191–200 of 365 posts
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I wonder why you’re being downvoted. Is it because it’s so accurate that it hurts or because it’s not?
Please don't break the site guidelines like this. https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Curious how so?
Assuming the standards of appearance for public figures are based on specific people from America of specific ethnic and cultural backgrounds. I mean if I video conferenced with you right now you'd probably speculate I've been coopted by Communist powers because simply because my background isn't up to your standards (it'd be of a water heater and radon pipes since I'm in the basement).
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I don't think it matters that he's reading off of a script. Imagine Bezos in the same situation, do you honestly think he wouldn't delegate the responsibility of speechwriting to his team of publicists?
Fair point, but his speech also seems forced, and the location is quite strange. If Bezos or Gates were to give an address like this, they'd have a great camera setup in their fancy home office with good lighting. For reference, take a look at Gates appearing on the Daily Show: https://youtube.com/watch?v=iyFT8qXcOrM . Ma looks the opposite here.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
It's about the status of people in the video and the general expectation of public of how they usually presented themselves. People of this caliber usually comes up with carefully craft image, along with good production. It's the same no matter where you live or born. The Bezos and Gates example is just that, and example of famous people that we familiar with and that's it. Chill man. Not everything is about race.
Your assertion doesn't even apply in Western culture, let alone generalization across cultures you probably know nothing about. Most people would consider Elon to be eccentric, Paul Graham to not look like traditional VC, and these superficial aspects are frankly irrelevant. So why is it ok to use that to insinuate stereotypes and hand-wavy assertions of malfeasance. Perhaps for you there is no consequence, but much…
I think people are mostly just trying to figure out what is going on with one of the richest/most powerful people in the world. There's not a lot of evidence to go on, so any scrap is potentially relevant. In your view, what are the best theories for his behavior?
And this isn't just an academic or social exercise; Alibaba jumped billions due to this appearance.
How can we be sure it’s not a deepfake? I would have been more confident if he met them in person.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
A bad party that is improving is still bad.
So what are the better choices? Do you think that if someone were to liquidate the CCP top members, plunging the country into chaos, that the Chinese would be better off? It's easy to say "X is bad" when you don't have to care about practical consequences, like whether there are better alternatives, why we're in a suboptimal situation in the first place, and how to get to a better place.
Yes, very much so.
Your presumption is that if CPCs rule, whose rule is a chaos itself, disappears, there will be more chaos?
We are talking about immediate ruinous effects for the majority of Chinese every day communists stay in power.
The moment it stops, lawless land repossessions instantaneously stop, house confiscations stop, fake cases, and expropriations against entrepreneurs stop.
> It's easy to say "X is bad" when you don't have to care about practical consequences
Practical consequences of letting communists to stay in power are millions left destitute every year after their land, property, and businesses are stolen.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
The Party: The Secret World of China's Communist Rulers (2012)
I wonder if the 2021 version would have much different; were there known "re-education" camps then, etc?
Back in 2012 the party is controled by a group of elder guys, though there is someone at the top.
Now it is dictated by Xi, who has already changed many things, like Chairman should only serve two terms. Luckily, he has no son.
Together with the geopolitics surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, the public disappearance [1] of Jack Ma may turn out to be a key turning point for the modern Chinese state.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Ma#Public_disappearance
“he spoke to a group of teachers by video” How can we be sure it’s not a deepfake? I would have been more confident if he met them in person.
Does anyone have any book recommendations for non-chinese people to understand CCP power structures? I'm completely lost in all of this Jack Ma stuff.