Posts tagged ‘people of the world’
About the film and the book “A Clockwork Orange” by Anthony Burgess.
When I watched this film, I couldn’t understand its point: is it that you shouldn’t take drugs because they will make you aggressive and you will be forcibly treated? Or that aggression is normal for some people, like the fascist idea of liquidating “the chimera of conscience”?
But it turns out this is what it’s about:
There is a terrible autobiographical detail in the book. In an interview with the Village Voice, the author said: “That damned book is a work full of pain… I was trying to rid myself of the memories of my first wife, who was brutally beaten by four deserters from the American army during World War II. She was pregnant and lost the child as a result. After everything that happened, she fell into a depression and even tried to commit suicide. Later, she quietly drank herself to death.”
And the book begins with the main character and his friends raping the writer’s wife (a character in the book). And it seems to me that the entire book is a meditation, the author’s attempt to perhaps get inside the mind of a rapist, to understand the reason for such aggression, the cause of violence, and perhaps an attempt to figure out what to do with such (non-)people. Or perhaps it’s an attempt to forgive.
Based on a dialogue with David Azof
Here is a structured description of the social credit system in China.
It is important to understand: This is not a single, unified system with one universal score for everyone, as it is often portrayed in the West. It is better described as a set of mechanisms and platforms for encouraging trustworthiness (守信) and penalizing untrustworthy behavior.
Main Goal
To create a culture of trust in society where good behavior is rewarded and bad behavior is punished.
How Does It Work?
The system consists of three main levels:
- National Blacklists (State-Level)
- Who is targeted: Primarily legal entities and individuals for serious legal violations (e.g., tax evasion, failure to comply with court rulings, safety regulation breaches).
- Consequences: The most severe. Examples include bans on purchasing plane tickets and high-speed train tickets, restrictions on obtaining loans, and prohibitions on holding senior executive positions.
- Example: The famous case where people were publicly labeled as “laolai” (dishonest debtor) and barred from flights.
- Sector-Specific Systems (By Ministries and Agencies)
- Different ministries maintain their own ratings and lists.
- Example: The Ministry of Environmental Protection fines a factory for emissions and lowers its environmental rating.
- Local Pilot Projects (City and Provincial)
- This is what is most commonly imagined as a “points system.” They are being tested in various cities (e.g., Rongcheng, Suzhou).
- How it works: Citizens can earn points for positive actions (volunteering, blood donation, waste sorting) and lose points for infractions (illegal parking, smoking in prohibited areas).
- Rewards: These can include discounts on utilities, preferential access to libraries or parks, and priority in enrolling children in schools.
Technological Basis
The system operates based on big data collection from surveillance cameras, financial reports, court decisions, social media, and data from companies (e.g., Alibaba and Tencent).
Key Takeaway
The social credit system is a massive experiment in social governance using technology. Its goals are to increase trust and stability, but it also raises serious questions about data privacy and individual freedom.
Peter Kropotkin (1842–1921) was a Russian anarchist and philosopher who believed that mutual aid—helping and cooperating with others—was the key to human progress. Unlike capitalism, which focuses on competition, Kropotkin argued that people thrive through solidarity and working together.
His famous book, *Mutual Aid: A Factor of Evolution* (1902), challenged the idea that only the strongest survive. Instead, he showed how cooperation exists in nature and human societies, proving that kindness and teamwork are just as important as strength.
Kropotkin’s ideas inspired labor movements, anarchists, and socialists in the 20th century. Even today, his message matters: in a world of inequality and isolation, building strong communities and sharing knowledge can create a fairer, better future.
By spreading compassion and working together, we can follow Kropotkin’s vision—a world where everyone supports each other, not just the powerful few.
