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Opinion / Li Xing
Internet not a tool to cheat the public
By Li Xing (China Daily)
Updated: 2007-07-26 07:09
The words "Brutal stepmother", in big, bold Chinese characters, continue
to scream out from the "top tags" of the society news on one of the most
popular local Internet portals. Another site, of similar renown, carries
the same story under a tag of "Fury".
Until Tuesday, the Internet in China was raging with reports claiming a
young girl called Lilac was dying of excessive bleeding and multiple bone
fractures. And the person responsible for her enormous suffering was said
to be her stepmother.
It all began with an article posted online on July 17, entitled: "Brutal
stepmother beats 6-year-old stepdaughter".
Soon every major portal and media website was carrying it: Or at least
8,200 of them, according to a Google search.
Some attempted to clarify what happened, quoting doctors from local
hospitals, Lilac, Lilac's birth mother and father, the neighbors, and
even the stepmother, who was shown kneeling down and crying that she
didn't do it.
However, other angry readers were said to have even besieged the girl's
home, to "reason" with the "cruel stepmother".
Meanwhile, donations poured in and kindhearted people took Lilac to a
hospital in Shanghai for a thorough checkup.
On Tuesday, the event took a new turn. The local police issued an
official statement declaring the stepmother was innocent after a
painstaking investigation. At the same time, doctors from the hospital in
Shanghai said the girl was suffering from a blood disease, which caused
bleeding and bone fractures.
I don't know how much psychological pain the stepmother, a rural woman,
has gone through even though I don't think she has been fully aware of
the sound and fury on the Internet.
However, she has been chased by journalists and camera people and called
in a few times by the police for questioning. And she must have seen
strangers staring at her in anger, so much so that she went into hiding
with the help of the local police.
Some media have started to call it an Internet hoax, stories cooked up to
raise money for the girl's medical treatment, even though they call it a
"kindhearted white lie".
Some people have speculated that a story of a dying girl would not have
aroused sympathy, but a tragic tale of an abused little girl would surely
win hearts and tears.
I understand that the girl requires urgent medical assistance and that
the current public health system can do very little to help rural
families with few resources.
The family's predicament also testifies to the failure of the local
health and welfare administrations in caring for those in dire need.
However, it is simply immoral to use the Internet as a tool to cheat the
public out of their kindness. It is even worse when the fact was twisted
at the expense of one's integrity and reputation. It cost taxpayers a lot
of money sending the local police on a wild goose chase.
Worst of all, the lie was created to enhance the traditional
discrimination against stepmothers, most of whom still live with social
prejudice.
Above all, the public has the right to know the truth and decide how to
help the little girl and other people in need of support. A more helpful
way is to make people aware of all the real charities and foundations,
which raise money to help people like Lilac.
One white lie might work, but if too many people cry wolf, it won't be
long before the genuine help disappears altogether.
E-mail: lixing@chinadaily.com.cn
(China Daily 07/26/2007 page10)
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