In:Normal Posts by Cat Chen on Wednesday, December 19th, 2007 at 11:12 pm

First, I don't want to cheat anybody with this title for page views. This is neither a children's day style post, nor a post for McDonald's. I'm serious, and you should proceed with caution.

You know, what we can do at this age, and what we can afford, here in China mainland, are just the same as teenagers in the States. We have almost the same freedom from our parents, and in the society (except something like GFW and I'll talk about that later), as a kid in the States, like freedom of going out, having sex and not doing things right. Why? Because we've just got economic independence as an American kid. Those kids earn money on their own, and can afford an XBOX 360 in a year, right? If you have your own XBOX 360 fund, how much would you put in it each month? I'll take $50 from my salary and put it into that fund, so that I can get an XBOX 360 in 6 months. Not much better than an American kid, right?

The ridiculous part is that, we are just like a kid who doesn't have full liabilities. Government is acting as parents , and take those liabilities from us. So it has to do what parental liabilities demand for, for example, turning on "parental control" of the Internet. What helps then? What makes us liable? Assets! If you have assets, you're liable for sure. You can mortgage your property for freedom. In fact, currency is the only valid vote on the world. More products means more votes. That's why we got to increase our productivity. As long as we individually are not richer than a American grown up, nobody can grant you permission to vote or any other kind of rights. (In other words, only universal richness may bring universal suffrage.)

So, the path is clear. Rushing to the States doesn't help you improve your situation. Only properties in your brain and your pocket can use to trade for a better future. But, hold on, and think about whether you really want a better future indeed. Think about it carefully.

Digg It Stumble Del.icio.us Subscribe

: http://www.ifgogo.com/35/we-are-all-kids/

2007-12-20 00:08:23

Money is nothing ( your money will be used, not be kept as a friend or a pet )
Also, money is everything. You cannot live without it!

Jia
2007-12-20 13:16:02

I'm lost in your post. Really!
Seems like the situation is so awkward and the pointed out path is actually not as bright as it supposed to be.

2007-12-20 17:36:34

Cat Chen somehow tells us very complicated (to comprehend) stories.
He's a man knows many interesting stories, That's why I love to talk to him.

Chrisding
2007-12-20 22:35:26

Careful! Talking about GFW and criticizing government's restrict policy over internet may cause you some trouble...... though I also detest such kind of things.

2007-12-20 23:30:39

Then we can kill this key and replace it with parental control. How about that?

2007-12-21 07:15:13

Thanks Chrisding for your warnings.
Anyway, I don't think some easy talks will cause troubles. The server is not in China and the domain, is just a personal domain. We are just students and developers.
So even if there is some risk, we will try our best to make it safe.

Luo Wen Lai
2008-07-09 01:45:18

Chinese teenagers don't know freedom like American teenagers. The standard of living in America is so much higher. Recreation is a big part of American teenagers life. In China, the teenagers are oppressed by an oppressive 'diseducation' system that keeps them locked up in the same room together the whole day and makes them stay home on weekends because of homework. Chinese teenagers don't go out to parties with other teenagers that have 30 - 50 - 100 people all drinking, doing drugs and having sex. American teenagers do. Chinese teenagers don't drive their own cars, have speed boats, play on organized sports teams, go to school dances... Chinese teenagers are Not free