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Sign up with Google Sign up with FacebookQ: Does 'negative spin' exist on this site?
And if you are exposed to enough of it can it influence your thinking and actions?
I think negative spin exists just about anywhere one goes, unless it is controlled by an outside influence which puts forth an agenda to keep things positive. Most of what is deemed negative, perhaps, is just people speaking from their perspective, one way or another.
Personally, I try not to make generalizations, or "blanket statements," so from that viewpoint, yes I would say that there are a lot of general statements made here, either against China or against the other parts of the world, the reason being, it is so much easier for a simple mind to do so. Some of these statements are mere observation, but I believe others are posted with one intent: division. If one views the world in anything other than "black or white" terms, it becomes paramount to having to think, and finally to the realization that both good and bad people and things exist everywhere.
Much of it is colored by our own experiences and preconceptions. One may be so overwhelmed with negative things that they forget to look for the positive, coming to the conclusion it does not exist. Nonsense, of course, but that is the way people are accustomed to act. A person must actively seek out positive reinforcement in order to be open to the possibilities that it exists.
So, in toto, does negative spin exist on this site? Of course. Does it influence my own thinking. No. Not in the slightest. My first thought (because as an American, I like to root for the "underdog") is to take up a defense of that which has been maligned, and to try and find some good qualities, simply to refute what the poster is saying. I also like to think about fallacies in philosophical arguments. However, when one is dealing with a proscriptive mindset, all the logic in the world will do little to satisfy an unsettled opinion, hence, I just move on.
giadrosich:
Lol, yeah, nuf, go back to your comics. I know it taxes you overworked brain to read something beyond the 3rd grade level.
Absolutely.
As giad said above, finding the positive takes intellect and effort finding the negative doesn't require anything like as much effort just a large amount of xenophobia.
However, what I suspect you are alluding to is that some people may deliberately be trying to make China and the Chinese look bad to lower their competitiveness against the good and great 'west'. I understand how you may think that way, but tbh that would take a conspiracy of incredible proportions and conspiracies require an amount of coordination I haven't seen in ANY western organisation with the reach to even think of such a thing.
I think it much more likely that some people are reading / watching too much CNN and lapping up all of the propaganda that such outlets spout. Of course the same could (and probably will) be said about any nationality (including the Chinese) and the relevant press outlets, e.g. the mose blatantly biased press source in the UK is the BBC which we all have to subsidise via taxes!
lokethebloke:
Yes I do tend to see too many, reds, yanks, brits, krauts, frogs and many others, festering under the bed. Perhaps too much time spent questioning authority and planning the downfall of the government (not chinese,I hasten to add) I just can't help but see anything but manipulation here .I must be as thick as two short planks and as for my beloved BBC, I'm mortified that you should speak so harshly about 'Auntie'
Hugh.G.Rection:
Well as you are a self-confessed 'leftie' you prove my point about the bias of the
Blair and Brown Benevolent Committee.
lokethebloke:
Blair a 'lefty', to me he's a few degrees to the right of her who shall not be named.
Hugh.G.Rection:
Her Majesty Queen Thatcher (praise be upon her name) may not be mentioned in the same sentence as 'left' or Blair now go and self - flagellate.
Hang on I've just mentioned them myself............ damn, where's my whip?
giadrosich:
Now see, as an American, I liked Maggie, as in, I'm glad she was yours and not ours. Of course, you could say the same for many American presidents, lol. Politicians!
nevermind:
Really, Huge? Cause you and your CPC butt-lickers love to blame the CIA for everything. You don't think the CIA could organize a simple internet smear campaign on Echina cities?
I find it hilarious especially because Wu mao actually do exist and disparage the west at every chance.
Hugh.G.Rection:
Yes nevermind / crimo (whatever handle you're using today) perhaps the reason you are so 'certain' WUMAO's exist is because YOU invented the term because YOU are paid or encouraged by YOUR government to post Anti Chinese propaganda?
Ridiculous accusation? Well if it is it is exactly the same accusation you love to make of myself.
"Spin", as a euphemism for the professional public relations activity of selectively releasing, and influencing the flow of, information, for the purpose of manipulating public opinion? Going on here? I don't think so.
That would take a lot of organisation. I don't think the bad day; "why do people here (insert unpleasant element of China)" questions, that are sometimes asked, could come under the title 'spin' - that implies a lot of thought and planning.
Sometimes, it's just the case that not everyone loves China. You hate Britain and you loathe America - some people don't love China, the world's not going to stop spinning because of either of those facts. Oh, and as to the second half of your question - yes, the opinions we hear and the information we recieve can influence our own, otherwise why would the PR industries of most western countries be so hugely lucrative and pervasive?
lokethebloke:
As I and some people here, including your good friend crimo, believe that this site is run and controlled by a government agency and that these agencies, of whatever ilk, are reasonably good at their jobs, then I don't think it would take much to manipulate and control people like you.
crimochina:
i think this site is run by a govt agency???????? that is chinese propaganda. (any site operating in china that allows people to speak freely is run by a certain outside govt)
try again wumao
MissA:
Thanks Loke, charming and constructive as always. And, erm, which government precisely?
lokethebloke:
To be honest, I don't know. I suspect any western, pacific ring nation, take your pick.
i'm curious why not ask if "spin" exists on this site? why focus on negative? if you are asking if people try to twist the facts to put a negative light on china? yes the same as people trying to twists facts (or flat out make up facts ) to to make china look good / victim. and the funny thing is they come from the user (different accounts) wu maos posing as foreigners to try and make foreigners look like vile racist.
lokethebloke:
Why would they need to bother to hide themselves?
By the way are we still on for that meeting? You can bring your friends if you need help or are you just too shy?
Sokie:
Oh my, that's so far away and cold. I've lost the chance to be a bodyguard.
GuilinRaf:
"If you'll be my bodyguard, I will be your long lost pal!
I can call you Eddie, and Eddie, if you call me, you can call me Al"
Ah! I miss the music from the 80's.....
lokethebloke:
Crimo Not exactly practical, you and your friends already know that I'm going back to england for xmas and new year.
I would have thought that you would want to resolve this situation as quickly as possible.
Here's my relatively flexible route - Lianyungang, Nanjing,Suzhou, Nanchan.Guangzhou, Maoming, Nanning, Changsha, Qingdao, Beijing and then england for xmas and new year. I'm hoping that you are somewhere in that sort of area. That's all we have to do is arrange a sensible time and day.
Happy to stop for a few hours, have a beer, civillised chat and move on. Do you have a problem with that?
crimochina:
loke: "I've offered to meet him anywhere he likes but so far no reply just a deletion by the administrator. What am I to make of that?" (i could not find the original post)
yes you offered to meet me anywhere anytime. i said harbin, jan 1. and you backed down...
what does anywhere anytime mean to a chinese person?
I'm not trying to insult you Loke, but I find you to be one of the biggest negative forces on this sight.
lokethebloke:
I'm merely mirroring what has been happening here for a very long time. The implied criticism of china in questions and answers is enormous.
TedDBayer:
When I read nagative things that I don't really agree with, I post a reminder of what home is really like. I don't generally attack the poster. I've had BCD and needed to vent, like why Chinese don't answer questions. Most of my problems would have been eased if I had dumped my Chinese girl friend, but I wanted to leave her on a positve note and hopefully remain friends. Just because things were difficult for me doesn't mean I want to hurt someone that I do care for. She's a bit of a bitch, but I liked seeing her. This way I'll always be glad to see her.
Yes, you do make an effort, don't you? No.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
loke: "I've offered to meet him anywhere he likes but so far no reply just a deletion by the administrator. What am I to make of that?" (i could not find the original post)yes you offered to meet me anywhere anytime. i said harbin, jan 1. and you backed down... what does anywhere anytime mean to a chinese person?