I’ve seen several references to some sort of rift between the users of these instances today. What’s happening?

  • stickly@lemmy.world
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    21 days ago

    they tell you that those are american propaganda and all lies and ONLY THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT IS TELLING THE TRUTH

    It’s better than that: you can back them into a position that runs directly counter to official CCP policy and they’ll claim that it’s a “western agitprop translation” from the original language. Support it with translation and testimonials from actual Chinese citizens and those get dismissed because they’re impure enough to speak a dirty western language.

    Some fun ice breakers for any ML post:

    • Why is it illegal to form a union in China?
    • Why does the PRC constitution guarantee freedom of the press but journalists require a liscense? [Bonus: how can you quantify a requirement like “journalist ethics”?]
    • Why is the number of executions in China a state secret?
    • Cowbee [he/they]@lemmy.ml
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      21 days ago

      Why is it illegal to form a union in China?

      It isn’t, it just must be a part of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions to ensure that no “independent unions” can be wielded by the west or by capitalists to undermine socialism.

      Why does the PRC constitution guarantee freedom of the press but journalists require a liscense? [Bonus: how can you quantify a requirement like “journalist ethics”?]

      To ensure journalists aren’t spreading western disinformation to de-legitimize the state and foment instability, as has happened time and time again in other countries.

      Why is the number of executions in China a state secret?

      For similar reasons as the prior two.

      • ageedizzle@piefed.ca
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        21 days ago

        The execution thing does seem backwards though, no? The death penalty in general seems pretty backwards. It’s no less barbaric when China does it than when the US does it. Most civilized countries do not kill their own citizens.

        • Cowbee [he/they]@lemmy.ml
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          21 days ago

          I’m against the death penalty in most circumstances, but in the case of China it’s largely for corrupt CEOs and sexual assaulters. I’d prefer more of a focus on rehabilitation, but I’m not going to say the PRC is executing people willy-nilly.

          • FunkyStuff@lemmy.ml
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            21 days ago

            but in the case of China it’s largely for corrupt CEOs and sexual assaulters.

            Isn’t drug trafficking and murder also punishable by death?

            • Cowbee [he/they]@lemmy.ml
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              21 days ago

              Yes, those as well. The PRC is strict about drugs and prostitution in general. I wasn’t meaning a full, comprehensive list, but to say that the death penalty is popularly supported there and largely applied for the most serious offences.

              • FunkyStuff@lemmy.ml
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                21 days ago

                Yeah for sure, but I think it’s a bit misleading to make it sound like only owners of capital (be it corrupt haute bourgeoisie or human trafficking capitalists) get executed. I don’t know the numbers but I’d assume since murder and drug trafficking are also punishable by death, that means most of the people executed are workers, not capitalists.

                • Cowbee [he/they]@lemmy.ml
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                  21 days ago

                  Fair point, yes, though I also included sexual assaulters, who are statistcally more likely to be workers.

          • ageedizzle@piefed.ca
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            21 days ago

            but I’m not going to say the PRC is executing people willy-nilly.

            But how do you know that if they keep the numbers secret?

            • Cowbee [he/they]@lemmy.ml
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              21 days ago

              They publicize lots of the information, even if they keep the total secret, and we know that crime rates in the PRC are very low in general. The police don’t even carry guns most of the time. Is it a perfect system? By no means. Is it a regularly improving, functional system? Yes.