Having just returned from my countless trips to Shanghai, I finally confirmed what I already knew at some superficial level but had not really faced it head on. Extensive censorship and blocking of websites including this blog. My reaction to this ranges from annoyance to oh-welling. So, what is blocked? All blog sites i.e wordpress, blogspot , including wikipedia and many other informal social networking sites. Facebook functions well, though. But, then, this is a fading star. Last week, ensconced in comfortable Sheraton at Hong Qiao section of Shanghai, I made various futile attempts till 3 AM to get to my blog site to no avail. Later, I found several sites offering a ‘work around’ but I was too tired by then. One good one is at: http://exposurecompensation.wordpress.com/2008/01/26/china-blog-blocking-by-doug-stockdale/
I turned off the lights and watched the strange quilted stars of lights still on the those alien star ships of skyscrapers of this new China and wondered if it really mattered what was open , blocked and how much human freedom really mattered. In the startling late night clarity , I had no answers.
