HK-American: Ask me anything

sorry posted 3 times wifi was lagging so wasn't sure if it was sending.

Do you think you'd still support LGBTQ after college if you weren't gay? Do you still oppose to abortion then?
I think the way we think changes a lot when we go to college, at least that's true for me. I didn't know shit till I went to college, tbh I still did not at college.

Well yes, quite a lot of people don't like their fries. However, they mostly don't know they can order their fries cooked to their liking. I usually ask for "well done" and sometimes even "extra well done" since I like freshly cut and extra crispy fries.

what tv shows you have watched growing up
american sitcoms or tvb/asian style with eng dub

Here is my 2 cents on learning English.

The most important thing is that most native speakers make mistakes also and no one cares. I encounter a lot of HKers who are so worried about being perfect and not making mistakes. They forgot language is for communication and exchange of ideas. In comparison, a lot of mainlanders and people from other cultures just keep speaking even with thick accents and wrong grammars, then they end up being more successful at school, at work and even at finding girlfriends.

So "don't let perfect be the enemy of good."

A word on the LGBTQ topic, or any other minorities, I think for most of the conservatives we support a fairness (公平) in terms of opportunities instead of special privilege to give them a bump.

Likewise on the issues with African Americans, I would agree a variety of supportive services and reforms to the community; but not giving them a lower score to aim at SAT to get into college easier. I could agree to free tutors, financial aid on books and tuitions, more study rooms, even tours to college campus; but ultimately it is up to the individual to work to earn what he/she wants.

Why your English so bad?

History has always been my favorite subject, I love to learn about the past and think about how it effects today. My parents wanted to be a lawyer so history is good undergraduate major for that (In the US there is no Bachelors of law, law is only a graduate program). My parents wanted me to have something practical as well so economics is good for jobs in business and finance. I also do think economics helps me understand how the world works and it complements my historical understanding. There is actually a sub-discipline called economic history which uses economic theory and data to explain economic events in the past.

Had I grown up in HK and I got to choose my DSE subjects I'd choose History, Economics, and Chinese History.

I'm still in university but not sure. I generally became more liberal so perhaps I would of but not to the degree I do now. Because I don't want family to know I'm gay I've never gone to pride or super vocal about it in public.

I think university is a great time to learn and mature in our beliefs. I got to meet other Christians who are supportive of LGBTQ rights and see my faith in a different way than my parents or more conservative people do.

Abortion I say it should be legal but ideally happen as little as possible. Government should provide more welfare benefits for new parents as well as minimizing the financial cost of pregnancy. Contraception and birth control need to be more accessible too.

Haha. I don't like fries so no opinion.

I didn't watch many TV shows growing up. Mainly watched American football, basketball, and baseball. Didn't watch any TVB shows either.

Are there any good HK shows or movies to watch (that have English subtitles)?

Many HKers I know speak English fine- they just aren't confident. It's ok to make mistakes, natives make it all the time. In fact, some grammar rules no one follows when speaking with each other. The English they teach you in university or for DSE is not realistic. I am a native English speaker and I got a 590/800 on the SAT writing (basically all grammar). In English their is technically plural but it is increasingly common to refer to use their in singular third person as its gender neutral.

Don't worry about accent everyone has an accent. Some of my ABC friends think that the way I pronounce certain words in English sounds like a Canto speaker. I can't say the l in trouble or paddle and it turns into an o sound you use in bowl.

I found the emojis

I think fairness is important but the role of affirmative action is due to the inequities present. In the US if you have a black sounding name on a resume you are less likely to get an interview (even if it is the same exact content as a white person).
Educational support is important and I think relying on standardized testing for uni admissions is not smart. The SAT measures income way better than college GPA. In HK I would advocate moving to a system in which DSE scores are only part of the admissions process. Poorer people don't have money for after school tutorials and such.

In HK I would argue there isn't even legal equality for LGBTQ people as there is no discrimination ban and right to marriage. Same sex marriage is only recognized for limited things spousal benefits, tax purposes, and applying for public housing.

Oh I was refrring to America.
I mean, the BLM group, which I'm not sure who's in charge or if there is even someone in charge, is proposing reform that gives privilege instead of resources.

And for the example you've raised, i am still wondering what possible resolution we could come up with to resolve this kind of "discrimination". It's not just a black sounding name, a chinese last name could also sold you out without you even knowing it.

I was watching an interview with an African American 2nd generation immigrant who is a Trump supporter.
I am impressed with his success but at the same time I dont completely agree with the "if I could do it, so can you". We have successful black people saying this and to some extent it is encouraging and inspiring, but at the same time I can see how it only makes it more frustrating for desparate people.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R42NFIv3ntw&feature=youtu.be

FYI
He is running for congress in NJ

Do your parents speak with an accent or they also speak natively?

As far as the name issue this is what we call systemic racism. This is why affirmative action is a way to negate this racial bias.
And the "I made it, you should too," I agree is a bad argument.
While I disagree with the person in the video, I am glad he ran for Congress and is engaged in the democratic process.

My ABC parent has no accent but my HK parent still has some accent.

That is why I do read conservative websites like National Review and Fox. I read WSJ but the paywall is annoying so what I can read is limited.

Assuming you live in HK: Yes media has bias. Many of the criticisms I have are on policy standpoint not he tweets too much, he doesn't talk politely, etc. At the same time, Trump supporters are not willing to listen to anything but Conservative sources. Some are even saying Fox News is not "fair." This is ridiculous. People with different views need to learn to live and work with each other. I also challenge you that you are viewing US events from abroad and do not experience what is going on in the US. You talk about how media skews the image in HK but you have the ability to see HK in front of you as a reference. You don't have that reference in the US being overseas.

Do I want to dislike Trump? No, I wish I thought he was a good leader. Even Hillary Clinton said we should give him a chance. The things he did like criminal justice reform I supported him and gave him credit. I study economics, so I analyze his tax proposal from stuff I learned in school.