The number of 50-80 million comes from the book "Black Book of Communism", which in itself is highly controversial and whose co-authors disassociated themselves from the author due to the methodology used.

So take these numbers with grain of salt and consider the book and its claim just a propaganda tool.

> It is widely regarded by historians that The Great Leap resulted in tens of millions of deaths.[3] A lower-end estimate is 18 million, while extensive research by Chinese historian Yu Xiguang suggests the death toll from the movement is closer to 55.6 million.[4] Fellow historian Frank Dikötter asserts that "coercion, terror, and systematic violence were the foundation of the Great Leap Forward" and it "motivated one of the most deadly mass killings of human history".[5]

> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Leap_Forward

So your point is? Regardless of the actual figures, it was probably the worst genocide of History.

My point is, it is easy to claim ridiculous numbers, but much harder to prove them. It doesn't help the case, if they numbers are inflated for the shock value.

Now, that's pure bad faith. The point is that that has absolutely nothing to do with the discussion.

I find amusing that those so vocal against that period of Chinese history use the exact same methods to destroy critical discussion.