Chinese knives...am I xenophobic?

[leghog]

Sure, if you want to ignore what words mean. But if, like the OP,



and you act automatically purely based on nation of origin, then those words describe your behavior.

The guy asked, and if the words make him, or you, uncomfortable, then I don't know what to tell you, other than to continue ignoring what they mean. Or don't ask in the first place.

Then, yes, I'm prejudiced against communist nations and will not willingly help or support those nations.

 

[marcinek]

Then, yes, I'm prejudiced against communist nations and will not willingly help or support those nations.

So, what other countries are on your no buy list?

 

[marcinek]

So, what other countries are on your no buy list?

And by the way, China is Socialist. In 2005, the private sector accounted for over 70% of its GDP.

So are all Socialist countries on your list, or just some?

 

[SolWarrior]

I avoid buying products from China especially when comes to knives and anything else that can be used for food prep.

 

[marcinek]

And by the way, China is Socialist. In 2005, the private sector accounted for over 70% of its GDP.

So are all Socialist countries on your list, or just some?

I mean one rejects Chinese products either for social/politico/economic reasons, or because of prejudice/racism towards the Chinese.

If one rejects their products because they are Communist, when they are not, the social/politico/economic claim falls apart. Or if the rejection doesn't apply to all Socialist countries like China, the social/politico/economic claim falls apart. Or if one doesn't jump in and denounce Kizlyar, the social/politico/economic claim falls apart.

Either one actually has some social/politico/economic claim, or one is using social/politico/economics as a smokescreen.

Everybody is free to reject Chinese products for whatever reason they want, knock yourself out...but it's nice to see people be honest about their motivations.

 

[Comeuppance]

This thread is going places:

 

[killgar]

Bob- "I won't buy Chinese products because the Chinese are bad people".

Mike- "But your computer and smart phone were made in China".

Bob- "That's different. I NEED my computer and smart phone".

Mike- "Why do you NEED A computer and smart phone?".

Bob- "So I can go on the internet and tell everyone what a great person I am for not buying Chinese products".


I couldn't care less where other people buy their stuff from, or what there reasons are, but I think there are a lot of people who say they won't buy Chinese made products for political, economic, or humanitarian reasons, but the real reason is that it's their way of expressing their own sense of superiority and saying "I'm better than you". And it's always amusingly ironic when they use their Chinese made computers to do it.

There's certainly nothing new about that. Decades ago when I was a kid many people who bought and drove American made cars openly expressed their sense of superiority over those who bought and drove Japanese made cars.

I wonder how many people on this forum actually NEED their computer, or smart phone. As in, NEED it to survive, feed their family, etc. Or are they really just toys for their amusement, or something they use for convenience.

Of course, people can always make excuses for why they aren't adhering to the principals that they publicly proclaim.

 

[marcinek]

This thread is going places:

I don't understand. How does that picture apply to the motivation behind the OPs rejection of Chinese knives?

What are you proposing that motivation is?

 

[Spartan00]

Here's a few facts from some years back first Apple products are made in China .

In 2011 90%of personal computers made in China
80% of air conditioners
70% of cell phones
80%energy saving light bulbs
63% of shoes
60% 0f cement
49.8% of all the pork
48.2% of coal
45.1% of global ship building supplies

To say you don't support the Chinese well you may not try to but more than likely you are without even knowing it .

The figures I posted are from 2011 and are World percents .

 

[Ferahgo]

In before the lock.
This thread has been started many times by many people, trolls and honest buyers alike. For the most part, Chinese products tend to be sub par to some other nations items. This, however, is not fully inclusive. Some Chinese product may be way better than another industrial nations.
For the most part, I avoid Chinese products where I can, but I realize that I cannot get off completely without buying some. So, when possible, I will buy American. The rest of the time, I know that it difficult to impossible to buy Chinese products, so I accept it for what it is.

 

[jill jackson]

I found out if I want cheap shoddy shoes, buy low cost footwear. If I want something that lasts pay more. I have a pair of bike/running shoes that cost 100 dollars, made in China. They are as tough as they come. You don't have a lot of choices if you exclude Chinese made shoes. Almost all of them are made there. I also have a couple of Reate knives that are just as good as my USA made knives . Same deal they aren't the cheapest knives made in China, just like the 100 dollar shoes aren't the cheapest shoes made there either.

 

[G. Scott H.]

I realize it can be hard to do, but these types of discussions always devolve into discussions and critiques about the people of a country instead of simply sticking to the merits or the flaws of the knives themselves. Let's be clear: 'China' doesn't make knives; individual people who work in companies in China make knives. Same with the U.S.
Jim

Exactly. I buy knives (and other products) from individuals or individual companies, not from countries. When I see a Kizer knife, I see a Kizer knife, not a "Chinese" knife. Same with Spyderco. My US made Spydercos are not "American" knives, they are Spyderco knives. I just don't get the idea of shunning individuals or companies for the "sins" of their governments. Heck, if I started thinking that way, I wouldn't want to buy anything from anyone in any country, including the USA...

 

[John_0917]

It amazes me how little people know about the politics of economics but throw a post like this up.....

The Chinese have done zero. They have been used as a cheap labor force for "multinational corporations"

Trade rules where changed (abolished) so AMERICAN companies could go and use cheap labor, it starts and ends there. It's called PROFIT margin.
The only goal here was to build it cheaper and sell it at the same price. The benefits are being felt by nobody but the rich who got a lot richer in both countries...

"Quality" in this context is irrelevant.

Simple.

The only thing simple about that is that about 95% of what you said is wrong...and I'm quite certain I know more about global economics and market structure than you do.

 

[Comeuppance]

The only thing simple about that is that about 95% of what you said is wrong...and I'm quite certain I know more about global economics and market structure than you do.

Of what value is it to just say that someone is wrong without providing a counterpoint? You've dismissed his statements and claimed to be a superior authority... but provided no reason for anyone to take your statements as anything other than blind dismissal. Please expand upon your assertions.

 

[Esav Benyamin]

Too bad, but we have people determined to drive this topic into a political discussion. Closed.

I mean one rejects Chinese products either for social/politico/economic reasons, or because of prejudice/racism towards the Chinese.

If one rejects their products because they are Communist, when they are not, the social/politico/economic claim falls apart. Or if the rejection doesn't apply to all Socialist countries like China, the social/politico/economic claim falls apart. Or if one doesn't jump in and denounce Kizlyar, the social/politico/economic claim falls apart.

Either one actually has some social/politico/economic claim, or one is using social/politico/economics as a smokescreen.

Everybody is free to reject Chinese products for whatever reason they want, knock yourself out...but it's nice to see people be honest about their motivations.