Porn Sites Pop Up In China 126
crimeandpunishment writes "It may only be a temporary glitch, but it's one that's providing some pleasure for Internet users in China. Previously blocked websites, including ones with pornography, are suddenly accessible in China. The country has a long history of cracking down on online pornography. One analyst says it's far more likely that this is a glitch, not a change in Internet censorship policy."
An analyst is necessary for this? (Score:3, Insightful)
One analyst says it's far more likely that this is a glitch, not a change in internet censorship policy.
I don't think any analysts are necessary to make such a blatantly obvious statement.
I noticed! (Score:5, Insightful)
Yeah, I noticed this recently. I popped in the name of my favorite porn sample aggregator and it loaded, as did all the sites it linked to. Later, I tried to go to youtube - blocked! It turns out my VPN was off the whole time and I hadn't noticed. These porno sites were all blocked before. I don't believe it's de jure illegal to access porn sites, but it is illegal to host them for sure. Online porn is one of the things that the Chinese mafia does in its IT divisions.
What China needs is to produce its own domestic porn. There is no shortage of women ready and willing to do whatever is required. They have Taiwanese and HK porn but it sucks (ask for "yellow DVD/huang1 de DVD" at your friendly neighborhood DVD shop). To many mainland Chinese, the only context they see white women in is pornos or mainstream media. This distorts their viewpoint of all white women. A couple of my friends get harassed all the time because they have blonde hair and nice chests. Everyone assumes they're prostitutes because they look like the women that the Chinese see in pornos. Come on, how many of you immediately think of "kung fu" (or worse, "karate") when you see a Chinese person? Associations are there and they are real.
Re:Productivity (Score:3, Insightful)
One can't help but wonder how much productivity could be gained if internet porn was not accessible in the U.S.
What, you think offices full of (even more) sexually frustrated geeks will *increase* productivity?
Re:I noticed! (Score:4, Insightful)
A couple of my friends get harassed all the time because they have blonde hair and nice chests. Everyone assumes they're prostitutes...
Unless they have an actual job that paid for that big rock on their finger and the designer frock they are wearing, then yes, they are prostitutes.
Re:One more possibility... (Score:3, Insightful)
Fear the Libertarians! If they get their way, the government will leave you alone! Oh, the Horror!
It's not that I fear the government leaving me alone, it's that I fear that if the Libertarians have their way, the corporations will not leave me alone.
Comment removed (Score:3, Insightful)
Why is China blocking porn? (Score:5, Insightful)
Growing up Christian, I understood well why a *Christian* nation would want to eliminate pornography. Banning pornography seemed to fit well with the sixth commandment. It didn't seem at all out of the ordinary that law reflected the derision of most of the voters.
But why is China blocking porn? They aren't a traditionally Christian country - they're decidedly atheist, and actively prosecute Christians. They haven't a clue why (philosophically, at least) sexual morality matters. It seems remarkably odd that a country decidedly anti-Christian is enforcing a ban on pornography, and one more restrictive than America (which is supposedly a Christian nation (or was)).
What possible reason could they have for doing this, aside from the outright malevolent oppression of their citizens. They don't even know *why* porn is wrong, yet they outlaw it.
Re:One more possibility... (Score:3, Insightful)
If you imagine that government protects you from corporations, I've got a bridge to sell you.
Oh, no, I have no illusions about that. It's just that the Libertarians (note upper-case "L" here) would pretty much eliminate what few legal protections I do have and throw all recourse into the civil courts--a solution that favors the wealthy.
Libertarianism is nothing but a continuation of Ronald Reagan's assault on the working class in the U.S.
Re:Change in policy, glitch, or... (Score:3, Insightful)
China is a prison. Everyone is already locked up. Totalitarianism is like that.