The Chinese are historically useless

This was an extended conversation with dad


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Me: Dad, I remember a childhood story recently. The old man said to young man, you cannot sell oil, because you have not mastered the craft. The young man obviously disagrees. So the old man put a coin (Chinese coin used to be round and have square holes in the middle 1/8" by 1/8") on top of a jar and poured from a ladle into the jar through the coin hole. The young man was impressed and gave up his dream to sell oil.

Dad: yes, I know that story well. the parable teaches young people to work hard at their craft and not jump into starting their own business to eagerly.

Me: Yeah, but look, I recently tried that with olive oil. I poured olive oil from a can into a bottle that has an opening not much bigger than a coin's hole, and it's actually pretty easy. Oil flows pretty smoothly and has lower surface tension and higher viscosity than water, so it flows in streams and tend to stay in stream even when you move slightly.

Me: I think this parable should teach Chinese kids not to listen to their parents and actually try these things and see how hard they are…

Dad:… ahh, but you didn't read the story very carefully, the old man poured oil from a ladle held in one hand above his head standing straight the whole time into a bottle on the ground with that coin at the opening. You were probably at your sink, the large jar of olive oil resting on the edge of the sink, two hands holding it pouring into the bottle, and you wouldn't even notice spillage because the bottle is used and already greasy.

Me: Yeah, but why would I ever want to pour oil from a ladle standing straight into bottle on the ground? That is absurd.

Dad: Nontheless, the moral holds true, people experienced in something can do harder things than people not experienced, that's why they should be in charge and not some young kid.

Me: Do you want me to buy you some Facebook stock when it IPOs?


Dad: Only for the short run, not too sure about "long term sustainable competitive advantage" of that company…

Me: …. Here we go again with the old people idea about how things should work.


"""