What the heck is 'first in Asia'? (Or best/largest/tallest/widest) This is a title or record claimed for many achievements in India, and other countries in Asia. Why? Because they can't be verified.
There aren't really any statistics or records kept specific to Asia, but there are for a country or for the whole world. So who's watching Asian records? No one, and so it's easy to claim a record. Besides, this is a continent with a lot of backward countries and 3 billion people.
Asia's largest mall. Really? - How do we know?
Asia's largest software company. - So? You're measuring up to who else here?
Asia's biggest solar power facility. - Meaningless. Where are the stats to compare?
Asia's largest plastic maker. - Jeezzz.
First gobbledygook-ology procedure institute in Asia. - Did anyone know of other similar ones?
It's easy to jump and say 'Asia's first..', when people can't really find out if it's true.
In any case, in such claims - the records that really matter usually belong to N.America or Europe.
The ultimate 'best in Asia' tripe I came across was this 'First in Asia' title for someone's TOEFL score. 'My cousin's super TOEFL score made her first in Asia!', said this acquaintance to me.
First in Asia for TOEFL? How could that be? Hundreds of candidates would have received a perfect TOEFL score, and many of them from Asia. Countries like India have several such scores.
Nothing like expanding the importance of a modest achievement - just extend it to the continent. Watch for these non-verifiable Asian firsts - there's one every month. =)
1 comment:
Asia is 1/3 of humanity, so first in Asia means III in the world. They can't say 3rd in the world, so I in Asia sounds better.
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