For those of you baffled by Mattel's apology to China, it might help to understand this:

[Shakespeare]

As part of generations-old cultural etiquette, the idea of saving face or losing face is of utmost important in China. Here's a quick explanation:

Lijie and surface harmony: Originally li meant to sacrifice, but today it is translated as the art of being polite and courteous. Proper etiquette preserves harmony and face. Therefore, the true emotions of a person do not matter as long as surface harmony is maintained.

For example, a public argument, or a boss reprimanding a staff member in front of others would disturb surface harmony and cause a loss of face. This is why the Chinese often use an intermediary to deliver bad news or unpleasant messages.

http://www.culturalsavvy.com/chinese_culture.htm

If you recall the spy plane incident with China in 2001, it's the exact same reason Bush ended up apologizing then.

You don't have to like what Mattel did, but it might be helpful to at least understand the differences in culture that made it important for Mattel to do so.

[Richardo]

1. "We're sorry we caught you doing something wrong, because it makes you look bad?"

:shrug:

[Shakespeare]

2. Nope, that's not it. n/t

[ljm2002]

3. There's that, true...

...but more compelling to Mattel is probably the fact that their Chinese manufacturers have them by the short-hairs, accounting for a large % of Mattel's profits, as their Chinese counterparts reminded them.

[DS1]

4. Scolding is a sign of loss of face?

Sounds like the same reasoning why so many brats are running around this country

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

5. It also might help to understand it was an apology to the Chinese people.

People talk about it being "China's" fault rather than the manufacturing plant that had the contract with Mattel.

That's like blaming Americans for the Pinto.

[Deja Q]

8. True... but which country has more regulations that penniless companies have to waste money on?

America.

Maybe China needs to make some regulations, but then expect "National Review" magazine to put out another TV advert whining about how nasty and expensive regulations are (and how all those pesky Democrats want regulations and to tax you to death toooooo!) Talk about being out of touch... Lots of people on both sides if the political fence are, and there are more similarities than we often lead ourselves into believing otherwise...

[Deja Q]

6. Think of the TV pundits who just come out and say a person or entity is wrong.

That Simon bloke from American Idle or whatever that show's called. He's rather extreme, but the point is the same.

It's better to be honest, upfront, and offer constructive criticism with appropriate punishment if the wrongdoing justifies it.

For the design flaws, it makes sense for Mattel to fess up. For the lead paint, the quantity of which has been claimed to be "limited" despite nobody coming out with actual numbers never mind the obvious question being raised from it (e.g. "When did the non-lead paint get replaced with leaded paint and how long before somebody at the factory noticed?), but I agree there are two separate issues afoot.

Mattel has apologized. Now it's the factory's turn. With both saying how they will improve things next time.

BTW: An intermediary would lose face if he told off an employee with coworkers in plain view/hearing range. That makes no difference in my book, and definitely does nothing good for employee nor employer.

[woodsprite]

7. I thought "Honor" was also part of the culture. Seems to me

that it is not 'honorable' to make goods that are harmful and then export them. There's just been too much of this crap going on to think that somebody didn't know something.

Edited to add: Whether it's a company from China or America.

[Deja Q]

9. Define 'honor'.

Let's also avoid the tinfoil hat stuff.

China has made plenty of gaffes. Corporations, wanting that profit, know that those gaffes will hurt their profits and constituency. They will have to move on at some point and it's not like every "China recall" news article is aimed at America and shut out of the rest of the world...

[PDenton]

10. I don't blame the Chinese at all

Blame Americans for wanting to gut their own country, dollar by dollar, all in the name of cheap Wal-Mart crap.

Really, people should LOOK IN THE MIRROR. Maybe I'll write that one in to Lou Dobbs. I don't hate his show generally but this is a two way street. Americans bought into this free trade thinking it would be just like "made in America", and wow, it wasn't. Somebody needs to shout "I told you so!".

[QueenOfCalifornia]

11. Oh boy... Here we go

sigh...

:popcorn:

[Shakespeare]

16. No, I don't at ALL think this will turn into flameage.

Many, many people here simply are not aware of the custom of saving face in China. One doesn't have to like it, or agree with it, but it's at least educational if one understands why Mattel did what they did. Just passing along info.

[HereSince1628]

12. Even if you are correct, there are two societies with two cultures in play

I am not at all sure there is a way to save face in both countries.

The notion that people in the US do not care about "honor" or "face" flies in the face of current nationalistic trends in this nation.

I suspect an apology to US consumers for an apology to Chinese producers will not end up as satisfactory to either.

[DaveJ]

13. Here we go with the apology rants

Am I the only one who think apologies are over-rated, whether people are for or against? First thing I think of is the drunk who beats his family on a regular basis but gets away with it because he apologizes for it every time. "Love means never having to say you're sorry." I think apologies are meaningless.

[TahitiNut]

14. Too bad poisoning children for profit and paying slave wages doesn't cause "loss of face".

I'd be happier if the executives at Mattel took it to heart and committed seppuku.

[backscatter712]

17. OOH! Can I be the second?

/me grabs his katana...

[TahitiNut]

20. His kaishakunin should be a close personal friend

... if he has one. :evilgrin:

[backscatter712]

15. Mattel shares some blame, but the Chinese manufacturers in question should lose face.

The executives running those manufacturing companies chose to paint children's toys with lead paint. They chose to poison children to save a buck.

I'm totally against throwing them a life preserver so they can look good in public and pretend they didn't really do anything wrong.

I want their crimes exposed for the world to see. I want those sons of bitches to be completely and publicly humiliated.

If their shame culture drives them to hang themselves, so much the better. Let them hang high, maybe that will serve as an example to discourage the next son of a bitch from poisoning us.

Yeah, I'm a vindictive bastard today.

[damntexdem]

18. Nice try, but I suspect the real reason is that ...

Mattel depends on China to turn out toys cheap under sweatshop conditions, so doesn't want anything in that relationship to change.

However, this would have been a great explanation for why the lawyer Cheney shot in the face ended up apologizing to Cheney -- any chance that Cheney is really Chinese? ;-)

[Shakespeare]

19. "nice try?" Please note that I've not said I agree with Mattel's actions.

But I do understand the cultural context. Most here don't. Ignorance (especially coupled with outrage) bugs the shit out of me.

[XOKCowboy]

21. Mattel was right to apologize. Their NAME is on the product!

If they'd cared enough to have inspectors in the production plants and upon arrival in the US no one would have needed to "save face". Those toys were being made for Mattel just like if they'd been made in Iowa or Illinois.

Mattel is their brand name and in the name of profits they sullied their own brand name and were more than happy to blame their suppliers. That's Bullshit. If I buy a Mattel toy I expect that it be safe because I trust their brand.