That Guy Just Got Twenty to Life for Clicking a Link
China has apparently spent the past year arresting more than 5,000 of its citizens for their involvement in the dissemination of the biggest threat to Chinese “state security,” namely, internet pornography, according to an AFP report. In an attempt to weed out “unhealthy” materials on the information super-highway, namely sex and violence, the Chinese government offers internet users who rat out their fraternity, in the so-called Communist country, a reward of 10,000 yuan (or $1,465). But the government there’s not done yet. In a statement released by the Ministry of Public Safety, they revealed that they intend to
“[S]trengthen punishment for Internet operators that violate the laws and regulations” in the coming year and [to] “severely punish operations that have serious problems with harmful information.”
The Chinese government believes that without proper censorship the Internet could become a means for ordinary citizens to spread information harmful to society — including ideas that are critical of Communism. Or, say, pornography. Look, it may be difficult to effectively criticize another culture, but I think George Carlin was onto something when he said:
“You show me some lazy prick who’s lying around all day watching game shows and stroking his penis and I’ll show you someone who’s not causing any fucking trouble.”
Quote at the 7:40 mark.
I may not have all that much insight into the societal mores of the Chinese people, but they’re still people, and people are fundamentally the same. Make something taboo and you have just made it the most interesting thing to try on a boring Friday night. Besides that, sex and violence are some of the most ingrained aspects of human nature – if our genetic ancestors didn’t copulate and beat the living hell out of people who tried to take their shit, we wouldn’t be here today.
And those tendencies are still with us today, despite whatever society tries to root them out; you want people to adhere to your propaganda, Red China? Let them flog their dolphins, huh? It’ll help keep your population growth down.
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