Over at the Virtual China blog, my Institute for the Future colleague Lyn Jefferey translates a post and comments she found on the Chinese language Netease BBS about young Chinese street performers. The boys whose photos appear in the post remind of Indian fakirs, contorting their bodies, swallowing swords, and as seen here, garroting each other bending metal rods around their necks. From the translation of the comments:
These two kids ofen perform right outside my office. But there are so many of them in Shenzhen that nobody really pays any attention. Life isn't easy…Give them money!
When they grow up I'll hire them as my bodyguards.
We should not be giving them money, but asking the government to help them.
Your photos are pretty good. But you don't understand the situation. There's definitely someone behind them who's in control.
