Censorship

blazey · 08-04-2010, 11:24

As some of you may know, I'm currently in China studying during my Easter holidays and I am having to use the internet quite a bit. I'm finding that the censorship wasn't a massive issue at first but the more work I try to do, the harder it actually becomes because general things I want to read are often blocked, for example blogs, which I often use for finding pictures more than anything. Youtube, facebook and other public content sites are blocked, and whilst I see this as a relatively good thing because it means I have to focus on my studies a whole lot more, I'm a bit annoyed to have this sort of discipline pushed on me in such a way.

I've also noticed it is extremely difficult to find any sources that speak negatively of China, for example things about Tiananmen Square or even corporate groups that haven't been treating their employees 100% great. Just lots and lots of random things blocked.

What I really want to know is how you would feel if they decided to block these sorts of things in the UK, and what sort of impact do you think it would have. I think that education standards would probably improve reasonably because although there are things to procrastinate with that existed before facebook and youtube, I find I resort to reading the news instead! But now I'm feeling a bit oppressed and unable to really discuss it with many Chinese people without fearing I might say the wrong thing, and nobody else on my course really wants a heavy political conversation as they eat then go out drinking after classes, and I've too much work to do to be doing that... so I need to offload my need for discussion somehow and my essays aren't really doing it for me. Sadly I can't access my blog to offload these questions and such because 1. it's blocked and 2. I don't know if my privacy is being compromised whilst I'm browsing on a Chinese network.

So please, put me out of my misery

I'd also love to answer any questions about my experience of China if anyone is interested! x

garinda · 08-04-2010, 11:32

How are you finding communication?

Do many ordinary people speak English?

blazey · 08-04-2010, 11:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by garinda

How are you finding communication?

Do many ordinary people speak English?

Well, I'm staying in Hangzhou and learning Mandarin, and as you may know, there are quite a lot of dialects in China... which are very different from Mandarin, and Hangzhou happens to have its own dialect... so... ordinary people often don't speak English OR Mandarin, which makes conversation impossible. So pointing, nodding and doing actions for what you are trying to say is the only real way of communicating in situations like that.

Some younger people speak bits of English at least, so are able to understand some basic phrases and give basic responses... very very few speak conversational English. I can speak a bit of Chinese now to get around, but if I get lost I have to resort to pointing to a map because I can't understand directions or things like that.

Overall it isn't really that bad. I thought it would be far worse but it helps to be here to study mandarin in the first place, so every day it gets a bit better. My only real conversation outside of the classroom was with a taxi driver though, but that was highly satisfying to say the least! I've tried learning two languages (French and Spanish) and found them to be something that I've never engaged with, but mandarin has been a highly rewarding language to learn so far, if quite difficult.

garinda · 08-04-2010, 11:43

I can imagine you'll manage to make yourself understood.

Enjoy, and make the most of your stay.

Take care of yourself. x

blazey · 08-04-2010, 11:46

No opinions on the censorship?

garinda · 08-04-2010, 11:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by blazey

No opinions on the censorship?

Er...yes, it's bad.

I already know quite a lot about it, as I have friends there, involved with various civil liberty groups, and know the difficulties they have, especially when trying to access information, and contacting some people outside of China.

There are ways round this though.

jaysay · 08-04-2010, 15:00

My Daughter has lived there for the last 18 months and its hard to keep in touch, they are very strict, the powers that be think that if their own people see us in the west enjoy our decedent life styles, some of their own might get ideas above their station and want to fill their boots

flashy · 08-04-2010, 16:42

have you found any foods/recipes out there that you like and will be bringing back with you?

Eric · 08-04-2010, 17:46

How does the law work in China? Is there a body of law outside of party ideology?

shillelagh · 08-04-2010, 18:29

my cousin and his wife moved out there in january of this year .. closing michelin at burnley have a lot to answer for ... and i havent heard from them at all .. so god knows how things are going on ...

cashman · 08-04-2010, 18:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by shillelagh

my cousin and his wife moved out there in january of this year .. closing michelin at burnley have a lot to answer for ... and i havent heard from them at all .. so god knows how things are going on ...

Hope there safe n well, but have ya considered.....they just may not like ya?

shillelagh · 08-04-2010, 19:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by cashman

Hope there safe n well, but have ya considered.....they just may not like ya?

they like spugs ..

they no taste

mani · 08-04-2010, 23:31

whats the crime like out there? messed about with the ninja's yet?

whats their attitude to westerners?

blazey · 09-04-2010, 05:34

The streets are virtually crime free and the only real thing that we would consider a crime that I've seen is film piracy. Nothing untoward to people at all. Erm, people find us very funny or want their picture taken with us. We get really good treatment when we go into restaurants and are waited on hand and foot even if there are other customers in the place... pretty much excellent treatment. People are generally patient about our lack of language skills and try to make things clear to us.

I've had no problems keeping in touch with the UK so I'm guessing that if there is a lack of contact from anyone you know here then it is by choice...

Erm as for the law, it's like the UK. Governed by the laws that are created by the politics, the politics is pretty much unspoken of for the most part. People are satisfied with how things are. Local businesses are apparently bailed out by the government all the time if they have people employed outside of the family because the gov doesn't like to see people out of work. Work ethic is immense actually, hope I bring some of that attitude back with me!

To be honest, China is probably the most misunderstood place in our media, because people expect it to be people living miserably because of the infringement on civil liberties, particularly privacy... but the people actually don't mind. And the streets are ridiculously clean, the food is pretty good (not found any recipes though to bring home with me

but there is time yet!) and I can walk the streets at night and not have to worry about being mugged or raped, because to be honest, even though there aren't THAT many police around in comparison to home, people just generally don't believe in doing those sorts of things or are too afraid of the consequences. In prison here you have to pay for your own food, so if you are poor to begin with then you'll be unable to even beg in prison and you'll just die of starvation. There is no vicious circle of poverty here... it's one straight line... you survive and find ways to support yourself or you simply die... and actually, it seems to work reasonably well in comparison to the sort of attitude we've allowed to develop in England, where you can be sure of some form of help from the government or a charity, even if its just spending nights in different homeless shelters and so on and soup kitchens.

China is hard to actually explain in words, but I'll definitely be trying to come back here as soon as I can because I love the place and do actually prefer the life here to that of home. It is just generally filled with a better feeling even though I'm having to work much harder and be without my British luxuries. I'd kill for a fry up! Or a glass of milk and a block of proper cheese. And some roast potatoes!

I'm going to a mountain for the weekend now so I won't be back online until monday. So I'll respond to anything else then! x

Less · 09-04-2010, 07:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by blazey

There is no vicious circle of poverty here... it's one straight line... you survive and find ways to support yourself or you simply die... and actually, it seems to work reasonably well in comparison to the sort of attitude we've allowed to develop in England, where you can be sure of some form of help from the government or a charity, even if its just spending nights in different homeless shelters and so on and soup kitchens.

Find ways to support yourself or 'simply' die!

'it seems to work reasonably well!'

What has gone wrong if such a system only works 'reasonably well'? Are some of the lazy beggers living despite the luxury of no food and shelter?

Bloody Hell girl, you boggle the mind whenever I read your drivel.

The same system here that tries to keep people alive despite their wish to die because they can't support themselves, is the one that is paying for you to go through College, while you can't support yourself.

At least our students only starve if they spend their food money on booze, they don't get so desperate that they have to throw themselves in front of a tank! (Though I can think of one that could benefit the nation by doing that).