|
Internet
Ankle-biting by a thousand blogs does not a revolution makePosted by Jeremy Goldkorn, May 24, 2005 7:59 PM
New York Times op-ed columnist Nicholas D. Kristof seems to be getting a little overexcited by the potential of the Internet to foment dissent and challenge the status quo. Kristof's latest column discusses Yuluncn.com, "the Web site of a self-appointed journalist named Li Xinde" who "travels around China with an I.B.M. laptop and a digital camera, investigating cases of official wrongdoing ... [and] writes about them on his Web site". Kristof concludes: But it's the Chinese leadership itself that is digging the Communist Party's grave, by giving the Chinese people broadband.That's an outcome that Kristof would like very dearly. But there are a few things to consider before you believe that the Internet is somehow going to unseat the Party: - People like Li Xinde are far and few between. - Li Xinde's website is decorated with a banner featuring a picture of Hu Jintao and animated Party slogans like "Completely implement the Three Represents" (reproduced above). Li Xinde is himself a Party member. - The government is becoming increasingly sophisticated at using different techniques to influence public opinion on the Internet. Aside from blocking websites and monitoring email, the government also employs propagandists to push the Party line on Internet forums and bulletin boards. - Anyone with an Internet connection is already doing well economically: China is a country where the majority of the population comprises very poor peasants. People with Internet connections are the least likely of all Chinese people to rise up in rebellion against the government. - Yuluncn.com is inaccessible in China. Yuluncn.net is however accessible. Something funny is going on, and it seems to involve the Nanny. - This writer has lived in China for ten years. If I had a dollar for every time I've heard a Westerner talk about democracy and free expression in China, I would be a rich man. If I had a hundred dollars for every time I've heard a Chinese person talk about the same things, I might just be able to afford to buy a couple of fake Dolce & Gabbana shirts. Mr Kristof's 'Death by a thousand blogs' is simply wishful thinking. The banner at the top of this post is from Yuluncn.net
New York Times: Kristof: Death by a thousand blogs ESWN blog:Ownership Is Censorship In China (enforced self-censorship systems of online forums) UPDATE: 1. A bit of poking around reveals that yuluncn.com is heavily filtered by the Nanny — not only does a Google search fail, but trying to 'tracert' from dnsstuff.com gets blocked. The first result of a Google search for "yuluncn", is the .com site, with a crawl reported on the 22nd, so apparently it is the international portal. — JM |
Partner Links
Jobs in China
Recent Comments
lyl on
The cult of a Super Girl
Jeremy Gol on
Danwei Canteen: Chestnut Chicken Stew
Gareth on
Gamble your life away in ZT Online
Inst on
The Mouse looms over Shanghai
Anonymous on
Giant Mao Zedong stands alone in the autumn cold
Joel Marti on
A centenarian monk reads the newspaper
China Media Timeline
Major media events over the last three decades
Danwei Model Workers
![]() Recommended blogs and new media
Books on China
Xujun Eberlein's Apologies Forthcoming: Hong Kong's Blacksmith Books has published a short story collection by Xujun Eberlein.
Princess Der Ling: Two Years in the Forbidden City: Two years in the Forbidden City is largely a reminiscence of the minutiae of life for one of history's most powerful women, by one of her court attendants, a Manchu noble's daughter by the name of Der Ling.
Carl Crow's The Long Road Back to China: In 1939 Carl Crow - an American journalist, advertising executive and author who had lived in Shanghai for 25 years until forced out by the Japanese - travelled up the Burma Road from Rangoon to Chongqing on assignment for Liberty magazine - 'the most interesting assignment I have ever been given'.
Front Page of the Day
A different newspaper every weekday
From the Vault
Classic Danwei posts
+ New Years Past: Other Spring Festivals by Geremie R. Barmé (2007.02): Sang Ye interviews two people about their experiences during Great Leap Forward-era Spring Festivals. Translated and annotated by Geremie R. Barmé. + Trend-spotting in online fiction (2007.06): An interview with Daniel Dan Fei (丹飞), publisher of Notes on Graverobbing (盗墓笔记), Rear Palace (后宫), and Those Ming Dynasty Things (明朝那些事). + China's 50 Most Beautiful People (2005.03): The Beijing News borrows a picture of Maggie Cheung from Cosmo for the cover of today's Entertainment insert, "50 Most Beautiful People in China". Ms. Cheung takes the top spot, with Takeshi Kaneshiro, Little S, Zhang Ziyi, and Liu Ye rounding out the top five in this exercise that is a conscious imitation of People magazine's yearly rundown.
Danwei Archives
Danwei Feeds
Via Feedsky
or Feedburner |




