[seanmcdirmid]

The only reason we are fascinated with it is because it is a banned topic in chat, in public Chinese forums, and in language models. Yes, you can ask a Chinese about it in a private setting, no, you can’t talk about it with a large group. No, the what aboutism Kent State massacre doesn’t really compare because the US government hasn’t taken down the Wikipedia page on it.

The Chinese government makes the topic fascinating by banning it. Just like banned books in China get a sales boost at street side book sellers, or kids wear something their parents specifically tell them not to wear.

[anonymouslambda]

What’s the whataboutism re: Kent State? My point is the average Chinese citizen cares about Tiananmen about as much as the average American cares about Kent State, which is to say not at all.

I guess we can continue to be fascinated by it and Chinese citizens can continue to look at us weird when we speak about it like it’s the secret to immortality or something.

[seanmcdirmid]

The average Chinese citizen doesn’t care about Kent state because no one is trying to ban talking about it. People here aren’t internet in 6/4/89, they are interested in the CCP’s banning of it. Anything you try to ban will stand out.

Having lived in Beijing for 9 years, Chinese are mostly the same, they are interested in whatever is controversial in the states (if they are interested in the state, since we don’t ban much) and ignore anything else. Ya, you aren’t going to get any points bringing up 6/4, even at PKU (but you can’t go to PKU on 6/4 so don’t worry about that), but you’ll hear plenty of dirty laundry about your country from them, so don’t worry, the conversations will still be good.