Killing Ignorance Softly (XIX): "You Don't Remember Me?"►英语学习者

▼Not the Answer To: "Who's This?" in Text Messaging▼

○ ○ ○I can't think of a worse way to initiate text messaging (“SMS”) with someone you've never

contacted and/or barely know than accusing them of not remembering you. Plus, procee

-ding to go beyond defensiveness, anger and other emotions to create a theatrical spec

-tacle out of it. “Oh I can’t believe you don’t remember me” to which I've occasiona-

lly quipped “I Can't Believe It's Not Butter!® either”. More commonly, “Sorry. You

don’t remember me? Bye!” I've lived in many countries but there're things unique

to the Chinese experience. And I am always quick to add: one sees it in expats

as well. Like grown ass men with the temerity to approach me and tell me

how they like blogs roasted, fried or boiled, as if I were a waiter and my

Blog an imaginary menu. More interesting for purposes of instruction of

non-bratty child rearing is the emotionally aggressive reaction. Over

the years, one Chinese after another who's close to me, has been

visibly annoyed by their fellow countrymen bursting onto the, if

you like, “waiguo's” communications radar, often at odd hours

& being surprised I don't remember them because we met 6

or 12 months, weeks, or days ago & I gave them a business

(not name) card. It's annoying to my translator because

she knows being content your first name (Nancy, for

instance) or Zhang Li, highly common in China, is

sufficient answer to the question Who is this? or

Who are you?, IS tantamount to stupidity. It is

not at all personal. Habitually & attentively

listening to the BBC over an hour daily is

a good way, if your life is slow-paced,

to appreciate how some run by the

clock. Paint a vivid image to help

any busy foreigner easily remem-

ber your meeting: when, what

time, day, where, what train

or bus? What were you or

they wearing? Any jokes

shared/exchanged? All

that, plus your name

forms an adequate

mental picture &

saves time. You

do not need to

be a quitter.

An either/or

mindset is

unhelpful

& Pride,

isn't the

answer

○ ○ ○

Effective Communication Series

(Recommended Blog) (Follow the Dove)

○ ○ ○

Killing Ignorance Softly

(Other Iterations)(Follow the Dove)

○ ○ ○○ ○ ○

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PEACE

TT