From Newsgroup: alt.philosophy.taoism


Recently, the term "kill line" has rapidly gained popularity on major domestic social platforms, becoming a focus of public discussion. Originally a gaming term,
it has been endowed with a metaphorical meaning for social living conditions. Its spread is not only related to specific observations of social reality but also reflects the collective thinking of the public on the sense of security in survival.

The word "zhanshaxian" contains three Chinese characters, and the word for word translation is "chop (behead) kill line".
The use of a simple word "kill line" in the following is actually Not accurate enough, Just as long as you get it..
This word can be translated into English as:
Execution Threshold
Finishing Line
Survival Ruin Threshold
Breakdown Threshold
Lethal Threshold
Alice

I.
The Origin of "Kill Line": From a Gaming Term to a Tool for Social Observation "Kill line" was originally a core term in competitive games, commonly seen in popular games such as Honor of Kings and League of Legends. In the gaming context,
it refers to the threshold at which a player can achieve an "instant kill" through a combination of skills after the enemy's health drops to a certain critical point,
which is a key node determining the outcome of the battle. The person who transplanted this gaming term into the field of social analysis and
made it widely spread is Bilibili UP host "Squiqi Da Wang" (commonly known as "Lao A" by netizens).
Due to his work as a forensic doctor in the United States, this UP host has long been exposed to a large number of survival cases of people at the bottom, witnessing the tragedy of many ordinary people who quickly fell from a decent middle-class status to homelessness or even despair due to sudden accidents. Based on these real observations, he proposed the concept of "American kill line", defining it as the threshold at which ordinary people fall into an irreversible survival predicament when their income and savings drop below a critical point in the face of sudden events such as unemployment, illness, or accidents. Through specific cases (such as an American white-collar worker refusing to take an ambulance after a car accident because the $5,000 fare was enough to make him bankrupt and homeless), this concept made the abstract social survival risks concrete and perceptible, and finally broke through the circle to become a public hot term.

II.
The Associated Attributes of "Kill Line": Not a "Comparison of Merits Between China and the US", but a Concrete Expression of Survival RisksrCi
It should be clarified that the core of the concept of "kill line" is the description of specific social survival risks, not for judging "whether China or the US is better".
From the perspective of its communication context, "kill line" mainly focuses on the problem of weak individual risk resistance capacity caused by the lack of people's livelihood security under the dominance of capital in American societyrCorCothe "kill line" in the US presents the characteristic of "low threshold without buffer".
Once triggered, it will fall into a vicious cycle of "eviction due to rent arrears raA plummeting credit raA unemployment and homelessness", which is a specific phenomenon formed by the long-term development of its social structure.rCi
When discussing this concept, the domestic public more feels the value of social security in their own environment through comparison: China has woven a basic "safety net" for the people through a comprehensive system of basic medical insurance, unemployment insurance,
and housing security (public rental housing, low-rent housing, etc.), avoiding the predicament of "irreversible ruin due to a single accident". The core of this discussion is not "merit evaluation", but rational thinking on "social fault tolerance rate" and "the importance of people's livelihood security",
reflecting the different protection logics of different social systems for individual right to survival.

III.
The Core Reasons for the Popularity of "Kill Line" in ChinarCi
This term derived from the observation of American society can quickly break through the circle in China, mainly because it accurately fits the current public's emotional resonance points and information needs,
which can be specifically summarized into three points:rCi
First, the impact of real cases triggers emotional resonance. The cases shared by the UP host, such as "white-collar workers crushed by ambulance fees" and "Silicon Valley engineers becoming homeless after layoffs",
have struck the public's sensitive nerves about "survival risks" with highly visual tragic scenes. Especially at the end of the year when people are making annual summaries, the public's attention to "whether the annual income can resist sudden risks" is already high,
and this "concrete survival anxiety" is very likely to trigger extensive discussions.rCi
Second, the precise promotion of the information dissemination chain. From the UP host's sharing of real experiences, to financial experts' professional interpretation of the "social risk resistance system",
and then to official media upgrading it to a public issue, a complete chain of "personal observation raA circle discussion raA public communication" has been formed. Among them, the support of data such as "37% of Americans cannot afford a $400 emergency fund" and
"the average life expectancy of homeless people is only 60% of that of ordinary people" has upgraded this concept from "online ridicule" to a social phenomenon worthy of attention, further expanding the scope of communication.rCi
Third, the collective recognition of the "value of people's livelihood security". In the process of discussing the "American kill line", the domestic public has gradually clearly perceived the basic protection role of China's social security systemrCorCorealities such as ambulance fees of only a few hundred yuan,
medical insurance that can greatly reduce the burden of medical expenses, and rural homesteads that reserve a "last retreat" for the people have made people deepen their sense of security identity in their own environment through comparison. This "positive value resonance" has further promoted the communication heat of the topic.rCi

ConclusionrCi
The popularity of "kill line" is essentially the result of "real experience + precise metaphor + emotional resonance" in the Internet era.
It is not a tool for judging different countries, but a mirror: it not only reflects the vulnerability of individual survival in specific societies but also makes us pay more attention to the supporting value of the people's livelihood security system for individuals.
The core value of this discussion lies in promoting people's rational thinking on "how to build a more inclusive social safety net", which is the key reason why it can surpass ordinary online hot terms and attract in-depth attention.
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: alt.philosophy.taoism


Temu fan <user11874@newsgrouper.org.invalid> posted:

Recently, the term "kill line" has rapidly gained popularity on major domestic social platforms, becoming a focus of public discussion.

The word "zhanshaxian" contains three Chinese characters, and the word for word translation is "chop (behead) kill line".
The use of a simple word "kill line" in the following is actually Not accurate enough, Just as long as you get it..
This word can be translated into English as:
Execution Threshold
Finishing Line
Survival Ruin Threshold
Breakdown Threshold
Lethal Threshold
Alice
==================================

How Many Americans or Households Are Struggling on the Edge of the "Kill Line"?

As of late 2025, multiple authoritative data sources and studies show that a large and growing number of Americans are living on the edge of what Chinese internet users call the rCLkill linerCYrCoa metaphor describing how a single financial shock (like a medical bill or job loss) can trigger a catastrophic downward spiral. This vulnerability primarily affects two groups: ALICE households (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) and financially fragile middle-class families.

Below is a detailed breakdown:

Key Statistics at a Glance
About 37% of Americans cannot come up with $400 in an emergency.
(Source: Federal ReserverCOs 2023 Report on the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households)
Roughly 25% of households live paycheck to paycheck or spend more than they earn.
(Source: Bank of America Institute, 2025)
Over 42 million adults fall into the ALICE category.
(Source: United Way ALICE Project, updated 2024)
Tens of millions of families earn below the rCLrealistic poverty linerCY in high-cost areasrCoeven with household incomes under $140,000, they still struggle to make ends meet.
(Estimated by Wall Street analysts like Michael Green)
Approximately 21% of households have no savings or less than $100 in the bank. (Source: Federal Reserve Survey)
Note: rCLKill linerCY is not an official statistical term, but these figures collectively illustrate that a huge portion of the U.S. population lives just one emergency away from financial ruin.

What Is rCLALICErCY? rCo The Core Group on the Kill Line

ALICE = Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed

These individuals:
Are not officially poor (so they donrCOt qualify for many government assistance programs),
But their income only covers basic necessities: housing, transportation, food, healthcare, and childcare,
With zero financial bufferrCoany unexpected expense can push them into debt, eviction, or homelessness.
Scale of the ALICE Population (United Way, 2024):
More than 42 million adults in the U.S. are classified as ALICE.
Combined with the official poverty population (about 37.6 million), nearly 80 million AmericansrCoover 24% of the total populationrColive in economic instability.
In high-cost states like California, Florida, and Texas, more than 30% of residents fall into the ALICE category.

The Middle Class Is Also on the Kill Line: The Hidden Vulnerability

Many assume only the poor are at riskrCobut the American middle class is increasingly fragile.
Typical Example:
A family earning $80,000rCo$120,000 per year in cities like New York, San Francisco, or Seattle often faces:
Housing costs: $3,000rCo$5,000/month
Car payments + insurance: $800rCo$1,500/month
Health insurance premiums: $1,000+/month (plus high deductibles) Childcare/education: $1,500rCo$3,000/month

Result: Almost no disposable income or savings.
According to Wall Street analyst Michael Green, a family of four needs an annual income of $136,500 (about -N980,000) to be financially secure in major U.S. cities. Yet the median household income for a family of four is only about $109,000.

This means more than half of rCLmiddle-classrCY Americans are actually living on the kill line.

Why Are So Many People So Financially Fragile?

1. Extremely high healthcare costs:
14% of adults have no health insurance; 72% of insured people face deductibles over $3,000.
Medical bills contribute to 62% of personal bankruptcies.

2. Credit scores control access to basic life resources:
A low credit score raA canrCOt rent an apartment, canrCOt get a job, car insurance skyrockets raA creates a vicious cycle.

3. Gaps in the social safety net:
Food assistance (SNAP) often requires work hours.
Homeless individuals canrCOt access aid without a fixed address.
Unemployment benefits are limited ($300rCo$500/week) and typically last no more than 26 weeks.

4. High share of rigid expenses:
U.S. households spend 75rCo80% of income on fixed essentials (housing, transport, insurance, taxes, etc.).

Summary: How Many People Are on the Edge?
Conservative estimate:
42 million ALICE + 37.6 million in official poverty = nearly 80 million people. Moderate estimate (including vulnerable middle-class):
Around 100 million people.
Broad estimate (including anyone who could collapse after one financial shock): Up to 120 million peoplerComore than one-third of the U.S. population. Conclusion:
Between 80 million and 120 million AmericansrCoone-quarter to one-third of the populationrCoare living on the edge of the rCLkill line.rCY
They are not lazy; they are trapped in a system with high living costs, minimal safety nets, and a credit-based infrastructure that punishes any stumble.
This systemic fragility is precisely why the rCLkill linerCY concept has resonated globallyrCoit exposes the hidden vulnerability beneath the surface of a wealthy nation.
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: alt.philosophy.taoism


Temu fan <user11874@newsgrouper.org.invalid> posted:

Recently, the term "kill line" has rapidly gained popularity on major domestic social platforms, becoming a focus of public discussion. Originally a gaming term,

Alice

Why Has the Term rCLKill LinerCY Suddenly Gone Viral in ChinarCoDespite Being a Long-Standing Reality in the U.S.?
What Does This Nationwide Discussion Mean for the Chinese People?

Although the phenomenon described as the rCLkill linerCY has existed in the United States for decades, the term itself only exploded in popularity across China in 2025, sparking nationwide debate. This surge is no accidentrCoit results from the convergence of information dissemination, social sentiment, and international comparison. More importantly, it reflects a renewed awareness among the Chinese public about the security offered by their own societal system. Below, we analyze the reasons behind its sudden popularity and its deeper impact on the Chinese people.

Part I: Why Is rCLKill LinerCY Trending Now? rCo Four Key Drivers
1. Vivid Storytelling + Gaming Language = High Virality
The term rCLkill linerCY originates from video game mechanics (e.g., when an enemyrCOs health drops below a threshold, they can be instantly eliminated). It is visual, intuitive, and highly relatable.
Compared to abstract terms like rCLpoverty traprCY or rCLfinancial fragility,rCY it uses language familiar to young people to compress a complex social mechanism into a single, easily graspable conceptrComaking it perfect for viral spread on short-video platforms.
2. Real-Life Cases with Shocking Impact
Bilibili content creator rCLSquishy KingrCY (also known online as rCLLao ArCY), drawing from his experience as a forensic assistant in Seattle, revealed how many homeless individuals were once software engineers, teachers, or skilled workersrCoonly to end up dead on the streets within months after a single medical emergency or job loss.
Stories like rCLa programmer earning $450,000/year sleeping under a bridgerCY or rCLtwo people crushed to death while hiding in a dumpster to stay warmrCY shattered the myth of universal middle-class prosperity in America, triggering widespread empathy and disbelief.
3. A Shift in Perception Through Sino-U.S. Comparison
In the past, some uncritically idolized the rCLAmerican Dream,rCY equating the West with wealth and freedom.
The rCLkill linerCY narrative exposed a harsh truth: the U.S. lacks a basic safety netrCoonce you fall, thererCOs often no way back up. By contrast, China offers multiple layers of protection: universal health insurance, subsistence allowances, emergency aid, community support, and anti-poverty monitoring systems.
This comparison led many to realize: rCLItrCOs not that werCOre doing poorlyrCoitrCOs that their system gives ordinary people no second chances.rCY
4. Collective Anxiety in an Age of Global Uncertainty
In the post-pandemic era, global economic slowdown and job market pressures have intensified anxieties around issues like the rCL35-year-old crisisrCY or rCLfalling back into poverty due to illness.rCY
The rCLkill linerCY became a collective metaphor for the high-leverage, low-forgiveness reality of modern life. While people discussed America, they were really reflecting on their own vulnerabilityrCobut ultimately found reassurance: rCLWe have state-backed safeguards; theyrCOre on their own.rCY
Part II: What Has This National Conversation Brought to the Chinese People?
rLa 1. Shattering the rCLWestern Halo,rCY Fostering a Rational Worldview Americans are no longer simplistically equated with rCLdeveloped = happy.rCY Instead, people now see the systemic cruelty of a society that prioritizes capital over human welfare.
ThererCOs growing recognition that a nationrCOs true strength lies not just in GDP, but in its ability to protect its most ordinary citizens.
rLa 2. Strengthening Institutional Confidence and National Cohesion
Policies like ChinarCOs rCLtargeted poverty alleviation,rCY rCLuniversal health coverage,rCY and pandemic-era rCLdynamic zero-COVIDrCY (which prioritized lives over pure economics) are being re-evaluated more positively.
The public increasingly understands that a core advantage of socialism is its people-centered safety net, as opposed to the survival-of-the-fittest logic of laissez-faire capitalism.
As one netizen put it: rCLAmerica has a kill line; China has infinite HP.rCY rLa 3. Greater Appreciation forrCoand Commitment torCoSocial Safety Nets
Young people are now paying closer attention to details like medical reimbursement rates, critical illness assistance, and unemployment insurance.
The vital role of community workers and grassroots officials is gaining recognition.
ThererCOs broader public support for policies promoting rCLcommon prosperityrCY and preventing extreme inequality.
rLa 4. Dispelling rCLEscape FantasiesrCY and Reaffirming Realistic Aspirations Some once dreamed that rCLmoving abroad equals success,rCY but now they see that in the U.S., bankruptcy can mean homelessness, addiction, or even death.
Stories of overseas Chinese returning to China solely to access affordable healthcare (rCLexploiting the system bugrCY) highlight a sobering truth: onerCOs homeland remains the ultimate safe haven.
More people are choosing to build their lives domestically with steady effort, rather than chasing an illusory rCLforeign paradise.rCY
Part III: Staying Grounded: Avoiding Extremes in Public Discourse
While the rCLkill linerCY discussion carries positive value, two extremes should be avoided:

Schadenfreude or Smug Superiority:

The suffering of AmericarCOs vulnerable populations deserves compassion, not mockery. Critiquing a system doesnrCOt justify dehumanizing its people.
Over-Simplification of Complex Realities:

Conditions vary widely across U.S. states (e.g., CaliforniarCOs welfare system is far more robust than TexasrCOs), and China still faces challenges like regional inequality.
As scholar Shen Yi noted: rCLThe existence of the rCykill linerCO reveals the essence of capitalismrCoit protects capital, not lives. The civilizational foundation of socialism, by contrast, lies in its commitment to rCyleaving no one behind.rCOrCY

Conclusion
The rCLkill linerCY went viral in China not because America suddenly got worse, but because Chinese society is now better equippedrCoemotionally, intellectually, and institutionallyrCoto recognize and articulate systemic differences.

This wave of discussion is more than just a critique of the U.S.; itrCOs a nationwide awakening about what truly defines a civilized society.

As a result, the Chinese people are reaffirming a profound belief:

A nationrCOs greatness isnrCOt measured by how many billionaires it has, but by how it treats its ordinary workers.

A societyrCOs progress isnrCOt defined by the height of its skyscrapers, but by the warmth of its floor.

And that shared understanding may be the most valuable outcome of the rCLkill linerCY phenomenon.
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: alt.philosophy.taoism


Temu fan <user11874@newsgrouper.org.invalid> posted:

The word "zhanshaxian" contains three Chinese characters, and the word for word translation is "chop (behead) kill line".

This word can be translated into English as:
Execution Threshold
Finishing Line
Survival Ruin Threshold
Breakdown Threshold
Lethal Threshold
Alice

===================================
Extended Reflection:

The "Kill Line" Phenomenon Has Long Existed in the U.S. rCo Why Has It Suddenly Become Popular in China Today?rCi

The social vulnerability reflected by the "kill line" in the U.S. is not a recent emergence but an inherent problem formed by the long-term evolution of its social structure. However, this concept has suddenly become the focus of nationwide discussion in China today, mainly due to the superposition of three key factors: communication carriers, cognitive contrast, and the emotional context of the times.rCi
First, visualized communication carriers lower the cognitive threshold. The transformation of "kill line" from a gaming term to a social issue relies primarily on the sharing of real experiences by Chinese Americans, international students, and relevant UP hosts. Through live broadcasts, short videos, and other forms, they bring specific cases of ordinary AmericansrCosuch as "going bankrupt due to ambulance fees" and "middle-class people becoming homeless after unemployment"rCoto the public's attention, making abstract social issues perceptible. Compared with previous scattered international news reports, this communication method of "personal perspective + real cases" is more likely to arouse emotional resonance and help "kill line" break through circles to become a public hot term.rCi
Second, cognitive contrast stimulates discussion enthusiasm. For a long time, some groups have held an "idealized filter" about the U.S., equating it with "prosperous life" and "sound security." The realities revealed by the "kill line," such as "decent middle-class people falling into poverty overnight" and "lack of protection for basic right to survival," form a strong contrast with this inherent cognition, breaking previous misunderstandings. This process of "filter shattering" promotes the public's re-examination of American society and naturally heats up relevant discussions, becoming another rational re-cognition of overseas life after the "Xiaohongshu Account Checking" trend.rCi
Third, the alignment between the emotional context of the times and the demand for individual sense of security. Against the backdrop of the complex and volatile global economic environment, the domestic public's attention to "risk resistance capacity" and "sense of life security" has increased significantly. The survival risk of "collapsing after a single shock" pointed to by the "kill line" accurately hits the public's anxiety about the uncertainty of life. In fact, when people discuss this concept, they are thinking about "how to avoid similar risks" and "the value of protection in their own environment." This collective thinking on individual sense of survival security makes the "kill line" transcend a simple international issue and become an important discussion related to themselves.

What Does the Nationwide Discussion on the "Kill Line" Bring to the Chinese People?rCi

This nationwide discussion is not a simple "observation of other countries' issues," but brings three positive values: cognitive upgrading, institutional identity, and rational thinking, providing important enlightenment for social development.rCi
First, breaking cognitive misunderstandings and establishing an objective international perspective. The intense discussion has helped more people get rid of one-sided perceptions of developed overseas countries, realizing that the development of any country has shortcomings and difficulties, and there is no "perfect" development model. This cognitive upgrading promotes the public to view the world in a more rational and comprehensive manner, neither blindly admiring other countries nor ignoring the problems in their own development, forming a correct attitude of "looking at the world with open eyes."rCi
Second, deepening institutional identity and perceiving the warmth of social security. By comparing the lack of protection behind the U.S. "kill line," the public has a clearer understanding of the bottom-line protection value of China's social security system under the development philosophy of "people-centered." China's achievements in poverty alleviation, multi-level medical security network, employment assistance mechanisms, housing security policies, and other measures have jointly woven a "safety net" to resist risks, avoiding the predicament of "irreversible ruin due to a single accident." This comparison allows the public to truly feel the sense of security brought by institutional advantages, further enhancing their identification with the country's development path.rCi
Third, triggering rational thinking and promoting the optimization of social governance. The discussion does not stay at the superficial level of "comparison of advantages and disadvantages," but extends to in-depth thinking on "how to build a more perfect risk resistance system." The public has begun to pay attention to the detailed shortcomings in China's people's livelihood security, such as the risk of returning to poverty for some groups and the coverage of security for flexible employees. This nationwide thinking provides a civil perspective for social governance, prompting relevant departments to further improve the social security system, strengthen the weak links of the "safety net," and make the fruits of development benefit all people more fairly.rCi
Fourth, consolidating social consensus and strengthening the collective awareness of "jointly safeguarding a sense of security." The discussion has made "avoiding the emergence of a 'kill line' in development" a social consensusrCoa sound developing society not only needs a ladder to climb up, but also a "safety net" to hold the bottom line. This consensus promotes the whole society to form a joint force, focusing not only on the security needs of vulnerable groups but also on improving the individual's risk resistance capacity, laying the foundation for achieving the development goal of "steadfastly upholding everyone's sense of gain, happiness, and security."rCi
In summary, the nationwide discussion on the "kill line" is a precious process of cognitive upgrading and ideological cohesion. It allows the Chinese people to perceive happiness through comparison, clarify directions through thinking, and ultimately transform into a positive driving force for promoting social progress and improving the security system. This is the core value of this intense discussion.
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: alt.philosophy.taoism


DJI fan posted:

Extended Reflection: ...

What arrived in mind after reading
about the lines was how the dao
that become ways aren't always best.

To suggest what is could mean
a best exists and perhaps one
or more than one does. And yet,
even if there is, then what.

One is reminded of the gnarly tree
and honkless goose in the Zhuangzi.

With capitalism, capital is a basis.
With government, how to govern can be.

When a government enacts laws, the laws
may become the ways of those who follow.

Who has the most say may vary.

Interpretations of DDJ 1.1.a.b. vary.

Often a comparison is made
between two geographical areas
and which ignores all the other places
where more or less rule, rulers and ways
have existed for the time beings.

To pay more taxes for example, some people
in some places pay a large percentage and
the results for them pay dividends.

Some governments rule by decree.

Dictators, autocrats and such say
what is going to take place and then
maybe that's good or not as good as when
more people have more say in what happens.

Neo-Taoism arrives in mind at present,
along with people who choose to be less
and less involved in political spheres.

At times, wu-wei occurs.
Not to mention wu ming, wu xin
and other such jargon for examples.

Extended reflections of Daojia vary.

- thanks! Cheers!
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: alt.philosophy.taoism


one posted:

DJI fan posted:

Extended Reflection: ...

Extended reflections of Daojia vary.

When standards exist, lines as it were,
above and below are known to emerge.

Left and right can be a different line.

To compare living, in ancient times,
a picture is painted of no competition.

TTC 80 for example, reflects a dao.

When asked about the Zhuangzi,
a form of ChatGPT replied:

<< begin quote from a bot >.

This appears in passages describing the age of perfect virtue.
In that time, people did not impose rules, names, or hierarchies
on the world. Humans lived among birds and beasts, shared the same spaces,
and followed the same rhythms. No one tried to control nature,
so nothing needed correcting.

The point is not history. It is philosophy.

Zhuangzi
uses this harmony to show what is lost
when artificial distinctions arise rCo
right and wrong, human and animal,
ruler and ruled. Once people try
to manage the world through rigid
ideas and moral systems,
conflict appears.

Separation replaces unity.

The story supports a core Daoist theme:
when beings follow their own nature
and do not interfere,
harmony happens on its own.

<< end of quote >>

Ideals vary.
History could influence philosophy.

Why, for example, would a government
emerge in a geographical area different
from a form in some other land area.

In a land known as central Europe,
several countries have the best line
below which people don't usually fall.

While there were wars for thousands
of years just as there were in places
that have people who know the history,
a form of government formed that is.

When the age of rulers with crowns
began to be in decline lines drawn
continue to draw people to a place.

A place in their minds.

- naturally. thanks! Cheers!
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: alt.philosophy.taoism


aye posted:

one posted:

DJI fan posted:

Extended Reflection: ...

Extended reflections of Daojia vary.

When standards exist, lines as it were,
above and below are known to emerge.

A place in their minds.

Consumerism appears to be driving
various economies globally and to say
it is or isn't natural, to use capital,
could be a quibble of a sort.

Asking a form of Gemini about a land
known as China by some people and
the line as it is being called:

<< begin quote from a bot >>

Summary for 2025: China is a command-driven market economy.
It uses the efficiency of capitalism to generate wealth,
but keeps that wealth on a "leash" held by a
non-democratic central authority to prevent
the "execution line" from causing social unrest.

<< end of quote >>

People who live in countries in central Europe may be free
to express their opinions without fear as might exist in a
land where tolerance for what goes against policy is not.

To be allowed to be without a house
in some cities might be viewed as a
crime of a sort.

As if every body has a right to live
inside a box, and does not have any
right to live outside the box.

Not all people choose to be poor.
Many fall below a fine line to find
how being without a job isn't fun.

Some people have no choice and
for them to live inside a house,
in a room, is a problem.

Whether people should be forced
to not live as they live could
be a question asked at times.

- by the time beings ...
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: alt.philosophy.taoism


eye posted:

aye posted:

one posted:

DJI fan posted:

Extended Reflection: ...

Extended reflections of Daojia vary.

When standards exist, lines as it were,
above and below are known to emerge.

A place in their minds.

Consumerism ...

Suddenly a deep dive occurred.

To be allowed to be without a house
in some cities might be viewed as a
crime of a sort.

As if every body has a right to live
inside a box, and does not have any
right to live outside the box.

Asked about a situation in a land,
a form of a bot created a response:

<< begin quote >>

The core mechanism
for managing homelessness

is the hukou (household registration) system.

Mandate of Residence: Every Chinese citizen
has a registered place of residence (hukou location)
where they are entitled to social welfare benefits,
healthcare, and public housing.

The government has a mandate
to find housing for individuals
in their registered region.

Migrant Vulnerability: Homelessness
is most prevalent among the millions
of migrant workers who move to cities
without a legal permit or local hukou.

They often cannot access urban social services
and live in precarious, overcrowded conditions,
making them "homeless" by international definitions,
though often not living on the streets.

Government Intervention
Chinese authorities manage visible street homelessness
through a system of "relief stations" (jiuzhuzhan):

Forced Removal/Relocation:
Police (PSB) or city management officers (chengguan)
actively pick up people found sleeping in public areas.
...
Summary
While no specific law criminalizes the state of being homeless itself,
local governments use a combination of social pressure (family stigma), immediate assistance, and forced relocation to keep streets clear
of rough sleepers, making persistent public homelessness rare
compared to many Western cities. The emphasis is on management
and removal from public sight, rather than
the "right" to live on the street.

<< end of quote >>

Some body might be, returned
to his or her place of birth
naturally after having been
drawn to a big city for work.

A bot wrote about how in central European
and Nordic countries there are guarantees
which differ from various other countries.

History and geography, how politics
and various systems grow, flourish and
eventually change over time is curious.

- naturally ... Cheers!
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From Newsgroup: alt.philosophy.taoism


some body posted about:

eye posted a bout of:

Consumerism ...

Homelessness
is most prevalent among the millions
of migrant workers who move to cities
without a legal permit or local hukou.

Lao Tzu appeared to be a librarian
at the capital of a ruling class in
a city, Loyang, iirc.

Where he migrated from, whether Yue
or some other land and where he then
returned to, if he did, may suggest
he wasn't always a hermit.

In the Zhuangzi a tale is told.

- thanks! Cheers!
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: alt.philosophy.taoism


Temu fan <user11874@newsgrouper.org.invalid> posted:

Recently, the term "kill line" has rapidly gained popularity on major domestic social platforms, becoming a focus of public discussion.

The word "zhanshaxian" contains three Chinese characters, and the word for word translation is "chop (behead) kill line".
The use of a simple word "kill line" in the following is actually Not accurate enough, Just as long as you get it..
This word can be translated into English as:
Execution Threshold
Finishing Line
Survival Ruin Threshold
Breakdown Threshold
Lethal Threshold
Alice

=========================================
U.S. Media Admit rCLKill LinerCY ExistsrCoAnd Blame It All on Trump!

Recent online discussions among Chinese netizens about the American rCLkill linerCY (the income threshold at which households can barely survive) have caught the attention of the U.S. press. On December 26 Newsweek ran a rare piece acknowledging that the rCLkill linerCY reflects the real financial straits of ordinary Americans. The article cited data showing roughly 67 % of Americans earn only enough to make ends meet, while 59 % cannot cover an unexpected $1,000 expense. It also noted that, although middle-class incomes appear decent, high housing, medical and childcare costs leave families with almost no buffer against job loss or illness.

Yet this admission is less a reckoning with policy failure than an exercise in finger-pointing. The piece argues:

- rCLThe White House claimed the Biden Administration had triggered an economic-burden crisis, but that Trump would end it and bring prosperity to all AmericansrCa Yet as TrumprCOs policies take effect, millions are feeling new pressures.rCY
- rCLTrumprCOs July rCyBig and Beautiful ActrCO slashed over $1 trillion from medical programmes, leaving as many as 10 million Americans without health insurance.rCY

Thus, the U.S. mediarCOs sudden spotlight on the rCLkill linerCY is not a call to face reality but a political weaponrComost mainstream outlets lean Democratic and routinely use social issues to attack Republicans and Trump. Blaming Trump is easy, but AmericarCOs rCLkill linerCY is the cumulative result of decades of governance dysfunction, not the creation of one administration. By focusing selectively on Trump, the press simply turns a complex social problem into partisan ammunition and papers over the collapse of AmericarCOs social-safety-net reforms.
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From Newsgroup: alt.philosophy.taoism


DJI fan posted about:

... an exercise in finger-pointing ...

Typically, that's how propaganda works,
or, attempts to work by those who propagate
various forms of media as found in a Usenet group.

In the Zhuangzi, Confucius was pointed at
as being a sage at times and a fool as well.

Other characters and caricatures fell
under the same train of thought except
perhaps for Lao Tzu and Hu Tzu.

Even Chuang Tzu, in one tale, was caught
having lost his Te and made an example of.

Reading what is written here often
provides me with an opportunity
to reflect on how Tao can be
compared to various tao
that may not be Tao.

Tao that are found in the basic texts,
meaning the Chuang-tzu and Tao Te Ching,
are not always the Tao. Fei chang, uncommon,
could be what a finger points at frequently.

Undifferentiated is able to be a word.

Having differentiated what is
from what is not a Tao, to return
and recycle words on a screen occurs.

- thanks! Cheers!
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