[minraws]

I don't know I don't think they were jailed but some guy also got arrested for saying bad stuff about the King

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwyenzdz66wo

Sure courts won but the arrest is the issue. Courts general also win in other democratic third world countries but the initial arrest is enough of an intimidation.

Also this is a slippery slope I remember one person you mentioned were bad but there was another which wasn't nearly as bad.

Also folks on the other side can say the same thing when you call them fascists or something.

Sure saying bad stuff is bad, but it's very very fucking slippery slope.

All speech is hate speech of you are not in line with the current govt.

Another example from what you might consider hateful probably who went to jail and was acquitted but after a lengthy process.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgv785n23eo

I am not saying UK is the next China but, it's rather fascinating people in UK to claim they have so much more freedom and privacy.

Basically if China is 100% authoritarian, UK is atleast 70% there. They just need a leader to abuse these systems to come in power.

[sofixa]

> Sure courts won but the arrest is the issue.

Indeed, but police do this kind of thing in a lot of places. Didn't the US have multiple cases of people being arrested over comments on Kirk's death? It's not good, but cops on a power trip because you hurt their feelings is not a thing we can easily root out. Hence why courts matter.

> All speech is hate speech of you are not in line with the current govt.

Not at all what hate speech means.

> Basically if China is 100% authoritarian, UK is atleast 70% there. They just need a leader to abuse these systems to come in power.

Yeah, no, 70% is ridiculous. I'm not sure you can clearly measure this, but at most 50%. Even with an abusive leader you can still criticise them and the monarch without fear of actual repercussions. In China prison time is basically guaranteed.

[minraws]

That's the problem mate, UK and US pretend they are free, democratic but the lived experience doesn't match up.

There are cases where things atleast have a decent ending but that's not even a given in so called free and democratic world.

The only constant is rights for people get stripped and reduced in the name of safety and security. And people consider politicians willing to given fake, and nonsensical answers as the democratic process.

How is that different from an authoritarian state?

> Yeah, no, 70% is ridiculous. I'm not sure you can clearly measure this, but at most 50%. Even with an abusive leader you can still criticise them and the monarch without fear of actual repercussions. In China prison time is basically guaranteed.

Just to note most people just get deplatformed for this stuff in china they don't get jailed. Since they control media China doesn't even care about putting you in an actual jail cell if you aren't a major active threat.

As for actual repercussions, people are getting shot at, put in jail with (even folks with green cards in US), and banned from travel (in UK). I am not sure how that isn't 70% of the way there. But it's fine if it's already alright with you that you consider 50% authoritarianism Free.

I am certain you agree that this nonsense is on the rise. But I am also certain you just haven't considered how close it is to actual authoritarianism.

China isn't just shooting people who have said stuff against China I could get a visa and travel without too much hassle even after showcasing visible displeasure with the country's rules.

US and UK doesn't even like me mentioning them negatively if I am applying for a visa.