Reply With QuoteCould have fooled me, judging by the number of very high end pieces on wrists, and a culture of favours.
I live and learn.
This is something I never knew.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/201...or-taboo-watch
Could have fooled me, judging by the number of very high end pieces on wrists, and a culture of favours.
I live and learn.
Ungrateful git.
You would think that our ministers staff would do their homework though.
Oops. At least it wasn't Prince Phillip doing the presentation- that could have been interesting!
Gaffe aside, it does raise an interesting question - what watch does the British government gift?
From the picture in the Guardian, it doesn't look like a wristwatch - too big, no visible strap. Given that the article quotes the Minister mentioning "the significance of the watch, which she termed as a 'very unique item' from the House of Lords", my first guess is that it might be one of these?
http://www.shop.parliament.uk/shopexd.asp?id=9337
Ooops.... Now I understand why my cousin's chinese wife wasn't over the moon when I gave both of them a watch for their wedding. I've never seen her wear it either. Wonder what she did with it...
I think he's overreacting and a bit rude. Gifting a watch is generally ok from my experiences; it's giving a clock that's problematic. But in this modern day and age, those beliefs are generally put aside, especially when dealing with foreign people and the younger generation.
Chap was hoping for a Roger Smith. Instead they gave him Franklin Mint special. No wonder he was disappointed...
Originally Posted by Josh B
Daddel.
Got a new watch, divers watch it is, had to drown the bastard to get it!
Not only Taiwan. In Poland it is deemed back luck to buy a watch for your other half as a present. It is seen as calling time on the relationship. It's possibly an old wives tale, but I floated the watch idea passed an ex girlfriend who was Polish and she informed me that it wasn't a good idea for the reason above.
Mmmm - not acceptable due to pronunciation similarities?
What a Tucking Fosser!
Probably, as others have observed, he was expecting a bigger bribe...
M
To be fair, he gave her a crappy minature model of a skyscraper. He doesn't have the high ground when it comes to giving tat.
What a rude person. I'd like to say more but I don't want to get booted off TZ.
Somebody at the local British Embassy/Consulate is going to get a kick up the jacksy.
Although Ko Wen-Je is not advertising controlled response, I assume you are referring to Lady Kramer.
She is after all:
- Minister of Culture
- Giving a present in TaiPei.
This is imo beyond incompetence and in other times would probably have resulted in her head being sent back by carrier to whichever reigning monarch of the era.
I agree. Maybe she should have pointed out that, in English, "big clock" shares pronunciation similarities with something he's always wanted.Mmmm - not acceptable due to pronunciation similarities?
What a Tucking Fosser!
Probably, as others have observed, he was expecting a bigger bribe...
M
Try to look at this at some different point of view. Why we always have to respect someone elses tradition while the other party doesn't respect ours. In our tradition is very unpolite to comment the given gift if my memory serves me well.
And would deserve it too in my opinion. Its the kind of thing you would hope they would get right.
Interesting!
Not a mistake I`m likely to make.....I`m too tight-fisted
Paul (typical tightYorky)
So simply leave Taipei. Tataaaa; problem solved. No business with them either but hey that was in their interest not yours. Ahum.
Ok, a step back.
The giving of gift is symbolic for paying respect, 'buying' good will.
Giving a symbol of disrespect is also a tradition.
Better get it right and certainly a Ministry of Culture should. Must be expected to so where does that leave presenting an insult??
Brittany has an example in its own past when the Romans insulted a Briton queen bearing gifts.
Yes, the way it was received was bad form. What he should have done is show nothing and kick ass negotiating/ giving access/permissions.
Heaping critic on the guy however is totally smoke screening The Big Mistake.
Last edited by Huertecilla; 27th January 2015 at 17:30.
Maybe giving a watch was a too tangible reminder of the intellectual property theft that drives a good portion of the Chinese economy?
I think this guy is in Taiwan not China, so don't think this particular reminder would cause offence.Maybe giving a watch was a too tangible reminder of the intellectual property theft that drives a good portion of the Chinese economy?
This is what I get for drinking Chai this morning instead of coffee.
To quote Blackadder, I think the phrase rhymes with clucking bell......
I've just had lunch with my Taiwanese colleagues and they all thought it pretty funny and were unfazed by it. They did say though that they would be upset/offended if it happened to them.
I'd be totally fine with that. I disagree that criticising the mayor is somehow avoiding the issue; he was a graceless twat who could have handled it better in about a dozen other ways. He's sure got no class. Also nicely convenient is that Taiwan can adopt Chinese culture - something that they've been otherwise keen to distance themselves from - when it suits them. So yeah, a twat.
...but what do I know; I don't even like watches!
Not surprised, piece of cheap Chinese tat ....
http://www.alibaba.com/product-detai...518699754.html
Why would our government be giving away crap like this to foreign dignitaries?
Because giving away something of any real value would be classed as bribery. Which is something that many other parts of the world consider to be "normal business practice". It seems to me that we are cutting our noses off to spite our politically correct faces.
P.S. Bribery is ok here, though, if it's called corporate hospitality.
http://youtu.be/bbTfR64PArU
Reminds me of yes minister
Oh yes, very good satire. :-)
I can second that; I have been told this by several Eastern Europeans, and they really did seem to believe in it.
So this is why my parents never want to get watches for me!
(or is it because I already have too many, I'm not sure!)
I fully agree that clearly no research was done
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