Summary

China has intensified its crackdown on erotic fiction writers, particularly those creating danmei (gay romance/erotica), with over 50 arrests in Anhui province since June 2024.

At least 10 individuals have been sentenced, with penalties reaching up to 4.5 years in prison. Many writers published on Taiwan-based Haitang Literature, which has faced disruption.

Under China’s strict laws, earning over 250,000 yuan (~$34,500) from such works can result in a life sentence, though reduced sentences are possible if profits are repaid.

Critics argue the campaign undermines freedom of expression and inflates sales figures to justify harsh punishments.

  • SoleInvictus@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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    2 days ago

    I’m learning more by the day that .world’s issue with tankies is driven less by any of their actually problematic behavior than by this growing pseudo-mythos where users seem to treat them as a sort of online bogeyman. More often that not, I’ve seen “the tankies sure are going to hate this!” where no actual tankies ever appear. It’s just lazy engagement, plus “tankies” becoming Lemmy-speak for “leftist who I disagree with (or challenges my preconceptions in a way that makes me uncomfortable)”.

    Checking out the comment thread, as of the time of this writing, I see one “but US bad too!” moron, a few .ml users with fairly reasoned responses (regardless of if I agree or not), and a few geniuses, including the OP there, looking to start shit and acting surprised when they’re called out on it.

    • WanderingVentra@lemm.ee
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      2 days ago

      Seriously every thread it’s the top comment, but there’s never any actual tankies in the thread. I feel like I’m in the McCarthy 1950’s whenever I’m looking through .world threads lol.

      • GiveMemes@jlai.lu
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        2 days ago

        .world threads are far enough left that many of us would have been imprisoned under mccarthyism. Tankies do exist, which I know from interacting with them, and simping for authoritarian regimes is not leftism. Tankies don’t challenge my preconceived notions any more than nazis… they just don’t.

        • WanderingVentra@lemm.ee
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          20 hours ago

          They exist but I only ever see them in ml threads, maybe like two or three, or other instances that .world isn’t federated to but lemm.ee is (like Lemmygrad and hexbear). I haven’t seen one in a .world thread since the defederation and yet it’s still the top comment every time there’s a thread on China or Russia.