6 ms·

> Patronizing: you know what's patronizing? The notion that this kid just doesn't understand the realpolitik. Of course he does: it just punched him in the face

> Patronizing: you know what's patronizing? The notion that this kid just doesn't understand the realpolitik. Of course he does: it just punched him in the face. He's fighting it. I respect him for that. I disagree. His Chinese girlfriend was begging him to stop, but he carried on. It’s either hubris or not realizing what China is willing to do to stop people from criticizing it. He was also enrolled in a Chinese university, and was undoubtedly warned about criticizing the government.

jeswin 5y ago
So should he just shut up, then? It's scary if most people feel that way. There was also no risk to his GF. At worst, the relationship ends - it's not like the CCP is going to go after her (she did ask him to stop).
- nelsondev 5y ago
  How do you know there was no risk to the GF? The article mentions she asked him to stop because she feared retaliation.
- krageon 5y ago
  > it's not like the CCP is going to go after her This is not a reasonable assumption and once it's throw out it becomes clear this boy was endangering others as well as himself by doing something ill-advised and unplanned.
  - slapfrog 5y ago
    > this boy
  - CinzanoBianco 5y ago
    “The world is a dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it.” ― Albert Einstein
    - krageon 5y ago
      It sounds very wise, except the person under discussion also did not do anything. He simply spoke poorly and got crushed. That isn't action of any kind, except as a type of suicide.
- brigandish 5y ago
  I'm not one for turning up my nose to criticising government's like China's but the reality is that freedom of speech is not an important aspect to Chinese society (including many others) and if one wants to work there, travel there, and not endanger people there as he has done with his girlfriend's family, then one needs to at least consider the consequences for critical speech and whether they're worth bearing. > There was also no risk to his GF. At worst, the relationship ends - it's not like the CCP is going to go after her (she did ask him to stop). I'm not sure why you think being so apparently reasonable is also something her government and its supporters care about?
  - mcguire 5y ago
    "...the reality is that freedom of speech is not an important aspect to Chinese society (including many others)..." Including Switzerland, it seems.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
- quickthrowman 5y ago
  > So should he just shut up, then? It's scary if most people feel that way. If his goal was to complete his studies at the Chinese university or maintain a relationship with his doctoral advisor who has ties to China, or to not make life for his girlfriend and her family difficult, yes. I don’t agree with the methods of the CCP to silence dissent, but that’s reality. Nothing will change on account of this guy.

jeswin 5y ago

So should he just shut up, then? It's scary if most people feel that way. There was also no risk to his GF. At worst, the relationship ends - it's not like the CCP is going to go after her (she did ask him to stop).

nelsondev 5y ago
How do you know there was no risk to the GF? The article mentions she asked him to stop because she feared retaliation.
krageon 5y ago
> it's not like the CCP is going to go after her This is not a reasonable assumption and once it's throw out it becomes clear this boy was endangering others as well as himself by doing something ill-advised and unplanned.
- slapfrog 5y ago
  > this boy
- CinzanoBianco 5y ago
  “The world is a dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it.” ― Albert Einstein
  - krageon 5y ago
    It sounds very wise, except the person under discussion also did not do anything. He simply spoke poorly and got crushed. That isn't action of any kind, except as a type of suicide.
brigandish 5y ago
I'm not one for turning up my nose to criticising government's like China's but the reality is that freedom of speech is not an important aspect to Chinese society (including many others) and if one wants to work there, travel there, and not endanger people there as he has done with his girlfriend's family, then one needs to at least consider the consequences for critical speech and whether they're worth bearing. > There was also no risk to his GF. At worst, the relationship ends - it's not like the CCP is going to go after her (she did ask him to stop). I'm not sure why you think being so apparently reasonable is also something her government and its supporters care about?
- mcguire 5y ago
  "...the reality is that freedom of speech is not an important aspect to Chinese society (including many others)..." Including Switzerland, it seems.
deleted 5y ago
[deleted]
quickthrowman 5y ago
> So should he just shut up, then? It's scary if most people feel that way. If his goal was to complete his studies at the Chinese university or maintain a relationship with his doctoral advisor who has ties to China, or to not make life for his girlfriend and her family difficult, yes. I don’t agree with the methods of the CCP to silence dissent, but that’s reality. Nothing will change on account of this guy.