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Lots of discussion about censorship here. I would like to ask a slightly off-topic question: Does China have the same kind of social discord that America has? C

Lots of discussion about censorship here. I would like to ask a slightly off-topic question: Does China have the same kind of social discord that America has? Chinese online communities are subject to considerable censorship and moderation. Does that help prevent the spread of insane ideas and conspiracies? Why is this worth thinking about: People who look to a more moderated future for our social networks might look to China to see if such moderation is effective. The downside is obvious; the state can promote insane conspiracy theories using the same moderation tools. But we could at least see if moderation on such a scale works at all.

cowpig 6y ago
Your question implies a false equivalence between forum moderation and a state-controlled propaganda machine.
- ImaCake 6y ago
  Sorry that was not my intention. But your answer is useful for how I should be thinking about this anyway, so thankyou :) How would a nation like the USA go about encouraging more healthy forms of moderation to suppress insane memes but not suppress important political debate? The follow on from this would be; what nations already do this? and what are the outcomes?
intopieces 6y ago
It’s very difficult to make the sort of comparison you are making because it ignores the key difference between the two societies. That is, one is based in Confucianism, which values social harmony, while the other is based on the the protection of individual liberty. It’s certainly the case that China has less “social discord” because of censorship. To what degree it would have been self-enforced without that censorship is another question entirely. Consider Japan. Japan is a de facto totalitarian state with individuals and groups enforcing cultural norms independent of government backing. It has censored media, but not nearly to the extent that China does. It has very little social discord, despite an economy that has been stagnating for more than a generation.
kart23 6y ago
There isn't insane shit because they literally lock up or 'disappear' the people talking insane shit or conspiracies. The thing with china is that there is often very real consequences for the things you say online, and that just doesn't exist in America. You don't even have to get everyone, just make an example of a few journalists or activists and everyone gets the message.

cowpig 6y ago

Your question implies a false equivalence between forum moderation and a state-controlled propaganda machine.

ImaCake 6y ago
Sorry that was not my intention. But your answer is useful for how I should be thinking about this anyway, so thankyou :) How would a nation like the USA go about encouraging more healthy forms of moderation to suppress insane memes but not suppress important political debate? The follow on from this would be; what nations already do this? and what are the outcomes?

intopieces 6y ago

It’s very difficult to make the sort of comparison you are making because it ignores the key difference between the two societies. That is, one is based in Confucianism, which values social harmony, while the other is based on the the protection of individual liberty. It’s certainly the case that China has less “social discord” because of censorship. To what degree it would have been self-enforced without that censorship is another question entirely. Consider Japan. Japan is a de facto totalitarian state with individuals and groups enforcing cultural norms independent of government backing. It has censored media, but not nearly to the extent that China does. It has very little social discord, despite an economy that has been stagnating for more than a generation.

kart23 6y ago

There isn't insane shit because they literally lock up or 'disappear' the people talking insane shit or conspiracies. The thing with china is that there is often very real consequences for the things you say online, and that just doesn't exist in America. You don't even have to get everyone, just make an example of a few journalists or activists and everyone gets the message.