• nednobbins@lemmy.zip
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    14 days ago

    If we ever become a full on totalitarian dystopia like China, it’s over.

    What evidence would convince you that this has happened?

    I ask because we seem to have blown far past China in every form of human rights violation that China would have to work hard to become as much of a totalitarian dystopia.

    I’ve been to China. I’ve watched porn without a VPN and no one cared. From my experience, the tales of Chinese dystopia are more than a little exaggerated.

    • thethunderwolf@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      14 days ago

      I’ve been to China. I’ve watched porn without a VPN and no one cared.

      Flawed argument:

      1. That’s not what is being talked about, it’s about the right to free speech and about how anti-government statements are illegal.
      2. Maybe they treat visiting foreigners differently in order to seem better? (a smart idea ngl)
      3. Maybe China is not opposed to people watching porn? idk
      • nednobbins@lemmy.zip
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        14 days ago

        Should I read your evasive answer as an indiction that you’re opinions are based on something other than evidence?

    • starik@lemmy.zip
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      14 days ago

      The ability to criticize your own government publicly is paramount. Without that, you better hope you are ok with everything the government is doing, because there is no mechanism to change it.

      • nednobbins@lemmy.zip
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        14 days ago

        OK. How are you measuring the ability to criticize your own government? Is there any metric, besides gut intuition, about criticisms you can make here that you can’t make there?

        • starik@lemmy.zip
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          14 days ago

          It’s not just vibes. The censorship in China is unparalleled. Try being Chinese and going on their equivalent of YouTube or Twitter and posting simply “I don’t like Xi JinPing’s policies. I think we need a new leader.” Your posts will be removed, and if you keep it up, you will be imprisoned.

          Also, they’re not a democracy. They don’t get to choose or change who is in power. There is basically no mechanism for pushing back against anything the government does in China.

          In the US, we’re getting a little taste of that kind of unaccountability with ICE, and there is outrage, which is still legal to express. Hopefully, the whole top of our government will change hands in a couple years. I’m thankful I live somewhere that is possible.