In such an atmosphere, inclusion of politically incorrect content is not merely a risky move, but constitutes a breach of social decorum. Indeed, working daily with Chinese TV creators, I noticed a subtle, almost instinctive tendency to avoid any content or format that is unusual, novel, or unorthodox, never mind subversive.
含糊但却普遍存在的恐吓是使电视台的职员循规蹈矩的主要因素。但还有一种力量也在为共产党的利益服务：中国根深蒂固的强调集体主义和团体导向行为的文化惯性。在这样的氛围中，含有政治导向错误的内容不但是种冒险，还是违反社会规范的。的确，在与中国电视人共事的过程中，我发现了一种微妙的，近乎本能的避免任何特别、新颖、非正统，更别说是颠覆性的内容的倾向。