China bans gamers from making moral decisions, femboys, etc

[Ethel mermania]

And where do you think it's your place to determine how much someone plays video games, or does anything?

Protip: It's not, has never been, and never will your place. China can fuck right off with their oppressive BS.

Why is it acceptable on this forum to act like this? This is not debate, it is personal attacks and vulgarity.

Its not quite directed at you. If he had said you can fuck off as opposed to China, if reported would get him warned. / not a mod

That said the western notion that the Chinese have any intention or obligation to respecting individual rights is laughable.

[Bez Imeni]

Certainly the ultimate goal is not to overwork citizens like in Capitalism, but that does not mean people in the society should be able to sit around on their ass all day playing video games and entertaining themselves with cross-dressing, because we want a functional society, not a dysfunctional society. Performing quality work for a portion of each weekday should be expected of any able bodied citizen (and having ADHD or stress disorder is still able bodied). Even in free time, we should expect people to engage in pastimes that are good for them. In my free time, I try to be creative, I hike and dive. These are good for health or produce things other people can use. Spending all your free time playing video games and indulging in sexual fetishes is not good for you or for the people around you.

I agree with much of this. Healthy socialization and activity should be promoted and even though I think China might be overstepping it I don’t think the purpose behind it is bad. Don’t know why you and other tankies are so hung up on gay people existing though.

Gays is not the same thing as these so-called "femboys," right? I do not know very much about the subject, I admit, but I believe that gays are simply attracted to the same sex, femboys are not always gay and just like to put on women's clothes for sexual pleasure. I don't care very much about, that people are attracted to same sex. I do not understand, but it is not such a problem, as long as they do not go around having sex constantly (and that is the same for people that aren't gay too). On the other side, the "femboy" fetish ­— it seems that that is something which can only form from mental problems.

[Farnhamia]

I agree with much of this. Healthy socialization and activity should be promoted and even though I think China might be overstepping it I don’t think the purpose behind it is bad. Don’t know why you and other tankies are so hung up on gay people existing though.

Gays is not the same thing as these so-called "femboys," right? I do not know very much about the subject, I admit, but I believe that gays are simply attracted to the same sex, femboys are not always gay and just like to put on women's clothes for sexual pleasure. I don't care very much about, that people are attracted to same sex. I do not understand, but it is not such a problem, as long as they do not go around having sex constantly (and that is the same for people that aren't gay too). On the other side, the "femboy" fetish ­— it seems that that is something which can only form from mental problems.

Let's not be making psychiatric diagnoses, okay?

[Kumarinadu]

I agree with much of this. Healthy socialization and activity should be promoted and even though I think China might be overstepping it I don’t think the purpose behind it is bad. Don’t know why you and other tankies are so hung up on gay people existing though.

Gays is not the same thing as these so-called "femboys," right? I do not know very much about the subject, I admit, but I believe that gays are simply attracted to the same sex, femboys are not always gay and just like to put on women's clothes for sexual pleasure. I don't care very much about, that people are attracted to same sex. I do not understand, but it is not such a problem, as long as they do not go around having sex constantly (and that is the same for people that aren't gay too). On the other side, the "femboy" fetish ­— it seems that that is something which can only form from mental problems.

They’re banning public depiction of effeminate men in media. While this could be a way to crack down on foreign media (in which case they could have simply banned K Pop) it’s clearly discriminatory. And at this point I don’t even know what you mean by femboy if you don’t mean effeminate men.

[Bez Imeni]

Gays is not the same thing as these so-called "femboys," right? I do not know very much about the subject, I admit, but I believe that gays are simply attracted to the same sex, femboys are not always gay and just like to put on women's clothes for sexual pleasure. I don't care very much about, that people are attracted to same sex. I do not understand, but it is not such a problem, as long as they do not go around having sex constantly (and that is the same for people that aren't gay too). On the other side, the "femboy" fetish ­— it seems that that is something which can only form from mental problems.

They’re banning public depiction of effeminate men in media. While this could be a way to crack down on foreign media (in which case they could have simply banned K Pop) it’s clearly discriminatory. And at this point I don’t even know what you mean by femboy if you don’t mean effeminate men.

Men do not have to act effeminate. A man can easily not be. That is not discriminatory, it simply encourages behavioral change.

[Kumarinadu]

They’re banning public depiction of effeminate men in media. While this could be a way to crack down on foreign media (in which case they could have simply banned K Pop) it’s clearly discriminatory. And at this point I don’t even know what you mean by femboy if you don’t mean effeminate men.

Men do not have to act effeminate. A man can easily not be. That is not discriminatory, it simply encourages behavioral change.

Do you suggest the reverse as well?

[Ifreann]

They’re banning public depiction of effeminate men in media. While this could be a way to crack down on foreign media (in which case they could have simply banned K Pop) it’s clearly discriminatory. And at this point I don’t even know what you mean by femboy if you don’t mean effeminate men.

Men do not have to act effeminate. A man can easily not be. That is not discriminatory, it simply encourages behavioral change.

People don't need you telling them how to behave.

[Kumarinadu]

Not really, the Zapatistas for example are very outspoken feminists.

Rojava's pretty decent about that, too, IIRC. So was Burkina Faso during Sankara's tenure, before he was murdered.

It was the norm with Marxist Leninists from their founding and is starting to go back to that way even in the west out of opposition to liberal morality.

[Necroghastia]

I agree with much of this. Healthy socialization and activity should be promoted and even though I think China might be overstepping it I don’t think the purpose behind it is bad. Don’t know why you and other tankies are so hung up on gay people existing though.

Gays is not the same thing as these so-called "femboys," right? I do not know very much about the subject, I admit, but I believe that gays are simply attracted to the same sex, femboys are not always gay and just like to put on women's clothes for sexual pleasure. I don't care very much about, that people are attracted to same sex. I do not understand, but it is not such a problem, as long as they do not go around having sex constantly (and that is the same for people that aren't gay too). On the other side, the "femboy" fetish ­— it seems that that is something which can only form from mental problems.

Or, you know, they could just be wearing clothes in a style they like, like most people.

They’re banning public depiction of effeminate men in media. While this could be a way to crack down on foreign media (in which case they could have simply banned K Pop) it’s clearly discriminatory. And at this point I don’t even know what you mean by femboy if you don’t mean effeminate men.

Men do not have to act effeminate. A man can easily not be. That is not discriminatory, it simply encourages behavioral change.

Why shouldn't they if they want to?

[The H Corporation]

They’re banning public depiction of effeminate men in media. While this could be a way to crack down on foreign media (in which case they could have simply banned K Pop) it’s clearly discriminatory. And at this point I don’t even know what you mean by femboy if you don’t mean effeminate men.

Men do not have to act effeminate. A man can easily not be. That is not discriminatory, it simply encourages behavioral change.

This post is definitely not controversial. At all.

I mean everyone has the right to do whatever they want, even in their behaviour, I feel like we are imposing something that doesn't bother us like how a man behaves, even if its "manly" or "feminine" if you can call it that

[Bez Imeni]

Men do not have to act effeminate. A man can easily not be. That is not discriminatory, it simply encourages behavioral change.

This post is definitely not controversial. At all.

I mean everyone has the right to do whatever they want, even in their behaviour, I feel like we are imposing something that doesn't bother us like how a man behaves, even if its "manly" or "feminine" if you can call it that

Everyone does not have the rights to do what they want. If that were the truth, murderers could kill people, rapists could rape, there would be no law. There must always be some restriction on the ability to do whatever you want, or you cannot have a functioning society.

[Stellar Colonies]

This post is definitely not controversial. At all.

I mean everyone has the right to do whatever they want, even in their behaviour, I feel like we are imposing something that doesn't bother us like how a man behaves, even if its "manly" or "feminine" if you can call it that

Everyone does not have the rights to do what they want. If that were the truth, murderers could kill people, rapists could rape, there would be no law. There must always be some restriction on the ability to do whatever you want, or you cannot have a functioning society.

Why must the line be drawn at men being able to behave in a stereotypically 'effeminate' manner?

[Gonswanza]

While the trollfest is ongoing, I do wonder if there will be further moves on these bans, or if perhaps this is the end of it, finally... With a future "purge" of content akin to a certain other series of purges done by a certain Russian mustache man to remove the competition and any likely dissenters.

[Cereskia 2]

*Sigh*

Are there any updates on the current China situation?

[Resilient Acceleration]

While the trollfest is ongoing, I do wonder if there will be further moves on these bans, or if perhaps this is the end of it, finally... With a future "purge" of content akin to a certain other series of purges done by a certain Russian mustache man to remove the competition and any likely dissenters.

Not yet. No country can historically experience uninterrupted growth forever, and when the downturn comes (especially since there's a lot of potential factors including overballooned bubbles, systemic hidden debts, demographic crunch, and resource shortages), the CCP will lose its Mandate of Heaven until the situation improves. I guess purges will be more likely in those times, but it won't take the form of 20th-century open violence in the streets. After all, the CCP seems to know that they're heading for something like this, which is why they're actually spending more on their internal police and surveillance systems than on their military.

[Kerwa]

*Sigh*

Are there any updates on the current China situation?

Yes. Shin kicking is to be introduced as a national sport.

[Necroghastia]

This post is definitely not controversial. At all.

I mean everyone has the right to do whatever they want, even in their behaviour, I feel like we are imposing something that doesn't bother us like how a man behaves, even if its "manly" or "feminine" if you can call it that

Everyone does not have the rights to do what they want. If that were the truth, murderers could kill people, rapists could rape, there would be no law. There must always be some restriction on the ability to do whatever you want, or you cannot have a functioning society.

Newsflash, bucko: murder and rape violate the rights of other people, which is why they are illegal. How does crossdressing or even behaving in a gender nonconforming way do that?

[Diahon]

This post is definitely not controversial. At all.

I mean everyone has the right to do whatever they want, even in their behaviour, I feel like we are imposing something that doesn't bother us like how a man behaves, even if its "manly" or "feminine" if you can call it that

Everyone does not have the rights to do what they want. If that were the truth, murderers could kill people, rapists could rape, there would be no law. There must always be some restriction on the ability to do whatever you want, or you cannot have a functioning society.

yes, acting girly is exactly in the same category as raping and killing

also, yes, that's sarcasm

[Diahon]

Everyone does not have the rights to do what they want. If that were the truth, murderers could kill people, rapists could rape, there would be no law. There must always be some restriction on the ability to do whatever you want, or you cannot have a functioning society.

Newsflash, bucko: murder and rape violate the rights of other people, which is why they are illegal. How does crossdressing or even behaving in a gender nonconforming way do that?

because the state has decreed that it is equivalent to murder and rape, and i am nothing if not a law-abiding citizen of the bestest state on earth

therefore, if xi decrees all chinese citizens are pretzels or else, it is my duty to torture myself

from latin torquere, to twist

or else

[Kumarinadu]

This post is definitely not controversial. At all.

I mean everyone has the right to do whatever they want, even in their behaviour, I feel like we are imposing something that doesn't bother us like how a man behaves, even if its "manly" or "feminine" if you can call it that

Everyone does not have the rights to do what they want. If that were the truth, murderers could kill people, rapists could rape, there would be no law. There must always be some restriction on the ability to do whatever you want, or you cannot have a functioning society.

Okay we agree you need basic law and order, so why do you actually oppose effeminate behavior in men? And you still haven’t answered the question of whether you would support the state cracking down on displays of masculine behavior in women. If you support that then you’re a bad “radfem”. If not then it might actually be interesting to hear your reasoning.

[Infected Mushroom]

To be entirely fair, something like GTA does deserve to be banned. Games like that are unequivocally immoral garbage.

Selling a game where you can shoot down civilians and cops and then saying “oh this game is mainly about teaching you how to be moral, you can choose NOT to massacre people” is a bit disingenuous.

There’s no way I’d allow my children near that.

So while the ban is on the far-reaching side, there definitely are ban-worthy video games.

[Infected Mushroom]

I think I need to start considering whether or not I should alter many of my interests, tastes, and inclinations in light of this new CCP direction. I need to prepare for the new reality.

You know what, im actually not surprised you would say something like this.

When China extends these laws to Hong Kong, I don’t want there to be temptations that interfere with my ability to be a law-abiding citizen. I want to continue to be a good, loyal, and patriotic civilian. So I’m working on it and so far, I’m making huge headway (entire months off MMOs).

[Ittonia]

China goes full Orwellian, bans all new games that:

1. allows player to make moral decisions, or
2. depicts any form of human non-heterosexuality.

On the ban of giving players moral choices:

Games that allow players to make moral choices between good and evil should also not be approved, according to the memo.

“Some games have blurred moral boundaries,” it said.

“Players can choose to be either good or evil… but we don’t think that games should give players this choice… and this must be altered.”

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/china-ban-vid ... 00133.html

Note that the legal definition of "evil" remains unclear.

On the ban on queers in gaming:

the memo said that video games must not be viewed as “pure entertainment”, and should instead convey “a correct set of values”.

Games that feature queer relationships or “effeminate males”, the memo states, should not be approved for release in China.

“If regulators can’t tell the character’s gender immediately, the setting of the characters could be considered problematic and red flags will be raised,” it added.

China bans Ultraman Tiga, anime might be next.

In recent weeks, the country's National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA) has... demanded that networks and media outlets promote masculine images, along with traditional, revolutionary, "advanced socialist" culture or anything that reflects what the CCP decides is a patriotic image. The statement went into considerable detail, stating that TV shows must "resolutely resist bad plots" and only broadcast "excellent cartoons with healthy content and promote truth, goodness and beauty."

As such:

Ultraman Tiga was removed from streaming sites shortly after the NRTA's statement was released. It was reported by the CCP mouthpiece The Global Times that its removal was due to the show's violence: "The Ultraman Tiga involves violent plots such as armed beating, multi-person intimidation, arson and explosions.

https://www.cbr.com/why-china-ban-shang ... ama-k-pop/

They also banned Shang-Chi and the likes. Now, think of any Shounen anime. Yea I think they'll soon be getting banned alright, I'm expecting things to escalate in a short amount of time.

Just in: CHINA BANS ALL THINGS RELATED TO CRYPTOCURRENCIES, violators will face criminal penalties.

China's central bank has announced that all transactions of crypto-currencies are illegal, effectively banning digital tokens such as Bitcoin.

"Virtual currency-related business activities are illegal financial activities," the People's Bank of China said, warning it "seriously endangers the safety of people's assets".

...It is the latest in China's national crackdown on what it sees as a volatile, speculative investment at best - and a way to launder money at worst.

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-58678907

Tbh, not surprised. Especially with the rollout of the digital Yuan, which basically gives the CCP direct access to everyone's money supply in the country - where they are, how they are used, how they should've been used. I've heard claims that this will allow the CCP, for example, to unilaterally put a "time limit" on people's savings, with the threat of the erasure of said money if the time limit runs out, to force the people to spend their money during a recession as to try to boost the economy. But I haven't been able to verify this claim.

Takahide Kiuchi, executive economist at Nomura Research Institute and a former Bank of Japan policy board member, called the latest move an "extension" of measures to "ban all virtual currencies except central bank digital currency."

https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Crypt ... yuan-nears

(Now onto gaming):
...Well, not totally.

1. China totally bans online gaming for children under 18 Monday to Thursday (except if it's a public holiday).
2. For Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, online gaming can only be played exactly from 8 pm to 9 pm (so 60 minutes per day, full stop).
3. All online gaming software is required to use real-name registration and is installed with an anti-addiction surveillance algorithm controlled by the NPPA government body.

Apparently, the CCP considers gaming "an opium of the mind".

A state-owned newspaper wrote on Tuesday that gaming addiction in China was on the rise and labeled it “opium for the mind.” The article, which deleted the reference to opium later, fueled investor fears of potential regulation...

https://www.morningbrew.com/daily/stori ... WjcnBszQxl

Further more, China has stopped all permits for new online games, thereby (for now) nuking the game development industry.

Chinese regulators have temporarily suspended approval for all new online games in the country, dealing a fresh blow to the video gaming businesses of industry giants Tencent Holdings and NetEase, as Beijing steps up measures to tackle gaming addiction among young people, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

https://amp.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/arti ... g-beijings

...I don't know. Being someone who majors in IT, many of my friends are deeply interested in game development and are thus horrified with the news. However, I'm not invested in game development, and as someone who primarily plays single-player offline games, I don't really relate to those who regularly play online games. But I mean, with this attitude, offline games are for sure to also be in the chopping block. I'm also curious about what societal impact will this result on the hundreds of millions of Chinese youth, already under insane academic pressures at a time of the rise of the "laying flat" movement (although then again, the CCP also banned private tutoring recently).

Obviously, Chinese game companies meanwhile are fucked. Especially Tencent (who has lost almost half a trillion dollars in valuation since Feb), the 40% owner of Epic Game (who created Fortnite) and various other gaming enterprises.

Thoughts? Is this an egregious breach of right (I mean, we're talking about inviting government access to your phone and laptop here. Then again, this is the PRC we're talking about.)? Or do you instead boomerly view gaming as a sort of societal degeneracy and would support implementing measures to curb down on gaming?

Edit: since I think it's funny (in a horrific way), I'll add that China also banned femboys.

Broadcasters must “resolutely put an end to sissy men and other abnormal esthetics,” the National Radio and TV Administration said, using an insulting slang term for effeminate men — “niang pao,” or literally, “girlie guns.”

That reflects official concern that Chinese pop stars, influenced by the sleek, fashionable look of some South Korean and Japanese singers and actors, are failing to encourage China’s young men to be masculine enough.

https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-en ... 555a901b3f

Pursuant to the femboy ban, China has also started cracking down directly on K-POP and other idol fan clubs, directly stating that the problems lies in the very nature of such clubs. Both male and female pop stars.

Weibo, China's heavily censored version of Twitter, announced Sunday it has suspended 21 fan accounts dedicated to various K-pop artists due to "irrational star-chasing behavior."
The accounts, which have been suspended for 30 days, are dedicated to members of popular South Korean pop acts including BTS, Blackpink, EXO and IU. The temporary bans come after a fan account dedicated to BTS artist Jimin was suspended.

...Weibo said it "firmly opposes such irrational star-chasing behavior and will deal with it seriously," and promises to "promote rational star-chasing activities and regulate community order."

...Zhao Wei, one of China's most prominent actresses, saw her presence mostly scrubbed from the country's internet overnight. Her fan page on Weibo was shut down. Movies and television shows she starred in — some going as far back as two decades ago — were taken off streaming platforms, with her name also removed from the cast lists.

While individual Chinese celebrities have been targeted by the government before, the recent crackdown is wider in scope and harsher in severity, with their presence mostly wiped clean from the country's internet.

...Authorities have also taken aim at celebrity fan culture popular among China's youth. The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) recently announced 10 measures to "clean up" what it called the "chaos" of celebrity fan clubs, including banning any attempt to rank celebrities based on popularity, and tightening regulations around talent agencies and fan club accounts. A day earlier, popular video platform iQiyi canceled all idol talent shows, calling them "unhealthy."
https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/06/tech/chi ... rning_brew

Another late update: "y r u gae" - the Communist Party of China, 2021

Authorities also urged the companies to “resolutely resist unhealthy cultures” including worship of money and”boys’ love“—a popular literary genre in China that depicts the romantic relationships between males...

https://qz.com/2056875/chinas-crackdown ... e-serious/

Are mods banned too?

[The Alma Mater]

To be entirely fair, something like GTA does deserve to be banned. Games like that are unequivocally immoral garbage.

Selling a game where you can shoot down civilians and cops and then saying “oh this game is mainly about teaching you how to be moral, you can choose NOT to massacre people” is a bit disingenuous.

There’s no way I’d allow my children near that.

So while the ban is on the far-reaching side, there definitely are ban-worthy video games.

So what about game where you are meant to represent evil, like a demon, a nazi, whatever ?
What about games where you can choose to play as a faction that directly opposes your own morals ? Or one that mostly aligns except a few thing ?

My avatar for instance is from the university faction in classic SMAC. This one is all in favour of research, rationality, freedom of information etc. - but has a tendency to be less concerned with ethics; including small atrocities.
Would playing it be bad ?
One of the other factions is almost their polar opposite - religious fanatics that oppose everything secular and deem it only worthy of violent destruction... but when you get in the late game it is THIS faction that asks the questions like "are we sure that automating justice without a human touch is wise?".
Would playing them be wrong ?

Or what about the capitalists, who believe that the free market and comfort is more important than silly things like "limiting pollution" ? Etc. Etc. All factions have multiple sides.

[Austria-Bohemia-Hungary]

To be entirely fair, something like GTA does deserve to be banned. Games like that are unequivocally immoral garbage.

Selling a game where you can shoot down civilians and cops and then saying “oh this game is mainly about teaching you how to be moral, you can choose NOT to massacre people” is a bit disingenuous.

There’s no way I’d allow my children near that.

So while the ban is on the far-reaching side, there definitely are ban-worthy video games.

You are now in favour of a state run Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice. Sit in the corner and contemplate whether or not you truly wish to be regimented by a government like their "true good subject", being forced to pean whatever they do 24/7/365.
I for one would find such life horrendously servile and debasing.

This is the actual core issue here. Do people want to live their life as a mindless slave to whatever a bunch of encrusted Party Elders decrees? Or do they not?