>Can't it be censored, though? Isn't that the point? And if it can't be, what are we arguing about? I don't know what you're getting at. Explicit criticism of

>Can't it be censored, though? Isn't that the point? And if it can't be, what are we arguing about? I don't know what you're getting at. Explicit criticism of the regime can be censored. Questions raised implicitly by the fact that foreign services are blocked cannot be censored. They remain a thorn in the side of undemocratic regimes. >I question whether trying to preserve that symbolism for ourselves outweighs the benefits [...] I know you do, and I strongly disagree. The benefits of yet another censored search engine, email program or photo app does not outweigh the damage that Google is doing to democracy all over the world by legitimising this particular sort of censorship. Also, you keep going on about your doubts about the value of that symbolism for the Chinese people. But what about the value of that symbolism for the rest of us who want to live in democratic societies and see democracy strengthened and not weakened?