Where did my sword go?

This is an article I have written for a class. Its a reflection of 'doing science' in two different societies.

Being a Scholar Chinese thinks walking a thousand miles is better than reading a thousand texts (读万卷书不如行万里路). Little wonder my best friend repeatedly asking me what I am working on. Its natural that he is skeptical. After all he is earning a lot by engaging the business opponents in consulting. Chinese societies had segregated officials (士) into literary (文) and soldiery (武). But since Tang dynasty, all nobles, officers, scholars, martial artists, business man, and commoners carry a sword. More ornamentary than practical. It carried the meaning of supremacy in the battlefield, carrying the self and country, and righteousness (纵横沙场，立身立国，行仁仗义).

Being a scholar, I read and write a lot. But does very little work, and has practically no enemies. Furthermore, I carry no sword, not even ornamentary. However, I am learning new skills – to orate and to write. Lofland et al followed a long history of way of life inherited since the Greek and Romans. In fact, lots of orators were professional during those times, and all politicians have to learn orating. Lofland et al told us that we need to let our creative juice flow, have something to say, participate in fad and fashion of scientific discussion, be social in our writings, allow others to engage in our debate, feel strongly for what we are writing for, but remember not to let the cats out too early (Lofland et al). These are all very important skills in science. After all, “social science aims are, of course, moral aims” (Lofland et al). And being moral, you will earn the hearts and minds much faster.

Spear-like lips and sword-like tongue (唇枪舌剑) After all in US, it is more of the question, not sword, that establishes superiority. There is how I had heard a joke. In a US company, while nine men beat the drum, one man will row the boat. Whereas in a Japanese counterpart, one man will beat the drum, and nine men will row the boat. It will be hard to be one of the nine Americans, if one could not beat the drum. Not only beating, but beating familiarly enough to capture agreement, but differently enough to stand out. After all “all men are … endowed … with certain unalienable rights (of) life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” It is that right that makes one different.

Its not an easy job. Spear-like lips and sword-like tongue described a situation of heated debate. Where each participant used their skilled glib of tongue PKing their opponent (PK means engaging an opponent one-on-one in a battle. An Internet term recently popularized in China’s media.). One foreigner often felt difficult managing the US style turn-taking method of discussion, where one hardly has a chance to speak. One has to pay attention to feel the rhythm and find the opportunity to beat his note. Like using spear and sword to change the rhythm of the battlefield.

Sword-like Brush Perhaps it was the nature of society that changes the way a scholar should behave. According to Lofland, a scholar is a strong writer who upholds the American principles. This cynical paper does not intend to say this is wrong. Instead, Lofland skillfully crept in much scientific basis in the midst of urging the reader to pay attention to credibility. “First, they have a responsibility for rigorous and self-critical conduct, analysis, and interpretation of the research.” Without making that assumption, it is too easy to mislead their readers towards writing a wonderful paper that cannot stand the heat of the battle. Otherwise, twenty years later when fad and fashion has changed, the book will find itself in the hands of some curious PhD students.

The real work of scholars perhaps really happens before the society begins to scrutinize their work. That is when they are accumulating a lot of data, interacting with them, and trying hard to understand the reality. Then facing the inevitable irony, leaves much knowledge behind while performing the rests of their duties – be it to fight or to write.

References

Lofland J, Snow D, Anderson L, and Lofland L. Analyzing Social Settings: A guide to qualitative observation and analysis, 4^th ed. US: Thomson Wadsworth.