[katowulf]

I agree in every respect, but also hesitate to say lives "worse" than our own. Different indeed, but I don't have an inkling of how to understand any of the varied Chinese cultures or social classes. Nor can I fully appreciate what would be required to compare the quality of those lives, with such different belief structures and goals.

I can only see a beautiful soul snuffed out and wonder why he chose that route. But then, even that is skewed by my culture of freedom and my religious beliefs.

[_xlr2]

The differences between Chinese and Western values matter little in this context. Sure, you could make an argument that their social culture which values hard work would promote these working conditions, but that is irrelevant.

"Worse", despite its subjective meaning, can arguably be used objectively in this case. To be quite frank, Foxconn treats its workers like trash [1]. It's a throwback to the labor rights violations of early industrial America. While you may sit back in your chair and type away that you can't possibly call their lives worse, you nor I would ever want to be caught in an environment like theirs.

There's a huge difference between a culture that values hard work, and one that also knows the respect which its workers deserve.

[1] http://www.facing-finance.org/en/database/cases/working-cond...

[sbarre]

I was also referring more broadly to the world in general.

I am a white upper-middle-class knowledge worker who lives in Canada, so I suspect I can objectively say that most of the people in the world are worse off than I am, in terms of security, comfort and stability.

But that doesn't mean they are any less human, or any less worthy of a good and decent life, and the fact that so many are denied that makes me sad.

I do what I can (supporting charities and organizations who help, and doing what I can in my personal life), but it's still easy to feel helpless about the whole thing...

[frozenport]

$$$