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That is false. You wouldn't notice in the metro (and in the streets, same) any especially negative feeling, in any way different from any other part of the worl
by pizza234 11y ago
That is false. You wouldn't notice in the metro (and in the streets, same) any especially negative feeling, in any way different from any other part of the world (except that, like somebody else pointed, in the latter place, the eyes are generally on mobile phone screens).
I know because I just came back from North Korea.
The western media like to portray authoritarian regimes as hell-like places where people is sad and militaries are all over, ready to shoot anybody at the minimum misstep.
In reality, within a certain frame, daily life is quite regular; everybody is busy with their own lives, not especially happy or sad.
I stress "within a certain frame" - inner perception works within a frame, and of course, people needs to pay attention to the restrictive culture.
I'd rather say "tired", as most of the people are hardworking farmers, without access to any transportation mean except the bike.
- seanmcdirmid 11y agoIt actually reminded me a bit of Beijing, which is hardly authoritarian in that way. "Tired" is the right classification, the subway is just a way from here to there, and usually means the beginning or end of a long day.
- emodendroket 11y agoI can't think of a lot of ways in which China's government is not "authoritarian."
- deleted 11y ago[deleted]
- seanmcdirmid 11y agoThey haven't put cameras in my bathroom yet, so that's one way. Seriously, China is a fairly free society outside of public and media institutions, even more free in the west since police coverage is overall much less (so lots of law breaking in the open; e.g. prostitution, jay walking, driving like a dork).
- emodendroket 11y agoI would be pretty hesitant to characterize any government with a legal system that works essentially by fiat, a sophisticated censorship regime, and the possibility of punishment for association or speech as "not authoritarian," even if China is somewhat more open than other countries which we use the term to describe.
- seanmcdirmid 11y agoIt isn't really rule of law, for sure. More like, if they don't like you, they can find something to put you in jail with. Yes, China is an authoritarian state in that way, but if they don't dislike you, they aren't going to make any special effort to control/monitor you (unlike the DPRK). China is an authoritarian state, but it really is all about degrees...its no where near DPRK levels, just like the USA is nowhere near China's level (well, the USA is authoritarian in completely different ways, so they aren't very comparable).