4 ms·

Just one of many plans that now has a decent opportunity presented. China can sometimes seem arbitrary but its much easier to think of it as a theme park than

Just one of many plans that now has a decent opportunity presented. China can sometimes seem arbitrary but its much easier to think of it as a theme park than what we respect as governments. At a theme park, run by a corporation, you understand there are rules that can be enforced, your participation is limited and conditional, anything exploitative or erotic will be policed swiftly and heavily, and some exhibits are cordoned off and empty. Even if we want to imagine that everyone is woefully oppressed actively thinking about how oppressed they are, the day to day experience can actually be pretty pleasant and everyone also understands that it would be dumb to challenge the stewards of the park.

jack_riminton 5y ago
Yes but in this case I think a more apt analogy would be of a funfair with lots of different stall owners who were under the impression that although they weren't completely free, they at least wouldn't have their stalls taken over at some point in the future
cybernautique 5y ago
I never thought I'd see an unironic invocation of panem-et-circenses[1], especially with regards to a sinofascist regime. It is extremely incorrect, untoward, and downright harmful to draw parallels between the CCP and, say, Busch Gardens. In a theme park, run by a corporation, I understand that the proprietors of said park will not: drag me to a detention camp; do the same, or worse, for the unfortunate souls who share my relation; imprison and enslave millions of ethnic/religious minorities; make extremely aggressive overtures against other "theme parks," to the tune of building artificial land to claim (in whole or part) the international commons. [1] https://www.mccc.edu/pdf/arc141/Bread%20&%20Circuses%20(Panem%20et%20Circenses).pdf https://www.mccc.edu/pdf/arc141/Bread%20&%20Circuses%20(Pane...
- mensetmanusman 5y ago
  Maybe a doom park is better?
- vmception 5y ago
  Think of it more like if the British East India Company ran a theme park, if the analogy is what bothers you. (As that corporation did have those unilateral powers)

jack_riminton 5y ago

Yes but in this case I think a more apt analogy would be of a funfair with lots of different stall owners who were under the impression that although they weren't completely free, they at least wouldn't have their stalls taken over at some point in the future

cybernautique 5y ago

I never thought I'd see an unironic invocation of panem-et-circenses[1], especially with regards to a sinofascist regime. It is extremely incorrect, untoward, and downright harmful to draw parallels between the CCP and, say, Busch Gardens. In a theme park, run by a corporation, I understand that the proprietors of said park will not: drag me to a detention camp; do the same, or worse, for the unfortunate souls who share my relation; imprison and enslave millions of ethnic/religious minorities; make extremely aggressive overtures against other "theme parks," to the tune of building artificial land to claim (in whole or part) the international commons. [1] https://www.mccc.edu/pdf/arc141/Bread%20&%20Circuses%20(Panem%20et%20Circenses).pdf https://www.mccc.edu/pdf/arc141/Bread%20&%20Circuses%20(Pane...

mensetmanusman 5y ago
Maybe a doom park is better?
vmception 5y ago
Think of it more like if the British East India Company ran a theme park, if the analogy is what bothers you. (As that corporation did have those unilateral powers)