Words

Found in the comments on a squid post on Schneier on Security:

I have read about how this works. In “Cultural Revolution” times in China, the foreign embassies kept two book cases with “Writings of Mao”, one with those writing that were currently allowed, and those that were currently considered subversive.

Quoting from the wrong publication of Mao could lead you in prison or worse. However, not being able to quote the right publication of Mao could do the same. - Winter

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There is a new high-tech shibboleth program in China. It’s a big combo deal: you have to log n-hours in approved social media, log n-hours in approved educational programming, log n-hours of “thumbs up” type activities and incur no “thumbs down” demerits.

On demand you can be asked to regurgitate the required approved information in the appropriate approved manner.

The beauty of this multi-directional system is that they can adjust the (new) appropriate message(s) centrally.

Personally, I would fail such a regime because my brain would explode… It would be like having to talk (or rather listen) to William F Buckley 7x24x365… - JonKnowsNothing

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Which led to:

William F. Buckley Jr. - Language and idiolect

Buckley was well known for his command of language. He came late to formal instruction in English, not learning it until he was seven years old and having earlier learned Spanish and French. Michelle Tsai in Slate says that he spoke English with an idiosyncratic accent: something between an old-fashioned, upper-class Mid-Atlantic accent, and British Received Pronunciation, yet with a Southern drawl.

Rhetoric

Epstein (1972) argues that liberals were especially fascinated by Buckley, and often wanted to debate him, in part because his ideas resembled their own, for Buckley typically formulated his arguments in reaction to left-liberal opinion, rather than being founded on conservative principles that were alien to the liberals.

Appel (1992) argues from rhetorical theory that Buckley's essays are often written in "low" burlesque in the manner of Samuel Butler's satirical poem "Hudibras". Considered as drama, such discourse features black-and-white disorder, a guilt-mongering logician, distorted clownish opponents, limited scapegoating, and a self-serving redemption.

Lee (2008) argues that Buckley introduced a new rhetorical style that conservatives often tried to emulate. The "gladiatorial style", as Lee calls it, is flashy and combative, filled with sound bites, and leads to an inflammatory drama. As conservatives encountered Buckley's arguments about government, liberalism and markets, the theatrical appeal of Buckley's gladiatorial style inspired conservative imitators, becoming one of the principal templates for conservative rhetoric.

I've read some of Buckley's stuff, it's impressive sounding, but I don't think there is much there. He only made it into this blog once, a long time ago.