I was making fun of M-Dawg’s suggestion that closing down a few bars makes anyone safer.

No, I don’t think I’m a target for any terrorists because I’m not American. I don’t think any terror groups would target the Games, except possibly Al-Qaeda – and they wouldn’t go after the Games as a whole, they’d go after American targets. The American competitors will probably be far too well guarded; so the American sports bars are high threat.

I very much doubt if anything bad will happen, but it’s wise to be watchful.

It’s not wise to randomly shut places down, just to make it appear that you’re busy taking lots of “security measures”.

If you were the target of any terrorists, you would not be safe unless you hide in your embassy where there is always heavily guarded by the MP! If it were the case, I guess that you would be full of gratitude to these MPs assigned by the local government for protecting you, and you wouldn’t have the mood to go to Sanlitun, and you wouldn’t say anything of complaint.

So the question is only for you:Are you the target of any terrorists? :-)

And I’m afraid these are indeed a “no security” Olympics. All these daft measures that do nothing to increase security at all are some proof of that. Whereas many measures that obviously should be taken are being overlooked. Do those baggage checks on the subway actually accomplish anything, does anybody look at the scanners? Has there been any public education about watching out for unattended bags? Have they introduced transparent litter bins? Is there in fact any heightened vigilance around the popular American bars? What kind of special training has your average policeman or militiaman received?

If the government somehow believes that a terrorist incident near a venue would embarrass it more than one anywhere else in the city, where does it draw the line? Surely places like The Den and the restaurants on the opposite side of Gongti Beilu ought to be closed as well? And everything on the North 4th Ring, if we’re really going to be ‘safe’?

2\You mentioned that your Chinese colleagues are all complaining, and have “gloomy faces”, I suppose that their face being gloomy not because of the tight security measures but because of the hot and the muggy weather. We cannot do anything about the weather so just wait till LI QIU, and it will be fine.As for some of your guys want to go some where else, that is their choice. Much, much more will stay and stick to the event. Don’t agree? See this from YAHOO:

Hot, impatient crowd vies for Olympics tickets

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080725/ap_on_re_as/oly_china_olympic_tickets;_ylt=Aqtx1s3rOsJhKqWkUSdKcY9vaA8F

3\It is nothing wrong for the authorities to inform the locals how to talk with foreigners(reasons mentioned above) and how to behave. I don’t believe that you will like this kind of a quesion from a Beijing local: Hey, laolao, I know you foreigners are rich people, how much do you get for your job for a month?

4\ Fun, or no fun, it is a quetion and the answer is quite personal. Anyway you can may fun if you try, and perhaps more fun during the event, especially in a much safer environment!

A man sitting behind me shouting loudly(speaking French or Spanish? ) “Bravo!” There were also some other expats(not many that evening).They seemed all excited and satisfied. It is said that during the Olympics there will be lots of shows in Beijing. Why not go enjoy some of them you like? Bars finally will be open and before that it won’t be a bad idea to do sth esle for a change. What I said is just for your reference since I am not so keen for bars, and I know there is a saying that one man’s meat is another man’s poison.

while your comments are quite valid, to spring to Beijingboyce’s defence (which I would rarely do otherwise), his blog is about the bar and club scene in Beijing. If it were about the daily grind, I am sure it would provide a different view…. perhaps, maybe, possibly…..

If only our nice, caring, reasonable government would close down EVERY foreigner-friendly bar in the city, then those nasty terrorists wouldn’t have anywhere to blow us up.

Unless they go after us at the acrobat show, of course….

All those who can will be leaving Beijing before the 8th. Why? Because they’re afraid. The local media has been putting so much emphasis on terror threats, security, that people have started to feel under martial law. The general atmosphere has been dictating the “no fun” part, not the restrictions put on bars.

My office is located a few meters away from the Bird’s Nest. All employees know they’re within range of the anti-missile armada… What do you think they feel? Fun?

It’s been hell to travel to work. Police make frequent checks on residences. Commando-like forces are often seen patrolling streets. My Chinese colleagues and neighbors have gloomy faces and I doubt it’s because of the bar scene. Many in ‘business’ have seen a slow down. They had expected riches and are now stuck having to dismantle their kiosk, fruit counters, training schedules, promotion activities, and so on.

The immense pressure that’s been repeatedly put on local citizens – what to say, how to talk, how to behave, what to do, what not to do, what to watch for, what to report – has been getting to them. That also accounts for the “no-fun”… It takes away all spontaneity.

The current atmosphere has not been conducive to relaxation, to a welcoming attitude, the pleasure of receiving guests, of enjoying new things, participating in unknown experiences. Instead, minds are constantly geared towards the worst possible scenarios.

Doesn’t matter how you look at it, its not fun at all.

“otoh July 24th, 2008 3:50 pm
Seems some （not all) people are complaining b/c prostitutes are no longer easy to pick up from bars. If that’s the case, I don’t have sympathy.
“

good comment!