Shanghaiist has been getting its inbox filled with comments from Global Times staff/editors saying they were "in on joke" from the satirical Charlie Sheen/filial piety article that recently made it onto the pages of their publicaiton (details here).
Shanghaiist offered this rejoinder yesterday:
1. Blaming us for what other bloggers are saying about what you wrote is overestimating the influence of this humble little blog, and underestimating their ability to think for themselves.
2. Nobody at Shanghaiist was ever confused that this was a piece of satire, but thanks for pointing that out to us.
3. Yes, it didn't quite cross our minds that your bosses were in on the joke. But seriously, can you blame us for that? Have you read some of the jackshit that's published on the other pages of your paper?
4. Which brings us to the real issue at the crux of it all: Is the Global Times really the right place for the brilliant satire you're writing? You guys should really jump ship and work for The Onion.
5. We do not, cannot, and will not edit our pieces just because someone's unhappy with what we've written. Also, since 2006, we've always been speaking our minds freely about what *we* think about stuff. We do not contact each publication regarding their editorial policy before blockquoting them, and we apologise no exception can be made for the Global Times.
Last but not least, Hao Leifeng has offered to publish a piece on Shanghaiist to set the record straight! We hope he doesn't change his mind after reading what we've had to say!
Best comment posted on the Shanghaiist site in response to this flap: "Is the 'True Xinjiang' section satire too?"
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