and whatever western slop we already have
harder, they'll finally have access to quality engineering...
I write SEO drivel for a living. I'm fairly good at it, even if the products I shill for are useless to 90% of the population... and that's the problem. There was a time when I was able to not think too much about it, even if I was a little uncomfortable with the fact that my "job" basically shouldn't exist and contributes to the eshittification of the internet. I was just happy to finally be able to learn a living after being unemployed for so long.
But I can't ignore it anymore. The articles get harder and harder to write, the research is boring and pointless, and search engines aren't exactly helpful either on account of said eshittification, which I'm contributing to. And that's on top of all the extra requirements the clients have.
But the thing that makes it the hardest to keep going is that I can't in good conscience market things to people, however indirectly, unless I am absolutely sure the product will help them or I can personally vouch for the usefulness of the product. Which I obviously can't because I've never tried any of the products I'm writing to shill for. And I think it's deceptive, which doesn't sit right with me.
CW: mental health stuff, Calvinist brainworms
I used to be able to kinda just dissociate and not think about it too much. Just focus on the money, you know? As long as I could earn my own way and not have to rely on others just to get by, be less of a burden to others. Also feel like a proper adult for once. Yeah, I know everyone else is winging it, but when you've never been independent, it's hard not to feel like there's something wrong with you (even though that in itself is a capitalist brainworm and all that).
I also hate that I'm contributing to the selling of more useless shit that nobody actually needs. Like, we're wasting tons of water to power some AI 
are convinced is the next coming of Jesus? 
I think I'm going to quit this line of work. I just can't do it anymore. Apparently, some people can make a butt load of money writing this drivel but I personally have never made all that much. And honestly, I don't even think the money would help at this point. But with my lack of skills and social anxiety, I'm not really sure what other jobs I can do.
is circling the drain now, but clearly this didn't just happen in a vacuum. It must've started crumbling at some point... but when?
I mean, Temu, Shein, and gacha games suck, there's no doubt about that. Could China be doing a lot more to reign them in? Absolutely. But I'd argue that even if we're just focusing on companies making a profit, a Chinese century IS better than the current state of affairs.
For one, as crappy as those companies are, they're not a monopoly and aren't likely to become monopolies anytime soon because China has an anti-monopoly law.
Secondly, Elon Musk has threatened to coup Bolivia (and "whoever we want! Deal with it!") over lithium, and while he is just one example, many western companies have couped or otherwise coerced/destabilised other countries to protect their profitability, and they're continuing to get away with it scot-free. Coca Cola's death squads in Colombia is another example that comes to mind. None of China's companies, as far as I know, have couped or coerced/destablised a country for business interests. I'd say that alone makes for a more peaceful 100 years.
Thirdly, as @SmokinStalin@hexbear.net mentioned, Chinese billionaires have been executed for doing things that go against the public good, whereas billionaires get total impunity in the west, regardless of how much their actions harm the general population. The billionaire class is also accountable to the government, rather than the government being influenced by wealthy donors like we have in much of the west (and other neoliberal countries).
Of course, China can always do better. But I'd be hard-pressed to find how things can get worse (or even make no improvement) under a Chinese century compared to a continuation of what we currently have.