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It is common sense when travelling to a foreign land that punishes speech. I have been asked about politics pretty much in every European nation I've visited or

It is common sense when travelling to a foreign land that punishes speech. I have been asked about politics pretty much in every European nation I've visited or resided in. It's not unusual to talk politics or disagree, and at worst you should end up leaving a bad impression on someone, not end up in prison.

mytailorisrich 7y ago
Note that I wrote "being involved" in politics, which is quite different from what you describe in your comment. I don't think it is common for visitors to European countries to take part in local political demonstrations, for example. Foreigners in China who end up in trouble are those who show up with a large Tibetan flag in public, not those who say that they disagree with the Chinese government (though it helps to be polite and respectful when saying it, which is, again, common sense). > It's not unusual to talk politics or disagree, and at worst you should end up leaving a bad impression on someone Which is what would happen in China. You wouldn't end up in prison...
- stale2002 7y ago
  > I don't think it is common for visitors to European countries to take part in local political demonstrations Nobody gets punished for participating in local demonstrations in Europe. That's ridiculous. I could absolutely go to the UK and bring a pro brexit, or anti brexit flag, and be totally fine.
  - mytailorisrich 7y ago
    That's beside the point... The point is that as a Western visitor to China you would only risk being "punished" by doing explicit things that foreign visitors to any country usually don't do. There is no practical point in discussing what you could or couldn't do if you never did it and never thought of doing it anyway. So, yes, in Europe you could freely join a demonstration while in China it would not be a good idea. Does it make any practical difference to you as a foreign visitor? No, because that's not something you would do anyway, and if you did, well, you would probably knew the risks.
    - stale2002 7y ago
      It is not besides the point. I went to the UK not too long ago, and visited both some of the brexit and anti-brexit rallies. It was pretty interesting. I also visited France some couple months ago, and in Paris I had no qualms about seeing what was going on with some of the protests there. This stuff is perfectly OK and normal. There is nothing wrong with that. > if you never did it and never thought of doing it anyway. But I did do it.... It was fun to check out what some of the protesters were doing. Why is it so weird and surprising for someone to check out a brexit rally? Lol. I'd imagine that many tourists did that. > Does it make any practical difference to you as a foreign visitor? Yes it does! Do you honestly believe that tourists in the UK aren't going around making brexit jokes all the time, and maybe even seeing what some of the protesters are doing? Of course they are doing this. It is a cool touristy thing to do to check out current events, related to local politics!

mytailorisrich 7y ago

Note that I wrote "being involved" in politics, which is quite different from what you describe in your comment. I don't think it is common for visitors to European countries to take part in local political demonstrations, for example. Foreigners in China who end up in trouble are those who show up with a large Tibetan flag in public, not those who say that they disagree with the Chinese government (though it helps to be polite and respectful when saying it, which is, again, common sense). > It's not unusual to talk politics or disagree, and at worst you should end up leaving a bad impression on someone Which is what would happen in China. You wouldn't end up in prison...

stale2002 7y ago
> I don't think it is common for visitors to European countries to take part in local political demonstrations Nobody gets punished for participating in local demonstrations in Europe. That's ridiculous. I could absolutely go to the UK and bring a pro brexit, or anti brexit flag, and be totally fine.
- mytailorisrich 7y ago
  That's beside the point... The point is that as a Western visitor to China you would only risk being "punished" by doing explicit things that foreign visitors to any country usually don't do. There is no practical point in discussing what you could or couldn't do if you never did it and never thought of doing it anyway. So, yes, in Europe you could freely join a demonstration while in China it would not be a good idea. Does it make any practical difference to you as a foreign visitor? No, because that's not something you would do anyway, and if you did, well, you would probably knew the risks.
  - stale2002 7y ago
    It is not besides the point. I went to the UK not too long ago, and visited both some of the brexit and anti-brexit rallies. It was pretty interesting. I also visited France some couple months ago, and in Paris I had no qualms about seeing what was going on with some of the protests there. This stuff is perfectly OK and normal. There is nothing wrong with that. > if you never did it and never thought of doing it anyway. But I did do it.... It was fun to check out what some of the protesters were doing. Why is it so weird and surprising for someone to check out a brexit rally? Lol. I'd imagine that many tourists did that. > Does it make any practical difference to you as a foreign visitor? Yes it does! Do you honestly believe that tourists in the UK aren't going around making brexit jokes all the time, and maybe even seeing what some of the protesters are doing? Of course they are doing this. It is a cool touristy thing to do to check out current events, related to local politics!