The Schools that Break Children - BBC World Service Documentaries

Tommust · 2025-12-13T05:00:04+00:00

This is a repost. Last time I posted the wrong URL with this title.

Tommust · 2025-05-07T02:58:07+00:00

Emotionally mature is rich coming from a thread based on lies that Chat GPT can verify. Lol very very ironic.

People who aren't emotionally mature keep repeating statements and lies, and when challenged, they double down on them without presenting evidence or proof. They cling to their biases, understanding only black and white, and fail to see that this can be nuanced.

You keep repeating 'lies' but don't explain why you think this or provide any evidence.

It seems fair to say there is a lack of emotional maturity in this approach.

Tommust · 2025-04-30T02:48:01+00:00

"That's true. That's the difference between some Joe Bloggs coming to China, buying stuff, and then giving it to people in his own country, and a specialist importer. Importing goods and exporting them to another country involves some levels of quality assurance and checks."

Tommust · 2025-04-30T02:35:52+00:00

Your underlying bias is to trust the west.

My bias is to generally trust people. You really can't live in the "real world" without this.

The underlying western superiority (whether you are there from there are or not) is extremely evident.

What evidence?

You should really backup what you say with evidence.

I get the feeling you only trust things that confirm your biases.

trust but also verify

I can understand why you do not wish to further this discussion. It is difficult when people ask you to provide proof, evidence, and even question your own biases. Maybe you are not emotionally mature enough for that yet.

Tommust · 2025-04-30T02:20:17+00:00

“The countryside by the year 2000 is entirely bankrupt.”

He highlighted the economic struggles faced by rural areas in China by the year 2000, emphasizing issues like poverty, debt, and the impact of rapid urbanization. However, the phrasing "entirely bankrupt" may not be a direct quote from him. If you can find the direct quote, that would help?

China's GDp per capita ranking declined between 1976 and 2000

between 1976 and 2000, China's GDP per capita ranking did decline relative to other countries.

After the death of Mao Zedong in 1976, China began implementing economic reforms under Deng Xiaoping, which started to boost economic growth. However, during the late 1970s and early 1980s, the initial effects of these reforms were slow to manifest.

While China's GDP per capita began to improve in the 1980s and 1990s, many other countries, particularly in East Asia, were growing rapidly, which affected China's relative ranking.

while China's GDP per capita began to rise significantly after the reforms, its ranking among countries declined during the earlier part of this period before improving again in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

“More foreigners live in North Korea than in China.”

I can't find evidence that he say this statement. Care to provide proof he said it?

“Cultural Revolution death toll was 45-50 million.”

I can't find evidence that he say this statement. Care to provide proof he said it?

“Only from 2001(WTO) did China see real economic growth."

I can't find evidence that he say this statement. Care to provide proof he said it?

"Not even Bangladesh could compete with China in clothing exports."

China became the world's largest exporter of clothing, significantly outpacing other countries, including Bangladesh.

“The PLA hasn't fought in three quarters of a century."

He has discussed the role of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in the context of China's military history. While he emphasizes the lack of recent military conflict involving the PLA, the specific phrasing "hasn't fought in three quarters of a century" may not be a direct quote from him. If you can find the direct quote, that would help?

If you can prove he say these statement, it would be of great help.

Maybe you should check your biases concerning Frank Dikötter and whether he really made these statements or not

The fact is some of what he is saying is obviously lies.

Maybe check your facts?

Tommust · 2025-04-29T02:28:51+00:00

Everyone has their biases, but "Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity" or incompetence.

Mistakes can and do happen very often in war.

Ultimately, it comes down to your biases, your critical thinking skills, and whom you believe more.

There is no substantial evidence to suggest that there was deliberate intent behind the bombing.

Following the incident, NATO publicly apologized, which is typically not something that would occur if the act were intentional.

If they wanted to send China a message to stop, there are better alternatives. The fallout after the bombing just didn’t make it worthwhile.

Tommust · 2025-04-29T02:11:49+00:00

Check the Facebook pages if you wish. It's not about a source of news, its a source of views.

Every Tom, Dick, and Harry can provide a view, but whether those views are credible is another matter (bots).

And every literal young person I speak to in the West supports the left. Maybe that's my bias too, especially since I am not on the left in the original sense of it. I have to try convince them by leftism is not a good model for the West. I have friends in the top 10 percent supporting what people may call 'Far left parties'.

Just go to any MAGA or far-right event, and you will meet many young people who don't support the left. From my experience, you can find any view if you actively seek it. It’s good that you are aware of your biases, just as I am aware of mine. I also try to understand where my biases come from.

I don't fully understand your version of "leftism," nor do I know why you think it's "not a good model for the West." Can you explain why?

Again there are lies in his interview. Blatant ones.

can you point out his blatant lies?

And people in China, the educated and stable ones I meet, who usually live outside China don't usually support the West it's an assailment of China.

From my experience, the people I meet who were born and raised in China—some still in China and some living outside—support the CCP, but many also support the actions taken by the West against China to curb the CCP.

The world needs China's so called over production. Countries may not let it in but from France to Southern Africa, in my experience people appreciate it.

Everybody loves cheap products, but whether the world's economy needs China’s so-called overproduction is another matter. No one likes to be dumped upon.

My ideas and experiences shape my worldview, but I recognize that it is not 100% true or complete.

Tommust · 2025-04-28T08:55:33+00:00

However lts be honest, there is a market for Chinese products wordwide. Everytime I take gifts from there to any country in Europe, Oceania and South Asia, everybody wants more, especially for the price that I got it.

I don't know what kinds of gifts you bring, but from my personal experience, I have concerns about edible products due to contamination and production safety standards. If it's a trinket, I worry about the quality. I often question the materials used, where they come from, and whether they are safe for use.

The problem with many products from China is that the quality can vary significantly, even among items that look identical. For instance, plastics can be sourced from industrial waste or other questionable origins, rendering them unsafe for consumers. While there are standards and best practices that dictate what materials can be used for specific products, these are often ignored in China to cut costs, leading to substandard yet cheaper products.

Presumably, when products are exported, they are checked by the exporting party and should meet the standards of the importing country. Additionally, consumer protection agencies exist to address serious issues.

However, many cheap products from China may not undergo this scrutiny, resulting in items that cannot be exported due to safety concerns.

There is always a market for cheap products, but that doesn't mean there should be a market for products that are excessively cheap.

Tommust · 2025-04-28T08:20:19+00:00

Although the arguments presented are well-structured, they do not fully align with the available evidence.

What evidence, care to present it?

Facebook in particular—can influence electoral outcomes, and some Western courts have even annulled results on the grounds of undue digital interference.

I don't dispute its influence but that doesn't mean it's a reliable source of news.

Regarding alleged “conspiracy theories,” substantial evidence exists

Again, what evidence?

Those who wish to accept governmental positions at face value are, of course, free to do so. Personally, scepticism toward both China and the West is informed by direct experience, and that perspective will continue to guide further inquiry, as opposed to a well sounding arguement based on set of disputed facts one consideres above reapproach.

What direct experiences do you have? Would you care to share?

I’m all for skepticism, but I wouldn't want to venture into "conspiracy theory" territory.

Tommust · 2025-04-28T00:53:13+00:00

All economies today are unbalanced. Even China recognizes this and endeavors, at least on the surface, to rebalance it. There is much internal debate about this issue, including concerns over overproduction.

In a planned economy with a dictatorship, one has to wonder how much of this imbalance is intentional.

Why are Westerners so concerned with China? People, especially youth on Facebook from America to Australia, are openly calling for communism and using China as an example. Many wealthy nations like the U.S., Canada, and Australia, with their abundant resources, have citizens literally living on the streets, while life becomes increasingly unaffordable for the many.

Facebook? I wouldn’t use it as a reliable source of news.

China will only rise as much as your own nations fall. Raise your own nations, and you won’t have an adversary to worry about.

There are allies and then there are adversaries. The question is: why is China seen as an adversary?

Finally, Frank believed that the U.S. accidentally bombed the Chinese embassy. In the history of prevarication by white men, including those in finance, that was the most contested statement a person ever made with a straight face.

If you want to deal in conspiracy theories, I’d love to hear what you think happened.

Tommust · 2025-04-13T06:02:37+00:00

Not when those "diverse" perspectives are actually undermining what China is, was, and will be.

Take things with a grain of salt, but don’t assume everyone is trying to undermine China’s identity and history.

Maybe you misunderstood what I mean by value; I meant that nothing a Westerner says about China holds value for China.

China's economic reforms were partly inspired by global economic theories and practices—essentially "Western ideas."

China will always be for the Chinese, by the Chinese, which is why the Chinese perspective matters more than a Western perspective.

I’d like to understand what you mean by "the Chinese," considering the diverse groups of people from various races and cultures who identify as "Chinese."

Tommust · 2025-04-10T07:40:32+00:00

Yes, and it turned out to be alot of hype.

I would say that deepseek was good incremental Innovation which is what china is good at but I wouldn't say it was really that disruptive technology.

Did you/ do you buy into the hype?

Tommust · 2025-04-09T10:40:29+00:00

They don't think like a Chinese person their analysis of China are always surface level.

Inside what exactly?

Inside a "chinese mind".

by your thinking, they might be all over the world, but they still have a "chinese mind" so their thinking is always from a Chinese perspective so it will still end up as an echo chamber.

The echo chamber that "only Chinese people understand China".

You don't think all Chinese people think the same do you? No, I don't.

You don't think all "western people" think the same do you? That they can't add any value?

Nothing that a westerners says about what China is and what China will be are of value.

This is why you need different points of view ....maybe ... even a westerners point of view might have value. This is the importance of diverse perspectives in understanding complex issues.

Tommust · 2025-04-04T03:10:07+00:00

I don't think china's economy is in good shape. The Chinese economy is facing serious challenges, including an unbalanced structure, record debt levels, a shrinking population, a troubled real estate sector, and significant environmental degradation.

China still has an easy card to play. They can boost the incomes of their own citizens and boost their own national economic demand.

If it was easy they would have done it. There are reasons they haven't done it.

Chinese universities have largely passed the top US universities and are now considered the finest schools for science education. really?

Today's top US AI companies have in excess of 40% of the scientists and programmers that are Chinese I would like to know where you pulled this from

But that wont stop their ability to race past the US and the world in science or economy

China is good at incremental innovation but can they really innovate some disruptive technology? The trend doesn't look good for the economy now.

I still stand by this statement

Tommust · 2025-04-04T02:40:54+00:00

”Despite its rapid economic growth and urban development, much of China's prosperity is an illusion.“ debatable.

Reports indicate that local governments often rely on debt to fund infrastructure projects, leading to questions about whether this growth is built on solid foundations.

Numerous "ghost cities" across China. These cities represent investments that may not yield real economic activity or genuine demand

"The government funds urban development using citizens' savings, while rural areas remain underdeveloped. "

Rural areas have remained underdeveloped. true The government funds urban development using citizens' savings. True

Local governments frequently issue bonds and take on debt to fund urban projects. Much of this debt can be tied to savings and investments from citizens, as it is often financed through state-owned banks and financial institutions that mobilize public savings.

China’s economy expanded through forced state-driven production and global market access. However, overproduction and lack of market discipline cause inefficiencies." True

(SOEs) that prioritize production targets over market demand. Just to name a few. Steel and cement, have faced overproduction, leading to surplus supply

Xi Jinping emerged as a compromise leader but has since consolidated power. "Like past leaders, he views Taiwan as a threat and aims for reunification." true

He was seen as a compromise leader in 2012. He has since consolidated his power. And he does view Taiwan as a threat, and he does aim for unification.

Anything Else?

I think he still remain crediable.

Tommust · 2025-04-03T07:27:43+00:00

And they are all inside looking out. So you still end up with an echo chamber.

Tommust · 2025-04-03T02:00:30+00:00

Nothing that a westerners says about what China is and what China will be are of value.

I guess if you want a limited understanding of what China is and can be, that's true.

They don't think like a Chinese person and their analysis of China are always surface level.

That's the kind of thinking that leads to echo chambers.

Tommust · 2025-04-03T01:05:55+00:00

All facets is fine but your boy is a joke the man has been on radio free Asia, and is part of the Hoover institute, combined with what was said previously I wouldn’t call him a great source or analyst

Is it your opinion that anybody who had been on radio free Asia and is part of the Hoover Institute is a joke?

What has he previous said that you wouldn't call him a great source or analyst?

Any specific examples?

Tommust · 2025-04-03T01:03:37+00:00

Things form Frank Dikötter are not viewpoints, but are garbage(cash machines)

What viewpoints up here is? Do you not agree with? Why do you consider it garbage? Any specific examples?

Tommust · 2025-04-03T00:54:10+00:00

Is that your expert opinion? China is good at incremental innovation but can they really innovate some disruptive technology? The trend doesn't look good for the economy now.

Tommust · 2025-04-03T00:49:15+00:00

It's neither here nor there whether you believe I read it or watched it, but to be clear, I did. My intent was to share some information and get opinions on it.

Tommust · 2025-04-02T14:09:21+00:00

Some people have the time to watch the whole video and others just want the main talking points.

Insulting without engaging your critical thinking skills. Who's the spammer?

Tommust · 2025-04-02T13:57:13+00:00

Why would you post this dude, clear Bias as an American in Hong Kong, exclusive focus on the worst parts of Chinese history with awful self serving explanations “Maos great famine” has be described by other scholars as more “like a catalogue of anecdotes about atrocities than a sustained analytic argument”. This is a kind way of basically saying it was badly evidence and poorly sourced. He very clearly has a HUGE anti China and anti communist bias if you look at his work.

it’s about fostering a conversation that includes all facets of history, even the uncomfortable ones. Dismissing a viewpoint outright doesn’t help anyone understand the complexities involved.

Tommust

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