With a click of her mouse, ugly thoughts disappear. She had just posted a notice on the site about a Western reporter's visit and was watching intently to see what came in. After all, unpredictable things happen here, where party propaganda meets cyberspace and, as if to underscore that point, a screen saver flashes smiling images of Diana, Princess of Wales, her wedding and Prince William nearby. Most Chinese reject NATO's explanation that the attack was an accident.
More angry comments tumble in.
The comments stand. We are the main newspaper of the party, so of course there are limits. But it would take something stronger than these to be removed. Local governments are even using Web sites to poll residents about policy issues, like bus fares. Now we have people voting in cyberspace who cannot vote in political space.