Snowdenista emoprogs take a break from whitewashing Russia to whitewash China instead...

[Blue_Tires]

“The perceptions of China don’t meet the reality,” he said. “It doesn’t feel like an oppressive surveillance state. China has been demonized by the West.”

Appelbaum realized he’d praised an authoritarian regime, and added a caveat.

“Sure, they have mobile death vans that harvest people’s organs,” he said, “but they’re not overtly restrictive.”

http://fusion.net/story/125475/ai-weiwei-jacob-appelbaum-and-laura-poitras/


The complete lack of self-awareness from these mooks boggles the mind...

[geek tragedy]

1. He's there to meet a Chinese dissident who's been persecuted for decades!

Negative nationalist moron.

[bemildred]

2. Good piece, thanks for pointing it out.

I've heard that sentiment about China before, a police state in all its glory, but not that interested in watching you, or meddling with you, as long as you don't make yourself annoying to it.

[newthinking]

3. People tend to have hollywood views of countries they don't have experience with

A police state does not mean someone is walking behind you everywhere you go. Those who do not challenge authority or "rules" may not feel it.

That is one reason that our own police state has been creeping up on us.

Societies are complicated and unfortunately our embracing of stereotypes does not serve us well and leaves us ignorant of our own blind spots.

[bemildred]

5. Yep.

It was obvious to me that I live in a police state around 1955 or so, when I was ten, from the way the many people who are considered inferior in one way or another here are treated, and the prevalence of and affection for arbitrary power that we have. That morons like W can be "deciders" here, are preferred for the job here. But I pay attention to what people do, and don't let people tell me what to think.

[geek tragedy]

4. With a billion people that makes sense.

Though I imagine foreign journalists start off with a presumption of annoyingness.

[bemildred]

6. Yeah, you don't want to draw attention to yourself.

It like being a kid, if you stay quiet in your room you can get away with a lot.

[Blue_Tires]

7. kicked