Most Chinese are very familiar with the word "human affection". "Human affection" pays attention to the affection between people, and reflects a relationship of mutual care and care. However, there is one Chinese city that is considered to be the least "humane" place – and that is Shanghai.
Shanghai people do not pay attention to "human feelings", and the most direct embodiment is that the AA system should be strictly implemented for dinners. The so-called AA system means that "I treat once, you treat once", and each person only pays for his own portion of the meal. In Shanghai, even the big boss of the celebrity must abide by the "iron law" of the AA system when having dinners. This is tantamount to "indifference" in the eyes of other Chinese cities.
And when Shanghainese get married, they don't even have to follow the part. In traditional Chinese marriage customs, the bride and groom will prepare "share money" to show the affection of the two families. But in Shanghai, not only does no one bring any money, but even the gift money is only a symbolic stuff of dozens of yuan. When it comes to money, Shanghainese can be described as "unkind".
So, what happened to the people of Shanghai? Why are they so "unkind"? This article will interpret this urban phenomenon in China that is the least "humane" from multiple dimensions, such as historical and cultural origins, self-improvement and independent character.
First, the historical accumulation in the early days of the opening of the port
To understand the reason why Shanghainese people do not talk about "human feelings", we first need to start with the historical origin of Shanghai.
In 1843, Shanghai was opened as a treaty port after the Opium War. Groups of foreign merchants and missionaries poured into the concession, bringing with them Western culture and way of life. At the same time, Shanghai locals began to flock to the concession to make a living.
In the concession, the exchanges between Chinese and foreigners were frequent and direct, and the living atmosphere was very modern. There is no hierarchy of the bureaucratic class, and there is no traditional human touch of the countryside. Job performance, not personal connections, is the only criterion that determines a person's status and income.
Over time, Shanghainese living in the concession area have gradually developed a pragmatic style of life and an independent personality. They value personal struggle rather than relying on others or institutional handouts. It is under such historical accumulation that the character trait of "not paying attention to human feelings" has been deeply imprinted in the genes of Shanghainese.
Second, the choice of self-improvement in the process of urbanization
Shanghai rose rapidly after the opening of the port, and its population skyrocketed, and by the early 20th century it had developed into the largest metropolis in the Far East. The huge population and fierce competition for survival have further intensified the tendency of Shanghainese people not to pay attention to "human feelings".
To put it simply, Shanghai's urbanization process is extremely brutal and ruthless. There is no patriarchal system here, and it is difficult to rely on regional relations to form a village party in order to survive. If you want to gain a foothold in Shanghai, you must do your best to fight through your own hands and sweat.
In this environment, Shanghainese people have to abandon the vain politeness and time-wasting social interaction of the traditional "human feelings" culture, and instead pursue efficiency and hard work. They must be self-reliant, independent, and kind to others without expecting anything in return, so that they can stand out in the fierce competition for survival.
It is precisely this kind of self-improvement and independent character that makes Shanghainese people show a side that is not close to "human feelings" in their interactions. In fact, this is a survival choice, and it is also an evolutionary necessity.
3. The pioneering spirit of independent thinking
In addition to external factors such as history and survival pressure, Shanghainese people attach importance to the pioneering spirit of independent thinking, which is also an important reason why they do not talk about "human feelings".
Shanghai has always been a window to inherit Western culture, and people here pay more attention to science and rational thinking. When judging problems and making decisions, they pay more attention to factual logic rather than subjective assumptions or personal emotions.
Under the guidance of this rational thinking mode, Shanghainese people are more objective and independent in handling interpersonal relationships. They will not easily do what they like because of a momentary favor, and they will not do things that violate their principles because of face problems or personal debts. Only an agreement reached by both parties on an equal footing is worth fulfilling.
Because of this, there is nothing special about the people of Shanghai. You and I are just passers-by in life, each taking what he needs. This kind of open-minded individualism makes their style of behavior particularly "unkind".
epilogue
The reason why Shanghai has become the least "humane" city in China is due to its historical and cultural accumulation, the pressure of urbanization in the reality of development, and also reflects its pioneering and rational spirit.
Of course, "not being humane" is not the same as not being emotional. In fact, Shanghainese people also pay attention to friendship, but their friendship is based on equality and mutual benefit, rather than empty human debt. This independent personality and honest way of getting along with each other is also an important part of Shanghai's charm.
We should not simply label Shanghainese as "impersonal". On the contrary, we should respect the city's diverse and open humanistic spirit and appreciate the self-improvement of Shanghainese. Perhaps, this is the only way for China to further modernize.