> “I realized I felt more comfortable discussing controversial ideas in Beijing than in San Francisco.” I don't follow Sam's life, but has he lived there for a

> “I realized I felt more comfortable discussing controversial ideas in Beijing than in San Francisco.” I don't follow Sam's life, but has he lived there for at least a few months to be able to say that? Or he just went to a conference or two there? Even so, it may be easier for an American or other foreigner to "speak their minds" in China, especially if they are known to have a lot of money. But if he was a Chinese, I think there's a much higher chance something like this would happen instead: https://archive.is/20171208003957/https://www.wsj.com/articles/jailed-for-a-text-chinas-censors-are-spying-on-mobile-chat-groups-1512665007 https://archive.is/20171208003957/https://www.wsj.com/articl... The only thing you may have to fear for in SF may be your reputation, but not that you will go to prison for saying the "wrong thing". Not yet, at least.