Western ideals sold out for eastern money?

[Father Heathen]

Protestors are trying to get Overwatch banned in China, using memes of popular hero Mei

Nearly all of the NBA's Chinese partners have cut ties with the league

What are your thoughts? Will it become common for companies to censor users to avoid pissing off authoritarian regimes for the sake of profits?

 

[Shiranui117]

Protestors are trying to get Overwatch banned in China, using memes of popular hero Mei

Nearly all of the NBA's Chinese partners have cut ties with the league

What are your thoughts? Will it become common for companies to censor users to avoid pissing off authoritarian regimes for the sake of profits?

I think soon we'll see a breaking point where Western consumers start giving the finger to any companies who bend the knee to China. Americans especially are much more fond of freedom than of money. Our whole country is literally built on the principle of "You can't tell me what to do". This will definitely mark the beginning of a cultural-economic war between our two countries.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

For any unaware, I'm a massive basketball junkie.
The Houston Rockets GM (Daryl Morey) tweeted out support for Hong Kong.

Houston was quick to state this wasn't a Team tweet, but an individual tweet.
They also supported Morey and called him the best GM in the league (some were calling for his sacking).

The NBA response wasn't as good, as they called his tweet 'unfortunate'. Commercially, that's true, but him having an opinion doesn't seem 'unfortunate'. However they have also then sent messages defending his right to free speech.

What's without doubt is that it's had an unfortunate impact commercially. I haven't seen Morey be censored though...at least not formally or publically.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Protestors are trying to get Overwatch banned in China, using memes of popular hero Mei

Nearly all of the NBA's Chinese partners have cut ties with the league

What are your thoughts? Will it become common for companies to censor users to avoid pissing off authoritarian regimes for the sake of profits?

You might as well add blizzard entertainment to the list....

Blizzard Employees Staged a Walkout After the Company Banned a Gamer for Pro-Hong Kong Views

Apparently the money from an authoritarian regime far outweighs human rights admist the Hong Kong protests.

 

[Twilight Hue]

I think soon we'll see a breaking point where Western consumers start giving the finger to any companies who bend the knee to China. Americans especially are much more fond of freedom than of money. Our whole country is literally built on the principle of "You can't tell me what to do". This will definitely mark the beginning of a cultural-economic war between our two countries.

Thats already started with Blizzard . I really hope this company goes out of business as a result.

Blizzard targeted with boycott after it banned a Hong Kong player - CNN

 

[Father Heathen]

You might as well add blizzard entertainment to the list....

Blizzard Employees Staged a Walkout After the Company Banned a Gamer for Pro-Hong Kong Views

Apparently the money from an authoritarian regime far outweighs human rights admist the Hong Kong protests.

That's what the first link in my post was referring to. Glad to see some of their employees standing up against it.

 

[Father Heathen]

China using access to it's market as a leverage to undermine free speech abroad should be something that "the left" and "the right" can both agree is a concern.

 

[Father Heathen]

https://www.cnn.com/style/article/vans-hong-kong-intl-hnk-scli/index.html

 

[Father Heathen]

Thats already started with Blizzard . I really hope this company goes out of business as a result.

Blizzard targeted with boycott after it banned a Hong Kong player - CNN

Blizzard accused of disabling authentication to stop users deleting accounts during boycott

 

[Twilight Hue]

Blizzard accused of disabling authentication to stop users deleting accounts during boycott

Wow!

 

[Twilight Hue]

China using access to it's market as a leverage to undermine free speech abroad should be something that "the left" and "the right" can both agree is a concern.

Yep both Democrats and Republicans had made mention of this and both voiced concerns for sure. No partisanship on this one.

I'm willing to bet if the money is right , corporations like Blizzard Entertainment would gladly sell out the country for profit.

I'll have to find it, but you should see the Chinese translation of Blizzards response to China over this.

 

[HonestJoe]

What are your thoughts? Will it become common for companies to censor users to avoid pissing off authoritarian regimes for the sake of profits?

What makes you imagine this is a new concept? Do you imagine companies aren’t required to do or not do things to satisfy the people providing their funding and the governments allowing them to operate at all? The only reason this example has hit the headlines is because it happened on a broadcast video and coincided with western viewers just starting to tire of the Hong Kong protest news.

 

[Shad]

Protestors are trying to get Overwatch banned in China, using memes of popular hero Mei

Nearly all of the NBA's Chinese partners have cut ties with the league

What are your thoughts? Will it become common for companies to censor users to avoid pissing off authoritarian regimes for the sake of profits?

No. The NBA and Bliz merely sold "wokeness" when it was profitable to fool the gullible then abandoned it when faced with a profit loss from China.

 

[Shad]

I think soon we'll see a breaking point where Western consumers start giving the finger to any companies who bend the knee to China.

I've been advocating this for years. When people start abandoning Apple, Google, FB, etc let me know.

*I doubt it will happen as a lot of people are only goaded like an ox by their masters.

Americans especially are much more fond of freedom than of money. Our whole country is literally built on the principle of "You can't tell me what to do". This will definitely mark the beginning of a cultural-economic war between our two countries.

America has been a consumer nation thus consumerism dictates public opinion more than freedoms.

 

[Father Heathen]

What makes you imagine this is a new concept?

Never said it was new.

Do you imagine companies aren’t required to do or not do things to satisfy the people providing their funding and the governments allowing them to operate at all?

Companies have a choice to act ethically, with integrity, and in accordance with principles. Especially when you're a company who began in and has succeeded from being in a free, democratic society.

The only reason this example has hit the headlines is because it happened on a broadcast video and coincided with

"The only reason" because no one cares about censorship or democracy.

western viewers just starting to tire of the Hong Kong protest news.

How was this gauged?

 

[Father Heathen]

No.

You don't see more western companies bowing to China's censorship demands for the sake of profits?

The NBA and Bliz merely sold "wokeness" when it was profitable to fool the gullible then abandoned it when faced with a profit loss from China.

How did they sell "wokeness"? What are some examples?

 

[Shad]

You don't see more western companies bowing to China's censorship demands for the sake of profits?

Sorry that no was about those companies following Western values instead of the mighty dollar. So disagreement with the premise itself.

How did they sell "wokeness"?

The NBA freaked out over which washrooms trans use and pulled out of a game. That is "wokeness". Wokeness sells with silly liberals thus was profitable to take part in. Talking about Hong Kong pisses off the Chinese government which holds the cards to the NBA trying to expand it's audience into China. Ergo the NBA does PR and damage control. Bliz babbled about diversity of superficial characteristics instead of merit and talent. Heck Blizzard kicked a Hong Kong competitor out a tournament along with whatever prize money and support he got from Blizzard for daring to support Hong Kong openly. A huge part of Blizzards customer base is Chinese to the point they remodeled a major portion of their best selling game, WoW.

Point being when it fits the narrative within the US both companies will pay lip service as it benefits them. When it benefits them to keep their mouths shut as like with China both do so.

NBA Pulls All-Star Game Out of Charlotte Over Transgender Bathroom Law
Blizzard Sets Off Backlash for Penalizing Hearthstone Gamer in Hong Kong
Blizzard Entertainment’s Many Missteps When It Comes to Women
Blizzard to launch 'global diversity and inclusion initiative', aims to boost women and minority group employment figures | PC Gamer

 

[HonestJoe]

Never said it was new.

You asked about it becoming common. I’m suggesting that it already is common.

Companies have a choice to act ethically, with integrity, and in accordance with principles. Especially when you're a company who began in and has succeeded from being in a free, democratic society.

Not unconditionally. There are all sorts of laws and regulations for a start. Consider the various controversies over businesses and sex-sex weddings for example.

Beyond that, exactly the kind of political, financial and social pressure we’re seeing in this case already happens, both publicly and behind the scenes. The controversy over the protesting NFL players and the pressure both the NFL and individual teams came under to act, from politicians, business and fans, would be a high profile example.

"The only reason" because no one cares about censorship or democracy.

No, most people don’t unless it’s happening to them. The power of news is significantly influenced by the literal and perceived distance between the subjects and targets of the reporting.

How was this gauged?

The modern media will be very good at monitoring how much stories are being read and shared online. They’re all about getting hits these days and a key element of that is jumping on the latest bandwagons (and therefore jumping off the ones that are slowing).