I don't want to start a debate on this topic; it's not specifically about moral character; a separate 1,000-page thread would be enough for that. But, let's talk about the culture of behavior, and why China should introduce mandatory fines like in Hong Kong or Singapore (they're being introduced, for example, because they're essentially Chinese and the Chinese sphere dominates) and, in general, introduce social behavior lessons for students.
Let's start with the idea that I have a colonial mindset, and for me, culture means making foreigners like me. However, first and foremost, raising the moral standard of society will strengthen the bonds of society itself, and Confucian moral norms prohibit disrespectful behavior toward others, not just family members. Today, for example, in Chongqing, at the Chongqing railway station. Two taxi drivers took a parking spot at a bus stop, forcing people to step out onto the road to board the bus. I approached the taxi drivers and asked them to park and look for Douyin elsewhere. One drove off, the other was rude to me. My question is: if the taxi driver had taken the spot respectfully, without causing problems for the residents of Chongqing, was this an attempt to please foreigners? Or was it a display of basic civility? In central Chongqing, you can easily see people parking their cars on the expressway to eat street food, thereby creating traffic jams because the lane where cars should be is occupied by people eating or using their phones. It's also not very healthy for society overall.
I can't say anything about garbage in the cities; it's generally clean if you clean it up. But people often just throw garbage underfoot, which makes the city look terribly filthy until the cleaners come. This isn't about foreigners being pleased; it's about society, first and foremost, for the Chinese. I absolutely adore China, but the way they raise their citizens is sometimes terrible. It's like London or New York, I wouldn't stab you in broad daylight; the culture is different, but that doesn't change what I said earlier. And tourists are also part of the image. Young, educated Chinese aren't very happy about this.
But I don't see the point in continuing to discuss this topic here; that's not what this thread is about.
