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The Internet Shifts East

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the lots-of-proxy-servers dept.

Logic Bomb writes: "The San Francisco Chronicle has an article discussing the World Intellectual Property Organization's prediction that in less than 10 years, Chinese will be the most widely-used language on the web. Assuming the Internet becomes a truly global entity, this is an obvious (and mathematically correct) conclusion. On the other hand, the implementation of the Internet in places without certain civil liberties provides an interesting challenge to typical Western (idealist) notions about what the Internet does for society. Would you even consider the average wealthy Chinese citizen with online access truly 'on the Internet'? And how is the Internet supposed to draw people together when the same old language barrier still exists?"

10 of 447 comments (clear)

  1. "East" ? by mirko · · Score: 3, Funny

    Isn't China west from San Francisco ?

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    1. Re:"East" ? by hatchet · · Score: 2, Funny

      Well.. it's a matter of perspective. We now know that only speed(of light) may be absolute so in the matter of fact.. china is also north and south of san francico and 5km away if you are able to bend space-time:)

    2. Re:"East" ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      Is it me or did the title illusively (subliminally) read "Internet Shit Feast" ???

  2. net-speranto by Transient0 · · Score: 2, Funny

    J0 3570Y 4 N371Z3N0 comeon, we're already halfway there towards a language that everybody on the planet understands equally poorly. l33t-sp33k can be the lingua franka of the digital age.

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  3. Well, it may mean we have this... by TDScott · · Score: 1, Funny

    ÚÒÚ!

    (That's Babelfish's Chinese translation of First Post.)

  4. Slight mistake in the article by J.D.+Hogg · · Score: 5, Funny
    "Western news sites including CNN, the BBC and Reuters are routinely blocked"

    Since when CNN is a news site ? I see similarities between Chinese people who read the People's Daily and westerners who watch CNN.

    1. Re:Slight mistake in the article by Phroggy · · Score: 4, Funny

      Since when CNN is a news site ?

      When comparing it to Slashdot.

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  5. Perspective Via Elvis by Effugas · · Score: 5, Funny

    From: gascan@dcst16.pt (Bill Gascoyne)
    Newsgroups: talk.origins
    Subject: The dangers of extrapolation (was Re: Speed of Light

    A cautionary thought on the dangers of extrapolation.

    It is reported that in 1977 there were 37 Elvis impersonators in the world.
    In 1993 there were 48,000. At this rate, by the year 2010 one out of every
    three people in the world will be an Elvis impersonator.

    :-)

  6. Language Barrier by phillymjs · · Score: 3, Funny

    And how is the Internet supposed to draw people together when the same old language barrier still exists?"

    Because on the Internet, we can communicate through the universal language of pr0n. Well, unless you're in one o' them loser countries that filters it out.

    ~Philly

  7. Re:Same old language barrier? by Mike+Schiraldi · · Score: 4, Funny

    English is the lingua franca of international commerce

    I agree with you, but i find it kinda funny that you use a Latin phrase meaning "French language" to illustrate your point that English is top dog.

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