• OBJECTION!@lemmy.ml
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    2
    ·
    edit-2
    1 hour ago

    I generally don’t go around shit-talking other countries that I don’t live in and have never been to. The only real exceptions being ones that are receiving military aid from my own country, such as Israel, because that makes it relevant to me.

    For the record, I have and do criticize China on certain things, such as LGBT rights. But again, that’s pretty irrelevant to any political questions that are actually relevant to me and my life. What am I going to do about problems in China? What levers of power can I or should I assert to address their problems? It kinda seems like I should probably be a little bit more concerned about all the horrible things my own country is doing. Don’t talk shit about a splinter in their eye when there’s a wooden board in your own or something.

    If there was a way for me to assert some lever of power against China, it would be through my own government. But that would only be a valid thing to do if my government wasn’t doing worse things, which is why it’s relevant to point out that the US is worse, in spite of the inevitable response of “whataboutism.”

    If the discourse around here was upholding China as some utopia that we should all try to emulate in every regard, you would see me criticize it more. But because the discourse is more about how evil every single thing it does is, how every accusation should be believed completely uncritically, how we should support Western governments acting against it, etc, it’s only natural that that’s what you see me pushing back against the most.

    • ThirdConsul@lemmy.zip
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      edit-2
      51 minutes ago

      For the record, I have and do criticize China on certain things, such as LGBT rights

      Your profile motto:

      If someone claims something happened on the fediverse without providing a link, they’re lying.

      Evidence or GTFO.

      • OBJECTION!@lemmy.ml
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        50 minutes ago

        Sure.

        China’s modern day homophobia does not come from a place of “The Buddha said this was bad,” rather, it comes from seeing homosexuality as a Western invention, and a symptom of “bourgeois decadence.” Sadly, such brainworms are common in many socialist countries. There is a stereotype many people have that gay people all live in cities and spend all our time partying at nightclubs, because that makes for better TV than the reality does.

        • ThirdConsul@lemmy.zip
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          edit-2
          41 minutes ago

          I think we have different definitions what criticism is, because all you do there is explain why, whitewash.

          Wait, no, unless you think this is the part when you criticize China

          Sadly, such brainworms are common in many socialist countries

          Because you don’t. You explicitly don’t criticize China in this sentence.

          Edit: I checked, definition of the words are clear. To criticize is to pass judgment, or find fault. To explain is to provide context or inform or clarify. You did the latter.

          • OBJECTION!@lemmy.ml
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            2
            ·
            edit-2
            29 minutes ago

            How is acknowledging that Chinese homophobia exists, is a problem, and comes out of a socialist intellectual tradition not a criticism of China? Wtf are you talking about? Obviously, that falls under “finding fault.”

            Yes, of course I’m going to contextualize and explain it, because the person in that thread asked me for an explanation.

            This is ridiculous goalpost moving. No criticism would ever be enough for you, short of going full on rainbow imperialism, chauvanism, or exaggerating/making shit up. You’re being blatantly intellectually dishonest.

            Because you don’t. You explicitly don’t criticize China in this sentence.

            This is just straight up lying. Acknowledging that a problem in China is also a problem in other socialist countries does somehow make it not a problem when China does it. Fuck off with that BS.

            • ThirdConsul@lemmy.zip
              link
              fedilink
              English
              arrow-up
              1
              ·
              edit-2
              27 minutes ago

              No, literally writing “I think China is wrong on LGBT treatment” would suffice. You did NOT write that. Thats not goalpost moving, dont try to gaslight me. From the start to finish I keep claiming I have never seen you critisize China. This still remains. You’re sad on SOME communist country brainworms, but you did not list that specific country in that sentence, nor your personal opinion on homophobia in question.

              Heck, you can write it right now and I will be convinced and for as long that comment remains will never claim you’re incapable of criticizing China.

              • OBJECTION!@lemmy.ml
                link
                fedilink
                English
                arrow-up
                2
                ·
                edit-2
                25 minutes ago

                Yeah, if you completely ignore the fact that that sentence was in the context of talking about China, if you completely ignore the parts where I talk specifically about “China’s modern day homophobia” then you might not be the bold-faced liar that you are. Talking about me gaslighting you while trying to pull this shit is incredibly rich.

                Liberals only ask for evidence of criticism to use it in bad faith, exhibit #1684938