Fallout from Blizzard Hong Kong Incident • Hacker News Board

Re: Fallout from Blizzard Hong Kong Incident

#181

Post by Rebelgecko » Wed, Oct 09, 2019, 5:11 PM UTC

dragontamer wrote: post #76

coralreef wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If I recall correctly, Colin was never suspended or prevented from playing. He suspects he was blacklisted by owners/NFL by not being signed in free agency, but that may be difficult to prove.

Players were, and still are, prevented from kneeling during the Anthem. EDIT: It seems like official NFL policy has varied drastically over the past few years. But even if its not necessarily by official policy, you can bet that players are intimidated by the calls of the sitting US President to fire them if they kneel out of line.

Which players have been prevented from kneeling? Kaepernick famously did it until he left the 49ers. His former teammate Eric Reid is still doing it— I saw him kneel three days ago before a game.

Re: Fallout from Blizzard Hong Kong Incident

#182

Post by eberfreitas » Wed, Oct 09, 2019, 5:11 PM UTC

Real question: How is what China is doing any different from what we've seen the US do to Venezuela (the Adobe incident) or even Cuba for that matter?

Re: Fallout from Blizzard Hong Kong Incident

#183

Post by buzzdenver » Wed, Oct 09, 2019, 5:11 PM UTC

himlion wrote: post #148

darawk wrote: post #143

It's almost as though we need a president interested in some kind of trade...conflict with China. If only we had one of those.

I hate Trump for a lot of reasons, but I support his way of dealing with China.

He's not even pretending to care for the oppressed people in China. They'll get thrown under the bus just like the Kurds are right now with Turkey.

Re: Fallout from Blizzard Hong Kong Incident

#184

Post by gdy » Wed, Oct 09, 2019, 5:12 PM UTC

celticmusic wrote: post #80

tasubotadas wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think it is called the benefit of hindsight. Everyone is smart after it happens but in reality, nobody anticipated that.

some things are knowable beforehand.

Can you prove that you knew it beforehand?

Re: Fallout from Blizzard Hong Kong Incident

#185

Post by darawk » Wed, Oct 09, 2019, 5:13 PM UTC

dang wrote: post #175

darawk wrote: post #143

It's almost as though we need a president interested in some kind of trade...conflict with China. If only we had one of those.

Please don't post unsubstantive comments here or take HN threads further into political flamewar. We detached this subthread from https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21204717 .

It's an interesting commentary on the state of discourse that the mere suggestion that the sitting president may have done something good is considered political flamewar bait.

Re: Fallout from Blizzard Hong Kong Incident

#186

Post by upbeatlinux » Wed, Oct 09, 2019, 5:13 PM UTC

point78 wrote: post #117

UseStrict wrote: post #4

It's a weird day when I find myself agreeing with Marco Rubio. But it's true, China is effectively attempting a global chill on free speech by gating market access. If we don't stand up now, the effects will be felt long into the future.

Almost all Americans can agree on freedom of speech.

Really? In theory I think most Americans agree on freedom of speech but in practice it seems like everyone is offended by something these days. The offended (both sides of the aisle) band together and rally against contrarian view points trying to shut them down rather than deliberating or understanding.

Re: Fallout from Blizzard Hong Kong Incident

#187

Post by x0x0 » Wed, Oct 09, 2019, 5:14 PM UTC

celticmusic wrote: post #80

tasubotadas wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think it is called the benefit of hindsight. Everyone is smart after it happens but in reality, nobody anticipated that.

some things are knowable beforehand.

China's using economic leverage to bully companies into toeing their propaganda line -- particularly in light of the nba incident -- should have every public companies entangled in China figuring out their strategy for when someone speaks this way.

Re: Fallout from Blizzard Hong Kong Incident

#188

Post by bilbo0s » Wed, Oct 09, 2019, 5:15 PM UTC

elliekelly wrote: post #162

bilbo0s wrote: post #135

Earlier quoted context omitted.

However the case may be though, it's clear that the actors here are the "Weibo Outrage Machine", the NBA, and Blizzard. Which should be more concerning than Chinese government censorship. These outrage machines are are proving themselves at once more powerful than governments and less controllable.

I'm not sure I'd agree with your assumption that "outrage machines" are wholly unconnected/uncontrolled by governments. We know governments have used bots on Facebook, Twitter, and Reddit to stir controversy, why would Weibo be any different?

This is why outrage machines everywhere are supremely dangerous. I just want to throw out the possibility here that more entities than governments are using sock puppets to rev the world's outrage machines.

I'm about to do a thought experiment here. Only a thought, I'm not accusing anyone of anything. But just consider, what sort of messages would sock puppets controlled by, say, CBA teams be throwing into the Weibo Outrage Machine on the subject of the NBA? You say, "Well the NBA is likely doing the same", and I'd probably agree. Point is though that this is a new era really in public manipulation.

Think along those lines and you can kind of get an idea how these outrage machines around the world can be far more powerful tools than any government.

Re: Fallout from Blizzard Hong Kong Incident

#189

Post by [deleted] » Wed, Oct 09, 2019, 5:15 PM UTC

Knove wrote: post #177

First, I introduce myself. I am a Chinese, an ordinary citizen. I want to express my view rationally: the so-called repression of speech, freedom of speech, that also scores what freedom of speech, Hong Kong incident involves national dignity, just as the United States don't want 911 to be supported by some people (example: Imagine a well-known person, just days after 911, publicly declaring that 911 was a Great Nati…

[deleted]

Re: Fallout from Blizzard Hong Kong Incident

#190

Post by motivic » Wed, Oct 09, 2019, 5:16 PM UTC

jessaustin wrote: post #127

bilbo0s wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, China has done nothing here though. This is the NBA and Blizzard acting to prevent what I like to call the "Weibo Outrage Machine" from revving too high. (Not that it worked, because in the NBA's case, the machine was red lining. In Blizzard's case, there was nary a peep though, so that one is a bit puzzling?) For any who were unaware, the "Weibo Outrage Machine" is pretty much exactly what it sounds like, thin…

How does this "outrage machine" affect the actions of the Chinese government? If people get outraged enough, will they vote against the communist party?

I am a Chinese American but my wife is Chinese. I have a large number of Chinese friends. You may be surprised to learn that vast majority of Chinese natives are very pro-China; and while they can be critical of the Chinese government at times, they tend to be united against any actions taken by foreign entities they consider anti-China or anti-Chinese government.

Talk to a few Chinese immigrants and you will know.

The younger Chinese generation grew up in an era of Chinese economic boom and are the benefactors of the efficiency in decision making that came with a more top-down (dictatorial if you will) government. The younger generation is much more focused on economic well-being and safety over liberty or freedom.

So as long as China can maintain the economic growth it's been having the past two decades, the Chinese public will by and large support the government.