Unsurprisingly, The Economist’s article peddles a false narrative. Livestreamers and video games are merely the surface of a deeper phenomenon. TikTok and Xiaohongshu thrive only because China’s middle class isn’t impoverished. What makes these platforms persuasive is that they undercut Western myths by contrasting middle-class life in China vs the US.

China has a positive image in the world because it’s leading in sustainability, building world-class infrastructure, pioneering tech in emerging fields, and maintaining safe, clean cities at scale. Its foreign policy, while not flawless, is far more benign than the America’s. No constant wars. A major ally for developing nations. Growing global brands. Standing firm against a bully in the tariff dispute. Meanwhile, tourists who document their visits, are dismantling claims of a police state or genocide.

https://archive.ph/nWvgg

  • blame [they/them]@hexbear.net
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    3 days ago

    As soon as China figures out there are more types of shows than Young Aristocratic Woman in the Song Dynasty Takes Revenge on Her Husband’s Evil Family hollywood is cooked

  • Philosoraptor [he/him, comrade/them]@hexbear.net
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    3 days ago

    When I was in college, I spent a few months there with a friend who was from China and still had family in both Beijing and Shanghai. They let us crash with them and run around. It was super beautiful, everyone was nice, and the infrastructure was amazing. It was a major part of my radicalization, because it was nothing at all like the 1984 portrayal. I’d genuinely love to go back. It’s encouraging that people are starting to see that the American propaganda is absolute nonsense.

    • peeonyou [he/him]@hexbear.net
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      3 days ago

      i want to visit more than anything… we had a trip planned for July 4th but had to cancel it due to a scare with our dog and the difficult requirements getting visas coordinated from both US and Canada… so we’re going to imperial Japan instead which really stinks… I can’t wait to go to China

    • SevenSkalls [he/him]@hexbear.net
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      3 days ago

      These videos sound fun, but not sure which, if any, of them are good. Anyone know any good travel vloggers? In this list or not?

      I used to watch a couple bald and bankrupt videos because he traveled places I had never seen before as a young lib, especially in the post post-Soviet states. But then I heard he was a creep or sex pest or something, plus stopped watching those kinds of videos in general when I got political, and discovered video essays and early Breadtube.

      It’s been awhile but it might be nice to throw one of those travel vloggers who are having fun while destroying Western propaganda on the background while doing dishes or something. Any other good travel vloggers in that style? I tried one of iShowSpeed recent China streams but he was way too GenZ-streamer-personality for me, even to my ADHD-ass, he came off kind of annoying.

  • vegeta1 [he/him]@hexbear.net
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    3 days ago

    Didn’t have a problem when youtubers like l@owhi were dehumanising them. And before people say oh they’re pro taiwan mf was desecrating graves in taiwan. Fuck all these people.

  • CptKrkIsClmbngThMntn [any]@hexbear.net
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    3 days ago

    My friend is currently doing this. He’s of the opinion that people in China eat up a certain amount of propaganda (probably true) but also says they have way more of a healthy scepticism towards their media diet than anyone in the west.

  • Des [she/her, they/them]@hexbear.net
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    3 days ago

    i wish i could be a westerner that visits china. i could even do a livestream while there.

    (can’t tho i did a thing decades ago they do not approve of)

    • KuroXppi [they/them]@hexbear.net
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      3 days ago

      Tourist visas don’t require a police check, and visa waivers no checks at all apart from 1) valid passport, 2) sufficient time remaining before it expires (I think six months), 3) if required - levidence of your accommodation, broad travel plans in China and ticket for your flight/ship/train out of the country. When you enter you will do some biometrics (fingerprint and face) before heading to immigration to get the visa-on-arrival, or visa stamp on your pasted tourist visa.