TED Community » Ann Lee

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• +1

  A reply on Conversation: When will China be free?

  Nov 1 2011: Brittney, you are picking incidences and generalizing it to the whole culture. "Total lack of human rights" is a large overstatement. Just think about all the cruelty and wierd stuff you hear about in the news in the US. How would you feel if someone generalize those incidents and say that America is not free just because some group of people decided to "leave girls out to exposure"? Tiannamen square? During the Vietnam War there were university student protests all over the country and government used violent forces against peaceful protesting. When is America free? Why don't we just not have government at all? Instead of dwelling on the high and noble theoretical notion of "free," why don't we do something substantial to increase true wellbeing and happiness in other cultures by aiding them to develop in their own direction? Instead of being condescending and judgmental, please understand, respect, and accept cultural and historical differences of another country and culture. Every country deserve a chance to grow as their own and there is no right prototype society for all countries.

• A reply on Conversation: When will China be free?

  Nov 1 2011: Agreed, many Americans tend to just follow mainstream and not try to challenge what is presented to them. Comparing to Europe, America is quite conservative and close-minded, as seen in differences in religious and secularism between America and Europe for example. Even though America is "so democratic and free", the true power and decisions still lie in influence of the rich and influential. Members of the Congress can be "bought" by businesses.

• A reply on Conversation: When will China be free?

  Oct 26 2011: Yes, internet in China is regulated but to what extent can you say it is "heavily" regulated? It blocks some mainstream Western sites and screens certain contents. I know that the internet is almost like the symbol for free speech in the West but who says that the internet MUST be censorless? Traditional media was never censorless and even the Internet in some "free" countries can be censored or monitored somewhat. Even if internet is somewhat censored, there are many loopholes that people can pass through if they try.
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  A comment on Conversation: When will China be free?

  Oct 24 2011: As an American citizen who is exposed to both Chinese and Western viewpoints on this issue, I can say that the Western media magnifies the human rights issues in China. It does exist but it is not as severe as most Westerners believe. Most people who cry for human rights in China do so without ever going to China or even trying to understand China. Western media choose to selectively hear the minority dissidents and portray China in the worst angle possible. Just as Chinese media is somewhat censored, Western media can be extremely biased to a specific viewpoint. China is doing its best to change to be more democratic so please give it some time. Bear in mind it is the most populated country in the world so change is not a fast process. It does not need any outside forces to "free" or "save" it.

• A comment on Conversation: I believe the right to an education is a basic human right..what can we do to make that a reality?

  Oct 15 2011: Great responses everyone! Sorry I don't have the time to respond to everyone but I read everyone's comments and thought they are all insightful! It was just an idealistic thought I had and I understand it is very hard for the world to politically and economically change to make this a reality, which is why I asked this question. Even thought education may not be a basic human right, I believe it is important for our society to have the mobility between social statuses and education is one of the best ways to do that.
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  A comment on Talk: Adam Ostrow: After your final status update

  Oct 9 2011: I think you are misunderstanding my point. It's not going to be possible to replicate a whole human just by their online persona. if you really want to replicate someone, it will have to be something physical and through their brain and neuron structure, not through their internet identity. Even if the whole neuron network of someone is replicated, there is still that "human factor" missing because as humans we have the ability to consciously make choices and create new thoughts that technology can not replicate in the same way. When there is no human behind the technological neuron network, there is no meaning in most of the things it replicate/produce. It is the fact that we are live and humans that makes whatever we produce that much more fascinating, interesting, and meaningful.

• A comment on Talk: Yang Lan: The generation that's remaking China

  Oct 4 2011: Great talk, very insightful. I liked how she Incorporated current hot topics in China like the Guo MeiMei incident, food safety, etc... She really gave some great examples to give some glimpse into China but she did not have enough time to give each topic the justice they deserve and connect them, thus making the talk seem to be disorganized.
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  A comment on Conversation: How important is your ancestry to you?

  Aug 18 2011: My ancestry does not directly influence my life but I feel knowing about my family's origins helped me find a better sense of belonging in this world and allowed me to know how I am rooted. I can trace back up to the last 4 generations and my family were farmers (like most of China back then). I feel through that kind of lifestyle, qualities like frugality, not taking things for granted, and love of education/learning (a privilege) are developed and passed on.

• A comment on Conversation: If you could teach the world 1 valuable thing you learned, what would it be and why?

  Aug 18 2011: You only have one chance at this life and you can't control or know when it will end. Therefore live it the way YOU want NOW. A lot of opportunities in life come only once.
  
  This is pretty cliche but once I really understood this, making choices was easier and my life was happier because I am living for both the future AND today.

• A reply on Talk: Adam Ostrow: After your final status update

  Aug 18 2011: I agree technology is growing exponentially in the recent years but I believe there is that "human essence" missing in even the most advanced artificial intelligence. I feel that something produced by humans feels like there is something more to it than something produced by artificial intelligence. What these technologies can produce is a static version of the human being they are trying to mimic but not a dynamic, multi-dimensional person. This is all based on the assumption that technology is the technology mentioned in the video, the kind that analyse the online persona of a person. There are so much more to a person than their online persona and in order to portray a person in a realistic way, technology need to be much, much more involved than that.