Anyone ever found themselves inside of a bar in China where everyone was smoking pot?

What a bizarre experience.

July 5, 2005 @ 6:44 pm | Comment

And to start off, I wanted to repost a comment Lisa made in last night’s thread about Dear Doctor Anne, which I though was dead-on:

Dr. Ann/Anne, I have to say that I don’t entirely believe you. I don’t think that a serious academic writing for a serious academic publication would reveal herself in this way and would write the sorts of things you’ve written about your so-called subjects. It shows a bias that would undermine your research results. Academics in general don’t attack their research subjects, question their intelligence, morals and the size of their dicks. Or if they do so, they tend to do it much more neutral, careful, academic language. Can you imagine the kinds of letters this journal would get if such a paper were really published? All any of us would have to do is copy some of Dr. Ann’s comments and post them to said journal. Unless I’m seriously misunderstanding the state of current psychological scholarship, I think the editors would seriously flip.

Wonderful points and all true. I also found it rather shocking that she spilled all the beans to MAJ, who then came on and assured us how world-famous and esteemed she is, and though he can’t say anything, we should trust him – he knows she is the gold standard of psychotherapy. This is not how a true professional operates (not you, MAJ, but your new-found friend).

This blog has seen some very, very odd episodes. This one is right up there.

July 5, 2005 @ 6:44 pm | Comment

Gordon, I was in a bar in Khaosiung where the bartender tried to sell me ecstasy. But I never saw pot being smoked in any bar in Asia. You have to go to Amsterdam to see that. (And there it’s hash.)

July 5, 2005 @ 6:46 pm | Comment

Look no further than Chengdu or Hangzhou, Richard.

It’s been a few weeks ago, but I walked into little Reggae bar, sat down, ordered a drink and as I looked around I noticed quite a few people either passing joints around or just straight smoking from a bong.

Blew me away! With strict penalties the Chinese government has on drugs and all of the plain clothes police out there I thought that was incredibly bold.

Or stupid.

I used to know a guy in HZ that liked to smoke hash..he got it from a Chinese guy in Shanghai whose father worked in drug enforcement. Surprise. Surprise.

July 5, 2005 @ 6:54 pm | Comment

As for Dr. Anne, several of us have already taken pre-emptive actions in the event that she isn’t a figment of her own imagination and that she is serious about publishing material from our blogs.

July 5, 2005 @ 6:57 pm | Comment

Gordon, share, share!

July 5, 2005 @ 6:58 pm | Comment

Better do it over the email Gordon mate.

July 5, 2005 @ 7:11 pm | Comment

When I lived in Shanghai, I was very often approached on the streets by people trying to sell me hash – especially along Fuzhou Road. And I once accidentally walked into room full of business men sniffing cocaine here in Shenzhen – in the kareoke “palace” of one of this city’s major hotels.

There is most definitely a growing drug problem developing here on the mainland.

And Shulan – I’m sorry, I assumed you were a female by your name (I used to teach at a high school in the East End of London, where there wa sa very large Bangladeshi community, and many of my female students had similar names: Shuela, Shari, Shula, etc.

And as for Dr. Myers, she has already emailed me dismissing everyone’s concern about the legality of her use of our comments as “laughable”. I will not discuss her any more though, and for obvious reasons. But once last thing on the matter: Richard, I never promoted her as being “the” “gold standard of psychotherapy” – she’s actually more well known for her literature than for her work as a clinical psychologist (she was in private practice).

regards,
Mark Anthony Jones

July 5, 2005 @ 7:12 pm | Comment

Mark! You’re doing it again!!! Revealing bits and pieces about “Anne”.

If I were you, I’d completly ban myself from mentioning anything about her again, not even clarifications or responses to other people insinuations and theories.

I genuinely don’t want you to slip up again by saying something you might later regret and feel bad all over again like yesterday.

July 5, 2005 @ 7:19 pm | Comment

Yes, Lisa appears very able to clearly “see the wood for the trees” in this whole Anne Myers incident.

I noticed that above comment of hers last night as well I also noticed this comment of Lisas as well:

“Like I said wayyyy up thread – I don’t believe it. If Dr. Ann/Anne Gannon/Gluckert…OOPS. I mean “myers/meyers” really were writing such a paper, I don’t think she would come on to the site and insult her research subjects. Unless….hmmmm…it was part of the experiment!!!!! BWAH HAH HAH!!!!!!”

So far, only KLS has come up with any explanation as to why Dr. Anne took several huge and seemingly unprovoked swipes at people using shockingly juvenile language. KLS said that after a year of observing the comments she might have built up a bit of frustration against certain people which came to the surface, possibly after several glasses of gin.

It’s possible, but I’m remain slightly unconvinced. ALthough it might make more sense if the people she abused (FSN9, Laowai, Kevin) had been contributing for a year or so.

If, as Lisa points out, all that abuse wasn’t part of the experiment then I’m afraid to say that I can only think that Dr. Anne is a very vindictive, petty and nasty person or perhaps someone who drinks and posts.

The way she abused people with foul language and very cutting, scolding, patronising and childish remarks certainly surprised me…and this is the bloody internet for christ’s sake!

July 5, 2005 @ 7:28 pm | Comment

Dear Martyn,

I don’t recall reading any “foul” language of hers, but if what you surmise about her is correct, then you better be careful mate! I mean, she might even start targeting you next….

She certainly does like to hit the gin though, from what I can tell.

I shall heed your advice, and refrain from discussing her in future posts, and I suggest it my be prudent for you to do the same.

Regards,
Mark Anthony Jones

July 5, 2005 @ 7:36 pm | Comment

yeah mark, take the wig and high heels off, buddy.
just messin’ with you, but that’s still what i think.
anyway, anyone hear about CCTV broadcast to shanghai and shenzhen being interrupted by the “F to the L to the g” on sunday night?

July 5, 2005 @ 7:54 pm | Comment

Prudent for me to do the same? Not the same mate. I’m suggesting you stop because you felt really bad yesterday and I wouldn’t want you to go through that again unnecessarily, hence my concern, as a mate.

Me, however, I don’t know a thing about the lady and I’m just taking part in the above discussion. I also couldn’t care less if she comes on here and slags me off for a fortnight not that I think she would.

On the other Open Thread I actually wished her well despite the fact that I detest people abusing others on sites like this one.

July 5, 2005 @ 7:58 pm | Comment

Anyway, let’s all move swiftly on.

Kevin, no I hadn’t heard. Are you going to blog about it? If not, how about pasting some stuff about it on this thread as Richard won’t be blogging tonight/today.

July 5, 2005 @ 8:00 pm | Comment

If anyone is looking for a bit of light reading, I’ve just seen on http://simonworld.mu.nu that The Jamestown Foundation’s fortnightly China essays have updated today.

I’ve just read the first one, which is excellent. Link below.
————————————————–
– INTERPRETING CHINA’S GRAND STRATEGY

– REFORMS IN THE PLA AIR FORCE

– HU’S CENTRAL ASIAN GAMBLE TO COUNTER THE U.S. “CONTAINMENT STRATEGY”

– ZIMBABWE: CHINA’S AFRICAN ALLY
————————————————–
http://tinyurl.com/crvqc

July 5, 2005 @ 8:08 pm | Comment

Do takes Jamestown with a grain of salt….l though they’re infinitely better than the Heritage Foundation.

July 5, 2005 @ 8:17 pm | Comment

i think i’ll keep discussion of that over here, that’s something i don’t want my own blog to get involved in, especially cuz i post from my office. i’m trying my best to do what i want while also keeping my blog open, but it hasn’t born much fruit lately…
here’s some clips from the story:

China’s state television broadcasts were interrupted for nearly 15 minutes by video about the banned — spiritual group, a spokesman for a Hong Kong-based satellite company said on Tuesday.
F—- – which China has labeled an “evil cult” and tried to suppress – denied tampering with the programming beamed across the country.
The interference occurred on signals from the APSTAR 6 satellite on Sunday evening, and affected 25 channels – 13 belonging to state-run CCTV and 12 provincial or city channels, spokesman Brian Lo for Hong Kong-based APT Satellite Holdings, which operates the satellite, said.
Mr Lo declined to describe the inserted footage in detail.
He said the interrupted programming was beamed to the financial capital of Shanghai and the southern boomtown of Shenzhen. Other provinces and regions affected included Guangdong, Hunan and Yunnan in the south; Inner Mongolia and Ningxia in the north and Zhejiang on the east coast.

how come nothing interesting ever happens when i have CCTV on (usually with the volume off and some music playing)? i wonder what it is that got broadcast?

July 5, 2005 @ 8:18 pm | Comment

MAJ: I shall heed your advice, and refrain from discussing her in future
posts, and I suggest it my be prudent for you to do the same.

Are you implying we should be scared of the Doctor? As in, she could harm us? Just curious….

July 5, 2005 @ 8:20 pm | Comment

Kevin, that is incredible. Thanks for letting us know. Those damned evil cults do the darndest things.

July 5, 2005 @ 8:21 pm | Comment

Dear Richard,

No, I’m not implying that she would be capable of hurting us! You are reading too much into me – again! 🙂

I was merely suggesting to Martyn that it might be wise of him not to attack her too vehemently on the pages of Peking Duck, as it might provoke her inot responding in kind. That’s all.

Regards,
Mark Anthony Jones

July 5, 2005 @ 8:27 pm | Comment

Richard, I just thought Mark meant that it would be prudent to stop mentioning “Anne” in case I became the next target. I’m sure he wasn’t insinuating anything more than that.

July 5, 2005 @ 8:32 pm | Comment

Sorry, but when you say it would be “prudent to refrain from discussing her” it implies there might be a consequence, a repercussion.

July 5, 2005 @ 8:33 pm | Comment

Ah, our comments crossed in cyberspace! As I thought. Point taken Mark.

July 5, 2005 @ 8:33 pm | Comment

Wouldnt you enjoy being the next target? I’d consider it an honor!

July 5, 2005 @ 8:34 pm | Comment

i’m interested to know what they showed. i’ve recently watched a video of the “commentaries” that they made, got it for free in HK. what left me with the deepest impression was that i didn’t disagree with anything they said, in fact it was really convincing, and pretty much stayed away from all the wacko “stomach wheel” mumbo-jumbo that they are usually associated with.
another thing that interests me is that it was done very much in the style news is done in mainland china, with an unseen male voice telling you “exactly how things are.” so i was wondering, what kind of effect would that have on people?
finally, i would have to say that what they said in Chinese fit very well, but i think it would sound wierd in english. i haven’t seen the english version, although i heard there is one. i’d be curious to see what people thought of that. just from my own experience, it seems that black-and-white political denunciations always sound better, and more natural, in chinese than they do in english.

July 5, 2005 @ 8:34 pm | Comment

Yes, exactly! The consequence might be that she will respond, in kind.

Mark Anthony Jones

July 5, 2005 @ 8:34 pm | Comment

not to say that english is free from black and white political denunciations, i just feel that chinese is a much more effective language in such cases.

July 5, 2005 @ 8:36 pm | Comment

Well Richard, say something nasty about her, or send her some photos of yourself, along with a lot of other very personal information, and you may very well wake up tomorrow to find yourself honoured.

Regards,
Mark Anthony Jones

July 5, 2005 @ 8:38 pm | Comment

Whenever I denounce someone politically, I do so in Chinese.

July 5, 2005 @ 8:39 pm | Comment

Mark, I’m going to pass on that, but thanks for the tips.

July 5, 2005 @ 8:39 pm | Comment

hehe, yeah, i’m not sure what i am trying to say, but i just think it would sound wierd in english, for some reason, but sounds quite alright in chinese…

July 5, 2005 @ 8:56 pm | Comment

It is possible that Falun Dafa satellite hijacks are part of a black ops operation by separatist forces in Taiwan to sow social instability.

July 5, 2005 @ 9:30 pm | Comment

Jing, simonworld mentioned a post of yours yesterday saying that you’ve changed your mind and decided that China is a fascist country! I want to read it but my proxies have been really unreliable lately so I haven’t been able to so far.

July 5, 2005 @ 9:40 pm | Comment

i guess it’s possible? it said it was broadcast from hong kong, but who knows?
of course, i can’t say it’s fair to associate everything with “separatist forces”/ independence supporters (in my book) without evidence.

July 5, 2005 @ 9:55 pm | Comment

but if the taiwanese were interested in doing that, i would think they would have better materials, e.g. comparing life in taiwan with life in china. personally, i think that would be more effective.

July 5, 2005 @ 10:03 pm | Comment

That would be too obvious kevin, the goal is not to raise Chinese people’s awareness of Taiwan as was in the past when the Nationalists were still in power and determined to retake the mainland, the purpose is to cause as much trouble as possible while maintaining plausible deniability.

July 5, 2005 @ 10:16 pm | Comment

maybe you know more about independence supporters than i do, haven’t seen these trends.

July 5, 2005 @ 11:41 pm | Comment

Wow, these open threads pile on the comments in no time.

I’ll take Martyn’s suggestion and forward the information regarding “Dr. Anne” in an email.

In the meantime I’ve got some China humor spew from the Horse’s Mouth.

Mark,

I knew that drugs were a growing problem in China, but I hadn’t heard anything about cocaine use. Yikes! That’s a death penalty offense.

July 6, 2005 @ 12:00 am | Comment

Dear Gordon, Laowai, Simon, et.al.,

I have just received an email from Dr. Anne Myers, answering a few questions that I put to her yesterday evening regarding the legality of using our comments for research purposes.

She dismisses our concerns as “laughable” and points out that she has every right to use them under “fair use” laws and that it is in fact becoming increasingly common for researchers to use blog comments for such purposes. She points out, for example, that for researchers, internet chatrooms are now a ripe field for study on how teens interact with other teens without the strictures imposed by adults. Sex researchers, as she says, are now even drawing upon blog comments, which are often very explicit, and are quoting them in their research papers.

She says (and please don’t shoot me here, I’m only the messenger!) – but she says that we all “possess the intellectual and emotional equivalencies of twelve year olds” and that as far as she is concerned, we can all go and “play with one another’s appendages if comforting one another is what we all need.”

She also says that she is no longer prepared to waste any more of her precious time in dealing with such “silly nonsense.”

Regards,
Mark Anthony Jones

July 6, 2005 @ 12:02 am | Comment

sure, mark.

July 6, 2005 @ 12:10 am | Comment

Thanks for that Mark, being the middle man and all.

Yes, I can quite imagine “Anne” saying those things although why she continues to feel inclined to make such insulting comments such as saying we “possess the intellectual and emotional equivalencies of twelve year olds” is quite seriously beyond me.

No wonder others have suggested she does it in order to provoke reactions as part of her reseach. I mean, really, the only alternative explaination is that she isn’t a very nice person to so wantonly condesend and abuse people.

I mean, Mark, why all the insults? Seriously, do you have any idea mate?

July 6, 2005 @ 12:26 am | Comment

….on second thought, I WILL send her my photos. I, of course, like every normal person, keep a collection of my own nude photos and myself in beatnik costume!

July 6, 2005 @ 12:31 am | Comment

mark – I’m getting tired of talking about anne, but just as my last comment, do you see why people think she’s a bit of an ass? the way she phrases things aren’t very nice, basically. I know you like her a lot, but saying something neutrally in psych is different than saying it hurtfully. if we have the mindsets of twelve year-olds then I’m sure there are more tactful ways of saying it. Maybe you don’t agree.

July 6, 2005 @ 12:32 am | Comment

I think this so-called “research” is either utter b.s. and the whole thing is an elaborate practical joke, or Dr. Ann is off her rocker. I repeat – serious academics do not insult their research subjects.

Now, back to drugs – marijuana used to grow wild all over the place the first time I was in Beijing. I knew several expats who would pick it and use a pressure cooker to make this, well, kind of hash-like stuff. I was told that the peasants smoked “da ma” when they were too broke for tobacco. The only thing that the authorities considered a drug at that time was opium – which is understandable.

July 6, 2005 @ 12:37 am | Comment

Just your regular reminder than just like in China, there is a nanny watching what you type here.

Richard – have you actually read the China Brief from Jamestown today? I’d like to hear what you think is wrong with it and what’s wrong with the Jamestown Foundation in general.

Hi Doctor Anne!

July 6, 2005 @ 12:41 am | Comment

Simon, are you our new Nanny?

July 6, 2005 @ 12:42 am | Comment

Don’t be surprised if she emails you her email address then Richard!

And Martyn, I really just think she has a bit of a temper, that’s all. I mean, take Sam, from Shenzhen for example. I have met him a few times, and I know that he is a nice bloke. But have a look at some of his comments to people on this site – he can sometimes use expletives, to tell people to go f**ck themsleves, etc. Dr Myers isn’t quite that explicit, but I think her acerbic remarks to people might just have something to do with age and temperament. In Dr Myers case, it could even be a behavioural trait brought on by menopause for all we know, right?

Just relax. I don’t think she’s that bad. I quite enjoy our correspondence actually, and my girlfriend and I are hoping to meet up with her in Guangzhou maybe later this month. I think she’d be great to a few drinks with. She tells me she smokes too, so as far as I’m concerned that’s also a good thing. I don’t smoke unless I’m drinking usually, but I enjoy a cigarette or a cigar with a few beers, or over a bottle of wine. Just must have some entertaining stories to tell, and her imagination is very vivid too I think – well, I know that to be the case for sure, as I am familiar with one of her two published novels.

And Richard, I’ll make a point of passing on your wishes to her!

Regards,
Mark Anthony Jones

July 6, 2005 @ 12:47 am | Comment

I could be if Doctor Anne gives it away.

Not to steal Richard’s thunder, but I’m thinking of starting an open thread at my place, with a big disclaimer at the top that none of the comments can be used for any academic research unless it involves sampling drugs at Chinese bars.

Any takers?

July 6, 2005 @ 12:48 am | Comment

Mark,

Tell Dr. Anus to keep laughing…if she publishes anything from my site, we’ll see who has the last laugh.

Cheers!

July 6, 2005 @ 12:48 am | Comment

Well, I’d volunteer, except that I’ve never sampled any drugs in Chinese bars…does that disqualify me? I’ve had my share of Yanjing beer at least.

July 6, 2005 @ 12:49 am | Comment

Lisa are you on the bottle again?

July 6, 2005 @ 12:49 am | Comment

Lisa call your sponsor.NOW!

July 6, 2005 @ 12:50 am | Comment

Stone levitation ale – the only light beer worth drinking.

July 6, 2005 @ 12:51 am | Comment

Doctor whoever is just a hoax perpetrated by Mark Anthony Jones IMO. The way I look at it is Mark Anthony couldn’t take the heat on this blog a few months ago and in great a dramatic flury took in effect “his ball” and ran away because we people were so mean to him.

I suspect he has conjured this up with a friend, Doc Anne or his alter-ego, to give him cover to blast some of you people who disagreed with him, i.e., who were mean to him.

Is there any proof that Doc Anne really exists other than Mark Anthony’s word or the email of the “Doc”?

Look at who the Doc picks on. It seems it is the commenters who have challenged Mark Anthony, either for his being wrong fatually, his fixation on penises, particularly his own, general disbelief in Mark Anthony’s schtick, wandering, self- gratifying pieces and Richard, who tries to assert control over this blog to keep it on track while Mark Anthony tries to keep control.

Mark anthony is not a guy I would like to go to dinner with and have to listen to his BS without interuption.

Mark anthony has intimate familiarity with the Doc. Who in their right mind would send nude photos to an allegedly, highly educated and successful professional, unless he know the professional or was invited to send them.

I think Mark anthony is not only pulling our legs, but is trying to imply she can do harm to anyone she chooses. This is a veiled threat and is like voodoo.

Put up of shut up Mark anthony. Prove Doc exists and prove you have not created her yoursefl or put someone up to this silliness.

July 6, 2005 @ 12:51 am | Comment

Count me in on the research thread! OK, I’ve wasted enough time on this silly thread now. Doesn’t anybody here have a real job?

Cheers,

July 6, 2005 @ 12:53 am | Comment

Light beer is for weekend warriors.Your like a female Peter O’Toole.Hit up some Trappist Belgian crazy water.Remember to be nice to people.

July 6, 2005 @ 12:53 am | Comment

I have a more or less real job, but it’s just about midnight where I am. As for you guys…yeah, get to work!

July 6, 2005 @ 12:54 am | Comment

Dear Other Lisa,

I quite like Yanjing beer, it’s not a bad lager. I’m fortunate here in Shenzhen, in that like Shanghai and Beijing, I have access to a so-called “Irish pub” (albeit with the Scottish name of McCawley’s) that serves Guinness on tap, imported direct from the St. James gate Brewery in Dublin. Real beer! It’s cheaper here in Shenzhen too: in Shanghai I used to pay 65 RMB per pint, but here it’s only 58 RMB a pint.

Sam – when’s our next drinknig session, by the way?

Regards,
Mark Anthony Jones

July 6, 2005 @ 12:56 am | Comment

Don’t confuse being in “The Industry”with having a real job. NUTHIN” real in L.A ,baby! Except FATBURGER. Oh Yeah……….

July 6, 2005 @ 12:57 am | Comment

mmmmm….guiness…..

Okay, I’m going to try and do another half hour of work before I crash…don’t do anything Dr. Anne wouldn’t do….(I figure that gives y’all beret latitude…).

July 6, 2005 @ 12:58 am | Comment

Job? Whoa man, I don’t touch the stuff.

July 6, 2005 @ 12:58 am | Comment

AM,

Your wife kill and workers yet?

You really should share your entire moving experience with everyone. oooh..I can hear the laughter now.

July 6, 2005 @ 1:00 am | Comment

Just imagine the Three Stooges remade in China.She did tear them a new asshole though!So proud…….

July 6, 2005 @ 1:03 am | Comment

Dear Pete,

Firstly, your assertion that I loose arguments is ridiculous! I do not loose arguments, I learn from them. I do not contribute to this web site to “win” debates, but to test the strengths and weaknesses of my own viewpoints. If somebody can weaken or seriously challenge one of my arguments, then that’s great! That’s exactly what I want – I benefit from that. A good example, recently, is the debate that I had with Conrad over the legality of the US occupation of Guantanamo Bay: he successfully destyroyed two out of my three arguments. I appreciated that. My own views on this particular matter have now been tested, and consequently greatly modified.

I have no need to waste my time writing under a different name simply to attack those who hold views that are contrary to mine. Your comments above are unwarranted, but think what you will.

No need of you to be so nasty though.

Best regards to you Pete!

Mark Anthony Jones

July 6, 2005 @ 1:05 am | Comment

Passive aggressive?

July 6, 2005 @ 1:07 am | Comment

Dear Pete,

Sorry! I meant to say “lose” not “loose”. Careless typos.!

Regards again,
Mark Anthony Jones

July 6, 2005 @ 1:13 am | Comment

In response to the original comment here, have you ever seen people smoking pot in bars? I dont see alot of pot in China, but there is alot of hash. And I see my freinds smoking it in every bar and restaurant we go to. so the answer is yes, often.

😉

July 6, 2005 @ 1:26 am | Comment

people used to smoke pot a lot in one bar in harbin. they also used to get in fights there and molest hookers right on the dance floor, so i guess smoking pot was the least of everyone’s worries. i act like a wierdo when i smoke pot, tending to curl up in my bed with the blankets over my head, so i never joined in.

re: pete’s comment. you hit the nail on the head, man, and i couldn’t agree with you more. watch out though, i also heard donald duck, grimace from mcdonalds, and the tooth fairy are strong supporters of mark’s views.

but i don’t care, i got santa claus on my side.

July 6, 2005 @ 1:43 am | Comment

I’ve not seen people smoking a lot of pot here, but I have seen it. It also grows like mad in some of the southern provinces here, but to my understanding it isn’t good for recreational activites.

July 6, 2005 @ 1:46 am | Comment

I smoked half of my neighbors plant.Not even the munchies.He was kinda pissed though.Ya gotta go way down to Yunnan to get the Thermo Nuclear shit.

July 6, 2005 @ 1:49 am | Comment

American Man,
But WHAT plant did you smoke? If you smoked your neighbor’s aspidistra, I can see how he would be upset, especially if you didn’t ask first.
Anyway, if the local plants in south China aren’t good for “recreational activities”, I wonder if it’s because the Western users have gotten accustomed to the overly strong plants which have been bred in more recent times? My understanding is that most hemp used to be only mildly narcotic – like the stuff George Washington grew.
And sometimes I wonder what was really in those pipes on the desks at Independence Hall. Many of America’s founders grew hemp….

July 6, 2005 @ 2:37 am | Comment

I lived in the Great Pacific Northwest for years.It was pot.Just very,very low quality stuff.Ivan, watch out for Pete.He sure is sore at ya.

July 6, 2005 @ 3:06 am | Comment

probably to make rope.

tobacco was the thing to smoke.

anyway, until evidence proves otherwise, dr. anne is a separate person, not mark – this is the simplist explanation I’d say.

This is my take on the woman, after thinking about it for a while: She does have quite the temper, although I will refrain from making any comments about her emotional age. I will say that it occured to me that after watching us for so long, and then watching mark come back, maybe the good doctor felt a need to join in on the fun – she’s got a few posts where she tries to buddy up to Other Lisa (“you go girl” – what 64 woman says that? really) but was probably shocked and hurt at our responses to what she thought was a playful and insightful analysis of two of our star contributors, at which point she promptly turned on the rest of us and lashed out with venomous alcohol-fuelled anger. I got spit upon with her venom because of my “hysterical” reaction to her post, in which I questioned why exactly she was partaking in such activity, and upon what authority she was calling our activities useless, at which point she threatened that I was next.

The problem, as I see it, is the uncomfortable mix of selling herself as being in a professional position, and therefore authority, and also personally engaging herself in the matter, by which she opens herself to the danger of demonstrating her own psychological inadequacies. As to whether or not she has, we all have our own conclusions.

If you are reading, Dr. Myers, I look forward to reading your article in November.

I think that at the least, this experience will hopefully deter any of us psychologists from engaging their personal opinions and affairs with their research subjects. It quite obviously gets messy sometimes.

July 6, 2005 @ 3:06 am | Comment

When I was in Lijiang I had a great pair of hemp pajamas made for me.It seems stronger than cotton.

July 6, 2005 @ 3:09 am | Comment

Ivan, several of our founding fathers were said to have smoked the stuff as well. Not just grow it.

Hemp grows all over the place in my home state as well, but I don’t think it would get you any higher than smoking catnip. (no I haven’t tried) However, that stuff that grows in the corn fields is a whole another ball park. Whew! 😛

July 6, 2005 @ 3:16 am | Comment

In China I make do with Cypress Hill’s “Black Sunday.” Very seldom do I get both.

July 6, 2005 @ 3:28 am | Comment

Hahahaha … good on you, those who are valiantly trying to keep this discussion on drugs in China, and away from certain other topics or people. Though … I do have to say that after reading through all this thread, I’ve got a suspicion that Pete is right. All along I’ve had the feeling that the posts were more like parody than the real thing.

Back to drugs … I’ve got a suspicion that a lot of people in China blame the Uighurs for the drug problem? Anyone know anything to back this up? Or am I wrong?

July 6, 2005 @ 4:39 am | Comment

Well, They sure LOOK like drug dealers.”If you want more than dried apricots, I’d recommend the Kashgar thrillkill today”

July 6, 2005 @ 4:53 am | Comment

On hemp:
It was still common in the 50es to smoke hemp in southern Germany when there was no tabaco. It was called Knaster reffering to the sound the seeds made when they expoloded in the pipe.

On the doctor:
After consulting some colleagues here at the Berlin Research Center for Interdisciplinary Studies on Blogging Psychologists (BCISBP) the case is obvious: Dr. Myers at times backslides into the phallic sometimes even the oral phase indicated by her obsession with penisis and a high consuption of alcoholic substances.
We also can’t ruel out that she has not overcome her penis envy resulting in an inferior complex indicated by an arrogant behavior and her urge to show the world what a brilliant analyst she is.
We are sorry to conclude that such severe illness is not curable after such a long time in the psychology buisness and at this age anymore.

With sympathies

Shulan et al.
(BCISBP)

July 6, 2005 @ 5:09 am | Comment

Gordon,
Yes I thought some of our Founding Fathers probably smoked some hemp. Especially Ben Franklin!
(Oh and do you know, Ben Franklin died of syphilis? At age 84. I’m not saying I approve of STDs, but still, you gotta admit, Ben Franklin was a rocker!)
American Man: Why do you say “pete” is sore at me? I haven’t even visited this blog for a few days, and I don’t remember fighting with pete. If there’s a problem then let me offer some peace terms to pete:
the terms are, just mellow out and talk more! 🙂

July 6, 2005 @ 5:52 am | Comment

Oh, NOW I remember, from the movie “Dazed and Confused” (1994) about American teenagers in the 1970s:
There was one scene where one guy was telling how George Washington grew hemp, and he said,
“Yeah, and Martha was cool, whenever George came home from a battle, Martha Washington had a bowl waiting for him. All the Founding Fathers smoked weed. Did you ever look at the back of a dollar bill? There’s some SPOOKY shit on the back of a dollar, man, and it’s GREEN!”
🙂

July 6, 2005 @ 6:00 am | Comment

Ivan,Perhaps you also have an imposter.The highest form of flattery.Dazed and Confused was funny. A young Parker Posey.Ben Affleck before he was REAL annoying.

July 6, 2005 @ 6:31 am | Comment

Ivan, Are you THE most pornographic, vulgar and filthy Ivan?

July 6, 2005 @ 6:49 am | Comment

He called me “American Moron” Yours is much, much more entertaining. Do you wanna trade nicknames?

July 6, 2005 @ 6:51 am | Comment

American Man,
I didn’t know Ben Affleck (wanker) was in “Dazed and Confused”.
Was he the guy who starred in “Shakespeare in Love?” It was him or someone just as execrable as him.
Russel Crowe (one of my favourite actors in the Anglophone world) said, that the script for “Shakespeare in Love” was brilliant, but they ruined it by having a vapid vacuous pretty boy playing Shakespeare. Russel Crowe said something like, “the guy who played Shakespeare in that movie, just wasn’t dirty enough or stinky enough to resemble a REAL writer like Shakespeare was!”
🙂

July 6, 2005 @ 6:55 am | Comment

American Man,
What, (vis a vis your recent post) did someone calling himself “Ivan” (MY name) call you “American Moron?”
It wasn’t me – not the real Ivan.
And in reply to your other post, yes I AM “THE most pornographic, vulgar and filthy Ivan.” (Well, I don’t know what you meant by that, but I always want to claim all superlatives.
🙂
Now I want to hear more about how America’s founding fathers smoked weed…. 🙂

July 6, 2005 @ 6:59 am | Comment

Just in case you hadn’t heard, London got the Olympics. I wouldn’t care … except they beat the French, which absolutely delights me. 🙂

July 6, 2005 @ 7:02 am | Comment

FSN9,
Hurrah for London!
And I always say, it is always good to humble the French.

July 6, 2005 @ 7:13 am | Comment

Lucky Parisians… they’ll get to enjoy all the Olympic events (which will be just 2 1/2 hours away via the Channel Tunnel) without any of the costs or disruption.

July 6, 2005 @ 7:46 am | Comment

Vaara,
DAMN those Parisians, they always find a way to enjoy themselves better than anyone else! 🙂 🙂

July 6, 2005 @ 7:52 am | Comment

Was’nt France once relevent?My grandfather used to tell me stories of her importance.I think it was in Olde Europe.I really can’t remember anymore…..Times change I guess.

July 6, 2005 @ 8:05 am | Comment

Was it Joseph Feinnes.The “NEXT BIG THING” Never materialised.

July 6, 2005 @ 8:10 am | Comment

FSN9,

I once dedicated an entire week to teaching students how to refer to french people as frogs.

Mission accomplished.

July 6, 2005 @ 8:13 am | Comment

I googled “France”…………….. nuthin’!

July 6, 2005 @ 8:21 am | Comment

Ivan, Pete called me “American Moron”He called you ” Most pornographic, vulgar,filthy”

July 6, 2005 @ 8:29 am | Comment

Gordon, Stop lookin’ at her ass.You’re married fer crissakes!

July 6, 2005 @ 8:30 am | Comment

American Man,
Thanks! For giving me an exact reference to “pete” who called me “Most pornographic, vulgar, filthy.”
As a scholar, I always like to have exact citations!
Anyway, can we talk more about weed now?
And more about France, which is almost the same thing – I mean, to me, “France” means an impossible visionary ideal – almost as impossible as America.
As an American (of one fourth French descent) I WANT to love France, but she keeps teasing me, saying,
“yes I admire you, American. But no, I cannot admire you. You American, you think you can HAVE me – just because you saved me – I love you – no I don’t – I love you – I hate you – oh, America, just TAKE ME by force, GIVE ME WHAT I REALLY WANT before the Germans do!”
That is what France REALLY says about America! 🙂 🙂

July 6, 2005 @ 9:57 am | Comment

Check out the latest beijingorbust (at blogspot) – some great posts on life in his old hometown of Chengdu.

I can email for those of you whose proxies aren’t working.

July 6, 2005 @ 10:40 am | Comment

there be beret-basing in the air…
pretty rude not to take MAJ at his word just cos we don’t really understand what’s going on.

July 6, 2005 @ 1:38 pm | Comment

damn! beret-bashing of course.
though looking for the beret as the common denominator in all we see and hear is an intriguing idea, if I do say so myself.

July 6, 2005 @ 1:47 pm | Comment

Ivan you were REAllY turning me on for a while there.OH IVAN,You are part French!

July 6, 2005 @ 5:02 pm | Comment

Let’s move up tp the new thread. Thanks!

Ivan, you have to do a better job hiding your Inner Frenchman.

July 6, 2005 @ 6:18 pm | Comment