Re:The Western Elite from a Chinese Perspective
by egor598 on Friday November 24, 2017 @01:23PM
(#15772230)
He doesn't say his parents were poor or blue-collar workers, he compares himself to a child of aristocrat.
Context is everything.
> He was a child of aristocrats; I am the child of modest workers.
When a one-digit millionaire compares himself to a billionaire like Bill Gates, using "modest" to describe one's wealth would be appropriate in this context.
Re:The Western Elite from a Chinese Perspective
by garmaine on Friday November 24, 2017 @03:47PM
(#15772931)
Child of “modest workers” in a communist country can have different meaning. Maybe they’re party elites? We don’t know. Something just doesn’t add up though.
Re:The Western Elite from a Chinese Perspective
by 1wd on Saturday November 25, 2017 @11:27AM
(#15776584)
In another article he writes: "In China, where I was born, there are a lot of people who work much harder but could not enjoy similar results. The difference is that I was lucky enough to have had the chance to move abroad at a young age, thanks my parents. In other words, as Warren Buffett said, a large part of life is the lottery at birth."
http://www.economist.com/whichmba/mba-diary-standing-oration
Re:The Western Elite from a Chinese Perspective
by omginternets on Saturday November 25, 2017 @06:32AM
(#15775557)
He's using the word "modest" to mean "not particularly prestigious" as opposed to "poor".
Re:The Western Elite from a Chinese Perspective
by kevin_thibedeau on Friday November 24, 2017 @05:43PM
(#15773419)
Wonder if Hurtwood House knew the truth that he was second from the bottom or do they just take in anybody with money.
Re:The Western Elite from a Chinese Perspective
by michaelmrose on Saturday November 25, 2017 @04:48AM
(#15775253)
Why would they turn someone away with a pile of money?
Given his academic performance in his high school, it's unlikely he got a scholarship to a leading UK private high school (Hurtwood House checking his Linkedin). Parents who can afford to send their kid to an overseas high school that charges $40k/year are not modest by Developed country standards, much less Chinese, and even less so Hebeinese.