So Clinton Was Right About Beijing and Jello

Spreading rumors about the dangers of outside forces is easy – and even intelligent and warm people fall prey by reading and joining online attacks. In the 1990s, former US President Bill Clinton compared attempts to control political talk on the internet to “nailing Jello to a wall.” Unfortunately, anyone who hopes to promote accurate discourse faces similar challenges as rumors associated with national pride take on momentum. A boycott quickly emerged in China, after protesters accused French retailer Carrefour of supporting an independent Tibet, attempting to humiliate and divide the country before the summer Olympics. After a Chinese journalist blamed limited press freedom as much as foreign media bias for misunderstandings, protesters labeled him a “traitor.” The Chinese can debate economics, but not politics or sovereignty. “China’s peculiar political and business environment does have an upside for multinationals such as Carrefour,” writes McGregor. “The same state controls employed to curtail general political debate can also be used to control protests against them.” Online protests build speed and often end with whimpers, protesters just as quickly forgetting the issues. Self-control – taking a moment to think about issues before hitting a send button – could strengthen internet discourse and result in real and lasting improvements. – YaleGlobal