Some Chinese practices: 11 (The common link) (Taipei-HK-Singapore)

It is, in my experience anyway, a common Chinese practice for people to treat strangers differently.  By "differently", I mean (for the same stranger) one way in one situation, another way in another situation.  For example:  

(Scenario A) You approach someone (a total strange to you) and ask them for help.  They're more than likely to refuse, or at least be reluctant or a bit suspicious -- because they don't know you at all.  (Of course, I'm not talking about situations like old people asking for help.)

(Scenario B) Same two people (you and this total stranger), but now you mention the name of someone this stranger knows.  Ping!  The doors open readily.

Such has been my experience anyway.

    I was flying from Taipei to Singapore at the end of a month spent in Taiwan, on China Airlines, the official airline of the ROC (Republic of China, which is Taiwan's official label).

    The journey was in two stretches (no direct flight, this was 1979):  Taipei to Hong Kong, then Hong Kong to Singapore.

    During the first part of the journey, when the food trolley came round, I asked for dish X but was ignored and given dish Y instead.  The same happened with the dessert options.

    I found it shocking service but decided to let it pass.  (No, I didn't get the impression that it was inattention on their part, not listening properly to what I'd said I wanted.  The body language said it all, that's why.)

    It was not the food per se but the attitude.  I was 26 but looked underaged.  This was brought to my attention when I was challenged at one point by the stewards and stewardesses over my order for an alcoholic drink -- they all came round to my seat to check me out for my age, arms akimbo, "Are you sure you're old enough to drink?!?".

    I suspect the age factor might be the real reason, plus being female and not rich, all three of which are fairly common standards by which people out there judge someone to accord them the matching treatment, in my experience.

    After the meal on that first leg, I went to the loo but had to wait for a cubicle to be vacated.  Near me was an air stewardess on her flip-down seat, taking a rest.  For idle conversation while waiting, I asked her if she knew Chiang Hua-nien, who was a China Airlines stewardess plying the Taipei-HK-Singapore route too.  Her face lit up, "Yes, I do!  So you know Chiang Hua-nien!"  I said, "Yes, her brother and I are friends."  I later heard her telling her colleagues that I knew Chiang Hua-nien, so they all knew.

    During the second part of the journey (HK to Singapore), when the food trolley came round, I was actually offered a recommendation, in a loud whisper, "I'd take the chicken dish if I were you.  It's nicer."  Wow, special treatment!

    For the dessert course, the same thing happened ("I'd go for the ice cream rather than the pudding"), and not only that, I was given an extra helping without having asked for it.  All with a big smile.

    And all because I'd mentioned that I knew someone they knew (and who[m] they obviously liked).  That's apparently the magic key to unlock some hearts.  Any friend of my friend is my friend too.

(Taipei-HK-Singapore, 1979)