It’s laborious to explain the sensation that got here after. It’s like everyone seems to be coming to you and all types of data from all around the world is converging towards you and [people are] telling you: Hey, what’s occurring right here; hey, what’s occurring there; are you aware, that is what’s occurring in Guangzhou; I’m in Wuhan, Wuhan is doing this; I’m in Beijing, and I’m following the massive group and strolling collectively. Suddenly all of the real-time data is being submitted to me, and I don’t know learn how to describe that feeling. But there was additionally no time to consider it.
My coronary heart was beating very quick, and my arms and my mind have been consistently switching between a number of software program applications—as a result of you realize, you’ll be able to’t save a video with Twitter’s internet model. So I used to be consistently switching software program, modifying the video, exporting it, after which posting it on Twitter. [Editor’s note: Li adds subtitles, blocks out account information, and compiles shorter videos into one.] By the top, there was no time to edit the movies anymore. If somebody shot and despatched over a 12-second WeChat video, I’d simply use it as is. That’s it.
I received the most important quantity of [private messages] round 6:00 p.m. on Sunday night time. At that point, there have been many individuals on the road in 5 main cities in China: Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Wuhan, and Guangzhou. So I principally was receiving a dozen personal messages each second. In the top, I could not even display the data anymore. I noticed it, I clicked on it, and if it was price posting, I posted it.
People all around the nation are telling me about their real-time conditions. In order for extra folks to not be in peril, they went to the [protest] websites themselves and despatched me what was happening there. Like, some followers have been using bikes close to the presidential palace in Nanjing, taking photos, and telling me concerning the scenario within the metropolis. And then they requested me to tell everybody to be cautious. I believe that’s a very shifting factor.
It’s like I’ve regularly develop into an anchor sitting in a TV studio, getting limitless data from reporters on the scene all around the nation. For instance, on Monday in Hangzhou, there have been 5 – 6 folks updating me on the most recent information concurrently. But there was a break as a result of all of them have been fleeing when the police cleared the venue.
On the significance of staying goal
There are a whole lot of tweets that embellish the reality. From their standpoint, they suppose it’s the fitting factor to do. They suppose you must maximize the outrage in order that there generally is a revolt. But for me, I believe we’d like dependable data. We must know what’s actually happening, and that’s a very powerful factor. If we have been doing it for the emotion, then ultimately I actually would have been a part of the “foreign influence,” proper?
But if there’s a information account outdoors China that may file what’s occurring objectively, in actual time, and precisely, then folks contained in the Great Firewall received’t have doubts anymore. At this second, on this fairly excessive scenario of a steady information blackout, to have the ability to have an account that may hold posting information from all around the nation at a velocity of just about one tweet each few seconds is definitely a morale increase for everybody.
Chinese folks develop up with patriotism, in order that they develop into shy or don’t dare to say one thing immediately or oppose one thing immediately. That’s why the group was singing the nationwide anthem and waving the purple flag, the nationwide flag [during protests]. You have to grasp that the Chinese folks are patriotic. Even when they’re demanding issues [from the government], they do it with that sentiment.