h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Please note, this Guide Entry is not complete as yet. References, website links, and the concluding paragraphs assessing the real merits and failings of Falun Gong have yet to be written. If you come across this piece via my home page, please temper your comments accordingly.

ta,

Chaiwallah

Hi Chaiwallah,

A well-written and thoroughly researched article, and an extremely interesting article. The only point I really have to make is that your stand against the Chinese government seems coloured by personal opinion and is very much in contrast to the rest of the document, which is backed by proof. From your writing I would not be able to say whether or not you were for or against Falun Gong, but I can bet my last cent that you are opposed to the current government and it's style of leadership.
Other than that one complaint, or note, I think it's really good - and deserves some recognition once it's completed.

It's one of the requirements of writing entries that they are meant to be balanced - see the </.>Writing-Guidelines</.>. The conclusion of a balanced entry could also be that what is happening would be hard to justify in any country claiming to be civilised. And I suppose that just because a movement is persecuted, it doesn't mean that it is perfect.

Oops - I meant Writing-Guidelines!

*wonders why a _chai_ is writing to a Chaiwallah*

Well, whoever the "Chai" person was, they seem to have evaporated. No postings, no entries on their home page. Nada. Straaaange.

Meanwhile, back on the ranch, the Falun Gong piece is quite long. But it's meant to be thorough, and balanced. I would be reluctant to chop it up into bite-sized nuggets. Anyone who's interested will read it. Anyone else is free to skim or skip.

BTW, if anyone else has corrections to point out, please refer at least to the section/paragraph, as the mistakes can be hard to find.

Cheers,

Chaiwallah a.k.a. Chai

I have nooo idea what a Chaiwallah is - other than the educated person who seems to think i vanished...
Me: I am a sweet hot spicy drink - that has a little foam in it.
And why? Cos I really found the article interesting, and the research was tied in quite well.

I got lost - I'm back.
I was going to post something - but the first one I picked to read for an example, I got intimidated, and decided I would need to do a lot more work on mine before it could be given to the world for comment.

A Chaiwallah is the chap who stews up the chai at the side of the road in India and serves it up in tiny unglazed earthenware cups. (Check out the recipe on my home page.)
Cheers,
Chaiwallah
a.k.a

Thanks for this Falun Gong entry, Chaiwallah! It was an interesting read. I wonder about the issue of balance, though. Personally I don't see the need for always being 'balanced'. Suppose you were writing about Apartheid in South Africa back in the Apartheid years. Should you have been 'balanced' in your portrayal? Should you have mentioned the good bits about Apartheid? Anyways, you *might* have done so ... but you would likely have been criticised for it! Right now, nobody is allowed to say anything good about Apartheid or those days. Right now it is also not fashionable to criticise the SA government. We are ruled by fashions ... we might criticise the actions of some, but not of others. It might not be fashionable to criticise China right now, even if they do all the same sorts of wrong things for which we South Africans have been criticised back in the old days. But I say criticism is fine. It is not good to be neutral on all issues. Maybe because you're not neutral, this entry might not be suitable for the Edited Guide ... I dunno, maybe it will.