[singiht34-02]

You know it's funny, living now in China sometimes it feels a lot more free than the US. You can drink, smoke and piss anywhere, and you can go and buy basically whatever you want (except drugs), drive any way you want - as long as you're not really bothering other people no one really cares. It helps that the cops are more bored teenagers and less ex military assholes waiting to blow some holes in some meatbag. It's s bit of a free for all and sometimes it feels like a bit of fresh air

Like sure you can't talk about a few things or criticize the gov't, but I have better things to do anyways

[prodmerc]

I feel like people don't appreciate this enough. It's kinda refreshing not having to follow so many rules and laws, a more laid back society is better for your mind.

Though the US isn't that bad - most of the time, what you said also applies...

[StavrosK]

Same in southern Europe, except that criticizing the government is a national pastime here.

[mkristian]

Exactly how I feel about living in China also.

[georgemcbay]

While neither is ideal, from a purely practical point of view I'd much rather live in a society where you can freely criticize the government but some products (that are about as far off the needs hierarchy as you can get in this case) are not allowed to be sold for "nanny state" danger reasons.

Again, neither is my ideal, but greater freedom of speech wins for me every time (by a landslide).

[tonyedgecombe]

"Like sure you can't talk about a few things or criticize the gov't"

That doesn't often work out so well.