Re: You can make ustc the best.

Changneng Xuan (xuan@ARROW.ECO.UTEXAS.EDU)
Mon, 18 Sep 1995 12:25:55 -0500

I agree with Wang Zheng, except perhaps the last paragraph. The critique
on the trivial things such as some mistakes on English as a second
language does no good, it only perpetuates the stereotype that USTC
graduates are arrogant and have no respect for others, even though only
a handful Keda alumni are responsible for such a stereotype. I believe
each and every of us has an obligation to reverse this sereotype through our
own demeanors and criticize those of us (even though a few of us) who
behave so as to deepen and worsen such a stereotype.

Xuan, Changneng

On Sun, 17 Sep 1995, wang zheng wrote:

> I would like to make two points here:
>
> (1) The most important difference between a refined person and a
> not-so-well-educated one is, the former knows how to respect others even
> in his/her eyes they made some stupid mistakes.
>
> (2) Why can't we overlook those unimportant trivials and focus on the
> original author's strong emotion about our alma mater? Even he/she
> didn't make any new point, at least he/she doesn't deserve those impolite
> pickings. My SUGGESTION to those guys who are so proud of their English
> is, try to keep silent. Or if you just can't help posting some critiques,
> please be very careful about YOUR English. Don't ever make mistakes such
> as, while the plural term should have been used, we just see the single
> term there ("error"); and while an adv. should have been used, we only
> see an adj. there ("exact" opposite...). English is our second language, we
> all make mistakes. Why can't we tolerate other people's unimportant
> mistakes, particularly with English?
>
> I guess the only merit that USTCers abundantly possess is, self-esteem,
> to its extreme. I don't mean to offend anyone. If you do feel offended,
> please take it easy.
>