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Youths’ desperate ‘four no’ attitude worries China
Asia Times ^

Posted on 07/13/2023 2:55:38 PM PDT by FarCenter

The Chinese government is being called upon to take action to stimulate the economy and create jobs at a time when young people in substantial numbers have adopted an attitude that’s termed the “four nos”: no interest in dating, getting married, buying a home or having a child.

When National Bureau of Statistics spokesperson Fu Linghui said on June 15 that only about six million people between 16 and 24 in China were still searching for jobs, he did not count the 11.6 million new graduates about to enter the job markets.

His figure also excluded the many in their 30s who’ve been suffering from unstable income. Some of these people now refer to themselves as the youth of “four nos,” a trending term on the internet in China.

“A lot of people expect their partners to be homeowners, but property prices are really too high,” a 30-year-old man says in an interview with a video channel. “It’s not that I did not work hard – my hard work did not produce good results,” he says, adding that he has worked for a small food delivery firm in Beijing since 2020 but is owed 20,000 yuan (US$2,791) in service fees. A decade ago he could afford to date but now he can’t, he says, – and if he has children, they will suffer in this world.

The video was originally posted on a channel called “Under the Moonlight” on Bilibili, a Shanghai-based video-sharing website, in April. It was then blocked. It is still available on social media overseas.

Some young Chinese adopted a “lying flat” attitude a few years ago as they were suffocated by the societal pressures upon them to overwork and over-achieve in order to buy homes and have families. Now many are suffering from unemployment or unstable income and want to be free from financial burdens.

A document, reportedly issued by the Communist Youth League of Guangzhou City, says a recent survey interviewing 15,501 college students and young workers found that 1,215, or 8% showed characteristics of having the “four nos” attitude. It called on all parties in the society to try to change these youngsters’ attitude into “four wants.”


TOPICS: China; Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS:
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Darwin at work.
1 posted on 07/13/2023 2:55:38 PM PDT by FarCenter
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To: FarCenter

Happening in Japan as well.


2 posted on 07/13/2023 2:58:06 PM PDT by chajin ("There is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12)
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To: FarCenter
Social Darwinism.

The Chinese version of Facism (Socialism with a Chinese face) is failing.

3 posted on 07/13/2023 2:58:46 PM PDT by marktwain
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To: FarCenter

This attitude is found here in the US.

My young niece just visited, and she is a “no kids, no home, no shit” kinda person.

She and hubby rent a tiny ‘efficiency’ apt, mostly for the full bath. They lived out of their van for years, worked mostly pickup jobs.

She works, part time, remotely, he bartends part time..

They are convinced that America has failed - not failing - but failed.
They await the Fall of Empire, which they see as ongoing, right now.

If you look at LA, San Fran, - hell, any big US city, they would be correct.


4 posted on 07/13/2023 3:04:07 PM PDT by ASOC (This space for rent)
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Shouldn’t that be two noes? After all, abolition of both family and of private property are core Marxist doctrines.


5 posted on 07/13/2023 3:05:09 PM PDT by Olog-hai ("No Republican, no matter how liberal, is going to woo a Democratic vote." -- Ronald Reagan, 1960)
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To: FarCenter

No, not Darwin.


6 posted on 07/13/2023 3:05:56 PM PDT by Olog-hai ("No Republican, no matter how liberal, is going to woo a Democratic vote." -- Ronald Reagan, 1960)
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To: FarCenter
Tang ping is a Chinese slang term that describes a personal rejection of societal pressures to overwork and over-achieve, such as in the 996 working hour system, which is often regarded as a rat race with ever diminishing returns.Those who participate in tang ping instead choose to "lie down flat and get over the beatings" via a low-desire, more indifferent attitude towards life.

The 996 working hour system derives its name from its requirement that employees work from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm, 6 days per week; 72 hours per week.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tang_ping

7 posted on 07/13/2023 3:09:08 PM PDT by T.B. Yoits
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To: FarCenter

The “four nos” are functionally similar to the outcome likely for the growing percentage of LGBTQ+ youth in the US - except for the “no dating” part.

How a society arranges for a part of the population to reproduce and the rest to not reproduce is an interesting topic.

In looking back through family genealogy, I’m struck by the number of aunts and uncles who never procreated. Your family tree likely has a lot of dead twigs - the siblings of your ancestors who never left issue.


8 posted on 07/13/2023 3:12:09 PM PDT by FarCenter
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To: FarCenter
--- "Darwin at work."

Indeed. The phenomenon of "young people in substantial numbers [ having ] adopted an attitude that's termed the 'four nos': no interest in dating, getting married, buying a home or having a child" is not just a Chinese problem. One finds something similar happening in Japan, as in Europe and even here in the states.

It extends beyond those "four" to such things as many young conservatives not wanting to enlist in a "tranny-officer" woke military, as to investors shying away from certain funds and paper assets to real tangible assets. It extends to saying "no" to Disney, Annheuser-Busch's Bud-Lite, Target "tuck-friendly" Pride clothing, and more.

While you cite "Darwin," I want to recall that Darwin, in the last chapter, did write about the laws of the Creator, as he capitalized it.

"To my mind it accords better with what we know of the laws impressed on matter by the Creator, that the production and extinction of the past and present inhabitants of the world should have been due to secondary causes, like those determining the birth and death of the individual."

The "laws" very likely also involve economic behaviors. The young today look at the massive debts incurred by Western and Eastern governments alike, and seem to be concluding, "why bother?"

If this, then that. Consequences. Or in a more crass expression, sh*t happens. And is happening. As you say, "Darwin at work."

9 posted on 07/13/2023 3:13:03 PM PDT by Worldtraveler once upon a time (Degrow government)
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To: FarCenter

You can lead a horse to water.


10 posted on 07/13/2023 3:15:03 PM PDT by alternatives?
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To: FarCenter

Four No’s

Four Wants

Three I Can’t Be Bothered’s

A Few Maybes

Two GTFO here’s

And a Partridge in a Pear Tree


11 posted on 07/13/2023 3:15:09 PM PDT by PGR88
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To: ASOC
They are convinced that America has failed - not failing - but failed. They await the Fall of Empire, which they see as ongoing, right now.

It was a mistake to pass the 19th amendment. Anyway, things will shake out eventually. Europe went through a medieval period, did they?

12 posted on 07/13/2023 3:25:40 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
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To: FarCenter

Perhaps the old one child policy really impressed on people that they shouldn’t have children? So attitudes of young people today are not geared towards marriage and family.

Isn’t it true that middle class Chinese people earn far less than middle-class Americans? If so that could help explain people thinking they have no shot at home ownership.

Perhaps many Chinese people are opting out of working hard for professional achievements, seeing no reason or hope of a better life.


13 posted on 07/13/2023 3:26:52 PM PDT by Dilbert San Diego
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To: Worldtraveler once upon a time; FarCenter
And is happening. As you say, "Darwin at work."

I prefer to use the line from Larry Niven's "Oath of Fealty" ...

Think of it as evolution in action.

14 posted on 07/13/2023 3:33:37 PM PDT by BlueLancer (One for all ... All for one ... Every man for himself) (Moe, Larry, and Curley)
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To: ASOC

Heard Rathner say we need to prepare the US workforce for AI better than we did the transition from manufacturing to a service Economy. (Thanks GHWB and Bill Clinton. You sucked!)


15 posted on 07/13/2023 3:33:41 PM PDT by griswold3 (Truth, Beauty and Goodness )
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To: FarCenter

Chinese society is extinguishing due to the four no’s. American society is extinguishing due to abortion, gender fluidity, and assisted suicide... different strokes for different folks.


16 posted on 07/13/2023 3:40:30 PM PDT by jimmygrace
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To: BlueLancer
--- "Think of it as evolution in action."

A fine phrase. Consider it passed on to one who will further pass it on.

17 posted on 07/13/2023 3:42:07 PM PDT by Worldtraveler once upon a time (Degrow government)
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To: MinorityRepublican
Europe went through a medieval period, did they?

A time of major technological progress? Yes, they did.

Most of what we have now days is built on the technologies developed in the medieval period.

18 posted on 07/13/2023 3:43:58 PM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear (Follow the money. Even if it leads you to someplace horrible it will still lead you to the truth.)
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To: FarCenter

“an attitude that’s termed the “four nos”: no interest in dating, getting married, buying a home or having a child.”

Ha! China has reached the end-stage of Western materialist societies, without ever actually being Westernized. Imagine that.


19 posted on 07/13/2023 4:10:16 PM PDT by Boogieman
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To: jimmygrace

I tend to think the main problems are feminism and the administrative state.


20 posted on 07/13/2023 4:37:19 PM PDT by alternatives?
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