[mixmastamyk]

I believe that.

However, as patio11 said (and surely not the first), the optimal amount of fraud for a payment system is non-zero. Profit is higher when convenience is prioritized over security.

Similarly, it seems the optimal amount of crime for a government is not zero either. Everyone breaking the law allows everyone to be dealt with as needed. Sure I keep a low profile, and they probably have a full profile on us already, but it doesn't feel satisfying helping out.

On the other hand, despite my better judgement I let Japan take photos of me, etc. Who knows what they do with them.

[seanmcdirmid]

I guess. You'll never feel as free and as restricted as you will in China, both at the same time! Free in the sense that almost anything goes in the party scene (although stay away from drugs, big no-no, even if you are offered some), restricted in the sense that many internet sites don't work and you are always worried that the Chinese authorities will become interested in you for some odd reason (even though this is unlikely, we usually aren't as interesting as we think we are).

Japan in comparison is much more law and order from the start, and mostly the opposite. Japanese Police will search your stuff just to look busy, but they are never going to unnecessarily persecute you.