Oh dear. I was hoping that the next liberating step in China would have been the end of the death penalty. Or the inclusion of some sort of Clause 4 in the constitution guaranteeing workers a share in the means of production. You know, all that old communist stuff.
But in their wisdom, and in a sneaky move to distract the masses from class struggle, the authorities have unblocked porn on the net.
I think I may still be blocked but who cares? Let them hand jive away. At least it relieves tension from the one-child-policy gender imbalance.
Watch out for bad news being buried while a nation judders to a climax. No, not all at once! You'll set off those tectonic plates.
Wanking is not a city in China.
Now, where can I find a picture to use for this blogpost ...?
13 comments:
Wan King is a city in China. It's in Gensu.
:-)
Beyond the jokes, they are looking to defuse 4 June activities.
Blimey. You have to admit that this is an effective way of doing it.
No way. this must be some kind of a joke.
Blocking porn and "socially disharmonious" sites such as Youtube, Twitter and Facebook is the only justification for maintaining the Great Firewall of China.
You have surely been misinformed.
A Xinhua deputy editor has now started to spill the beans; the first picture of the Tiananmen massacre has now been published in China. The timing can hardly be coincidence. There was never any way that the Great Firewall could be totally fireproof; the trickle will lead to the stream.
David, YouTube remains blocked. if you do a Google search you'll find lots of reports on the story, including those on Chinese sites.
There's a major Twitter campaign tomorrow (4 June). Check out #8964 and #6421WJ amongst others. Some speculation that censors won't be able to keep up.
"Now, where can I find a picture to use for this blogpost ...?"
Paul Reubens mug shot?
http://www.njsweatsox.com/paul_reubens.jpg
Eeuw!
Okay, according to the Chinageeks site
http://chinageeks.org/2010/06/porn-and-more-unblocked-but-why/
there does seem some evidence of a loosening of censorship.
The problem is that this is not "official". Tomorrow, or next week, the restrictions could be reinstated. Certainly, over the last 5-6 years censorship of sensitive politcal topics has tended to get worse, not better.
Until China actually implements the rule of law all these "improvements" can be reversed overnight by arbitrary fiat.
But I'll try to be a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed optimist and shall provisionally agree that this IS a Good Thing, a step in the right direction.
David, I'll reiterate what I've said before. This isn't about the Chinese being angels — they clearly are not. We have a good idea what their failing are. But when there are moves to improve conditions for the masses and not just the emerging wealthy elite, that surely should be at least noted if not applauded.
I've been a bit arch about the porn unblocking because it does provide a wonderful diversion from today's anniversary. I'm reminded of Orwell's 1984 and porn prolefeed.
'I think I may still be blocked but who cares?'
Well Madam Miaow perhaps if you were to erm modify the content of this blog perhaps you could get unblocked?
If you do can I have a free subscription? Joking aside this is good news.
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