[stringgames]

> It sounds like every single person in China has to know about it to know they should never talk about it.

When I was in college I spoke to a Chinese exchange student about Tiananmen square. They had a vague idea that something bad happened there, but they didn't know any details. They had never seen the picture of the person in front of a tank before. They had a belief that lots of bad things happened in China's past, but it's worth it because they are no longer poor.

There's a difference between knowing a subject is taboo, and having a real understanding of the subject.

[qwerty456127]

> There's a difference between knowing a subject is taboo, and having a real understanding of the subject.

Doesn't tabooing something make it particularly interesting to learn about it? If I know about some mysterious bad thing having happened at a square nobody is allowed to mention I would hardly be able to resist curiosity, I would get interested about this topic above all other and find ways to learn as much as I can.

[mattnewton]

What if you knew that seeking that information would notify the government and could harm you, your family, and possibly even friends? Would you still act on that curiosity?

[qwerty456127]

Yes. Cautiously.

[traderjane]

Why? Are you a journalist? What will you do with knowledge of taboo events?

It seems you would risk much for very little just to know?

[qwerty456127]

Not a journalist nor activist. I wouldn't even tell anybody but those who have earnt my genuine trust and want to know badly. Pure curiosity. What the heck in life can be more attractive than knowing a secret truth?

[traderjane]

Most people would say millions upon millions of things are more interesting than knowing taboo secrets when people are interested in hurting you for it, and especially when the motivation is nothing more than "to know".