Microsoft Bans 'Democracy' for China's Web Users

Doc Ruby writes "As reported, paradoxically, on MSN, 'Microsoft's new Chinese internet portal has banned the words 'democracy' and 'freedom' from parts of its website in an apparent effort to avoid offending Beijing's political censors.' MSN China says it must comply with local laws, but there is no Chinese law against the use of these words."

Comments

Speaking truth to power?

[Slur]

Is Microsoft saying, in effect, that if Beijing ever decides to crack down on democratic movements Microsoft will be happy to provide dictionaries and spellcheckers with the proscribed thoughtcrimes removed? Boy they really have learned a lot about lobbying since the antitrust trial.

Last I heard China was working on their own operating system to supplant those of the West, so Microsoft might be wasting their time.

Re:Mercenary Taiwanese Scum

[Pan Sola]

I find some of the points on your linked article to be grossly rather misleading.

When referencing "The Constitution of Taiwan", one must realize that the name of the document should technically be "The Constitution of the Republic of China".

When that document insist that "Tibet is part of China", it meant "Tibet is part of the Republic of China."

Thus when saying the constitution of Taiwan says Tibet is part of China when the Chinese army are killing Tibetan nuns, the first reference to China and the second reference are pointing to different entities.

The referenced link makes it sound like Taiwan believe Tibet belongs to a murderous government, when in fact that very document (the "Constitution of Taiwan") deny the legatimacy of the Bejing government to whom the nun-raping Chinese Liberation Army belongs to.

Because the "Constitution of Taiwan" still think R.O.C. is the rightful ruler of mainland China, any reference in it that talks about "mainland China" also means the R.O.C. government, which in fact no longer rules the mainland.

The misleading nature of your reference makes me doubt the validity of the other information on that page (even if the numbers or the quote are true, the context might have given completely different meaning).

Remember, when the "Taiwanese" government say that anything is "Chinese" or "belongs to China", they mean their little government located in Taipei that only has effect soverignity over a few island. More often than not, it is more accurate to replace what they are saying to "Taiwanese" or "belongs to Taiwan", where Taiwan technically means the Republic of China.

Numerous American groups were and are engaged in a boycott of Chinese products and have demonstrated loudly and vociferously against the occupation of Tibet.

Numerous Taiwanese groups have done the same thing too.

If the actions of many captalist corporations of a certain nationality/ethinicity is sufficient to charactize a people, as you have done using Taiwanese companies to characterize the Taiwanese people, then I can also say the American are no better than mercenary pigs. Slashdotters should be all too famaliar with a few examples.

The majority of the Taiwanese population would be outraged to find any Taiwanese company profiting from China in the aftermath of Tiananmen Square. Realize, most Americans actually don't know how Starbucks exploit the environment and coffee workers, about the Nike sweat shopts, etc.

This response has the biase of an individual who identifies himself as being a "Republic of China" Chinese who was born and mostly raised in Taiwan. Individuals who identify with the R.O.C. are actually closer to being the minority in Taiwan, compared to the people who identify themselves as strictly "Taiwanese". The referenced link stated Eighty-five percent (85%) of the people of Taiwan are Chinese. Only fifteen percent (15%) are Taiwanese. without any reference, and probably uses some biological ancestry demographic data instead of using what the people actually identify themselves with.

Re:No law?

[guardiangod]

Normally law does apply to citizens, provided that you know your local policemen well enough that they actually goes through the trouble (1. not exactly a bad thing, they just do thier work faster if you give them a cigerette 2. most of them don't take large amount money bribe nowaday- the central government is really harsh on this kind of thing these days). However when you get to political (against the party) or economic (smuggling for exp.), the government draws the line.

Re:Where's Pastor Ken when you *need* him?

[MyLongNickName]

What a stupid response. Yeah... Bill gives away billions for a tax break. That's like putting a dollar in a change machine that only gives you back 40 cents... and doing it over and over.

I know this might come as a shock... but Bill might actually be a human being. Doesn't mean you have to love Microsoft. Obly that Bill Gates actually has a humanitarian streak in him.

But ofcourse, it is much easier to make a smart ass remark when faced with evidence contrary to one's beliefs.