Just Back from Shanghai: Here's the Real Deal
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Most local drivers have retired by now. With such high demand for taxis, they're mostly driven by non-locals, and it's the same for ride-hailing services. The older, local 'master' drivers, though, are usually quite friendly, happy to chat and recommend good places to visit. It really comes down to luck. If you encounter someone with a bad attitude, regardless of who they are, you should stand up for yourself! After all, we're the customers.
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It's not that people on the subway won't proactively offer their seats. It's more that everyone living in this city is pretty tired, and we've all paid for our fares, so there isn't an obligation to go out of our way to give up a seat. BUT!!!! If we see someone who genuinely has trouble with their legs, is in a cast, or is clearly pregnant, or an elderly person with a cane, we generally will offer our seat. Most people still have that basic social decency.
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Exactly. Shanghai is a huge city, and young people have long commutes. You can be sitting on the subway for a very long time, so who wants to stand? However, we will still give up our seats to the elderly, weak, sick, or disabled. But if it's an able-bodied 'auntie' or 'uncle' who looks perfectly fine, I'm less inclined to give up my seat – I can't even keep up with their square dancing!
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Actually, those are often highly educated non-locals working in Shanghai. Shanghai natives, on the other hand, can be quite fond of taking advantage of others. My colleague rented a place in Tianlin, and their native Shanghainese neighbor secretly tapped into their electricity to steal power.
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I went to Melbourne once, and some white people there gave me the middle finger.
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Shanghainese people love taking advantage of others the most.
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That's just outrageous! Or perhaps you're the one who enjoys taking advantage of others so much?
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Shanghainese people don't split the bill (go AA) at family gatherings. At most, they take turns hosting, and they often even fight over who gets to pay the bill.
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You must be talking about eating small wontons, right?
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My experience after a few days of traveling in Shanghai is that I never want to come back! I'm from Hefei, Anhui, and when I first got here, people were dismissive and looked annoyed when I tried to buy things or ask questions. It's hard to adjust when you're used to your own city. Plus, things are expensive here – though if you're rich, you can disregard what I just said. In summary, there's no human warmth here, and contrary to what some might say, they do take advantage of people. They might be clean, but I don't think they have much in the way of good manners or 'quality'.
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A lack of human warmth – that's what I've truly felt during my trip to Shanghai. Even the security guards in residential communities act all high and mighty.
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'Shanghainese people don't like to take advantage of others?' Are you serious? That made me laugh.
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They really do take petty advantages. As someone in e-commerce, I can tell you that many customers from Shanghai are quick to threaten you with bad reviews!
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I was quite disappointed after coming to Shanghai. I met several people who weren't very nice and even tried to rip me off.
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I just went out for one evening, and the people I encountered really weren't great.
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I don't quite agree with point 5. I've been to Shanghai, but I feel that people in Beijing generally have better manners than people in Shanghai.
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I prefer the personality of people from Northern China.
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Shanghainese people are f***ing hollow. They rely entirely on material possessions to fill their inner emptiness because they have no real emotions to speak of. Money is what maintains their relationships 90% of the time; only 10% is genuine feeling. I recently saw some posts complaining about Shanghainese people, and I thought they hit the nail on the head.