Comment by rococode | Hacker News Reader

Comment by rococode | Hacker News Reader

I saw this video a few weeks ago and wondered, how does a video like this get released? It sounds like the person recording is also doing the questioning, and it also doesn't feel like this is the kind of video that would be willingly shared as propaganda. So why is it online?

It actually makes me slightly doubt whether it's real or faked. I mean, it's not that hard to get 2 fake police outfits and a room and put together a fancy chair. And they do pan away pretty suddenly from the police officers. And why even show the police officers, like hey check out these two totally real cops? Why are they even recording in the first place?

I'm not saying it's actually fake, but for me enough things don't quite add up that I personally chose to go with "this doesn't affect my opinions because I have no clue if it's true or not" on this one. It's slightly worrisome that outside of HN (I've seen this on Reddit and in other tweets) I have not seen doubt expressed in any way. I think it's generally good to doubt things and we may be in big trouble if the global trend is to believe everything you see.

I hope for the sake of person being interrogated that it is fake but this could be a tactic for intimidating other protestors who are not firmly committed and have other responsibilities in life to worry about.

This video goes into reasons why videos like this exist and are in ample supply: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8PgCUap1Vg

Public displays of criminals, trials and punishments are not uncommon in China, and serve as a "legal education" for the public.

Well, in western world, you’ve got CSI and all cop’s show that sell you the same.

« Bad guys always caught, police can know whatever you’ve done »

I’ve always (and that’s not ranting. I really have) wondered if it was on purpose.

>I’ve always (and that’s not ranting. I really have) wondered if it was on purpose.

Of course it's on purpose. No one would watch a police procedural drama where the police always lost, were inept, or only won their cases due to corruption or malfeasance, or where the criminals were never caught and cases never resolved. Showing the heroes defeating the villains isn't propaganda, it's just good storytelling.

What about The Wire? I think there's room for more nuanced portrayals, it just needs to be created by people who respect their audience.

The Shield, Dexter...

But I’d agree they are not procedural shows.

And TBH, on my point of view, manichean stories are not that good storytelling. On the contrary (but there’s room for everyone taste)

I'm not sure what western TV dramas have to do with the Chinese government putting people in tiger chairs and forcing confessions out of them over posts on the internet.

Fictional TV shows are hardly comparable to video in the OP.

Or the smart phone got repaired (and cloned), or the guy had a bad conscious afterwards, or he shared it with friends who then published it etc. So many reasons.

谢谢老板

According to Google translate, this reads "Thank you boss"

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Sorry. Understood. Original comment also seems to suggest astroturfing, though. Apologies again.

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