So the bloggers are trying out new methods to evade Chinese government censors - the latest one is they are using tools and software to write backwards. Or write vertically instead of horizontally. This is apparently confusing the censors because they now cannot automatically track "objectionable phrases" (aw my heart bleeds for them). One such "text flipping" tool is here. Obviously the government will eventually find a way around it but the resourceful bloggers will probably have found another solution by then and will have moved on.

One of the earliest encryption mechanisms from antiquity was to wrap a cloth around a stick then write a message on the cloth. The messenger would receive the cloth - sans stick - and send the cloth on to the recipient who would then re-wrap it around a stick to see what it said.
More reading: Tags, China, Blogging, Censorship
Cam Riley: South Sea Republic. Freedom, liberty, equity and an Australian Republic.

Comments
  • adam . # . 2/2
    Actually it gets even more obscure than that - Chinese bloggers will use elaborate visual rebuses which can't be automatically detected at our current level of tech.

    This is drawing on a whole classical art tradition of complicated visual puns. But the reason the Great Firewall works is actually due to large numbers of human censors - the software just acts as a productivity tool.
    Give me utilitiy or give me something slightly better!
    • adam . # . 2/2
      (Screwed by your comment length / preview retry rules again tonight btw)
      Give me utilitiy or give me something slightly better!
      • cam . # . 2/2
        No worries. Think I know the issue. Haven't been able to upload it as I don't have internet at home (haven't for a while now and wont yet for a week or so). Such is the luddism of changing houses.
        'Sworn to no party, and of no sect am I.' Frederick Vosper's republican motto.
        • adam . # . 2/2
          Cheers.

          When we moved into this place timing turned out such that the cable internet switch on happened before the furniture arrived. We had a laptop, a fridge and an air mattress for the first half a week.

          That might have been taking minimalism a touch too far - I was pretty glad to see the bed arrive ...
          Give me utilitiy or give me something slightly better!
          • cam . # . 2/2
            Yeh the other place in AZ had the mattress arrive the next day and the futon two months later :/ I slept on a mattress on the floor for too long it seemed. We just had the floors here lacquered (they are polished concrete) so the house is in complete disarray and I am spending my friday nights (like now) in internet cafes that have free wifi with a cup of coffee.
            'Sworn to no party, and of no sect am I.' Frederick Vosper's republican motto.
    • cam . # . 1/1
      It is like Avo's example of human gold farmers in WoW. It cant be cheating as they are legitimate human users. The current mob I am with had huge issues with one of their features being used to spam. They actually had to block/blocklist human behaviour to get on top of the spam. Counter intuitive, but it worked.
      'Sworn to no party, and of no sect am I.' Frederick Vosper's republican motto.