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Posts: 860

Shifu

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Q: Will you leave if Vpn s are fully blocked?

I know very little about I.T so I don't know if it is possible for the Chinese gov to fully permanently block vpn s, but it seems like it's heading in that direction. Baidu is virtually useless for most foreigners and I would find it unbearable without YouTube, google etc. I'd almost certainly leave if it turns out to be the case. Would anybody stay?

6 years 30 weeks ago in  Web & Technology - China

 
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No

ScotsAlan:

I agree. But if they block the WAN, the company I work for will have to leave.

6 years 30 weeks ago
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6 years 30 weeks ago
 
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Maybe I'm lucky with my non-reliance on technology; haven't had a need for a vpn for years. 

Baidu sucks, but Bing works just fine. 

I'll stay. 

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6 years 30 weeks ago
 
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I'm already leaving next year when the wife gets her visa

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6 years 30 weeks ago
 
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No

ScotsAlan:

I agree. But if they block the WAN, the company I work for will have to leave.

6 years 30 weeks ago
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6 years 30 weeks ago
 
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I have never used facebook or twitter, bing is a bit shit but serves the purpose. The internet is not a big deal in my life. Useful for some things but hardly so important that i would move to a different country so i could see what trump just posted on twitter.
So, no. The internet in China is good enough for my purposes.

Please send us a postcard when you get home.

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6 years 30 weeks ago
 
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Governor

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not fr this reason

expatlife26:

Get curious! Not Furious!

6 years 30 weeks ago
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6 years 30 weeks ago
 
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Lifer

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6 years 30 weeks ago
 
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Not likely... but, it is just another straw.

 

(Besides, if it does happen, there will be another way past the wall not long after)

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6 years 30 weeks ago
 
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Governor

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Yes. I heavily invest my time in research and collaboration across the globe. Cutting off my connection will seriously affect my career in consulting.

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6 years 30 weeks ago
 
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Here's a (hopefully only hypothetical) follow on question to the OP.

 

What if, in addition to blocking VPNs, they ramp up the firewall so that even more foreign websites are blocked.

 

No Bing, you can't open your emails, no news source that isn't Chinese, you can't access your online banking, skype becomes unusable... 

 

How many China lifers would suddenly decide it's just not worth it anymore I wonder?

 

 

 

 

Blondie_:

the internet is essential for keeping in contact with family and friends, especially if loved ones at home are likely to need time in hospital.

in addition, regular contact with home employers is necessary for work.

 

6 years 28 weeks ago
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6 years 30 weeks ago
 
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Governor

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I'd be more concerned about cancer than facebook or YouTube or whatever....Internet should be way down on the list of reasons to leave China.

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6 years 30 weeks ago
 
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Governor

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I guess it's a matter of your priorities. I would rather fill up my bank account then give two fucks about face book or you tube. I.m perfectly ok with my life without a vpn. Hey I,m becoming more Chinese by not giving a Fuckwink

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6 years 29 weeks ago
 
Posts: 548

Shifu

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It would be a major inconvenience, but so are many things in China. I would have to evaluate the impact it has on my life. Since it has not happened, it is hard to judge that situation. I personally do not see how China can stop all the VPN services in the country, unless they just shut down the internet. Even in North Korea, people who are supposedly severely restricted with their internet, are still able to find ways to access the world through internet.

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6 years 29 weeks ago
 
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Shifu

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It would be a major inconvenience, but so are many things in China. I would have to evaluate the impact it has on my life. Since it has not happened, it is hard to judge that situation. I personally do not see how China can stop all the VPN services in the country, unless they just shut down the internet. Even in North Korea, people who are supposedly severely restricted with their internet, are still able to find ways to access the world through internet.

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6 years 29 weeks ago
 
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I have some friends in Florida so I've been watching the hurricane Irma news closely and following facebook updates.

 

It makes me remember that it's things like this that would make living with Chinese only internet beyond frustrating, even more so if they decide to ramp up the restrictions a bit. Imagine having family there for example and having no way of knowing what was happening because you're stuck behind the great firewall of butt hurt.

 

 

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6 years 28 weeks ago
 
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Shifu

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VPN's allow for access to the outside world.

Access is limited enough in China even for research purposes, communication and maintenance of sanity.

A task that would ordinarily take minutes can take up to an hour as a lot of lateral thinking is required in accessing work related information.

any reduction in access to online information would make ordinary life impossible.

 

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6 years 28 weeks ago
 
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I just saw this article on reddit, seems like the cutoff date - assuming it wasn't just talk and they're actually going to do it - is coming fast.

 

Wonder what's going to happen... my guess is nothing.

 

www.networkworld.com/article/3245795/sd-wan/china-to-block-sd-wan-and-vp...

 

Jan 11 is cutoff day supposedly.

ironman510:

This Jan 11th? sh*t, NETFLIX is the love of my life after work and other download stuff I use for work. IF IF IF it really happens god I don't know.

6 years 11 weeks ago
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Stiggs:

Well, one way or another the question of 'will they or won't they' will be answered soon enough.

 

Here's hoping people won't be having to make the call - can I live without a VPN?

6 years 11 weeks ago
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6 years 11 weeks ago
 
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