August 1 Record
Today is August 1. I still have not received a reply from any councillor or the Mayor.
1. My Health Today: Somewhat Better
I took the medication last night and did not fall asleep until 2:00 a.m., but I slept for five uninterrupted hours. Today, I felt noticeably better than I had over the previous several days. The doctor told me to get more outdoor exercise, so I played a round of golf this morning. Even on a rainy day, it was difficult to book a tee time; nearly every course was full. I eventually played at UBC and finished the round in three and a half hours. I have not exercised much recently, so I used a cart throughout rather than walking. My score was all right: 17 over par. Shortly after 2:00 p.m., I went to see a psychologist. It was the first time in my life that I had seen a psychologist. I had previously seen it only in films and on television: a room where you sit across from the psychologist and speak about what is in your heart. I spoke about all the emotions that had accumulated over the past several days – the sense of being wronged, pain, anger, and fear. As we talked, some things from the past that I had long kept buried also surfaced. I would like to leave the specific details in that room. What I can say is that, after the session, a great deal of the tension inside me had eased. I am now taking medication for anxiety and to help me sleep, but my state of mind is improving day by day. Thank you, everyone.
2. There Is One Matter I Want to Address Directly
The psychologist asked whether I had experienced thoughts of despair or of not wanting to go on living. I answered truthfully: no. I love life, and I want to continue living well. Over the past several days, many close friends have said they wanted to visit me, and I politely declined. It is not that I do not appreciate their kindness; I truly am all right. Please do not worry. I am able to take care of myself.
3. A Genuine Lesson About That Image
Over the past two days, friends have told me that when they submitted my article to different AI platforms to generate accompanying images, most of the results included elements of national flags, two groups of people standing face to face, and figures wearing head coverings. I am not writing this to excuse myself. That image remains my mistake. I chose to use it, and I failed to review it before publication. The responsibility is mine. I voluntarily apologized publicly on July 25, and that will not change. I am writing about it because it is a genuine lesson that everyone should remember: Our company uses AI extensively in its day-to-day work, and nearly all of our accompanying images are AI-generated. When AI generates an image, it completes the scene according to existing patterns in its training data. It does not understand context, nor does it know what may cause discomfort in a particular setting. Therefore, every AI-generated image must be carefully reviewed, one by one, before publication. Particular care is required when ethnicity, religion, or political subject matter is involved. Politics is inherently complex, and images can easily be interpreted as conveying meanings the creator did not anticipate. This is a lesson I learned at great cost. I hope friends who create content can avoid this pitfall.
4. Regarding the Comments
Over the past several days, there has been considerable criticism in the comment sections of my WeChat Channels account, my WeChat Official Account, and the various media outlets reporting on this matter. A significant amount has come from fellow members of the Chinese community.
Some people reached conclusions without reading the original article or even seeing the image. I do not read the comments or respond. This is not because I consider myself above them. The doctor has advised me to limit my exposure to such things, and I also need to devote my limited energy to what must be done. However, I want to say this: I do not believe that everyone who criticizes me is acting in bad faith. People see different information and naturally reach different conclusions. What I can do is present the original materials in full and allow those willing to examine them to judge for themselves.
5. This Afternoon, I Studied Entropy
The doctor advised me to redirect my attention rather than remain focused on this matter. So this afternoon I studied a subject that is, in fact, somewhat related to my field: the second law of thermodynamics and what “entropy” actually means. Why can time not run backward? Why does a broken cup not reassemble itself? I find the concept of “entropy” fascinating. It tells us that the degree of disorder in an isolated system can only increase; it will not spontaneously decrease. I spent the afternoon researching the subject carefully and made a video about it in the evening. If any friends are interested in the topic, you are welcome to discuss it with me. I would be very happy to talk about it. Frankly, spending an afternoon reading physics helped me far more than spending an afternoon reading comments.
6. A Clarification Regarding Invitations
Over the past two days, some community groups, organizations, and candidates have wanted to discuss with me the issue of increasing voter turnout among Chinese Canadians. In the past, I have always been willing to participate in activities of this kind. But I am currently at the centre of a public controversy, and I have decided not to participate in any political activities. This is my own judgment, and it is also a matter of acting responsibly toward those who invite me. I do not want my current situation to cause anyone unnecessary difficulty.
But my position is clear, and it will not change because of my circumstances: I support everyone who has the courage to stand for election. Running for office is not easy, especially for candidates themselves and their families. This has nothing to do with ethnicity. I also agree with a point Mr. Heed has made: when voters choose a candidate, they should consider the candidate’s platform, ability, and personal integrity. As long as a candidate can represent the concerns of the electorate, the candidate’s ethnicity should not be a determining factor. I agree completely.
7. Why I Wrote for Ten Years
Some friends may not know that I began writing a weekly column in 2008 and continued until 2018 – a full ten years, fifty-four articles each year, without missing a single issue. I did not dare miss one, because doing so would leave a blank space in the newspaper. During those years, whenever there was an election, my clients would ask me: whom should I vote for? My answer was always the same: I do not know whom you should vote for, but I do know that you must come out and vote. At that time, researching information was far less convenient than it is now. So I found the information myself – the platforms of the political parties, the candidates’ backgrounds, and the relevant data – and organized it into articles so that readers could judge for themselves. I also once suggested to the owner of a local media outlet that, for every election, the outlet publish a booklet listing information about all the candidates so readers could review it and make their own choices before voting. Over those ten years, I never once called for “Chinese people to vote only for Chinese candidates.” Not once. This is not something I am saying now merely to defend myself. It has always been my view and my consistent practice.
8. Why the Distinction Between “Anti-China” and “Anti-Chinese” Matters to Me
There is one matter I want to explain clearly, because it has been the point of departure for my writing for many years.
Diplomatic contests between countries are matters at the governmental level. They are highly complex; ordinary people may not be able to explain them clearly, and it may not be our place to comment. But one thing does filter down: when hostility accumulates in public discourse, it often ultimately falls upon ordinary people – upon someone in the street with a face like this. During the pandemic, many second- and third-generation Chinese Canadians born in Canada were told in the street to “go back to your country.” They have no other country. This is their country. That is why I have always emphasized that being “anti-China” and being “anti-Chinese” are two different things. Criticizing a government is politics. In a democratic society, that is entirely legitimate. But if that sentiment ultimately becomes hostility toward a local ethnic community, it is no longer politics. It is discrimination. This distinction is one of the things I have most wanted to make clear in my writing over the years.
9. The Same Principle
I continue to stand by the same principle, and it has nothing to do with ethnicity: Before Council passes a resolution concerning an ordinary resident, that resident should be notified in advance and given an opportunity to speak. Before judging an article, one should read it. This is about process, not position. I will continue tomorrow. Thank you again for your concern. I am getting better.
Luxmore Realty | Jason Liu | Author of AI Economics
Infrastructure determines the ceiling; data determines the moat.