Moment of Neti-zen

Source:Global Times Published: 2013-5-19 21:18:01

Editor's Note:

Are you up on what the hundreds of millions of Chinese netizens are talking about? Take a moment and get the rundown of what's hot, what's trending, and what's drawing the most buzz on the Chinese blogosphere.

Fake bomb threats

A 43-year-old man from Jiangsu Province has been arrested for making fake bomb threats, the second case of its kind in China in the past week, authorities said over the weekend.

The man called police on Friday, saying that there were bombs aboard 11 Shanghai-bound planes.

The incident follows that of a similar episode in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province on Wednesday, when an unidentified man made similar threats, also causing airplane delays for hundreds of passengers on five planes.

Both cases remain under investigation, said police.

Experts say that the penalty of up to four years in jail, which has previously been given to criminals guilty of a similar crime, is far too lenient and useless in preventing people from spreading domestic terrorism threats, reported Beijing Times.

The experts added that China should learn from developed countries like the US in this regard, by giving criminals harsher punishments.

But others say that in order to prevent similar cases from reoccurring, finding out why these people engage in such activities is more important than handing out strict sentences.

"The punishment is important but it is not enough. To bring this problem under control, we need to figure out the reason behind it, such as whether these guys have any physiological problems or other claims," said web user Yimengjiduonian.

Another user, meanwhile, said that media should refrain from reporting too many details on such cases, saying that it might attract more followers.

Mystery streaker known

Twenty-eight-year-old Li Binyuan revealed his name over the weekend, falling to peer pressure from the public, who have been dying to find out the identity of the city's "midnight streaker."

A graduate from China Central Academy of Fine Arts, Li has been streaking late at night in Beijing for the past two months. The acts were intended to help him release stress while providing the public with a daring form of performance art, according to Li.

Li claims to have run nude in the city more than 10 times since March, while Chinese web users have caught him six times, posting photos of him online. The photos, which soon went viral, have included Li with an inflatable doll, riding a motorbike.

While some people have praised his acts online as a "brave method of facing daily pressures in life," others disapprove of the behavior they described as rude.

"One shouldn't be that selfish and should instead find another more appropriate way to release stress," said one web user, who was supported by several others online.


Posted in: Odd News

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