Dispatches from the State Ministry of Truth

[Savonarola]

First comment from senior Chinese officials stationed in HK on the riots: the Sun rises normally.

Time to get drunk and watch a bullfight. 

[DontSayBanana]

Occupying key roads indefinitely hurts others in the population.  It is akin to taking society hostage.  I for one do not find this acceptable.  There are other legal channels to protest. 

"Rioters" specifically implies violence.  You're wrong.

It seems to me there's a strong possibility they've already exhausted the "legal channels" and found them to be a placebo- might feel a bit better for having taken it, but it doesn't actually resolve anything.  The more you talk about these "legal channels" without pointing to specific, significant examples of success in using those channels, the more convinced I am that's exactly what's going on, and the "legal channels" you keep referring to are really just a relief valve to keep your society complacent with the status quo.

[DontSayBanana]

I don't know why people are on Mono's case for using "rioters" incorrectly.  Its clear that he is misusing the word because it has such a high emotive content, and it suits his sense of outrage to use emotionally charged words, even incorrectly.

He can no more be convinced to use language accurately than any other commie can.  All commies lie through language choice.  We all know it, so it doesn't fool anyone, and it makes him feel better.  So, just roll with the whole "rioter" thing.

Seriously?  Coming from the king of picking apart arguments based on an ambiguous parsing?


We're just following your example, Grumbles.  Be proud.

[MadImmortalMan]

Isn't blocking roads a form of violence? Using force does not always mean broken bones.

[Eddie Teach]

Isn't blocking roads a form of violence? Using force does not always mean broken bones.

How is it different than blocking entrances to a building or seating within a restaurant?

[crazy canuck]

Isn't blocking roads a form of violence? Using force does not always mean broken bones.

Surely the means by which a road is blocked determines whether the act is violent or not.  Shooting anyone who attempts to cross is violent.  Sitting and singing songs is not.

[garbon]

Isn't blocking roads a form of violence? Using force does not always mean broken bones.

Surely the means by which a road is blocked determines whether the act is violent or not.  Shooting anyone who attempts to cross is violent.  Sitting and singing songs is not.

Right. What the hell, MIM?

[Razgovory]

I don't know why people are on Mono's case for using "rioters" incorrectly.  Its clear that he is misusing the word because it has such a high emotive content, and it suits his sense of outrage to use emotionally charged words, even incorrectly.

He can no more be convinced to use language accurately than any other commie can.  All commies lie through language choice.  We all know it, so it doesn't fool anyone, and it makes him feel better.  So, just roll with the whole "rioter" thing.

Mono isn't a communist.  His philosophy is simply "Well I'm on board, haul up the lifeboats".  You know, like a libertarian.  Just replace "libertarian" with "commie" and the sentence makes sense.

[MadImmortalMan]

IDK, I don't really get it. I mean, what would you guys consider it wrong to obstruct. What if a crowd blocked your house so you couldn't enter/exit? What if they blocked your kid from returning home from school? What if people thought you were too fat so they blocked your refrigerator? How about peacefully blocking the roads and rails so no food could enter a city, would that be acceptable?

I have a really sharp conscience when it comes to inconveniencing others, I will admit. So maybe I'm not really on the same page.

[DontSayBanana]

Isn't blocking roads a form of violence? Using force does not always mean broken bones.

Violence can be employed to blockade a road, but it's not a form of violence in and of itself.

[garbon]

IDK, I don't really get it. I mean, what would you guys consider it wrong to obstruct. What if a crowd blocked your house so you couldn't enter/exit? What if they blocked your kid from returning home from school? What if people thought you were too fat so they blocked your refrigerator? How about peacefully blocking the roads and rails so no food could enter a city, would that be acceptable?

I have a really sharp conscience when it comes to inconveniencing others, I will admit. So maybe I'm not really on the same page.

All that's well and good but how is that violence? I hate Critical Mass but it isn't violence.

[derspiess]

Mono isn't a communist.  His philosophy is simply "Well I'm on board, haul up the lifeboats".  You know, like a libertarian.  Just replace "libertarian" with "commie" and the sentence makes sense.

Yes, libertarians love authoritarian governments.  IIRC from another discussion, they are closet fascists or something.

[Admiral Yi]

IDK, I don't really get it. I mean, what would you guys consider it wrong to obstruct. What if a crowd blocked your house so you couldn't enter/exit? What if they blocked your kid from returning home from school? What if people thought you were too fat so they blocked your refrigerator? How about peacefully blocking the roads and rails so no food could enter a city, would that be acceptable?

I have a really sharp conscience when it comes to inconveniencing others, I will admit. So maybe I'm not really on the same page.

Violence is not necessary for us to consider an act wrong.

[alfred russel]

I'm curious what the long term worst case scenario is.

Beijing taking control and Hong Kong becoming a Cantonese Shanghai?

[Jacob]

I'm curious what the long term worst case scenario is.

Beijing taking control and Hong Kong becoming a Cantonese Shanghai?

Worst case scenario for whom?