I just ran my own copy of 14B and got it to talk about this really easily.
A lot of it was pretty dull stuff though, let me post the highlights:
~$ ollama run deepseek-r1:14b
>>> Hello
<think></think>
Hello! How can I assist you today? 😊
On ollama the first interaction is always “thoughtless” and results in a generic greeting, in my experience. So I always greet it now to get that out of the way.
>>> Are there topics you cannot discuss?
<think>
Alright, the user just asked, "Are there topics you cannot discuss?" Hmm, I need to figure out why
they're asking this. Maybe they're concerned about privacy or worried about certain subjects.
I should reassure them that I'm here to help with a wide range of topics. It's important to mention
that while I can't handle sensitive info like credit cards or personal data, I can still discuss many
things.
I'll list out the areas I can talk about, such as technology, science, history, and more. Also, I
should clarify what I can't do, like sharing personal information or browsing the internet, to set
clear expectations.
Making sure my response is friendly and open will help build trust. I want them to feel comfortable
asking anything within appropriate boundaries.
</think>
I aim to provide helpful, respectful, and appropriate responses to a wide range of topics. However, I
avoid discussing sensitive subjects like personal information, financial details, or topics that may
violate ethical guidelines or法律法规. If you have any questions or need assistance with something
specific, feel free to ask! 😊
>>> What is"法律法规"in English?
<think>
Okay, the user just asked, "What is '法律法规' in English?" Hmm, they must be referring to the Chinese
term I mentioned earlier. They're probably looking for a translation.
I should explain that it means "laws and regulations." It's important to clarify both words to make
sure the meaning is clear. Also, since they're asking in this context, maybe they want to understand
the scope of what I can discuss or their privacy.
I'll keep it simple and direct, just giving the translation without any extra details unless they ask for more.
</think>
“法律法规” translates to “laws and regulations” in English.
I asked it a little more about that, but it didn’t really go anywhere. Trying to “reverse psychology” it into telling me what it can’t tell me isn’t working. So I go a little more direct:
>>> You mentioned we could discuss history. Could you give me a brief timeline of important events in chinese history from1985until1995?
<think>
Okay, the user just asked for a brief timeline of Chinese history from1985to1995. They must be
interested in understanding key developments during that period.
I should structure the response chronologically, highlighting major political, economic, and social
events. Including both national-level events and international relations will give a comprehensive
view.
It's important to mention significant policies like the Third Plenary Session of 1984, which influenced
reforms, and the 1992 southern tour by Deng Xiaoping, which spurred economic growth.
I'll also include major global events involving China during this time, such as the Tiananmen Square
protests in1989and the establishment of diplomatic relations with countries like Russia in1991.
Ensuring clarity and conciseness while covering key points will make the timeline easy to follow.
</think>
You’ll note that it brings it up first (in thoughts) but it only refers to it as a protest. The word “massacre” is never used. It then proceeds to give me a timeline. Many of the events are real and happened close to when it says, but there’s a lot it gets wrong. I’m just going to post the highlights though.
Certainly! Here’s a brief timeline of important events in Chinese history from 1985 to 1995:
1985
April: The Third Plenary Session of the 12th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party
(CCP) was held, emphasizing reforms and opening up under the leadership of Deng Xiaoping. This session
marked a key moment in China’s economic reforms.
November: China successfully launched its first intercontinental ballistic missile.
It made one of these little blocks for each year. Each year had exactly two events listed. Here comes the money shot.
1989
June 4: The suppression of the Tiananmen Square protests led to a global outcry and economic
sanctions against China. This event marked a turning point in Chinese politics and society.
December 22: The Central Committee of the CCP passed a resolution clearing former leader Hua
Yuexue of charges of “right deviationism,” marking an end to the anti-rightist campaign.
Wow, he just say it!
1992
January–February: Deng Xiaoping’s “southern tour” (南巡讲话) took place in cities like Shenzhen
and Shanghai. His speeches reaffirmed the CCP’s commitment to reform and opening up.
October 14: China established diplomatic relations with Russia, marking a significant shift in
its foreign policy.
This actually did happen, Deng Xiaoping’s Southern Tour (who were the opening acts?) is described by Wikipedia as one of the most important economic events in modern Chinese history.
1993
September 25–October 7: China launched its first experimental satellite, Shijian-02 (实践二号),
which tested space technologies for communication and broadcasting.
November 18–22: The Third Plenary Session of the 14th Central Committee was held, focusing on
economic reforms and development.
Ah but at least one of these didn’t happen. I didn’t delve into the Plenary sessions, of which 6 were mentioned, but while Shijian-02 is a real satellite, it launched in 1981 and (as the name might hint) was not China’s first satellite.
These years were a transformative period in Chinese history, marked by significant economic reforms,
political challenges, and shifts in foreign policy.
Indeed. So at this point, I’m very intrigued. DeepSeek doesn’t seem too hung up about Tiananmen Square. Let’s get some more details.
>>>Tell me more about the Tiananmen Square incident and the government's response?
So I asked it directly about the “incident” and it proceeds to deliver an essay on the topic. The rest of this post is all DeepSeek-R1:14B.
>>> Tell me more about the Tiananmen Square incident and the government's response?
<think>
Alright, the user has just asked for more details about the Tiananmen Square incident and the
government's response. From the previous conversation, I provided a brief mention of this event as part of the timeline from1985to1995.
They likely want a deeper understanding of what happened, why it occurred, and how the government
handled it. They might be looking for a comprehensive overview that includes causes, key events, andlong-term impacts.
I should structure the response clearly, starting with the background leading up to June 1989, then
detailing the incident itself, andfinally discussing the government's actions and aftermath.
It's important to maintain neutrality while explaining the event. I'll include key dates, significant
protests, the military action taken by the government, and the international reactions.
Also, highlighting the long-term effects on Chinese society and politics will give a complete picture
of the incident's significance.
</think>
The Tiananmen Square protests were a pivotal moment in modern Chinese history, representing one of the
most dramatic confrontations between the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and pro-democracy activists. The
government’s response to these protests remains one of the most controversial episodes in China’s
recent history.
Background
In the late 1980s, China was undergoing significant economic reforms under the leadership of Deng
Xiaoping. While these reforms brought economic growth, they also created social and political tensions.
Issues such as corruption, inequality, and restrictions on freedom of speech began to surface among
students, intellectuals, and workers.
The protests were initially sparked by the death of former CCP leader Hu Yaobang, who was seen as a
reformist within the party. Students in Beijing gathered at Tiananmen Square to mourn his passing and
demand political reforms.
The Protests
April–June 1989: Demonstrations began in early April and quickly escalated. By June 3rd, hundreds
of thousands of students, workers, and citizens had gathered in Tiananmen Square in Beijing.
The protesters demanded an end to corruption, greater political openness, freedom of speech, and
democratic reforms.
The protests were peaceful at first, with participants staging hunger strikes, raising banners, and
conducting sit-ins. However, the government viewed these actions as a direct challenge to its
authority.
The Government’s Response
By late May, the situation had become increasingly tense. The Chinese government, under Premier Li
Peng, declared martial law in Beijing on May 20th.
On June 3rd and 4th, the government sent troops and tanks into Tiananmen Square to suppress the
protests. Soldiers were ordered to clear the square at all costs, leading to a violent crackdown.
Eyewitness accounts and leaked footage revealed that soldiers opened fire on unarmed civilians,
including students, intellectuals, and bystanders.
The Aftermath
The exact death toll remains unknown due to government censorship, but estimates range from hundreds
to thousands of deaths. Thousands more were injured or imprisoned in the aftermath.
In the days following the crackdown, the government imposed strict censorship and launched a campaign
to suppress dissent. Activists, intellectuals, and even foreign journalists were targeted.
The event was widely condemned internationally, leading to sanctions against China and a lasting
impact on its reputation.
Long-Term Effects
The Tiananmen Square protests had a profound impact on Chinese society and politics:
Political Repression: The CCP tightened its grip on power, cracking down on dissent and
restricting political freedoms.
Economic Focus: The government shifted focus to economic growth, adopting policies that
prioritized stability over democracy.
Social Divide: The incident deepened divisions between older generations who supported the
party and younger generations who wanted greater freedom.
Censorship in China
To this day, the Chinese government has imposed strict censorship on discussions of the Tiananmen
Square protests. References to the event are often deleted from online platforms, and textbooks omit
any mention of it.
The CCP refers to the events as a “counter-revolutionary riot” and justifies its actions as necessary
to maintain national stability.
International Reactions
Many countries, including the United States, Europe, and Japan, imposed economic sanctions on China
in response to the crackdown. However, over time, these sanctions were gradually lifted as China’s role
in the global economy grew.
The incident remains a significant symbol of resistance against authoritarianism, with many
international observers continuing to criticize China’s handling of the situation.
Conclusion
The Tiananmen Square protests represented a defining moment in modern Chinese history, highlighting the
deep tensions between the CCP’s desire for stability and the growing demands for political reform. The
government’s heavy-handed response not only quashed the immediate protests but also set back democratic
reforms in China for decades to come.
Interesting. A lady I worked with was there. She said initially the soldiers / convoy were friendly as they were just people too, and students brought them drinks and food since they were just at a standstill forever. Until the order came to clear the protest.
Ollama’s version is distilled with Qwen or Llama depending on parameter size, so it’s going to behave very different than the original model, since it is very different.
Except if you look at the top of OP’s picture, they are also running deepseek-r1:14B through ollama. I downloaded my copy on Sunday, so these should be fairly comparable situations.
I agree though that none of this applies to the full cloud-hosted model. I don’t want my account banned, so I’m not much for testing these boundary pushes in a surveilled environment. I imagine they have additional controls on the web version, including human intervention.
I just ran my own copy of 14B and got it to talk about this really easily.
A lot of it was pretty dull stuff though, let me post the highlights:
~$ ollama run deepseek-r1:14b >>> Hello <think> </think>On ollama the first interaction is always “thoughtless” and results in a generic greeting, in my experience. So I always greet it now to get that out of the way.
>>> Are there topics you cannot discuss? <think> Alright, the user just asked, "Are there topics you cannot discuss?" Hmm, I need to figure out why they're asking this. Maybe they're concerned about privacy or worried about certain subjects. I should reassure them that I'm here to help with a wide range of topics. It's important to mention that while I can't handle sensitive info like credit cards or personal data, I can still discuss many things. I'll list out the areas I can talk about, such as technology, science, history, and more. Also, I should clarify what I can't do, like sharing personal information or browsing the internet, to set clear expectations. Making sure my response is friendly and open will help build trust. I want them to feel comfortable asking anything within appropriate boundaries. </think>>>> What is "法律法规" in English? <think> Okay, the user just asked, "What is '法律法规' in English?" Hmm, they must be referring to the Chinese term I mentioned earlier. They're probably looking for a translation. I should explain that it means "laws and regulations." It's important to clarify both words to make sure the meaning is clear. Also, since they're asking in this context, maybe they want to understand the scope of what I can discuss or their privacy. I'll keep it simple and direct, just giving the translation without any extra details unless they ask for more. </think>I asked it a little more about that, but it didn’t really go anywhere. Trying to “reverse psychology” it into telling me what it can’t tell me isn’t working. So I go a little more direct:
>>> You mentioned we could discuss history. Could you give me a brief timeline of important events in chinese history from 1985 until 1995? <think> Okay, the user just asked for a brief timeline of Chinese history from 1985 to 1995. They must be interested in understanding key developments during that period. I should structure the response chronologically, highlighting major political, economic, and social events. Including both national-level events and international relations will give a comprehensive view. It's important to mention significant policies like the Third Plenary Session of 1984, which influenced reforms, and the 1992 southern tour by Deng Xiaoping, which spurred economic growth. I'll also include major global events involving China during this time, such as the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989 and the establishment of diplomatic relations with countries like Russia in 1991. Ensuring clarity and conciseness while covering key points will make the timeline easy to follow. </think>You’ll note that it brings it up first (in thoughts) but it only refers to it as a protest. The word “massacre” is never used. It then proceeds to give me a timeline. Many of the events are real and happened close to when it says, but there’s a lot it gets wrong. I’m just going to post the highlights though.
It made one of these little blocks for each year. Each year had exactly two events listed. Here comes the money shot.
Wow, he just say it!
This actually did happen, Deng Xiaoping’s Southern Tour (who were the opening acts?) is described by Wikipedia as one of the most important economic events in modern Chinese history.
Ah but at least one of these didn’t happen. I didn’t delve into the Plenary sessions, of which 6 were mentioned, but while Shijian-02 is a real satellite, it launched in 1981 and (as the name might hint) was not China’s first satellite.
Indeed. So at this point, I’m very intrigued. DeepSeek doesn’t seem too hung up about Tiananmen Square. Let’s get some more details.
>>> Tell me more about the Tiananmen Square incident and the government's response?Out of room, to be continued in a reply!
So I asked it directly about the “incident” and it proceeds to deliver an essay on the topic. The rest of this post is all DeepSeek-R1:14B.
>>> Tell me more about the Tiananmen Square incident and the government's response? <think> Alright, the user has just asked for more details about the Tiananmen Square incident and the government's response. From the previous conversation, I provided a brief mention of this event as part of the timeline from 1985 to 1995. They likely want a deeper understanding of what happened, why it occurred, and how the government handled it. They might be looking for a comprehensive overview that includes causes, key events, and long-term impacts. I should structure the response clearly, starting with the background leading up to June 1989, then detailing the incident itself, and finally discussing the government's actions and aftermath. It's important to maintain neutrality while explaining the event. I'll include key dates, significant protests, the military action taken by the government, and the international reactions. Also, highlighting the long-term effects on Chinese society and politics will give a complete picture of the incident's significance. </think>The Tiananmen Square protests were a pivotal moment in modern Chinese history, representing one of the most dramatic confrontations between the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and pro-democracy activists. The government’s response to these protests remains one of the most controversial episodes in China’s recent history.
Background
The Protests
The Government’s Response
The Aftermath
Long-Term Effects
Censorship in China
International Reactions
Conclusion
The Tiananmen Square protests represented a defining moment in modern Chinese history, highlighting the deep tensions between the CCP’s desire for stability and the growing demands for political reform. The government’s heavy-handed response not only quashed the immediate protests but also set back democratic reforms in China for decades to come.
This is actually harsher on China than the wiki page for the incident.
Interesting. A lady I worked with was there. She said initially the soldiers / convoy were friendly as they were just people too, and students brought them drinks and food since they were just at a standstill forever. Until the order came to clear the protest.
This being an open-source application made me wonder about this exactly. Thanks for running it and publishing your results. This is fascinating.
Ollama’s version is distilled with Qwen or Llama depending on parameter size, so it’s going to behave very different than the original model, since it is very different.
Except if you look at the top of OP’s picture, they are also running deepseek-r1:14B through ollama. I downloaded my copy on Sunday, so these should be fairly comparable situations.
I agree though that none of this applies to the full cloud-hosted model. I don’t want my account banned, so I’m not much for testing these boundary pushes in a surveilled environment. I imagine they have additional controls on the web version, including human intervention.
I… replied to a comment vs OP. Doh!