China’s new attempt to appease HK protest is to lift nearly all restrictions for HKers’ to buy houses in 9 Guangdong cities. Intense backlashes on Weibo: 1/x 
A. Some are in disbelief that protests do have results (it’s not the demand from HKers, tho) B. Some came to a sudden realization that being from mainland is “like being a secondary citizen” (the policy will make it harder for mainland citizens to buy houses in those cities.) 2/x
It’s a rare moment to witness CN public opinions that are not 100% hijacked by patriotism. Some ppl suddenly feel helpless in policy-making, which gives them a complex empathy with HK protestors. 3/x
Similar thing happened when Carrie Lam suspended and withdrew the extradition bill, when many ppl expressed disappointment of any compromises made by CN & HK authority. 4/x
Here’s something more nuanced: since the clash at HK airport, HK topic is largely desensitized on CN social media, with one-sided discussion of course. It does give CN internet users a false sense of involvement. 5/x
To many, HK protest has everything: sovereignty, violence, urban guerrilla fight, “despicable HK ppl”, CIA, crazy students, rumored street sex, flag burning. Despite gov’s organized info contamination, it might be the most exciting topic that’s allowed to discuss this year 6/x
To be fair, CN social media’s involvement in HK protest is not actually “false”. It just works in an indirect way. The public sentiment, the agenda setting, the rumors, are oftentimes a positive feedback loop between gov and ppl. 7/x
Take Ren Yi (Chairman Rabbit), a descendant of a general & Harvard Kennedy School alum: he’s a key opinion leader abt HK with minimal censorship. He’s good at mixing half truth with false interpretation. Many ppl including officials and academics read his work for HK news. 8/x
What’s an easy & engaging way to come off “objective”, “rational”, and “analytical” on HK topics?
- a pseudo-diagnosis on HK economy, blaming everything on real estate (there’s some truth to it).
- It works even better if u throw in some social-Darwinism BS. 9/x
- a pseudo-diagnosis on HK economy, blaming everything on real estate (there’s some truth to it).
- It works even better if u throw in some social-Darwinism BS. 9/x
Here comes a fun paradox!
1. Only one analytical discourse about HK gets to thrive on CN social media: housing is the problem
2. Gov tries to solve HK problem with economic solutions, especially thru housing
3. CN social media are MAD af about it
10/x
1. Only one analytical discourse about HK gets to thrive on CN social media: housing is the problem
2. Gov tries to solve HK problem with economic solutions, especially thru housing
3. CN social media are MAD af about it
10/x
CN social media often give me mixed feelings.For ppl who’ve long been deprived political engagement, the saddest is not misinformation, but the lack of imagination: Can protests bring changes? Are there causes other than economic reasons? Does my opinion matter, like at all? 11/x
And I’m ending the thread for now—hope this gives u a bit more context about CN social media. Plus here’s a brutally funny, sad and profane metaphor:
