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Comment by emmett | Hacker News Reader

Claiming this is the "Chinese way" is stereotyping a country of 1 billion people from the actions of a very few. Going further and suggesting we boycott/avoid Chinese products is protectionism motivated by misguided xenophobia, rather than any rational standard.

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My wife was a producer for fashion labels for many years, and has many friends who still are. Head to Shenyen sometime, and try and get 'off the rails' to see some of the conditions at the factories they're not willing to show you up front. Then try and find an alternative where that doesn't happen.

Boycotting China wholesale is counter productive if you want to achieve better working conditions for Chinese workers.

I don't see how - if more people stop buying Chinese goods (e.g. shitty plastic toys that you don't need), then they might do something different than feed the West's desire to spend and consume.

Why don't you enlighten us then.

There are a few ideas that at least won't hurt, but the possibility exists that the working conditions of Chinese factory workers is not within your sphere of influence.

The obvious way to achieve minimum working conditions is legislation. Many believe this would be counter productive. I'm not certain.

In any case, refusing to purchase from them and 'buying local' instead denies those workers that job. Doing this does not improve their situation.

There is such a thing as an American way. When I moved here, I knew I would be supporting it, and all that it entails. I haven't been to China, but I can speak for my home country and say that there is, indeed, an Indian way. Large and diverse as our nations might be, there are subtle but long-lasting cultural threads that bind nations together. These are not stereotypes - merely cultural markers and pre-dispositions. While they shouldn't guide our conduct towards individuals much, they are definitely useful in dealing with cultures/ nations as a whole.

@emmett I am disappointed by your comment. Xenophobia? Really? I am merely hoping for consumer and corporate accountability. I am using decades of observation that have brought me to a completely rational conclusion. I suspect you are reading things between the lines from my statement that aren't there. Stereotyping? Yes I grouped people together. And Yes I made a statement about that group. Trying to denigrate my point because of this is I hope seen as it should be, a superficial criticism.

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