IOC agrees to limited internet censorship during the games

[Whoozyerdaddy]

So first I'll just say that the IOC is made up of a bunch of panseys. Why cave in to crap like this? China wasn't going to change their minds and suddenly allow open internet access no matter what stance they took. So why agree to any of the censoring? Be public about censorship being wrong and give China the stink-eye.

http://www.iht.com/articles/20.../business/olymedia.php

The Chinese government confirmed Wednesday what journalists arriving at the lavishly outfitted media center here had suspected: Contrary to previous assurances by Olympic and government officials, the Internet would be censored during the upcoming games.

Since the Olympic Village press center opened Friday, reporters have been unable to access scores of Web pages - politically sensitive ones that discuss Tibetan succession, Taiwanese independence, the violent crackdown of the protests in Tiananmen Square and the sites of Amnesty International, Radio Free Asia and several Hong Kong newspapers known for their freewheeling political discourse.

On Wednesday - two weeks after its most recent proclamation of an uncensored Internet during the Summer Games - the International Olympic Committee quietly agreed to some of the limitations, according to Kevan Gosper, chairman of the IOC press commission, Reuters reported.

Gosper said that he regretted the limitations but that "IOC officials negotiated with the Chinese that some sensitive sites would be blocked on the basis they were not considered Games related."

A government spokesman initially suggested the problems originated with the site hosts, but on Wednesday, he acknowledged that journalists would not have unfettered Internet use during the Games, which begin Aug. 8.

"It has been our policy to provide the media with convenient and sufficient access to the Internet," said Sun Weide, the chief spokesman for the Beijing Olympics organizing committee. "I believe our policy will not affect reporters' coverage of the Olympic games."

 

[Mxylplyx]

They should just bring their satellite internet devices with them. I'm sort of hoping the world makes an ass of China during the games.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: Mxylplyx
They should just bring their satellite internet devices with them. I'm sort of hoping the world makes an ass of China during the games.

Their nice stadium and efforts are a facade for a poisoned country with an oppressive culture and more have-nots than anything else. They will put on a good show to the contrary, though.

 

[ProfJohn]

I would not be surprised if the olympics blow up in their face and expose all their problems.

All we need is a few world class athletes to pull out due to pollution and that will become the talk of the games.

 

[Mursilis]

Originally posted by: Mxylplyx
They should just bring their satellite internet devices with them. I'm sort of hoping the world makes an ass of China during the games.

The Chinese gov't seems to be making an ass of itself just fine - no help from the world needed. And note that I said the Chinese gov't, not the Chinese people. I have no issue with the Chinese people, who are clearly suffering under a gov't not of their own choosing.

 

[Dari]

People should not watch. I won't.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: ProfJohn
I would not be surprised if the olympics blow up in their face and expose all their problems.

All we need is a few world class athletes to pull out due to pollution and that will become the talk of the games.

The marathon event is already meaningless, with the best racer in the world pulled out for that. I wonder if others will/have followed suit or certain events will be postponed because of air quality. They worked like crazy to clear the seas for sailing after the sh*t-fed algae infested everything.

 

[CottonRabbit]

Originally posted by: Mursilis
And note that I said the Chinese gov't, not the Chinese people. I have no issue with the Chinese people, who are clearly suffering under a gov't not of their own choosing.

Man, statements like these make us Americans look like presumptuous asses. Your government isn't the same as our's, so you must all be suffering, let me pity you.

Sorry, but the Chinese people in general are enjoying the best standards of living ever seen in its long history, far better than what they experienced under imcompetent emporers, deceitful imperialists, a corrupt president, ruthless invaders, and the fanatiscism of the Cultural Revolution. Sure there are glaring problems as this article indicates, but the sheer amount of hatred for China on these boards makes it seem like China killed all your first-born sons and raped your wives. It seems almost obsessive how some of you derive so much glee from every single piece of bad news coming from a country that you have never visited inhabited by people that you don't understand at all. If this nation ever falls, I hope the world doesn't kick us to the curb with such ill will.

 

[m1ldslide1]

I heard about this yesterday on NPR. Apparently wikipedia is one of the sites they're blocking, in addition to Amnesty International, and some others. I have a friend living in Shanghai and he says its easy to get around the Chinese filters, but obviously it isn't easy if you don't already know how.

 

[Robor]

Originally posted by: CottonRabbit

Originally posted by: Mursilis
And note that I said the Chinese gov't, not the Chinese people. I have no issue with the Chinese people, who are clearly suffering under a gov't not of their own choosing.

Man, statements like these make us Americans look like presumptuous asses. Your government isn't the same as our's, so you must all be suffering, let me pity you.

Sorry, but the Chinese people in general are enjoying the best standards of living ever seen in its long history, far better than what they experienced under imcompetent emporers, deceitful imperialists, a corrupt president, ruthless invaders, and the fanatiscism of the Cultural Revolution. Sure there are glaring problems as this article indicates, but the sheer amount of hatred for China on these boards makes it seem like China killed all your first-born sons and raped your wives. It seems almost obsessive how some of you derive so much glee from every single piece of bad news coming from a country that you have never visited inhabited by people that you don't understand at all. If this nation ever falls, I hope the world doesn't kick us to the curb with such ill will.

Serious? Mursilis' statement about the Chinese govt was far from presumptuous - especially compared to some of the pompous 'we're the best, fvck the rest' attitudes around here. I'll agree there's plenty of anti-China feelings on this board and in this country in general but I don't see it in that reply.

 

[Mursilis]

Originally posted by: CottonRabbit

Originally posted by: Mursilis
And note that I said the Chinese gov't, not the Chinese people. I have no issue with the Chinese people, who are clearly suffering under a gov't not of their own choosing.

Man, statements like these make us Americans look like presumptuous asses. Your government isn't the same as our's, so you must all be suffering, let me pity you.

Sorry, but the Chinese people in general are enjoying the best standards of living ever seen in its long history, far better than what they experienced under imcompetent emporers, deceitful imperialists, a corrupt president, ruthless invaders, and the fanatiscism of the Cultural Revolution. Sure there are glaring problems as this article indicates, but the sheer amount of hatred for China on these boards makes it seem like China killed all your first-born sons and raped your wives. It seems almost obsessive how some of you derive so much glee from every single piece of bad news coming from a country that you have never visited inhabited by people that you don't understand at all. If this nation ever falls, I hope the world doesn't kick us to the curb with such ill will.

What's an improved standard of living got to do with anything? That's like telling a prisoner being moved from solitary to the general population should be enough to make him happy for life. And if the Chinese aren't suffering, why are so many leaving? World migration patterns are pretty strong evidence of what gov'ts are doing "better" than others. Migrants clearly aren't flooding China to bask in all the prosperity and happiness.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Originally posted by: m1ldslide1
I heard about this yesterday on NPR. Apparently wikipedia is one of the sites they're blocking, in addition to Amnesty International, and some others. I have a friend living in Shanghai and he says its easy to get around the Chinese filters, but obviously it isn't easy if you don't already know how.

The media is not going to take a chance on crossing the Chinese government.
If a person is even suspected of violating the understanding, they will be on a plane by the end of the day.

 

[Mursilis]

Originally posted by: Common Courtesy

Originally posted by: m1ldslide1
I heard about this yesterday on NPR. Apparently wikipedia is one of the sites they're blocking, in addition to Amnesty International, and some others. I have a friend living in Shanghai and he says its easy to get around the Chinese filters, but obviously it isn't easy if you don't already know how.

The media is not going to take a chance on crossing the Chinese government.
If a person is even suspected of violating the understanding, they will be on a plane by the end of the day.

But, but, the average Chinese citizen is doing so much better! :roll:

I work just a few blocks north of the White House, and at lunch, if the weather's decent, I like to take a stroll through the park across Penn. Ave. from the White House. Literally every single day there's protestors there denouncing Bush, U.S. policy, etc. And plenty of them are just as harsh as the Bush critics here - calling him a traitor, a war criminal, etc. One couple has maintained a vigil since the '80's, denouncing U.S. nuclear policy, complete with graphic pictures of Japanese radiation victims and similar things. It's always an interesting scene, but a scene we'd see in China? I doubt it.