On CHOW: How to avoid dirty looks at cafes
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ah the letter not the spirit...
You are correct of course.

However, I doubt that the gentleman concerned has violated any of MSN's terms of service, and, he hasn't been proven under local law (or US law if that is where the servers live) of anything. Therefore he is entitled to feel a little miffed if nothing else.

The web is a way of allowing different voices to be heard and those of us who believe in free speech should also recognise that informed debate requires publicising differing viewpoints. If he were to do as you suggest not many people would hear him.

This self censorship practiced by MSN to allow them to continue to do business in China is exactly the same as that "embedded" journalists employ when covering wars travelling with troops. The question we should be asking in each case are whos interests such behaviour is serving?

In the case of compliance with laws limiting discussion and free speech in the press (which IMHO publishing to an internet blog site inludes) then corporations (MSN in this case) are not (again my view) acting in the interests of the citizens of the very states that they are incorporated in for reasons I'll not bore you with. happy
Posted by: rafe01   Posted on: 01/04/06 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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Microsoft censors Chinese blogger  Loverock Davidson | 01/04/06
Right, Google censored and we should ALL take a ...  Judas I. | 01/04/06
MS is not the enemy here  Michael Kelly | 01/04/06
Go to bed with dogs,  bjbrock | 01/04/06
Not the enemy just following orders...  Nullifidian | 01/04/06
Ah, but if you are going to do business with the enemy ...  Judas I. | 01/04/06
Then don't buy MS products  NonZealot | 01/04/06
This Merle Haggard, "love 'em or leave 'em" ...  Judas I. | 01/04/06
You are a selfish hypcrotic!  NonZealot | 01/04/06
Hey, chill out, NonZealot. I don't have all day to ...  Judas I. | 01/04/06
Oops, another question  NonZealot | 01/04/06
You think just because Bubba Clinton signed ...  Judas I. | 01/04/06
Hmmm  rafe01 | 01/04/06
Godwin's law has been replaced by OButterball's law  NonZealot | 01/04/06
Naw, that's already Dubya's Law:  Judas I. | 01/04/06
Then MSN should pull out of China  balsover | 01/05/06
Is MS for freedoms guaranteed  bjbrock | 01/04/06
You are confusing  NonZealot | 01/04/06
Obviously they are both.  bjbrock | 01/04/06
No confusion here.  Judas I. | 01/04/06
Interesting  rapson | 01/04/06
I look at the distinguishing  bjbrock | 01/04/06
Where is it written...  NonZealot | 01/04/06
I'm saying MS did not stand up  bjbrock | 01/04/06
Having trouble finding it in the constitution?  NonZealot | 01/04/06
Exactly, Carl:  Judas I. | 01/04/06
What is your point?  NonZealot | 01/04/06
Yes I would.  bjbrock | 01/04/06
MY point is:  Judas I. | 01/04/06
Neither of you replied to my question  NonZealot | 01/04/06
You asked for my point, I told you and I certainly ...  Judas I. | 01/04/06
Actually, thats a trick question  Monkey_MCSE | 01/04/06
OK...  rapson | 01/04/06
OK, so it's okay for MS to pen a plum contract ...  Judas I. | 01/04/06
Just to clarify a few things...  brble | 01/04/06
So, again, like other companies  Boot_Agnostic | 01/04/06
If in the US  Yehuda Mann | 01/04/06
But what does Chinese law say about a  Boot_Agnostic | 01/04/06
I believe I answered NZ's  bjbrock | 01/04/06
Yes, that you did. (NT)  Judas I. | 01/04/06
Conflict of Interest  Yehuda Mann | 01/04/06
You are violating my right to free speech unless...  NonZealot | 01/04/06
ah the letter not the spirit...  rafe01 | 01/04/06
Finally a ration response, thanks!  NonZealot | 01/04/06
..thank you...  rafe01 | 01/04/06
stop while you're ahead  Monkey_MCSE | 01/04/06
Nah, I'm still getting further ahead  NonZealot | 01/04/06
apparently you took the ...  Monkey_MCSE | 01/04/06
But people can't disagree logically  NonZealot | 01/04/06
except that....  rafe01 | 01/04/06
MS, China, etc.  jguyp725@... | 01/05/06
The new MS uniform.....  Middle of the Road | 01/05/06
Everyone's ranting about censorship by MSN...  btljooz | 01/06/06
Back it up and share it on Emule!  GreatInca | 04/19/06

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