Last year I commented one or two times on the blog of a correspondent (Bettine Vriesekoop) of one of the most renowned newspapers in The Netherlands (NRC Handelsblad). She used to be a Dutch top table tennis player and for some reason people think she can write nice stories, so she ended up in China last year to write for the NRC. Her blog is hosted on the site of that newspaper and therefore it is my opinion that you can safely assume that it is not so much a personal blog, but more a journalist blog.
The comment I made was on an entry where Bettine described the October Holiday. She explained that the term Golden Week was used for that particular October Holiday, because the Mid-Autum Festival was taking place in that same week.
For people that are already for some time in China it is obvious that this is a grave mistake on the author’s behalf, because the term Golden Week is used for each weeklong National Holiday. The name comes from the fact that prices make a steep hike, enabling the hospitality and retail industry to reap enormous turnovers.
The correspondent obviously was unaware of this and made up some nice sounding story for her Dutch audience. I find that very disturbing, because the people from overseas already receive a one-sided view about China. Especially from a correspondent who lives here you can expect to read stories that are (closer to) the truth!
My comment however, was not shown in the blog. Censured. Deleted. For the sole reason that it’s content was the direct opposite of what she had written. I find this even more disturbing! Mind you, we are talking about the website of a Dutch well known newspaper and although I have left The Netherlands more than 9 years ago, last time I checked it was still a democratic country!
Now why do I write now about this subject? Well, on my previous blog I also dedicated some space on the subject but since I started off with a clean slate, that story is not available anymore.
[UPDATE April 28, 2009: the original article was re-published on Chinalyst.net]
The real reason I write (again) about the subject is that I met Bettine last night on the monthly Dutch drinks at Trio. Of course I did not immediately recognize her as I have a picture in my head from the time she was playing table tennis. She was talking with an acquaintance of mine and I introduced myself to her using my first name only, as we do most of the time in Beijing. She replied with her first name and the question what my surname was. I found this quite weird until it clicked and I saw a faint resemblance with the table tennis player picture I had in my head. After I stated that my surname is Bos, Bettine’s gaze immediately changed from being somewhat interested into a cold and hard look, obviously very displeased with something.
Seldom have I met such an arrogant person, not open for any discussion and still very much hurt by a little comment (which she deleted anyway) made almost one year ago!
Since Bettine is not open for any form of discussion, acts like a hurt child and won’t post any of my comments on her blog, I once again have to use my own snippets to ventilate these matters!
You are a famous Dutch table tennis player turned journalist. You have been sent to China by one of the most well known newspapers of The Netherlands. You write a blog for them, hosted on their site.
How is it possible and admissible by the newspaper that constructive criticism on an article with clear mistakes in it is censured???
I find this lacking professionalism, very unethical and it is my opinion that by only allowing positive comments and deleting the not so positive ones, both NRC Handelsblad and Bettine Vriesekoop are immediately putting themselves into a position unworthy of belief, unwilling (or deeming it unnecessary) to investigate “things you hear (of)” and of writing the truth!
[UPDATE: read now part 2, published on February 19, 2009]
[UPDATE: read now part 3, published on April 28, 2009]
piet, you are so very right to pursue this. had u not been the piet i know, bursting with energy and positivism, i’d probably tell u to not let it drain and exhaust u. but i have a few of these quests of my own, and strangely enough they give rather than drain energy. so keep going, my friend.
ps: i’m writing shorthand as i’m in Latvia on a goddamned bus.
pps: try writing an open letter to the editor-in-chief with copies to various other dutch papers, and see what happens
Piet…. I saw her recently on dutch television in program Zomergasten and read her book….my opinion about her was good. Although the pictures in Playboy are a blackhole in my puberty…..;-(
After you stated your last name there was no communication anymore…? You must have hurt her deeply with your comment, although i have read your comment (you mailed it to me before) and if she really was hurt by it she is small hearted and can’t take any critism. Maybe try to contact her and ask her what the real problem is and why she reacted so strange. Maybe she had a boyfriend before with name Bos and got flashback of her youth
Cheers man..
David
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