A response to Shanghai Diaries - May 21
Venomous public reaction to stuff is as universal as it is not new. For example, in Alberta, a Camrose cat killer was exposed on Facebook. Naturally, our noble netizens nodded towards neutering, nay, nuking of the nefarious felon. (sorry... get started on alliteration... and, by the way, I love cats...) For the most part, the cloud of hubris is no more potent than the puff of steam they belched out. Thankfully, all yap and no bite.
For the most part, the Chinese Internet Mob, also known as 愤青(Fenqing), Human Flesh Search Engine, or, as recently coined "HUF Engine", is no more coherent as a group as any other mob. Except where it comes to nationalism or patriotism. That's where things get very polarized. After all, if you don't sing with the chorus, you could be called a traitor. Dissent from the mob is only done by the courageous few.
I watched the story of Grace Wang as it unfolded with great interest. From all that I could learn, she's simply a young woman who decided to be a rational peacemaker when everyone around was rabidly irrational. The HUF Engine was quickly on top of her without bounds. Their venom even involved her parents with disgusting shameful attacks upon them.
I am thinking that perhaps President Hu Jintao might have been a bit embarrassed by counter productive fervor of the Fenqing as he "urged college students to turn their patriotic passion into concrete actions of studying hard..."
I wonder how much the Fenqing know about the Cultural Revolution? It's an era in recent Chinese history that is often alluded to when talking about the Human Flesh Search Engine. When we talk about how far China has come, do they understand that the Cultural Revolution is the low water mark from which we compare its progress? I am very optimistic about China's future and I am looking forward to discovering what my small role may be in it. However, the Human Flesh Search Engine is a shadow of the Cultural Revolution. If it grows unbounded, China's future prosperity will wilt in its darkness.
I think, as a Canadian, my suspicion of unbridled patriotism comes naturally. At times I worry about what I see to the south of us. But I also know, from the same source, that patriotism is a good thing. Pride in country can land men on the moon. China has much to be proud of: its own space mission, progress in many areas, and how it has faced both snow and rock with solidarity and compassion. 加油中国！
I think renaming Human Flesh Search Engine would be wrong. It helps to remind us that our voices on the Internet should be there to foster our humanity not to dehumanize us.
My thesis is not an admonishment against criticism. Criticism can be constructive. It's that line between constructive and destructive that needs to be figured out.
Interestingly, in Xinhua, I read that Xia Shuqin is to be paid 4 million yen because a rightist Japanese scholar libeled her.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
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7 comments:
I'd like to suggest a view on the Human Flesh Search Engine from a different perspective. From a technical perspective, as a geek, I find the phenomenon very fascinating. Well, I'd like to say the recent cases, such as publicize Grace Wang's private information disgracing. However, I am fascinated by the combined power of Human and technology, and how they work.
I view Human Flesh Search Engine as a tool itself. It depends how people use it. The Human Flesh Search engine had good uses before as well. It actually started out as a entertainment tracking activity on BBS, forums. It once helped to uncover a fraud, fake photo of Southern China Tiger.
Um, I'm mumbling a little. My point? If the users, Chinese netizens, learn to respect the law, personal privacy more, perhaps we could have a better use of this "tool". It's a very powerful one. Perhaps, it could also serve as a watch dog to the government. Recently, there was a case, a government official became a target of the search engine, because of rude treatment to a earthquake volunteer.
http://www.zonaeuropa.com/200805c.brief.htm#020
Hi opersai - thanks for visiting and commenting :)
Sure, the Human Flesh Search Engine can do some good. As well, I find the phenomenon fascinating too.
However, it worries me.
A tool is an interesting way to describe it. A hammer is just a mass of iron and wood until it is used. A hammer is a tool. It can be used to build and to destroy. But it, as a tool, is used by someone on something.
Who uses the Human Flesh Search Engine? The community? The state? The media?
What do "they" use it on? A community? a government official? a criminal? a young woman? you? me?
The one thing that we have as humans is our liberty. I can walk to the store. I can buy food. I can read a book. I can sit. I can stand. Privacy is part of our liberty. So, when I use the word liberty, I mean it in a general way.
My liberty is reduced when my privacy is compromised, when I can't move freely, when I can't speak freely, and so on.
It is a serious matter when the state or any other organization seeks to reduce my liberty. When an officer of the state demands to see what is in my pockets, he is not out to protect me, he is seeking to reduce my liberty.
The activity of the Human Flesh Search Engine seeks to invade our privacy and our liberty. You may say, "But I have nothing to hide!" But that is naive. What if you are falsely accused? What if you are identified in error? What if you have an enemy that seeks to destroy you? Once this tool is unleashed, how is it restrained. Who can control it?
Who polices the police? It is important that a body outside of law enforcement can monitor and regulate the police. It is an important step to fight corruption.
Who polices the Human Flesh Search Engine? Nobody can. Individuals might find themselves prosecuted for their actions but the organization can operate with impunity. That is chilling.
Not sure? Consider the paparazzi.
http://www.zonaeuropa.com/200805c.brief.htm#021
They are not the Human Flesh Search Engine, but from my perspective (as a Canadian), they almost look the same.
I know you say that if they "learn to respect the law, personal privacy more, perhaps we could have a better use of this 'tool'". And you are right "if"... My fundamental problem is that vigilantism is inherently dangerous.
Now... having said all that. I think that one of the reasons the Human Flesh Search Engine is popular and even attractive in China is that the people may not have the confidence in the police or the state to uphold common values or to protect the common folk. That's what vigilantism is all about - a lack of confidence in the system. The case that you gave illustrates this lack of confidence well.
What do you do about corruption? Enter, the Human Flesh Search Engine. Man, even senior provincial officials take notice.
So my point? Yes, I absolutely agree with you, it is a powerful tool. It can play a positive role in some very very important reforms. But don't underestimate how dangerous it is.
Hello Mutant Jedi,
Thank you for your quick response. I absolutely agree with you, though perhaps, I'm a little too optimistic on the future of this "tool". My main argument, though, is that it's a tool. Let me perhaps make an inappropriate comparison with nuclear. By itself, it's very neutral; it can do good and bad, but it's very powerful, too powerful, and when used wrong, the effect is devastating.
There's another comparison, I think is very similar to the Human Search Engine. In ancient China, there's a group people called 大侠 daxia, (I'm not sure what would be an English equivalent English term, perhaps Knight?) You might have heard them from Chinese Kung Fu movie. They are tough; they are generally unbound by law.
While, daxia in real life, of course, isn't has fancy and powerful as shown in the movie, but they existed, and were very popular before Han dynasty. They thought themselves represent justice, and in fact, they do often punish "evil" - corrupt officials, brutal landlords, etc. The "evil" are often powerful people who escape the legal system. And public supported and admired daxia, because they see daxia is a ways to get justice.
See the similarity between the two yet? Both have power unbound by law. Both see them as representative of justice. And I think you bring an important point, in both case, it's a result of people's lack of confidence, frustration and perhaps disappointment in the system. They are a way people try to reach justice. But in both case, because the power is unchecked, ti's dangerous. Who is to make judgement on who is evil, who should be punished, to what extend? What if someone is wrongly accused, like you said. I would say, I share your worry equally.
In the case of da xia, the Han emperor eventually banned this group of people, sharing your worry. They pose a potential threat to the stability to the society. However, for us, what can we do about Human Search Engine? Outlaw it? How? How effective will that be?
I think, the answer, perhaps is for the users, the Chinese netizens, to develop a better understand and respect of law and privacy. As well as, a better legal system, where people could take confidence in, that they don't have to resort to this kind of method. And perhaps, in my optimistic view, the Human Search Engine, in some maybe far, maybe near future, could return to it's original intent, as a way of resource find, helpful tool. Think, maybe use it find a missing person, a lost cat? Or perhaps, I'm just too optimistic. But I hope for the best.
I do see the similarity.
And thank you very much for telling me about 大侠. I love learning stories like this.
Actually, you helped me clarify some ideas about the Human Flesh Search Engine. I think that as China addresses corruption and law reforms, the need for it will diminish (in an aggressive capacity). 大侠 came out of society's need for an accountable justice system. I can see the parallel with the Human Flesh Search Engine.
I'm all for optimism. :)
Hello Mutant Jedi,
it's been a few days since I last posted here on this subject. I'd like to bring to your attention to this event:
The Most Wanted Girl in China
http://www.zonaeuropa.com/200806a.brief.htm#004
I'm not very sure if you could count this as Human Flesh search. But really, what exactly is human flesh search? I think, for me, it's when a event on the web catches attention of a lot netizens, and have many contribute effort for this search.
I think this is a positive kind of Human Flesh search, one I had imagined one day what Human Flesh search engine will be doing: searching for people with good intention. What do you think?
I think there is a role in our evolving society for an expanded Internet community. One thing that I'm always struck with when I walk around areas in China is that people interact with each other. Interaction can happen in Canada but it's not the same.
I think that what's happening on the net is a reflection of what already happens in society. My concern is as it develops will it amplify things about our society that we don't want amplified.
However, being the eternal optimist, I also think that society will naturally stabilize the net community. Unless it gets political. In that case, we could be looking at the start of the Cultural Revolution Part 2. That's not a sequel I'd like to see.
The search for the girl is part of what the Human Flesh Search Engine does. And it seems positive. But what if she doesn't want the attention? Then the Search Engine becomes more like paparazzi.
I kind of think that we need a new term for the activity. One that reflects social responsibility rather than something that's more like a mob.
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