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Background, the company I work at has a healthy mix of about 40% Chinese, 30% Slavic and 30% "white Canadian", the latter meaning everyone who isn't an obvious immigrant (in this story for example, Mr. Alfonso Fernando would be in this category, despite what the Portuguese may believe about themselves). It's a small office of about 40-60 people, all on one floor of a larger building.
Today I was eating my lunch in the lunch room, sitting with the other student. Around me, in typical Canadian fashion, the tables were all segregated by race, except for the one table of glorious multiculturalism, which has no role in this story.
A funny but also somewhat cringey situation soon arose. One of the Chinese employees started playing some music on her phone. It was some sort of stereotypical "Chinese music", you know with a softish melody and Chinese vocals on top. At first I thought it was the ringtone of someone who was absent, and they were all having a laugh at the poor sap's ringtone.
This was not the case, and the song carried on. At this time I will point out, in case it isn't obvious, that it is very obnoxious to play music in the lunchroom, since the other lunchies probably want to eat and/or chat in peace, not listen to your favourite tunes. The music went on for about two minutes, with no sign of stopping.
Obviously this could not be tolerated, and soon a challenge rung out. Someone at the white table carefully chose his favorite electric guitar piece and had his phone play it. The conflicting melodies strove with one another, and I felt like I was witnessing the creation of Arda. I imagine Melkor would have preferred the electric guitar.
Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your stance on Slavic folk music) the Slavs were not prepared to enter the contest. The multicultural table, in typical Canadian fashion, tried their best to ignore the raging conflict.
Soon, the Chinese music was turned off. A victor had emerged. The electric guitar continued for a moment, until one of the combatant's tablemates told him:
"Turn it off. You've won."
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This can only end in a bloodbath.
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I await the next chapter where the ethnic groups get into band and have an epic battle of the bands to determine who wins round 2.
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On November 28 2014 04:03 PhoenixVoid wrote:
I await the next chapter where the ethnic groups get into band and have an epic battle of the bands to determine who wins round 2.
Actually I think earlier this week there was some sort of Guitar Hero competition in one of the board rooms as a charity thing. Obviously the musical conflict was left unresolved.
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Slavic music would have won this battle easily
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On November 28 2014 04:39 OtherWorld wrote:
Slavic music would have won this battle easily
I'm not familiar. Any favourites for me to listen to when I get home?
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On November 28 2014 04:51 Alzadar wrote:Show nested quote +On November 28 2014 04:39 OtherWorld wrote:
Slavic music would have won this battle easily I'm not familiar. Any favourites for me to listen to when I get home?
Sadly I'm not an expert, I just heard random bands play some in my town. But to my ears it sounded like a mixture of Celtic and Gypsy music (and I liked it).
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Wonder why he said "you've won" instead of "we've won"
Interesting..
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On November 28 2014 07:16 BongChambers wrote:
Wonder why he said "you've won" instead of "we've won"
Interesting..
Good catch, he might be a CCP spy.
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The Silmarillion reference 5/5
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You made me realise that I should read Silmarillion again. I was very young when I read it, and had worse english and swedish (I think I read it in swedish). I was also worse at appreciating art in general.
I should probably read The Lord of the Rings again, too.
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You can win this and settle it. Next time music plays, you sing.
"O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide,
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee."
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Baa?21243 Posts
On November 28 2014 03:43 Alzadar wrote:
The conflicting melodies strove with one another, and I felt like I was witnessing the creation of Arda. I imagine Melkor would have preferred the electric guitar.
5/5
The Chinese will be back.
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On November 28 2014 08:10 Yourmomsbasement wrote:
You can win this and settle it. Next time music plays, you sing.
"O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide,
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee."
Non non non.
O Canada
Terre de nos aieux
Ton front es ceint, de fleurons glorieux
Et ton bras sait porter l'epee, il sait porter la croix
Ton histoire est une epopee, des plus brilliants exploits
Et ta valeure, de foix trempee,
Protegera nos foyers et nos droits!
Protegera nos foyers et nos droits!
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On November 28 2014 04:51 Alzadar wrote:Show nested quote +On November 28 2014 04:39 OtherWorld wrote:
Slavic music would have won this battle easily I'm not familiar. Any favourites for me to listen to when I get home?
They could always go for russian metal. I don't know a whole lot of things that can't be improved by being mixed with russian metal.
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Actually now that you mention it, my Russian history professor had us listen to some Russian folk from the Soviet era, it was pretty good.
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lol, nice story, but I think it is just immature and ridiculous to go and play your own music to counter hers, the nice relaxing chinese music was probably nice to listen to anyways.......
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Canada11355 Posts
On November 28 2014 11:26 GGzerG wrote:
lol, nice story, but I think it is just immature and ridiculous to go and play your own music to counter hers, the nice relaxing chinese music was probably nice to listen to anyways.......
If you enjoy relaxing music, maybe.
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On November 28 2014 11:26 GGzerG wrote:
lol, nice story, but I think it is just immature and ridiculous to go and play your own music to counter hers, the nice relaxing chinese music was probably nice to listen to anyways.......
You don't put a music on out-loud anywhere in public, that's what headphones are for. It's just a common sense etiquette that most people follow. The fact that it was Chinese /foreign music just made it worse..I've ran into too many Chinese people who just choose not to be courteous and mindful of others. In my undergrad days, these two overseas Chinese middle-aged men were trying to communicate to each other from two opposite ends of a crowded bus...yes they were shouting towards each other in Chinese (a language which isn't pleasing to the ears, but besides the point) across my college bus. Seriously who does that? Is that something in the culture where men have to be as loud as possible to portray masculinity?
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On November 28 2014 11:26 GGzerG wrote:
lol, nice story, but I think it is just immature and ridiculous to go and play your own music to counter hers, the nice relaxing chinese music was probably nice to listen to anyways.......
Although this is true, it's very passive-aggressive, I'm not sure there are better ways of doing it. It's such an obvious social rule not to play music in a situation like that, that telling someone feels very patronizing. The music competition wasn't the most mature solution, but I think it did get the point across.
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On November 28 2014 11:26 GGzerG wrote:
lol, nice story, but I think it is just immature and ridiculous to go and play your own music to counter hers, the nice relaxing chinese music was probably nice to listen to anyways.......
yeah asian music is better and more sophisticated anyways :^)
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On November 28 2014 08:50 Nesserev wrote:Show nested quote +On November 28 2014 08:34 Alzadar wrote:On November 28 2014 08:10 Yourmomsbasement wrote:
You can win this and settle it. Next time music plays, you sing.
"O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide,
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee." Non non non. O Canada Terre de nos aieux Ton front es ceint, de fleurons glorieux Et ton bras sait porter l'epee, il sait porter la croix Ton histoire est une epopee, des plus brilliants exploits Et ta valeure, de foix trempee, Protegera nos foyers et nos droits! Protegera nos foyers et nos droits! You Canadians have it easy with just 2 different languages.
yeah but their country's actually a real one with a stable gov
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I never realised how violent life in Canada could be. Damn. Never going there for holidays, that's for sure !
:-p
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How do you segregate slavic people from white people exactly?
Next thing I know you'll be telling me that I'm Mongolian.
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On November 28 2014 12:06 parkufarku wrote:Show nested quote +On November 28 2014 11:26 GGzerG wrote:
lol, nice story, but I think it is just immature and ridiculous to go and play your own music to counter hers, the nice relaxing chinese music was probably nice to listen to anyways....... You don't put a music on out-loud anywhere in public, that's what headphones are for. It's just a common sense etiquette that most people follow. The fact that it was Chinese /foreign music just made it worse..I've ran into too many Chinese people who just choose not to be courteous and mindful of others. In my undergrad days, these two overseas Chinese middle-aged men were trying to communicate to each other from two opposite ends of a crowded bus...yes they were shouting towards each other in Chinese (a language which isn't pleasing to the ears, but besides the point) across my college bus. Seriously who does that? Is that something in the culture where men have to be as loud as possible to portray masculinity?
not to be racist or anything
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sounds like a battle of the iphones more than a racial battle.
if you wanted to make it racial play ride of the valkyries and quote apocalipse now
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On November 28 2014 19:52 Nikon wrote:
How do you segregate slavic people from white people exactly?
Next thing I know you'll be telling me that I'm Mongolian.
Slavs are the ones with names like Vasili and Dmitry, who speak with eastern European accents and talk about playing with scraps from Soviet tanks in their childhood. They are nice people, but form a very obviously distinct social group in this office.
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On November 28 2014 21:31 Acer.Scarlett` wrote:Show nested quote +On November 28 2014 12:06 parkufarku wrote:On November 28 2014 11:26 GGzerG wrote:
lol, nice story, but I think it is just immature and ridiculous to go and play your own music to counter hers, the nice relaxing chinese music was probably nice to listen to anyways....... You don't put a music on out-loud anywhere in public, that's what headphones are for. It's just a common sense etiquette that most people follow. The fact that it was Chinese /foreign music just made it worse..I've ran into too many Chinese people who just choose not to be courteous and mindful of others. In my undergrad days, these two overseas Chinese middle-aged men were trying to communicate to each other from two opposite ends of a crowded bus...yes they were shouting towards each other in Chinese (a language which isn't pleasing to the ears, but besides the point) across my college bus. Seriously who does that? Is that something in the culture where men have to be as loud as possible to portray masculinity? not to be racist or anything
I'm trying really hard to resist the urge to fanboy, Scarlett in my blog!!
Iheardyou'refromKingstonI'malsofromKingstonwhatschooldidyougotoIwenttothefrenchschool? thx gg gl hwaiting
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On November 28 2014 23:59 Alzadar wrote:Show nested quote +On November 28 2014 21:31 Acer.Scarlett` wrote:On November 28 2014 12:06 parkufarku wrote:On November 28 2014 11:26 GGzerG wrote:
lol, nice story, but I think it is just immature and ridiculous to go and play your own music to counter hers, the nice relaxing chinese music was probably nice to listen to anyways....... You don't put a music on out-loud anywhere in public, that's what headphones are for. It's just a common sense etiquette that most people follow. The fact that it was Chinese /foreign music just made it worse..I've ran into too many Chinese people who just choose not to be courteous and mindful of others. In my undergrad days, these two overseas Chinese middle-aged men were trying to communicate to each other from two opposite ends of a crowded bus...yes they were shouting towards each other in Chinese (a language which isn't pleasing to the ears, but besides the point) across my college bus. Seriously who does that? Is that something in the culture where men have to be as loud as possible to portray masculinity? not to be racist or anything I'm trying really hard to resist the urge to fanboy, Scarlett in my blog!! Iheardyou'refromKingstonI'malsofromKingstonwhatschooldidyougotoIwenttothefrenchschool? thx gg gl hwaiting
vanier/kcvi (rip in 2015) 8-12
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Hmm, did you know Peter Andersen? Red hair, I think he'd been in your year. He was on the curling team. I know more people in the year above yours but I imagine KC is big enough you wouldn't know them. If you knew anyone at Rivier I'd know them for sure though.
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On November 29 2014 06:51 Sermokala wrote:
No escape from balkan?
Well, some of them escaped, they are here in Canada working with me. 
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On November 28 2014 23:56 Alzadar wrote:Show nested quote +On November 28 2014 19:52 Nikon wrote:
How do you segregate slavic people from white people exactly?
Next thing I know you'll be telling me that I'm Mongolian. Slavs are the ones with names like Vasili and Dmitry, who speak with eastern European accents and talk about playing with scraps from Soviet tanks in their childhood. They are nice people, but form a very obviously distinct social group in this office.
I don't have an accent, and all we got here was scrapped PLANES, thank you very much.
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On December 05 2014 18:59 Nikon wrote:Show nested quote +On November 28 2014 23:56 Alzadar wrote:On November 28 2014 19:52 Nikon wrote:
How do you segregate slavic people from white people exactly?
Next thing I know you'll be telling me that I'm Mongolian. Slavs are the ones with names like Vasili and Dmitry, who speak with eastern European accents and talk about playing with scraps from Soviet tanks in their childhood. They are nice people, but form a very obviously distinct social group in this office. I don't have an accent, and all we got here was scrapped PLANES, thank you very much.
Everyone has an accent, the question is which. And I'm not sure scrapped planes are a step down from tanks.
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On November 28 2014 11:26 GGzerG wrote:
lol, nice story, but I think it is just immature and ridiculous to go and play your own music to counter hers, the nice relaxing chinese music was probably nice to listen to anyways.......
The one at fault is the Chinese starting the music in a quiet room...
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Omg yes! What is it with these damn chinese people playing their shitty music on speaker? Don't they understand what headphones are for? Fucking communists want to share everything even when others dont' want their shit.
Just out of curiosity were the chinese playing this tune? 永远不会放弃你, 永远不会让你失望
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On December 09 2014 20:00 sths wrote:Omg yes! What is it with these damn chinese people playing their shitty music on speaker? Don't they understand what headphones are for? Fucking communists want to share everything even when others dont' want their shit. Just out of curiosity were the chinese playing this tune? 永远不会放弃你, 永远不会让你失望
Points for cleverness.
It seems I really struck a nerve with the "Chinese people playing music" theme. Perhaps this tension is not limited to the lunchroom at all.
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On December 09 2014 01:44 Alzadar wrote:Show nested quote +On December 05 2014 18:59 Nikon wrote:On November 28 2014 23:56 Alzadar wrote:On November 28 2014 19:52 Nikon wrote:
How do you segregate slavic people from white people exactly?
Next thing I know you'll be telling me that I'm Mongolian. Slavs are the ones with names like Vasili and Dmitry, who speak with eastern European accents and talk about playing with scraps from Soviet tanks in their childhood. They are nice people, but form a very obviously distinct social group in this office. I don't have an accent, and all we got here was scrapped PLANES, thank you very much. Everyone has an accent, the question is which. And I'm not sure scrapped planes are a step down from tanks.
The joke.
Your head.
But seriously, there was a gutted Ил-2 in a secluded place in the city park when I was 8-9 years old. No wings, and when you climbed in all the electronics were missing.
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EPT
