The Concept of ‘Garbage Time’ in Sports and Its Reflection on Chinese Society

Understanding “Garbage Time” in Sports and Society

In basketball and various other sports, the term “garbage time” refers to the uninspired phase that occurs toward the end of a game when one team holds such a significant lead that a comeback becomes virtually impossible. During this period, teams typically substitute their star players, and the match drags toward its inevitable conclusion with little competitive fervor.

In China, a country where internet content is heavily regulated and censored, a select group of writers have creatively repurposed the concept of “garbage time” to subtly articulate their observations on the nation’s perceived decline. This summer, as youth unemployment rates climbed above 17 percent, the term gained traction on Chinese social media, serving as a popular shorthand to express the pervasive sense of hopelessness surrounding the struggling economy.

Since last year, various commentaries analyzing the “garbage times” of history—often penned under pseudonyms—have started to emerge in blog posts and opinion pieces on reputable Chinese news platforms. These writings delve into the complexities of past regimes and dynasties and are broadly interpreted as thinly veiled critiques of China’s current political and economic landscape. This surge in discourse coincided with an increasingly sensitive atmosphere regarding discussions of the economy, where even misplaced commendations of the ruling Communist Party’s economic strategies drew scrutiny.

For instance, a job fair held in Huai’an, Jiangsu province, in June highlighted the dire employment situation as the youth unemployment rate soared. The event symbolized the growing concern among young people seeking stable employment in a challenging economic environment.

However, these commentaries did not go unnoticed by authorities. Several were quickly removed from online platforms, and state-affiliated scholars and media outlets swiftly lined up to dismiss the notion of “garbage time” as a misleading concept that misrepresents various political and economic theories. Beijing Daily, the principal official newspaper of the Communist Party in the capital, published an editorial urging readers not to “fall into a spiral of self-pity merely due to a few provocative words with ulterior motives.”

The Writers Draw Parallels to Historical Contexts

Many of these commentators argue that previous “garbage times” can be observed not only in China but also globally. They contend that rulers throughout history have succumbed to “garbage time” by centralizing power, eschewing free trade, or losing the trust of the populace. Some even go so far as to suggest that societies that do not embrace capitalist democracy are inevitably destined for failure.