China ponders public morality after video of gruesome death

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press


Gerry Shih, Associated Press
Updated 8:55 pm, Saturday, June 10, 2017


BEIJING (AP) — A speeding taxi knocks the pedestrian off her feet, sending her hurtling through the air. Dozens of people stand gawking or walk past, as if the young woman sprawled in the busy intersection simply doesn't exist. A full minute passes, and another speeding vehicle, this time an SUV, tramples the prone woman. Her unconscious body churns under its large wheels like a lumpen sack.
 
After a grainy video of a traffic accident in the city of Zhumadian surfaced on Chinese social media this past week, the initial reaction was one of outrage directed at the more than 40 pedestrians and drivers who passed within meters of the woman, all failing to offer help.

But for many Chinese, the video was something more: a 94-second reminder of their society's deep rot.
 
Even as China presents itself outwardly as a prosperous rising power, around kitchen tables and in private WeChat groups, Chinese citizens routinely grumble about a nation that's gone bankrupt when it comes to two qualities: "suzhi," or "personal character," and "dixian," literally "bottom line" — or a basic, inviolable sense of right and wrong.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/China-ponders-public-morality-after-video-of-11211164.php

[FrodosNewPet]

1. We are headed in that direction here

I don't think it is QUITE that bad yet. But there are worrying signs. People either want to pull out their camera phones to just not want to get involved.

[PSPS]

2. Actually, similar incidents have happened here.

Here's just one: http://www.smh.com.au/world/pedestrians-ignore-new-york-hero-as-he-lies-dying-20100427-tpze.html

[JI7]

25. sadly that's more about how we view the homeless in this country

They would have helped anyone else.

But too often i hear from people talk about the homeless as if they are in their way.

Just look at the history of liberal san francisco in how they treat homeless.

[NutmegYankee]

27. Been there for awhile. This was in 2008.

[IronLionZion]

3. Anyone interested in a culture that puts profit over people,

look to China to see our future. People are very business-minded there, almost an obsession. Humanitarian/charitable stuff is there but it's significantly less than most anywhere else in the world. This car accident is a shocking example for us here in the west. But they have no problem uprooting millions of people and moving them to build a big dam that floods their homes and farms, or the many people who die each day (yes, it's daily) in their fireworks factories.

[dalton99a]

4. Meanwhile in the U.S., Republicans are trying to kill millions with their "healthcare reform"

[RKP5637]

7. Exactly! n/t

[Lucky Luciano]

5. THere is some sick shit in china.

Reports of pedestrians being repeatedly run over if hit once to make sure they are dead so the driver doesn't have to pay for lifetime care - instead they just pay for the burial.

[OldRedneck]

6. I lived in Taiwan . . .

I lived in Taiwan, 1975-77. I recall numerous traffic accidents where crowds of gawkers swarmed around gruesom scenes, occasionally someone had a camera.

I'll never forget one particular incident -- a large dump truck hit a motorcycle, throwing the guy on the motorcycle under the truck. His mangled body ended up wedged between the dual wheels on the rear -- I was appalled at the crowd that gathered, many of them crawling over and under the dual wheels to get a close look at the body.

[iamateacher]

8. Having been recently to both China and Taiwan...

We were warned by a professor who takes American student groups to China to not cross any street without a crowd of people around you. Regardless of the lights...many drivers are new to cars and drive like bats out of hell.
Taiwan car drivers were okay, it is the motorbikes you have to watch out for. But they did obey traffic lights, which wasn't true in China, even Beijing.

[Bradical79]

14. Yeah, my exact experience in Beijing and Shanghai in 2000 -nt

[NBachers]

9. As has been explained to me by my Chinese friends: If you help someone, you end up liable for their

medical expenses. It makes no sense to me, but I've heard them explain it to me several times. If you try to help, you become liable.

Anyone who's heard or knows different is welcome to chime in, but this comes from Chinese nationals who return every year and keep their connections current.

And the business of driving back over someone after the initial impact is apparently something that happens, too.

[ansible]

12. They are, Chinese law is really fucked up

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xu_Shoulan_v._Peng_Yu

n 2006, Peng Yu had encountered Xu Shoulan after she had fallen and broken her femur. Peng Yu assisted Xu Shoulan and brought her to a local hospital for further care. Xu Shoulan accused Peng Yu of having caused her to fall, and demanded that he pay her medical expenses. The court decided in favor of the plaintiff and held Peng liable for damages, reasoning that despite the lack of concrete evidence, "no one would in good conscience help someone unless they felt guilty".

They can't even the comprehend the concept of helping a fellow human being. their line of thinking is "if there is no benefit for me, why should I help?".

[still_one]

10. Anyone hear of Kitty Genovese?

Of course if we are talking about "personal character" or a sense of right and wrong, the U.S. will need to hang its head in shame since it elected a person who campaigned on a policy of racism, bigotry, and xenophobia

The saying, "people in glass houses should not throw stones", is especially relevant today. The U.S. has lost any moral authority it might have had.

[ansible]

11. It's far, far worse in China

Chinese society is very ruthless, makes americans look like saints in comparison.

[Bradical79]

15. And bigger population, bigger problems

Lots of problems common among people in general are amplified to a much greater degree in China just because of population and density in those huge cities. Throw in some poor laws surrounding the issue, and it explodes to crises levels.

[roamer65]

16. Bingo.

The larger the population goes, the worse it will get.

[JI7]

24. i think it's the laws more than population

In India during these accidents people do rush to help. And India has many problems of their own.

But i think having more freedom helps. There isn't that level of state control over people.

China has done great economically but they could be even better with more personal freedom.

[still_one]

18. "Chinese society is very ruthless". Please share how much time you have spent in China, and

intermingled with the people there?

It is no different than any country with large populations in the cities, except violent crimes are much more prevalent in the U.S. than in China.

My wife is Chinese, and I go to China fairly frequently, so please, spare me the stereotyping

[JI7]

23. that's more a result of the govt and lack of freedoms

[JI7]

26. It's the govt which is ruthless. people investigating ivanka manufacturing factory have disappeared

[obamanut2012]

13. Except that isn't what happened to her -- many folks helped her

She actually even died in the arms of her neighbor, who risked her own life to help Kitty.

[still_one]

19. ok, then I used a bad example. Violent crime though is much more prevelent

in the U.S. then it is in China. Europe has one of the lowest rates for violent crime. South America one of the highest.

As to the characterization another poster made that China society is a "very ruthless society", reflects someone who knows very little about Chinese society, and has spent very little time in China

[Codeine]

17. Most of what we "know" about the murder

of Kitty Genovese is bullshit; the Times even ran articles correcting their erroneous reporting, but the more lurid version is what people remember as being reality.

[still_one]

20. See my response 19. Thanks

[WhiteTara]

21. This seems to be everywhere.//

"We've become individuals, alienated and doing whatever we can to get ahead," he said. "There is no space left to care for others."

[JI7]

22. similar happened a few years ago but it was a baby about 2 years old