Microsoft Bans 'Democracy' for China's Web Users 430

Posted by timothy on Saturday June 11, 2005 @11:53PM from the not-merely-chinese-but-china's dept.

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."

Microsoft Bans 'Democracy' for China's Web Users

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So... Does that mean we can invade Microsoft now? (Score:5, Funny)

by Anonymous Coward writes: on Saturday June 11, 2005 @11:56PM (#12792797)

cuz they must be hating freedum and stuff...

Seen on a chinese website... (Score:5, Funny)

by guyfromindia ( 812078 ) writes: on Saturday June 11, 2005 @11:59PM (#12792814) Homepage

C2lick her3e for our dailey s1pecial on d3mocrazy!

Re:So... Does that mean we can invade Microsoft no (Score:5, Funny)

by geekee ( 591277 ) writes: on Saturday June 11, 2005 @11:59PM (#12792815)

"Does that mean we can invade Microsoft now, cuz they must be hating freedum and stuff..."

That would be consistent with the Bush administration policies, i.e. invade Microsoft even though China is the real threat to democracy and freedom.

Next thing you know... (Score:5, Funny)

by bryan8m ( 863211 ) writes: on Saturday June 11, 2005 @11:59PM (#12792817)

...Microsoft will ban the word "monopoly"

In other news... (Score:5, Funny)

by ravenspear ( 756059 ) writes: on Sunday June 12, 2005 @12:01AM (#12792826)

Microsoft agreed to ban "innovation" from its international search portal to filter any potential self referential promotions that might run afoul of stricter false advertising laws in other countries.

Re:Democracy is Eurocentric idea. (Score:5, Funny)

by kentmartin ( 244833 ) * writes: on Sunday June 12, 2005 @12:14AM (#12792895) Homepage

Can't one place be free of McDonalds, MTV, Democracy and Coca-Cola?

Apparently not. I was in the Forbidden City [wikipedia.org] in Beijing a few months ago. Bearing in mind that, after The Great Wall, it would have to be the most famous historical site in the entirety of China. What do you think is smack in the middle? A Starbucks.

I wish this post was a joke, but, I am very sorry to say, it isn't.

Ah - just noticed that wikipedia article above mentions it is there too, so I wasn't just seeing things.

Re:Next thing you know... (Score:3, Funny)

by lilmouse ( 310335 ) writes: on Sunday June 12, 2005 @12:17AM (#12792908)

Oh, that words's already been patented - you're not allowed to use it!

--LWM

Re:1, 2, 3, 4 (Score:2, Funny)

by Quantam ( 870027 ) writes: on Sunday June 12, 2005 @12:24AM (#12792935) Homepage

STOP IT! All that's left of that horse is a half-dozen bloody ribs!

Re:Democracy is Eurocentric idea. (Score:5, Funny)

by BandwidthHog ( 257320 ) writes: <inactive.slashdo ... icallyenough.com> on Sunday June 12, 2005 @12:27AM (#12792942) Homepage Journal

Can't one place be free of McDonalds, MTV, Democracy and Coca-Cola?

One of these things is not like the other.

Idiot.

Re:Next thing you know... (Score:2, Funny)

by zerus ( 108592 ) writes: on Sunday June 12, 2005 @12:31AM (#12792956) Homepage

" Oh, that words's already been patented - you're not allowed to use it!"

I believe it's a registered trademark of Parker Brothers and not a patent ;-) I don't mean to nitpick

Re:1, 2, 3, 4 (Score:4, Funny)

by BandwidthHog ( 257320 ) writes: <inactive.slashdo ... icallyenough.com> on Sunday June 12, 2005 @12:33AM (#12792965) Homepage Journal

You must be new here. Eventually they'll tan the hide and hold a drum circle.

Re:So... Does that mean we can invade Microsoft no (Score:5, Funny)

by TubeSteak ( 669689 ) writes: on Sunday June 12, 2005 @12:37AM (#12792994) Journal

In Soviet Russia, Freedom and Democracy ban Political Censors.
wait a second...

New York City's Freedom Tower??? (Score:2, Funny)

by NXprime ( 573188 ) writes: on Sunday June 12, 2005 @12:43AM (#12793014)

So what will they call our soon to be built, Freedom Tower in NYC? :) The F****** Tower? [Note: Think of a colorful medaphor that fills the missing letters :)]

Yeah and here is the actuall Dialog.... (Score:4, Funny)

by tetrahedrassface ( 675645 ) * writes: on Sunday June 12, 2005 @12:54AM (#12793051) Journal

Microsoft: we like money...
China: we like money....

Microsoft: pay me....

China: we can get it for free...

Microsoft: WE can ensure your communist rule by limiting freedom.

China: wha? freedom? There is no freedom... only work!

Microsoft: Let us show you the way..

China: Deal!

D

Re:Just a sneaky way to censor... (Score:4, Funny)

by poopdeville ( 841677 ) writes: on Sunday June 12, 2005 @01:03AM (#12793075)

Interesting... minutes after visiting that page I got this e-mail from "james.bruns@fbi.gov":

Dear Sir(s) or Madame(s)
It has recently come to our attention that someone in your household or corporation has recently visited http://www.korea-dpr.com/ [korea-dpr.com]. Due to this minor infraction, your constitutional rights have been suspended. Moreover, your children will be deported to Guantanamo Bay for interrogation and re-education.

I am not speaking for the agency when I say that I think you are a disgusting excuse for a human being. Your lack of respect for our fundamental freedoms is appalling and you deserve everything you'll get. Thousands of American boys have died protecting your freedom from despots like Saddam Hussein, and you just throw it away. You make me sick.

In Soviet Russia... (Score:4, Funny)

by Metostopholes ( 592245 ) writes: on Sunday June 12, 2005 @01:42AM (#12793194)

You also couldn't talk about "freedom" and "democracy."

Oh wait, the joke doesn't work like that, does it?

Google (Score:4, Funny)

by minus_273 ( 174041 ) writes: <aaaaa@@@SPAM...yahoo...com> on Sunday June 12, 2005 @01:47AM (#12793216) Journal

Keep in mind, when google pulls a stunt like this, its ok.

Re:In Communist China... (Score:3, Funny)

by daniil ( 775990 ) * writes: <evilbj8rn@hotmail.com> on Sunday June 12, 2005 @03:16AM (#12793442) Journal

A true story: someone in Russia discovered that if you type the sentence "Legal capacity is a person's capacity to exercise rights and fulfil obligations" (in Russian) in MS Word with Russian spellchecking turned on, Word will immediately exit. It's probably just a bug, though, not a deal between Microsoft and the Russian government.

Re:of religion and self-censorship (Score:3, Funny)

by Doc Ruby ( 173196 ) writes: on Sunday June 12, 2005 @11:30AM (#12795009) Homepage Journal

Ask your mom, kid. Then ask her where you got your eyes.

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Microsoft Bans 'Democracy' for China's Web Users 430

Microsoft Bans 'Democracy' for China's Web Users More Login

Microsoft Bans 'Democracy' for China's Web Users

So... Does that mean we can invade Microsoft now? (Score:5, Funny)

Seen on a chinese website... (Score:5, Funny)

Re:So... Does that mean we can invade Microsoft no (Score:5, Funny)

Next thing you know... (Score:5, Funny)

In other news... (Score:5, Funny)

Re:Democracy is Eurocentric idea. (Score:5, Funny)

Re:Next thing you know... (Score:3, Funny)

Re:1, 2, 3, 4 (Score:2, Funny)

Re:Democracy is Eurocentric idea. (Score:5, Funny)

Re:Next thing you know... (Score:2, Funny)

Re:1, 2, 3, 4 (Score:4, Funny)

Re:So... Does that mean we can invade Microsoft no (Score:5, Funny)

New York City's Freedom Tower??? (Score:2, Funny)

Yeah and here is the actuall Dialog.... (Score:4, Funny)

Re:Just a sneaky way to censor... (Score:4, Funny)

In Soviet Russia... (Score:4, Funny)

Google (Score:4, Funny)

Re:In Communist China... (Score:3, Funny)

Re:of religion and self-censorship (Score:3, Funny)

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