Comments on: Chinese bloggers evade censors by writing backwards

By: Daniel

Daniel — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:10:21 +0000

Honestly, I love political debates like this because the ignorance and arrogance of people is so funny, but sad at the same time. Maybe I’m the idiot, but I think Mark is actually protecting the the people of Iran and making comments on the government.

Just because the phrases “I love the Iranian people” or “Iranians are so cool” aren’t in there it doesn’t mean there’s bashing.

The problem is this. Personally I couldn’t care less if you’re from Iran, China, Germany or the US, an idiot’s an idiot everywhere. Now every second person will tell me that I’m saying Chinese, Germans and Americans are idiots, when I am saying no such thing.

I suggest you people read what Mark is saying and try to understand it before making comments like this.

By: Karl L. Gechlik | AskTheAdmin.com

Karl L. Gechlik | AskTheAdmin.com — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 13:51:36 +0000

Wow talk about blowing something out of proportion… BIG TIME! I am going to chalk this one up to a bad Google Translation from English to Iranian? Or just some people looking to argue and push their personal agendas.

Mark – excellent post, very informative and lets me thank my lucky stars that I live in the good old US of A. As for putting the Chinese bloggers in the spot light they are already there and more stories about it might open the right peoples eyes.

Oh and I would LOVE to see a copy of that apology :)

By: Ellie

Ellie — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 13:46:41 +0000

I think it is admirable that people want to share their experiences with the world, despite being in a country that does censor which websites people can access and what people can say/do.

Mark, I do not think you are bashing Iran at all. Some people just jump on one word or sentence and try to make it fit their idea that “everyone” “hates” whatever it is that they “love.”

Cheers!
Ellie

By: Mark O'Neill

Mark O'Neill — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 11:30:34 +0000

The Iranian government wants to execute bloggers and you're criticising ME for bashing THEM? Well excuse me for a moment while I draft my apology to Mr Ahmadinejad. I'll be right back - dude. And as for "dragging the Chinese bloggers into the spotlight", I hardly think I have done that. I merely linked to and reported on a news report in the Wall Street Journal which is obviously a much bigger and much more influential publication than Geeks Are Sexy. So if you want to accuse anyone of dragging Chinese bloggers into the spotlight, call up the Wall Street Journal and ask for the managing editor.

By: AsianDude

AsianDude — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 11:02:55 +0000

dude, i feel the reason of this entire article is nothing more than just bashing Iran. You’re boasting abt freedom of speech in the west. are you kidding me? try posting something having sympathy to ppl the western governments dislike, then we’ll see if you dont have to worry abt agencies knocking on ur door the nxt morning. a useless article, you’re jst creating issues for those poor Chinese bloggers by dragging them to the spotlight.

By: Mark O'Neill

Mark O'Neill — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 10:22:10 +0000

I think you grossly exaggerate. You have something called the “Constitution of the United States” and “freedom of speech”. You can say what you want (within reason of course) and you won’t go to jail for it. Places like China and Iran have no such freedom of speech protections.

Do you honestly see the United States Congress debating whether to have a death penalty for bloggers? I don’t think so. If that day ever comes, then your constitution really isn’t worth the paper it’s written on.

By: Mark O'Neill

Mark O'Neill — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 10:17:45 +0000

To repeat my earlier comment, I am NOT bashing the Iranian people, only the Iranian government. I have the highest respect for the Iranian people and the highest admiration for Iranian bloggers.

By: Mark O'Neill

Mark O'Neill — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 10:14:07 +0000

Whether it’s in your face or concealed still doesn’t make it right.

By: Mark O'Neill

Mark O'Neill — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 10:11:19 +0000

I’m NOT bashing the Iranian people – I am criticising the Iranian government with their intentions to pass this law to execute bloggers who write things that the Iranian government doesn’t like.

I have absolutely nothing against the Iranian people. In fact I keep in infrequent touch with two Iranian bloggers and they are very nice people.

By: anthony

anthony — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 09:03:14 +0000

“We take our freedoms for granted because they’ve always been there.”

They haven’t always been there. Our ancestors fought for a long time to get those freedoms.

By: sixtyoldman

sixtyoldman — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 06:55:52 +0000

nice to have freedoom of speech like us and some other country in my country if we are to criticized “federal government” we might end up in jail…

can’t give opinion at all…

By: ashok pai

ashok pai — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 06:08:46 +0000

there sure is enough criticism abt bush and his cronies. cant think of any other country like china though which is getting advanced, is enormously powerful, getting richer, and is getting worse by the day in state policing