Zhang Hong Min, a Senior CCTV 7 o’clock evening news host, caught pouring 200,000 RMB on his birthday party, is in a reputation crisis.
Angry posters question where his money came from, since his salary is only about enough to pay this big bill, given that a normal people was not spending all money in one day. Others can not bear to see a person that represent a country’s image in that less decent condition.
A bit surprisingly, about equal amount people show their sympathy and accuse the blamers as rich haters. They think blamers do not work harder to get rich, but assume rich people’s wealth all come from corruption, which is insane.
Can a government news host as well as a party member, have a posh private life as long as he can afford it? Zhang did nothing wrong, in my opinion, because I believe a man at his post, at this age, can afford a special birthday.
But should we treat Zhang as a normal person like your next door neighbour when he is outside work hours, or should we see him as a government voice representative all the time? I have reservations on this question. My parents would like to believe Zhang is a good respectful person as much as he looks in evening news. If I show them these pictures below, their first reactions will be pure disbelief and anger; more shocked, if they hear rumous that say Zhang is a gay.
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13 responses so far ↓
1 Rick in China // Mar 26, 2008 at 2:15 am
I think it’s fully acceptable to have skepticism of events like this from the public when we’re discussing a gov’t representative figure or party member who, through his job, has the opportunities present to both easily take part in corruption and misguide the public who has earned his trust.
That being said, unless there is proof, it’s ridiculous to push rumors like this around. Transparency is the answer. Maybe he got rich through some private investments, maybe he bought and sold real estate during the real estate booms. Neither of which really takes a “rich man” to start - but can lead to one in the results.
These are maybe’s and I’m sure (through his connections) one will be the result told to the public whether he did or did not take part in corrupt practice. The fact is, in reality, it doesn’t really matter, and wont affect people’s lives. What does matter is that people learn as a lesson through this critique of the presenter to be more critical of any news they read, regardless of the source.
2 admin // Mar 26, 2008 at 4:26 am
well said. The discussion will get to an answer in the end. If Zhang connected to misconduct, CCTV will suspend him from the program. If he is clean, people will learn a lesson to criticise others.
I felt internet help creating new mobs. People’s reputation and order in life may at risk if someone pass your secret on internet.
3 Anil // Mar 26, 2008 at 11:58 am
Rick, excellent assessment.
And Admin you’re right too, from I’ve seen of the American side of the Internet. Despite it’s freer access to information, it does tend to create a mob mentality where the slightest rumor can significantly affect someone’s life.
As one of the original web programmers, I remember distinctly how many of my brethren and I hoped the web would help increase democratic individuality. While this has happened to some extent, the sheer amount of information available has, I feel, led many individuals to cluster into mini-mobs eg digg.com. And because most internet users are regular people and not journalists, rumours and gossip have increased and perhaps been given greater weight.
In my opinion, the mob mentality is partly the fault of the website paradigm. And rumours are simply human nature.
4 Rick in China // Mar 26, 2008 at 6:54 pm
@ Admin
RE: “I felt internet help creating new mobs. People’s reputation and order in life may at risk if someone pass your secret on internet.”
I agree with this, and I also think that while there is a serious negative impact to some people’s lives as a result, it creates a huge amount of transparency and forced responsibility in organizations and individuals responsible for the governance of our societies. Knowing anything bad you do may end up widespread can keep people…a little more honest, if not restricted, which is both great and unfortunate.
@ Anil
RE: “In my opinion, the mob mentality is partly the fault of the website paradigm. And rumours are simply human nature.”
I agree with this to some extent. I would say mob mentality is human nature in any medium, though. It has happened since early man, through ancient civilizations, rebellions and witch hunts, all up through to modern day internet organizations like Anonymous “systematically dismantling CoS”.
5 Anil // Apr 1, 2008 at 11:31 am
@ The Masked Millionaire - Thank you for proving the corollary, “Whatever is said in Vegas, should stay in Vegas”.
6 Rick in China // Apr 2, 2008 at 12:27 am
@Anil
Ignore the troll, especially trolls who include their personal for-profit website in their signature
7 Anil // Apr 2, 2008 at 9:52 am
@Rick - Sorry couldn’t resist :p
You didn’t answer my question on the previous post. Why no love for Botswana? I really wanna know!
8 Rick in China // Apr 3, 2008 at 4:15 am
@Anil
Sorry? What about Botswana? Was it this thread or another?
9 Anil // Apr 3, 2008 at 10:31 am
@ Rick in China - On the previous blog post “100,000 Uni graduates will serve rural China in next 5 years”
You mentioned several African countries that your company was looking into. But I was wondering why you didn’t mention Botswana? I was under the impression that it is Africa’s “Diamond in the rough”. You don’t have to give me the full corporate breakdown, I’m just curious.
10 Rick in China // Apr 7, 2008 at 2:09 am
@Anil
RE: Botswana
I haven’t been to Botswana, I have been to the other countries, it’s not so much my company’s interest, it’s my personal interest, which may influence my company’s direction.
So that’s why not Botswana - but that may change, I do plan to visit many more countries, and have heard that phrase about bots being the diamond in the rough.
11 Anil // Apr 7, 2008 at 12:25 pm
@Rick - LOL! Yeah from everything I’ve read, Botswana sounds like a corporate dream. Corruption-free, long-term stable government, steadily growing economy, no internal or external tensions, ties to modernity through South Africa, etc. Although it may be *too* good for your purposes - I checked out house prices in Gaborone, 300,000 USD for a 2000 sq/ft 3 bedroom house!
Anyway, just wanted to say I appreciate all your comments and excellent insights, Rick. Thanks a lot!
12 Rick in China // Apr 10, 2008 at 4:59 am
@Anil:
Talktalkchina was good for that, way back when, and sinocidal has kinda died…..
I enjoyed your comments also, unfortunately I don’t know that this blog has enough sustenance to reproduce this kind of chat on a regular basis
13 Anil // Apr 10, 2008 at 10:43 pm
@ Rick + Admin - maybe we can convince the Admin to add a forum. How about it Uker?
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