Silicon Hutong is a site dedicated to the fine art of business iconoclasm, (defined as "the determined destruction of cherished myths and idols and the wonton slaughter of sacred cows"), in particular about business in China, about the innovative and creative industries, about marketing, PR, and business communications, and as often as possible about the dark nexus were all of those come together.
It's about Insight
The goal is simple: I try to the greatest extent possible to bring insight to doing business in China. In other words, I want you to feel like each visit you make to this site - or each time you read a post on your RSS reader - is time and effort well spent.
I have strong opinions about a lot of things, but as an old sergeant told me once, opinions are like armpits - everyone has a couple, and they all stink. For that reason, I will opine only on those topics where I assume (humbly, of course) that I bring an informed point of view to the table.
What's in a Name?
Silicon Hutong - or "The Hutong," as I refer to it - is obviously a play on words. "Silicon" refers to my focus on technology, innovation, and creativity and the businesses and industries that are built around them. "Hutong" refers to the traditional densly-packed neighborhoods of side streets, alleyways, and passageways that distinguish northern China generally and Beijing specifically.
As such, the blog's name is a tribute to Beijings oft-unclaimed status as the true heart of research and innovation in China, as well as a reflection of my topical focus.
The Hutong is as much a state of mind as a place, but when I say in my dateline that I'm "in the Hutong," usually that refers to my office/library in Northern Beijing.
Religion and Politics
Which brings me to the politics. I've got opinions on American politics just like everybody else. I get political now and again, but I try to keep it limited to the areas of international affairs and security studies, as they apply to the evolving world order in which China plays a part, and the role China is making for itself in it.
On the issue of Chinese politics, I've been criticized both for being too hard on China, and I've been derided as an apologist for Beijing. The approach I take to domestic politics in China is one I learned from Mike Chinoy when he was the CNN Bureau Chief in Beijing: I don't opine, I try to explain, and I let you form your own opinions. Not only does that force me to be more insightful, it also ensures that I don't cross some invisible line that gets me tossed out of the country.
On the topic of religion, I've strayed across the line into discussions about religion in China. I've decided these topics have no place here, in particular because of my own rather strong convictions in one particular direction. Discussion of religious topics, therefore, is confined to another forum, my blog Hebrew Hutong.
Pseudonmymity
I make little effort to hide my own identity, and there is a good reason for that. I was raised by two quite intelligent and often opinionated people who drilled into me the belief that if anything is worth writing, it is worth signing your name to.
As such, you will forgive me if I have little patience and less tolerance for people who see fit to make comments on this blog (or about this blog via email) using pseudonyms or under some other veil of anonymity. I write this stuff under my own name - I only ask that you return the courtesy.
(Mind you, I won't delete ANY topical comments. I just won't address those that come from people who decline to identify themselves.)
There are, however, friends and coworkers who I refer to with set pseudonyms, like The Village Grouch, the Party Secretary, and the like. I will also often refer to fellow bloggers like Imagetheif or The Peking Duck by their own pseudonyms. Taking a line from the old Dragnet "the story you are about to hear is true: the names were changed to protect the innocent." I will not usually drag these folks and my private interactions with them into the discussion by name unless who they are is directly germane to the topic. If that sounds like hypocracy to you, ease up - you can always blame me for their words.
But why Media Beyond Moguls? Why to use the words with some connonations,not even well pronounced and understood?
Halima from Uzbekistan, the country from where the brand the Great Mohols/Moguls into India travelled.
Posted by: Halima Ozimova | December 13, 2008 at 02:22 PM
Halima, the context of my title does not refer to moguls as you are thinking about them. It is meant in terms of the english slang usage referring to a great personage, or a magnate, in the media and entertainment business. Apologies for any misunderstanding.
Posted by: David | December 15, 2008 at 02:41 PM