Chinese Lives

A widely-discussed post talking about whether to help others.
http://www.tianya.cn/new/publicforum/Content.asp?
strItem=no04&idArticle=657110

“A senior male citizen in his 70s fell down on head, bleeding and unconscious. It was mid-noon many passengers walking by, but nobody approached to help. 5 young passers walked closer but were cautioned by another fortysome woman to be careful. Finally a young girl helped the old man to sit up and cleaned blood with tissue paper. However, she was soon asked by the on-watchers to leave him alone. She left after calling the police, and the old man fell again down on the cement pavement landing.”

The authenticity of the story is still under doubt by some responders, although the pictures speak loud. Partial ideas are this may be created purposefully by certain secret agent. (conspiracy theory)

Part of comments approve the truth of it, because a similar case has people fear to help others. Majority comments agree that people watching do want to help, but just can’t, because they don’t want to be hurt for doing the right thing.

People’s fears begun a few weeks ago, when Nan Jing Justice Court made a disputative verdict on a national known case, in which the kind helper was branded guilty .The verdict was based on the speculation that there was not a right incentive for Peng YU, the kind young man, to help the old lady who fell down so lot, if he was totally innocent.

According to most comments, this case might be the triger that lead people to avoid doing good deeds. There are comments that indicate the lack of government practical support to be direct reason. They just can’t afford to be hero.

As a matter of fact, after China stopped free and cheap medical service decades ago, comparatively smaller parts of population are cared for by medical insurance provided by the government. Most people fear if they get ill, so let alone to get in trouble when help those ill or wounded.

However, some comments feel that our social practice is down grading when a lot people believe material interest is the priority, so that they forget the tradition good virtues and values in our culture.

Quite a few responders consider that we’d better mind our own business before good deeds are recognized and heros are supported by the society.