our money how we wish? Your logic is flawed sir. You are married to a local Beijing woman, you have NO kids, and obviously, you serious lack any form of understanding.

      Before you go making accusations about how students attending ISB are “spoiled and bratty”, what would you say if you had a child attending ISB? Would you like your child to have his/her health affected by the pollution? Wouldn’t you like your child to be able to have recess? Wouldn’t you like your child to have “peace of mind” and feel safe at school? Consider what you say, your ideas might just change once you have a child of your own. Have some self discipline.

      Reply
    33. orcinus

      @Anthony Tao:

      You are unloved and have an intelligence comparable to that of a rock.

      Please refrain from defecating on the www and trying to delude yourself that you’re doing anything remotely close to journalism.

      Thanks.

      Reply
    34. ISB facility manager

      On behalf of the International School of Beijing, the faculty released this statement in the school bulletin about their reasoning for building the dome: “If we had 2 domes, it would look like tits from google earth”.

      Reply
    35. josh

      There’s a lot of discussion about rights and entitlement, and who holds responsibility etc.

      But I just wish Mr Tao as an adult would learn to conquer his inevitable sense of jealousy with respect. I’ve expected higher sets of morals for those clearly with more experience than us students.

      Reply
    36. Jonathan Alpart

      At the time of this writing, this thread currently has 83 comments. EIGHTY-THREE.

      No slight directed at the relevance and importance of BeijingCream, but this is way, way too much. Most threads have like four.

      I’m not a violent person, and I’m not actually planning on punching anyone in the face. In fact, I don’t think I have ever done that.

      My comment, which now painfully begs an explanation, was merely *A JOKE* to express my disbelief at what a bunch of twits these ISB kids (and faculty, parents, apparently) are. No, I have never met one, and now I never, ever want to.

      Hey, ISB, you want to get these kids ready for success in the real world? How about teaching them to not take themselves so seriously when a comedy/entertainment blog takes a cheap shot at them? They’re going to have a tough time interacting with ACTUAL PEOPLE if they get this bent out of shape at something that was probably an afterthought nearing the end of Tao’s Friday.

      Does anyone honestly think that ISB kids suck because they have a pollution dome? We might’ve felt it’s a bit excessive, or, sure, were jealous because we don’t have one (even though it is open to the public *cough* BULLSHIT *cough cough*), but I don’t think anyone actually read Tao’s piece and thought, “Fuck those kids!” It was your reactionary comments that did that, kiddos.

      Oh, and by the way? EVERYONE works hard. If you keep walking around with this My-Family’s-Rich-Because-My-Mommy-And-Daddy-Work-Harder-Than-Yours attitude, you’re going to have a lot more to worry about than little ol’ me punching you in the face.

      Reply
    37. ISB ppl

      I think that if people began to live in Beijing for an extended period of time, they will begin to realize that having fewer than 30 days of AQI of under 150 causes considerable damage to our lungs. Getting back to that horrific day (the day we had an AQI of over 500 in the suburbs), we might as well have smoked a couple of Cubans as the air quality provided nothing less (aside from the nicotine). Which I might add was what Mr. Tao experienced an overdose of before writing this article. Honestly, I would just like to say, before publishing an article like this, take the time to gather your facts and set aside your one sided emotions. And by the by, does anyone know where Mr. Tao got that picture?

      Reply
    38. Student_

      “Last year we had 39 days when the kids could not go outside for recess at all or for physical education, out of 180 school days in the year. That is well over a month of school when kids could not go outside,” Wenstrom said. The domes contain air filtration systems and temperature control systems, so that students can safely exercise all year round.” – M. Wenstrom

      “Just to reiterate: to enable spoiled and bratty kids to exercise with peace of mind, a school has installed pressurized canopies over courts that look an awful lot like they’re already indoors. Do rich people live on the same Earth as the rest of us?” -A. Tao

      Reiterate, or twist?

      And this line: “Do rich people live on the same Earth as the rest of us?” Is neither metaphorical nor true.
      And this: “a school has installed pressurized canopies” We’re not living in submarines.

      Reply
    39. Chackie Jan

      I find it extremely hilarious that this thread gets about 20 times the normal amount of comments Beijing Cream threads get. Seems like people from ISB are very insecure and sensitive. Can’t say anything bad about them, nor write satirical comments, without them storming to your blog en masse and defacing the comment section with stuff about ‘sucking nuts’. The outside world is going to be quite a shock for these kids. “Mommy, mommy, he said something bad about me! Boo-hoo! Mommy, mommy, they don’t think my scribbly drawings are amazing modern art! Boo-hoo!”

      Reply
      • shab

        I find it extremely hilarious how pathetic your comment is. I don’t understand your logic. If someone stands up for themselves, rather than being blatantly insulted, they’re insecure and sensitive? This seems like your fall back – you’re getting too many comments from ISB students, and even though you know they might be right, you label them as insecure for replying to this thread. You’re trying to make it a win-win for you, if we don’t comment – we’ve accepted the fact that we’re spoiled. If we do comment, we’re insecure and insensitive. Seriously, grow up, the fact that ISB students stand up for themselves shows that they ARE ready for the real world. It’s something that you might not have done – stand up for yourself – and so jealousy gets in the way and makes you attack us for doing something you wouldn’t be able to do.

        I’m sure you can find something better to do than trying to make ISB students feel bad about themselves, go read a book, do a sport, or something else – don’t try to boost your self-esteem on the internet.

        Reply
      • Amonymous

        Are you for real right now? You literally poached and reworded what every other commenter has said. You’re bringing up the same argument about sensitivity everyone else has. This is the classic: “Will you stop kicking my dog?” Either way I lose. Now honestly, stop with this whole condescending bullshit. It’s not that we “don’t understand” this guys “satire”, it’s just god awful. I think most people are just shocked that someone would actually take time out of their life just to bash on a new school’s facility. Is getting a bunch of teenagers upset really your version of success? I mean this guy even has a “highlights” section where he essentially praises the people who take his side. It’s as if he writes stuff like this merely to say “look how funny it is that people are getting upset”. Seems to me like HE hasn’t even encountered what you call “the outside world”. You think this poor excuse of an article would fly anywhere outside the realm of an unsuccessful 20 something year old with a few bucks to spare? Yeah, this surely defines the upper echelons of good writing. (Hint: That was satire)

        Let me make this clear for you. It’s not the fact that he said bad things about us. It’s the way he said it. Most people have a generally solid sense of humor, but after looking this over, I couldn’t find anything that was even remotely funny save for the anti-ISB comments made by what seem to be a small niche of people who are so bored with their lives they find shit like this hilarious.

        Reply
        • Big Pile O' Fragrant Roses

          “Let me make this clear for you. It’s not the fact that he said bad things about us. It’s the way he said it.”

          I hope you’re a woman.

          Reply
      • Student

        Um, Chackie, the one student who said “suck my left nut” said it in response to this post:

        “My god, the next student from ISB that I encounter I am punching in the fucking face.”

        Last time I checked, in the “real world,” when a stranger says “I am punching you in the fucking face for avoiding pollution/posting defensive comments,” you say screw you, not “yes punch me I deserve it.”

        Maybe the number of responses it has generated is too much. But I would argue that the fact that so many students feel the need to speak up against the article and its comments shows that many assumptions about ISB are unjustified. If the article merely stated “elite school builds dome,” then not many students would respond. But spoilt bratty expat kids getting overly sheltered from the real world in a ridiculous pressurized canopy that’s built exclusively for the elite school community? That’s simply not true. So people get annoyed.

        And write an article bashing another school in Beijing. See how they respond. You’re comparing articles satirizing Kim Jong-Eun (who probably doesn’t even know this blog exists) to articles about Beijing students, some of whom actually READ this blog.

        Reply
    40. god dammit

      I’m a foreign service brat, so I feel justified in saying this: international school kids suck. I grew up with them. I am one of them. We are spoiled and we are terrible people. Hell, that makes life fun, but get off your high-horses, ISB kids.

      Realize that you’re pretty shitty people, have a good laugh, talk about it with your friends at the next exclusive bash you hold at whatever new club down the street, and then continue on your merry way spitting at the peasants. Life goes on.

      Reply
      • StroopWaffles

        Yeah, we have it better than a lot of people – but that doesn’t make us, as you put it so eloquently, “shitty.” I’ve attended an international school all my life, and never has there been an “exclusive bash”, nor any “new [clubs]” springing up or down the street – and never have I seen or heard of any international student spitting at peasants.

        I’ve been taught under the IB curriculum, from 7th grade MYP to 12th grade DP, and this privilege has given me insight in not only the areas of mathematics, arts, and world sciences, but also to be able to sympathize as well as empathize with people of all origins. The most hate I’ve ever seen an international student have towards any individual is towards the leader of Germany in the time of World War II, and even though we are situated in Beijing, China, we respect the Jian Bing sellers (street vendor owners), cashier handlers in our minimarts, and people in general, regardless of social class.

        Perhaps I’m the minority in international schools. However, don’t fail to realize that perhaps you’ve seen the minority. “I grew up with them. I am one of them.” Who exactly were you a part of? It’s not unheard of that new students at international schools – any schools, in fact – are taken in on a tide of bullying, peer pressure, and judgement.

        If I’ve been taught anything at all at ISB, it’s to not generalize based on stereotypes – to give people chances, and to see, at heart, what kind of person I’m dealing with, and to not bear them with a simple title.

        Reply
        • Li Jianguo (Nongmin)

          Thank you for respecting the ‘Jian Bing sellers’. That’s mighty big of you. And thank you for empathizing with us. Us poor folk get really happy when we see a rich person empathize with us. Like, when you stop drinking imported Bordeaux and have a glass of water with us while patting us on the back. How did they teach you that at school? Did they bring in poor people? Or did you go out and visit poor people, feel all sad in your little heart, and decide that you have to empathize with them and their poor sad little lives?

          Reply
    41. Tony

      Thanks for reminding us of how spoiled those brats are. I often go to sanlitun to unwind after work, and I see those goddamn idiots from ISB in my favorite bars. See, this would be alright, but they’re obviously underage and overfunded. I often feel the need to strangle them there and then.

      This dome is yet another example of why we should hate those morons. God bless, and I hope those stupid kids drop dead.

      Reply
      • CRUNKMAN

        don’t like how things are done around here? get your expat ass out of our country then. otherwise shut up. don’t tell us how we run our town, gwai lo.
        lick a hairy gooch ya pile of chicken shit.

        Reply
      • ISB Alum

        hey cunt, so what if u see kids go out to bars and drink? you talk like if we’re the only kids in the beijing area that goes out to sanlituan. Lol, and if u dont want to see “idiots” at ur favorite bar. go find urself another bar. go to bars in salana. oh wait. nvm you probably cant afford it.

        Reply
    42. Hi anthony

      Hi Anthony. Again — you’re probably single.

      What the hell are you even doing here?

      Making a fool out of yourself?

      And did you even take a single lesson of journalism?

      You’re just slapping down facts from another news article and rehashing your thoughts that don’t even make sense. You don’t even know these kids — how can you judge them without even interacting with them? That’s like building a house without bricks -.-

      “Pressurized canopies” you say. Would you be complaining to yourself and your own school if you were a student from ISB, for being so spoiled all the time? And again — you’re simply labeling them as spoiled and bratty purely based off your own misconception.

      You sir are hopeless.

      And you are single.

      And you don’t even lift bro.

      Reply
    43. NB Man

      WHAT A PATHETIC FUNNY USELESS SHITASS AUTHOR WHO IS A SO FUCKING JEALOUS AT RICH PEOPLE. NOT EVERY RICH PERSON IS A SPOILED BRA. WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU TO JUDGE OTHERS. YOU THINK EVERYONE IN ISB IS CORRUPT? WHAT A STUPID SHIT. SOME ACTUALLY WORK HARD TO EARN ALL THE MONEY AND SPEND IT ON THEIR CHILDREN. INVEST ON EDUCATION. WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH THAT? YOU SHOULD STOP WASTING YOUR TIME WRITING BULLSHIT ARTICLES AND WORK HARD AND GET A LIFE.

      Reply
    44. Big Pile O' Fragrant Roses

      “SOME ACTUALLY WORK HARD TO EARN ALL THE MONEY”

      Yeah, people who work 12 hours in factories or break their backs harvesting your fucking food. Not your white collar daddies leaning on cronyism and sucking profit from companies compensating their workers at minimum wage. Screw you!

      Reply
    45. josh

      Please… could we just stop? This is embarrassing for everyone. It’s amazing how spiteful we can all be… students and adults alike.

      These straight out insults are straight out unnecessary, Anthony Tao and all other commenters alike. What a cliche thing to say but, there is definitely a lesson to be seen here, in these 100+ comments for this little bit of controversy.

      How the hell can we solve global climate change, poverty, pervasive depression, etc. etc. if the first thing we say to someone who pricks us is “F U”?!

      Reply
    46. ISB kid

      Well, the main issue here isn’t just a simple insult. It’s class struggle. It’s the fact that we get to have domes, while others don’t. And that’s why people are so heated about this.

      But then again, I would point out that rich people can also afford better healthcare, usually better education, better transportation…so what makes this dome so special? The fact that it’s “unnecessary”? Well considering living in Beijing is often equivalent to smoking cigarettes (which does more damage to under 18s to adults, mind you), I would argue that it’s very much needed. The argument that “other kids in Beijing live without a dome so it’s unfair” doesn’t stand, though. Kids in africa are starving, why don’t you give them your food? Just because something kills you slowly and you don’t see its direct effects doesn’t mean it’s not dangerous.

      Reply
      • A dirty dirty man

        oh hey im uh oh uhm hey can i uh say hello to the uhm uh okay wait hey oh uh hi haha oops i like cream cheese pizza hehe oh wait uh hi hi did you know that back in rome that in america there was this uh paris florida uh from the upper town of obama? uh…..so one time my grandma put a backpack on her back, and then ran, and then her foot fell off and the blood started to drip and it was like totally all over her butt and i was like hehehehehehehehehehehehhehehehehehehehe doupier.

        Reply
        • umm ocumberque

          uhhhhh anyone want to mayo night/?? if you know what i mean EHAUHEUHAUEhahEHHEhehehehEHE doupiii sensei?? ahhHHHhhhhh creamery man those juicese *_* ^_^_^_^_^_^ -_- opoosoms?/??? aeharuewhauwe AHHHH baller as dopoa balding like spalding???

          Reply
    47. creamcheesepizza

      oh hey im uh oh uhm hey can i uh say hello to the uhm uh okay wait hey oh uh hi haha oops i like cream cheese pizza hehe oh wait uh hi hi did you know that back in rome that in america there was this uh paris florida uh from the upper town of obama? uh…..so one time my grandma put a backpack on her back, and then ran, and then her foot fell off and the blood started to drip and it was like totally all over her butt and i was like hehehehehehehehehehehehhehehehehehehehe doupier.

      Reply
    48. I want to spill all my cream on beijing

      oh hey im uh oh uhm hey can i uh say hello to the uhm uh okay wait hey oh uh hi haha oops i like cream cheese pizza hehe oh wait uh hi hi did you know that back in rome that in america there was this uh paris florida uh from the upper town of obama? uh…..so one time my grandma put a backpack on her back, and then ran, and then her foot fell off and the blood started to drip and it was like totally all over her butt and i was like hehehehehehehehehehehehhehehehehehehehe doupier.

      Reply
    49. SUGOI BOIZ

      SUGOI bOIZ

      wE MusT UnItE AgAiNST ThIS CoMmOn EneMy AnD HatReD FrOM TheSe “HaTeRS” LeT uS AlL ReUnItE IN ThIS StRugGlE FoR SuPREmaCY

      We are Sugoi. We are Boiz. We do not forgive. We do not forget. Expect us

      Reply
    50. Evan Passier

      You guys are a bunch of idiots. Whoever thinks this dome is a bad idea, can literally go suck my tits. I shouldn’t be wasting my precious jerking off time to explain to all you R-tards.

      Reply
    51. ISB Alumni

      Looks like I’m writing here rather late, but I have one point to make.

      Everyone who have not been to Beijing before or have no idea why ISB has spent the resources to build the dome:

      Stand on the sidewalk in Beijing at any given time in the dead of winter and try to take a deep breath.

      You will start coughing and choking on the pollution before you get to finish breathing in.

      Now try to do sports or even play tag (ISB does include an elementary school) in that kind of air.

      For those who know, you will understand why ISB has built the domes. For those who don’t know how bad the air pollution gets, well, let’s see. Staying outdoors in Beijing on a bad pollution day would be equivalent to smoking approximately 15 packs of cigarettes (without the nicotine).

      I believe ISB wants their students to continue to pursue their interest and passion in sports rigorously, and also let the elementary and middle school students enjoy open spaces (the dome is open enough) and spend their childhood not cooped up indoors on their computers, unable to run around and play.

      And to the haters and people who are too arrogant to realize the truth: Your comments are causing the brain cells of the readers to kill themselves one by one. Please stop.

      Reply
    52. Rafael Enrico

      Hi guys,

      I’m gay. Anthony-kun…I…I..I think I love you! .__. pls don’t reject me >_____<.

      Reply
    53. The Rail on Black Ledge

      Walk 100 meters off the campus and you’ll find 15 year old Chinese boys working at Jenny Lou’s.
      Imagine how soul-crushing it must be for these Chinese kids to see the students walking onto the million-dollar campus, everyday while they sit in their shitty excuse of a food mart and smoke cigarettes and drive electric trikes to deliver food to other exbrats.
      Such a situation can only be described as being the culmination of rich West meets developing East.

      Reply
      • Brock LicknaKFoi

        Hey. I was just wondering if you would like to HAHAHAHHAHAA. NO. DUDE YOU ARE SO CHILLGANG WHEYGANG. Smack youself with a large anonymous tip from the oh no. OHNOMITE. JAJAJAJA. SPanish Swaggggggg. BRUH!!! SWAG ON ANOTHER LEVEL BRUUUUU. Me You.

        Reply
      • Chauster

        Hey man my parents work hard from the ground up to make all this $$$ so I can blow it every Friday night at a table at Spark/Element/Vics and buy all the drugs I want.

        I would appreciate it greatly if you treated them with a little more respect!!!

        Reply
    54. Past ISBer

      To start off, I graduated from this school a few years ago and am well into my post-graduate career. To say that all the students who attend this school are “spoiled and bratty” is actually quite a leap from reality. To be fair, I have not visited the school in a few years, but the people I met at this school are some of the best, brightest, and most intellectual people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting, as well as the most welcoming. I also garnered, in my honest opinion, one of the best educations available. Many of the students who attend this school are diplomats’ children, so relative to the circumstances of their parents’ jobs and the recompense of said job, the people are relatively down to earth.

      Secondly, the pollution in Beijing is horrifying. Just looking at the statistics today, the current Air Quality Index in Beijing is at 154 with a maximum being 169. To put this in even greater perspective, this year the density of PM2.5 particulates in the air has surpassed 700 micrograms per cubic meter in parts of the city, and the World Health Organization considers 25 micrograms per cubic meter to be healthy…

      Yes, the students who attend this school are the 1% (in socioeconomic standing/luck/job opportunity/etc), but they are also children, starting as young as four. The school charges the amount they charge not only to secure a incredible education, but also to ensure the best facilities for the students. Parents have many other available options for international schools, but they are willing to pay this sum for reasons such as this.

      Lastly, this is a non-profit school (or it was when I went there), might as well put the money towards something that will help the kids, right?

      Be kind and please don’t judge us too harshly.

      Reply
    55. Jason

      The ISB domes provides a great environment for the students to exercise without the fear of damaging their lungs. I myself am an ISB student and have been living in Beijing for quite a while now. Sure, maybe we’re a bit spoiled and bratty, but isn’t everyone at some point? We pay our money to the school in order to secure a safe, happy and productive learning environment. Just because we want an area that will allow us to exercise untainted by the atrocious pollution of Beijing, that means that we’re all nothing but spoiled and bratty children? I can see that half the comments on here are posted against ISB, but let me tell you something. ISB’s students possess an intellectual ability that far surpasses those of the average public school child. These children have to actually ACHIEVE RESULTS in order to even get into the school itself! And sure, maybe it’s expensive, but we pay for what we want and its an investment into our futures. In truth, it’s nothing more than buying a whole shit ton of stocks in order to secure a potentially secure financial situation.

      Seriously, for those of you that think that creating these domes will limit our interaction with your supposed “actual world”, think again. How often do you think our students interact with the actual world anyways during recess outside? I suppose that we’re just going to allow anyone to just stroll into the school and just start talking to the kids. No. Furthermore, do American public schools just let people come in and start talking to their kids? NO! For pete’s sake, you need a pass or some other form of clearance just to get your car into the goddamn school! So enough with this bullshit about it limiting our interaction with the outside world. We are normal kids living normal lives, and we simply want to get away from the pollution. We are not just spoiled and bratty kids who sit around at home with expensive hobbies and just burning through cash.

      Our students achieve results, and we pay for our education. Sure, we’re in the higher class of people in this world, but how does that define us? Great, I want a good education that costs a bit more money, shoot me! You might as well go around tearing down all the boarding schools around the world, basically all of the upper level international schools in the world and not to mention the average private school in America too! All of you people that believe that the domes are going to do nothing and make us naïve and stupid, well let me tell you this. The domes are public now for a price of course. Nothing more than your average fitness centre and frankly, if you believe that we’re spoiled and bratty and somehow, just SOMEHOW this is the domes’ doing, then you are clearly a worthless existence. YOU are the one that is naïve and stupid and you clearly are nothing but a jealous piece of shit who just simply doesn’t understand how terrible the pollution in Beijing can get.

      Reply

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