They have 2500+ years worth of being an empire instead
Being a distinct nation. There have been several empires and regime changes.
Feel free to convince 1,4 billion chinese citizens, 90%+ of whom are quite satisfied with their lives, that they need to mount an armed uprising to overturn their satisfactory lives for a destructive rebellion which will seriously imperil the survival of their families.
You won't. Only the desperate attempt revolution. The rest of us have too much to lose.
Regular tourist here -- not true. Rich and I are always respectful of the locals and don't treat them like idiots. Mind you we take most of our holidays here in the UK and in my native Ireland.
One time, when I lived in London, an American tourist walked up to me and asked if it was correct to put salt and vinegar on her chips (finger-thick French fries). I confirmed it was and walked away. Do the Yanks really not know this?
China found the magic formula. Their empire has been stable for 2500 years. A few dozen early uprisings taught the dynasties and bureaucracy where the line had to be drawn.
Bro, you are mistaken. I've been watching a BBC series of documentaries on China that skates over the current regime's repression. The fact is, while it has never been continually stable, subsequent rulers were able to impose order relatively quickly because Confuscianism never really went away. After the Revolution, the Communists realised that there was no point in trying to supplant a system that actually worked, so they embraced and absorbed it. Here's some further reading for you:
China does indeed have a continuous history but its stability -- and indeed its borders -- has been disrupted many times. It's the culture that has kept it together as a nation for all this time.
Re: where nothing worked and no one had hope or ambition
My dad went to Russia for his honeymoon at the height of the cold war and came back with some colourful stories. Basically, he found the populace in a state of grim, resentful terror, always looking over their shoulders and only doing the least amount required of them since doing more wasn't worth their while. E.G. the time he saw someone painting a line around the phone box because he'd dropped some paint on the pavement. Customer service wasn't great and they were always shouting "Prosta, prosta!" at him and the other tourists. It means "Hurry up," apparently.
Everyone had a job, however trivial. Sometimes the jobs were just for the sake of saying they had one. Public transport was ridiculously cheap; you could get a train from one end of the country to the other for about 5 roubles.
He met some people who were a bit naughty and operated outside the law. One was a taxi driver who accepted his watch in lieu of payment. All the shops demanded payment in $USD.
One thing I've never understood about British socialists (mired as they are in pointless class war politics) is their insistence that certain cultural activities such as ballet are elitist. It really is the politics of envy and they're not showing any sign of giving it up. In Russia the poorest peasants could attend the Bolshoi. Government policy was to give them access to culture, not to lock it away.
One lie the Right loves to trot out about the Soviet Union is that everyone was poor. Not true. If you were a Party member and knew how to game the system life was very good. The people queuing for miles for a loaf of bread in badly-run, stock-depleted shops were the rank and file peasantry. The Western defectors were hoping to have the Party member lifestyle and cared little for the peasants. My dad saw that for himself while he was there. What amazed him the most were the left-leaning suck-ups who also saw this and proclaimed it was totally full of awesome and win.
Finally, we had a Russian exchange student at my secondary school at around the same time. Nice kid, very quiet, hardly dared to say a word. I sometimes think about her and wonder if she was afraid to say anything or was just very shy.
Re: Re: Re: Re: A most telling, and damning, argument
“But the [list was] on display…”
“On display? I eventually had to go down to the cellar to find [it].”
“That’s the display department.”
“With a flashlight.”
“Ah, well, the lights had probably gone.”
“So had the stairs.”
“But look, you found the [list], didn’t you?”
“Yes,” said Arthur, “yes I did. It was on display in the bottom of a locked filing cabinet stuck in a disused lavatory with a sign on the door saying ‘Beware of the Leopard.”
They see dead people walking around like regular people. They don't know they're infringing. You know that tingle you sometimes feel at the back of your neck? That's how they know someone is infringing.
Why don't our governments complain about this more?
The reason is interesting...
You see, we're beholden to them to absorb the ever-increasing number of Russia/West proxy war refugees from Syria, Yemen, and other countries whose enemies we are selling weapons to. All we have to do is stop selling weapons to Saudi Arabia and getting involved in Iraq, etc., but that's not going to happen. Those wars won't fight themselves. O, what a tangled web we weave...
I like being reminded of the past events that TD has commented on. I came on board during the SOPA kerfuffle and have been here ever since. Sony being caught with its hand in the copyright cookie jar still makes me laugh. And thanks to TD I've avoided being caught in the Kindle trap. I like to have full control over what I pay for.
I comment when I have something to say rather than to just get my name in there, so I'm surprised I had posted that many comments. Thanks for the name check!
Confirmed correct. The idea of bombing civilians was to demoralise the enemy. There was no other reason for it and it didn't even work.
My understanding is the nukes were dropped to see what would happen to people on the ground. Our stupid government is still pushing the MAD (mutually assured destruction) line to renew Trident. It's basically willy-waving, there's no strategic reason for it in a world where warfare has changed from the old army V army model. It's difficult to tell who the enemy actually is most of the time.
On the post: Chinese Skiers Training In Norway Ask Local Library To Remove 'Controversial' Books
Re: Re:
They have 2500+ years worth of being an empire instead
Being a distinct nation. There have been several empires and regime changes.
Feel free to convince 1,4 billion chinese citizens, 90%+ of whom are quite satisfied with their lives, that they need to mount an armed uprising to overturn their satisfactory lives for a destructive rebellion which will seriously imperil the survival of their families.
You won't. Only the desperate attempt revolution. The rest of us have too much to lose.
On the post: Chinese Skiers Training In Norway Ask Local Library To Remove 'Controversial' Books
Re: Immature tourists
Regular tourist here -- not true. Rich and I are always respectful of the locals and don't treat them like idiots. Mind you we take most of our holidays here in the UK and in my native Ireland.
One time, when I lived in London, an American tourist walked up to me and asked if it was correct to put salt and vinegar on her chips (finger-thick French fries). I confirmed it was and walked away. Do the Yanks really not know this?
On the post: Chinese Skiers Training In Norway Ask Local Library To Remove 'Controversial' Books
Re: Re: Authoritarianism
China found the magic formula. Their empire has been stable for 2500 years. A few dozen early uprisings taught the dynasties and bureaucracy where the line had to be drawn.
Bro, you are mistaken. I've been watching a BBC series of documentaries on China that skates over the current regime's repression. The fact is, while it has never been continually stable, subsequent rulers were able to impose order relatively quickly because Confuscianism never really went away. After the Revolution, the Communists realised that there was no point in trying to supplant a system that actually worked, so they embraced and absorbed it. Here's some further reading for you:
Basic overview: https://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/culture/china-history.htm
This is a bit more in-depth: https://www.ancient.eu/china/
This is pretty comprehensive and explains their reluctance to embrace Western values (tl:dr; we screwed them over too many times): https://www.britannica.com/place/China/History
China does indeed have a continuous history but its stability -- and indeed its borders -- has been disrupted many times. It's the culture that has kept it together as a nation for all this time.
On the post: Chinese Skiers Training In Norway Ask Local Library To Remove 'Controversial' Books
Re: where nothing worked and no one had hope or ambition
My dad went to Russia for his honeymoon at the height of the cold war and came back with some colourful stories. Basically, he found the populace in a state of grim, resentful terror, always looking over their shoulders and only doing the least amount required of them since doing more wasn't worth their while. E.G. the time he saw someone painting a line around the phone box because he'd dropped some paint on the pavement. Customer service wasn't great and they were always shouting "Prosta, prosta!" at him and the other tourists. It means "Hurry up," apparently.
Everyone had a job, however trivial. Sometimes the jobs were just for the sake of saying they had one. Public transport was ridiculously cheap; you could get a train from one end of the country to the other for about 5 roubles.
He met some people who were a bit naughty and operated outside the law. One was a taxi driver who accepted his watch in lieu of payment. All the shops demanded payment in $USD.
One thing I've never understood about British socialists (mired as they are in pointless class war politics) is their insistence that certain cultural activities such as ballet are elitist. It really is the politics of envy and they're not showing any sign of giving it up. In Russia the poorest peasants could attend the Bolshoi. Government policy was to give them access to culture, not to lock it away.
One lie the Right loves to trot out about the Soviet Union is that everyone was poor. Not true. If you were a Party member and knew how to game the system life was very good. The people queuing for miles for a loaf of bread in badly-run, stock-depleted shops were the rank and file peasantry. The Western defectors were hoping to have the Party member lifestyle and cared little for the peasants. My dad saw that for himself while he was there. What amazed him the most were the left-leaning suck-ups who also saw this and proclaimed it was totally full of awesome and win.
Finally, we had a Russian exchange student at my secondary school at around the same time. Nice kid, very quiet, hardly dared to say a word. I sometimes think about her and wonder if she was afraid to say anything or was just very shy.
On the post: Chinese Skiers Training In Norway Ask Local Library To Remove 'Controversial' Books
Re: Re: Re: Re: A most telling, and damning, argument
“But the [list was] on display…”
“On display? I eventually had to go down to the cellar to find [it].”
“That’s the display department.”
“With a flashlight.”
“Ah, well, the lights had probably gone.”
“So had the stairs.”
“But look, you found the [list], didn’t you?”
“Yes,” said Arthur, “yes I did. It was on display in the bottom of a locked filing cabinet stuck in a disused lavatory with a sign on the door saying ‘Beware of the Leopard.”
On the post: Disney+ Titles Disappear Without Warning, Bringing Confusion To The Streaming Wars
Re: Re: Re: Re: One explanation for the missing movies:
Ask Captain Jack Sparrow.
On the post: Turkey Continues Its Attempt To Pass China In The 'Most Journalists Jailed' Category
Where's the RIAA???
RE: the above, suing a granny, a child...
They see dead people walking around like regular people. They don't know they're infringing. You know that tingle you sometimes feel at the back of your neck? That's how they know someone is infringing.
On the post: Turkey Continues Its Attempt To Pass China In The 'Most Journalists Jailed' Category
Why don't our governments complain about this more?
The reason is interesting...
You see, we're beholden to them to absorb the ever-increasing number of Russia/West proxy war refugees from Syria, Yemen, and other countries whose enemies we are selling weapons to. All we have to do is stop selling weapons to Saudi Arabia and getting involved in Iraq, etc., but that's not going to happen. Those wars won't fight themselves. O, what a tangled web we weave...
Sigh!
On the post: Getting Better, Finally: Intuit's Shady Actions For Free File Program Lead To Change In IRS Deal
Re: O say can you see, Intuit’s File For Free?
Can somebody PLEASE make this First Word?
Great job, Bobvious!
On the post: This Week In Techdirt History: December 29th - January 4th
Re: Re: Re:
I like being reminded of the past events that TD has commented on. I came on board during the SOPA kerfuffle and have been here ever since. Sony being caught with its hand in the copyright cookie jar still makes me laugh. And thanks to TD I've avoided being caught in the Kindle trap. I like to have full control over what I pay for.
On the post: Techdirt 2019: The Stats.
Avid commenter
I comment when I have something to say rather than to just get my name in there, so I'm surprised I had posted that many comments. Thanks for the name check!
On the post: Academic Publishers Get Their Wish: DOJ Investigating Sci-Hub Founder For Alleged Ties To Russian Intelligence
Re: Re:
That's what happened to him. His entire business taken apart for no other reason than to please Hollywood.
On the post: Navy SEAL Leader Accused Of War Crimes Threatens Defamation Suit Against NY Times Reporter For Revealing Videos & Text Of Men Who Reported Him
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Admirals Gestapo
Ah yes; no good deed goes unpunished. Also, this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incident_on_Hill_192
It seems these atrocities are driven by racism.
On the post: Navy SEAL Leader Accused Of War Crimes Threatens Defamation Suit Against NY Times Reporter For Revealing Videos & Text Of Men Who Reported Him
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Hmm..
Confirmed correct. The idea of bombing civilians was to demoralise the enemy. There was no other reason for it and it didn't even work.
My understanding is the nukes were dropped to see what would happen to people on the ground. Our stupid government is still pushing the MAD (mutually assured destruction) line to renew Trident. It's basically willy-waving, there's no strategic reason for it in a world where warfare has changed from the old army V army model. It's difficult to tell who the enemy actually is most of the time.
On the post: Navy SEAL Leader Accused Of War Crimes Threatens Defamation Suit Against NY Times Reporter For Revealing Videos & Text Of Men Who Reported Him
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Upholding only the highest of military s
Ah, right. Okay, I didn't know.
On the post: Navy SEAL Leader Accused Of War Crimes Threatens Defamation Suit Against NY Times Reporter For Revealing Videos & Text Of Men Who Reported Him
Re: Re: Re: Admirals Gestapo
That is true. Nobody was properly punished for My Lai. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Lai_Massacre#Officers
On the post: Navy SEAL Leader Accused Of War Crimes Threatens Defamation Suit Against NY Times Reporter For Revealing Videos & Text Of Men Who Reported Him
Re:
Alas, I can see that. And, worse of all, the local mouth-breathers will be cheering him on, voting him back in again and again like Arpaio.
On the post: Navy SEAL Leader Accused Of War Crimes Threatens Defamation Suit Against NY Times Reporter For Revealing Videos & Text Of Men Who Reported Him
Re: Re: Re:
The other side of the Vietnam war did the Cambodian genocide shortly after we left. Don't assume we were the worse side in that war.
Not quite. In fact, it was Vietnam that put an end to it, if memory serves.
On the post: Navy SEAL Leader Accused Of War Crimes Threatens Defamation Suit Against NY Times Reporter For Revealing Videos & Text Of Men Who Reported Him
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Hmm..
You're not.
And, sad to say, the UK is no better. We're arming the bastards who do this kind of thing.
On the post: Navy SEAL Leader Accused Of War Crimes Threatens Defamation Suit Against NY Times Reporter For Revealing Videos & Text Of Men Who Reported Him
Re:
I don't see any great harm in taking that inappropriate picture even if it seems distasteful.
It makes the military look awful. Unprofessional, prone to abusing... All The Things. That's why they stamp on this kind of thing.
I doubt he'll win against the paper though.
He won't.
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