BEIJING – A supermajority of Chinese netizens support “punishing” social networking site Facebook because users posted messages in support of rioters in Xinjiang, state media said.
A poll conducted on Huanqiu.com said that 81.7 percent of online respondents supported penalizing the website because users had formed groups in support of Uygur residents in the area, the People’s Daily Newspaper said.
Chinese authorities revealed earlier this week that they began blocking access to Facebook and Twitter, another social networking site, because they believed they could be utilized as a medium for communication amongst protestors. Although the situation in Xianjiang has now stabilized, the websites remain blocked in China.
For more info: China Expats Feel Disconnected without Facebook
Comments
"A supermajority of [BRAINWASHED] Chinese netizens..."
I't a shame for our chinese people.
As you know, this result of polling means nothing, numbers can be making up for authorities concern
I thought chinese government is not stupid but treat chinese people stupid by saying that xinjiang issue is stirred up by some people aboard, now I finally realised that they are really stpuid
Look, I don't support censorship by any means but to suggest that Chinese netizens are somehow more brainwashed than your average whitebread American is just ridiculous. These are media wars being waged between the Americans and the Chinese and it only makes sense to neutralize the American's weapons. I am an American expat living in China and being able to read the news from both ends, its very clear that there is no unbias source on the Xinjiang issue. You white people in the end need to shut up because you don't know what you are talking about and you have no access to alternative views on issues in China. Freedom of expression is not synonymous with freedom of thought. Just because in the West people can say what they want doesn't mean that they have meaningful thoughts. You think George W. Bush got elected to office through meaningful political delibration and unbiased media? Please... you are a joke.
81.7%... yeah rite. i believe that one. as my chinese language says, "81.7% ni ge tou"
haha yeah pretty much sucks. most chinese people don't even know what facebook is,
censorship = epic fail.
Well, I'm kinda annoyed I can't access facebook normally and have to proxy the **** out of it, but frankly, it was about as much as could be expected for the Chinese government to do. Yes, they can make up the numbers, and I doubt that less than 18.3% of China has a Facebook, which means they can't access it either and they probably are pretty annoyed with that.
Also, Chris (that's my name too, funny), I've never heard "ni ge tou". Always heard "yi ge gui"
"We Chinese believe..." is a common opening when Chinese have an 'opinion'. Get these same Chinese to identify, say, Iraq, New York, Malaysia, and even Moscow on a map and you'll realise just how naïve many Chinese are. Therefore any poll that is linked to nationalism will be skewed against 'outsiders' or even non-Han. This world just doesn't exist to too many Chinese.
i cant bare that the chinese gov block the facebook so long time
I agree with expat in that I don't think brainwashing has anything to do with the ban, or the polling numbers. I don't think the Bush election has anything to do with that either, though. A campaign of fear is quite a powerful thing. I just got to Beijing, and am a bit annoyed at not being able to access FB. I honestly think that banning FB gives it more power that the government fears it already possesses. It's funny how societies don't, or won't, learn from the past. I think that, in the States, nothing made alcohol more popular than prohibition. The moment an 'establishment' bans something is the moment society will start to believe that thing is something it desires or needs. Think of it, what could be more empowering than sending the signal: "This thing is powerful, and we fear it. The people must not have it!"? It's pretty well-ingrained in Christian history. (Adam and Eve, anyone?) I'm sure Oriental philosophies have their examples. I'm just not well-versed enough to cite any.
A meaningless poll of fired-up (and probably blood-lusting) Han Chinese youngsters who didn't have an FB account in the first place. I'm fairly sure all my Chinese friends who DID (and still do) have FB accounts are quite unhappy with the government right now. Thanks, CCP! You just politicized a whole bunch of Chinese kids who couldn't have cared less about your misrule until you messed with their (mostly) innocent fun and games.
This blocking issue's was totally nerd on the Gov't side. First, they are promoting China Business globally. But how can an expat do business in here if you don't have freedom, freedom by all means...no wonder, if this wont change 5yrs later China will fall again!!!
This really sucks, first youtube and now facebook. What's next CNN and BBC??
Gee.. how long are they gonna block fb?
I'm getting SO annoyed now..
yeah, i dont trust chinese media to begin with.
81.7%???? bullshit!!!!!
what's next?
maybe all english websites??
and the government website would be the only site we can access.. lol
I am sure all the Uigers rioters are upset because they cant use MacBook Pro laptops at Starbucks to organize violence.
for d next 3-5 years of my life here in china, i'll be alone. thanks for taking away facebook as my connection to the real world! well, for those who says this is nonsense, put it this way, if you're connection to the real world is ur iphone , i don't have that, i have facebook. imagine the chinese gov't taking away ur iphone. :D well, maybe you'd smile. and say "oh well, it's nonsense anyway" :)
"I am sure all the Uigers rioters are upset because they cant use MacBook Pro laptops at Starbucks to organize violence."
LOL!!!!!!!!
I don't care who is brainwashed or what the polls say. I'm in Canada visiting family for two weeks, and it was nice to be able to talk to my friends and family via Facebook while I was here. It is very sad that I won't be able to do this when I return to China. I'm not angry about the situation. I'm just sad. I use Facebook to watch the daily lives of those I don't keep in contact with through email. I've found lost friends and relatives through it, and tomorrow, I'll be out of touch with them for another year.
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