This post represents a bit of a milestone here at Lost Laowai, as it is (if the title didn’t give it away) our 500th one.
The first post on Lost Laowai was back in September 2006, and we’ve averaged about 2 posts a week in the 3.5 years since.
Going off visitation alone, the most popular post in that time (and we take little pride in this) was “Zhang Ziyi nude on a beach” (due, in no small part to the fact that we’re high up in the Google results for “zhang ziyi nude“). Ironically, the post’s single (clothed) picture of Zhang has surely disappointed many a one-handed browser.
A better testament to post popularity, in my opinion, is found by taking a look at the posts that have garnered the most conversation over the years. Here are Lost Laowai’s top 10 posts based on comment count — which currently totals about 4,600:
#1 — So some people in China are racist against blacks – should you come to China?
(104 Comments): This thread, though originally posted 2.5 years ago, continues to actively debate the topic of racism in China. [Sep 2007]
#2 — How To Spot A Blogspot Blog (A Quick Fix)
(94 Comments): A now defunct method of circumventing the GFW’s blocking of Blogger/Blogspot. [Mar 2007]
#3 — The Seven Habits of Highly Ineffective Expats
(83 Comments): Home to a long debate between members of both the China and Thai expat communities on expat habits, social responsibility and ayis. [Jun 2009]
#4 — Sack this!
(65 Comments): A rant and discussion about the fact or fiction of China’s Great Shame — the looting of the Summer Palace during the Qing Dynasty. [Apr 2009]
#5 — Live in China: Watch Hockey Playoffs Online
(61 Comments): Another post that owes much of its traffic to a high-ranking search listing. Unfortunately the tips outlined in the post no longer work. [May 2007]
#6 — Chinese netizens strike blow at Western media ethics
(57 Comments): Unsurprising that this made the list. The post, about the formation of the now infamous Anti-CNN site, deals with a number of hot buttons — Western/Chinese media ethics, Chinese sovereignty as well as the sovereignty of some of its autonomous regions, Tibetan riots, etc. [Apr 2008]
#7 — Laowai Girls like Asian Boys
(52 Comments): This post, from just last month, looks to still has some comment mileage to go. If we’re not talking about race, media or riots… it’s obviously about women-pleasing abilities and penis size — of course. [Feb 2010]
#8 — Hello Ladies
(49 Comments): Much like the post above, this thread delves into the questions of romance, opinion of Westerns and gender roles in the Middle Kingdom. [Nov 2009]
#9 — Chinese Internet Nationalism
(48 Comments): A discussion about Zhang Ziyi and how the public viewed her after she appeared at a basketball game with her foreigner boyfriend (now fiance) Vivi Nevo. [Jan 2007]
#10 — Hong Huang tells laowai, ‘don’t assume you can be one of us’
(48 Comments): Rant and discussion about Hong Huang’s presumably satirical article in the China Daily. [Jan 2010]
Though 500 posts may be a bit much to read through all at once, I encourage everyone to take a gander at our archive page and scan it for some more gems that have been written here over the years.
Lost Laowai could never have reached 500 posts if it hadn’t been for the wonderful contributors we’ve had over the years (33 and counting!), as well as the numerous readers and comment-leavers that have graced these pages with their presence. Thank you all, and see you all at 1000!
I really enjoyed this post; it was a good retrospective on some posts I was too late coming here to see. I read a few and really enjoyed some of the back-and-forth comments, and seeing how some of them escalate over long periods of time. As in most blog sites, I’ll hang around for a few posts and then withdraw when the simians start lobbing nasty insults. They really are in no way constructive and really just look like a couple of angst-ridden adolescents venting their misery on complete strangers. When people can manage to stay above that, you’ve got some really fascinating threads here, and I appreciated you drawing attention to some of the more controversial ones.
Couldn’t agree more Meng, and glad to have your voice among the better commenters. I used to be a lot more relaxed about asshats wasting database space with trollish comments, but I can’t be bothered to tolerate them anymore. I’ll let as much go as I feel inspires conversation (even if heated), but outside of that, the delete button is a simpler solution than moderating it all closely.
Just when I think that I’ve passed the crazy debate that I started, you have to bring it up again! Funny thing was that there was a debate on another blog site about my post, but my comments were deleted by the poster. You can probably guess which of the 83 comments were from her.
But yeah, good retrospective on everything! I guess I had best get posting so we can get to 1000 all the sooner!
ah memories. I think the comments are sometimes more fun to read than the blog itself. We have some very colorful readers out there.
Self praise is no praise. Let someone else blow your trumpet that’s the mark of a true great.