On Fri, 24 Sep 2004 09:47:58 -0700, Ray Saintonge saintonge@telus.net wrote:
Certainly, but dealing with the PRC is dealing with bureaucracy more than dealing with "communism". Bureaucrats tend not to consider what others are doing as part of their job description. They tend to uphold the law based on their own narrow views of what that law means, and what they feel will please their superiors.. This results in very conservative decisions. They would do Dilbert proud.
The present crisis, like the last one of the kind, will probably be solved by our colleagues in China, who have experience in approaching Kafka's Castle. Those of us on the outside need to be patient, and avoid compromising the situation that our colleagues find themselves in.
Ec
You are absolutely right. Sometimes it is not the government's will to block certain sites: the government usually only give guide lines. It is in the hands of those bureaucrats who determine the fate of Wikipedia. In fact I am not so worried if this ban can be lifted, but rather I am worrying about this kind of periodical blocking might have adverse effects on the development of Chinese Wikipedia: we will not be able to sustain our growth for long before another block disrupts. Every blocking takes at least three months to recover.
So that was the rationale behind my suggestions in June, when we were first blocked. To take legal actions, or broadcast to worldwide media, so that the top officials notice us, and might give explicit instructions not to block Wikipedia. I believe that is what happens to google few years ago: the top rank governors of the country noticed the event, and an order was given. However this could be a dangerous move too: if we really angers someone on top then we will forever be blocked.
formulax