Comments on: People to the power, power to the people, all comments deleted http://www.blackandwhitecat.org/2008/11/29/people-to-the-power-power-to-the-people-all-comments-deleted/ China and Other things Mon, 15 Mar 2010 07:25:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.3 By: rob http://www.blackandwhitecat.org/2008/11/29/people-to-the-power-power-to-the-people-all-comments-deleted/#comment-45555 rob Sun, 30 Nov 2008 17:37:26 +0000 http://www.blackandwhitecat.org/2008/11/29/people-to-the-power-power-to-the-people-all-comments-deleted/#comment-45555 @Jay, since most censorship on the internet is carried out by the internet companies without any prompting, it's most likely that decision to delete all comments and new ones being posted was taken by Sohu. It's highly unlikely that the government had anything to do with it. It is <i>possible</i> that the State Electricity Network <i>may</i> have a business deal with Sohu to keep restrict negative coverage and the company may have invoked that deal. But the fact that it is possible doesn't necessarily mean it happened. So there are definitely two, and possibly a third, layers to this. 1) Astroturfing (known as the 50 cent party or 50 cent gang in China) is used to counteract negative PR. 2) Once they have been exposed, all comments, both positive and negative become an embarrassment so they are all censored by the internet company. And the outside possibility that 3) The State Electricity Network may have bought off the internet company. @Jay, since most censorship on the internet is carried out by the internet companies without any prompting, it’s most likely that decision to delete all comments and new ones being posted was taken by Sohu. It’s highly unlikely that the government had anything to do with it. It is possible that the State Electricity Network may have a business deal with Sohu to keep restrict negative coverage and the company may have invoked that deal. But the fact that it is possible doesn’t necessarily mean it happened.

So there are definitely two, and possibly a third, layers to this.

1) Astroturfing (known as the 50 cent party or 50 cent gang in China) is used to counteract negative PR.

2) Once they have been exposed, all comments, both positive and negative become an embarrassment so they are all censored by the internet company.

And the outside possibility that 3) The State Electricity Network may have bought off the internet company.

]]> By: stuart http://www.blackandwhitecat.org/2008/11/29/people-to-the-power-power-to-the-people-all-comments-deleted/#comment-45525 stuart Sun, 30 Nov 2008 14:57:43 +0000 http://www.blackandwhitecat.org/2008/11/29/people-to-the-power-power-to-the-people-all-comments-deleted/#comment-45525 Agree with Michael; great work. This story comes as no surprise. China's internet policing machine has long been suspected (by me at least) of orchestrating mass pro-party/China responses on blogs and online newspapers whenever they read something not to their liking. I suspect the External Relations Department will be drafting a release to the effect that their 'emergency bulletin' was a typo. Agree with Michael; great work.

This story comes as no surprise. China’s internet policing machine has long been suspected (by me at least) of orchestrating mass pro-party/China responses on blogs and online newspapers whenever they read something not to their liking.

I suspect the External Relations Department will be drafting a release to the effect that their ‘emergency bulletin’ was a typo.

]]> By: Jay http://www.blackandwhitecat.org/2008/11/29/people-to-the-power-power-to-the-people-all-comments-deleted/#comment-45523 Jay Sun, 30 Nov 2008 13:44:29 +0000 http://www.blackandwhitecat.org/2008/11/29/people-to-the-power-power-to-the-people-all-comments-deleted/#comment-45523 could you explain to us non-China hands what this means? Who did the censorship? The gov't, the power company? Both? could you explain to us non-China hands what this means? Who did the censorship? The gov’t, the power company? Both?

]]> By: Invisible Sky Mage http://www.blackandwhitecat.org/2008/11/29/people-to-the-power-power-to-the-people-all-comments-deleted/#comment-45522 Invisible Sky Mage Sun, 30 Nov 2008 13:15:49 +0000 http://www.blackandwhitecat.org/2008/11/29/people-to-the-power-power-to-the-people-all-comments-deleted/#comment-45522 >In order to guide public opinion and support the good image of the State Electricity Network, its External Relations Department has requested the various departments and employees to join the discussion. "guide" "support the good image" Sounds more like an attempt to sway public opinion by enforcing (not guiding) a particular view on readers. And the chinese have the nerve and hypocrisy to accuse US of bias in the western media*! *We, the western community, never made the claim our media isn't biased. But it's certainly less biased the government-controlled media in china. >In order to guide public opinion and support the good image of the State Electricity Network, its External Relations Department has requested the various departments and employees to join the discussion.

“guide”
“support the good image”

Sounds more like an attempt to sway public opinion by enforcing (not guiding) a particular view on readers.

And the chinese have the nerve and hypocrisy to accuse US of bias in the western media*!

*We, the western community, never made the claim our media isn’t biased. But it’s certainly less biased the government-controlled media in china.

]]> By: 刘亚玲 http://www.blackandwhitecat.org/2008/11/29/people-to-the-power-power-to-the-people-all-comments-deleted/#comment-45498 刘亚玲 Sun, 30 Nov 2008 11:28:57 +0000 http://www.blackandwhitecat.org/2008/11/29/people-to-the-power-power-to-the-people-all-comments-deleted/#comment-45498 Well done! no comments... Well done! no comments…

]]> By: michael http://www.blackandwhitecat.org/2008/11/29/people-to-the-power-power-to-the-people-all-comments-deleted/#comment-45214 michael Sat, 29 Nov 2008 12:48:40 +0000 http://www.blackandwhitecat.org/2008/11/29/people-to-the-power-power-to-the-people-all-comments-deleted/#comment-45214 No comments on your post either - but there should be - a great exposure/analysis of online media manipulation. No comments on your post either - but there should be - a great exposure/analysis of online media manipulation.

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