Technology can't replace trust

By Li Chenwu Source:Global Times Published: 2014-4-24 19:53:01

Jiang Yifan, a 27-year-old Chinese chengguan (urban management officer) made headlines this week after he shared his experience of using Google Glass to film street vendors. According to Jiang, officers using digital video cameras to film vendors can trigger violent resistance from vendors.

Google Glass, due to the inconspicuous and tiny camera on its glass flame, can help them "secretly" film illegal peddlers.

Another recent case echoes his concern. On April 15, five urban officers were besieged and attacked by angry onlookers in Cangnan, Zhejiang Province. The brawl was triggered because many people heard that the urban officers had violently stopped a passer-by, who had tried to photograph a quarrel between the officers and a vendor.

In the last few years, urban officer has become one of the most controversial jobs in China. News about disputes between peddlers and officers, most of which report the officers had been bullying peddlers, frequently evoke the public's outrage and distrust of the officers. That is why Jiang, who believes the chengguan are often misunderstood, has attempted to rebuild their image. Photos and videos can provide evidence to clarify their roles in campaigns to clean up illegal peddling.

In my opinion, it is encouraging that new technology can be applied to help people cope with their practical problems in work. Jiang's behavior reflects the growing respect for the law among China's young generation. They represent the law, and also need to regulate their behavior and to protect themselves in accordance to the law.

However, I doubt to what extent high-tech equipment can help China's urban officers. The radical problem is many people have formed a strong stereotype of them. In this sense, can hidden cameras really ease the tension between urban officers and peddlers? Won't it increase the distrust between them?

Technology promotes social evolution. Many people believe technology can heal the world and make life better. But there is a paradox. Technology can never create emotion, faith and trust among people. Therefore, what the urban officers should do more is to work out effective ways to communicate with peddlers, using their behavior to rebuild their image and trust.

This article was published on the Global Times Metropolitan section Two Cents page, a space for reader submissions, including opinion, humor and satire. The ideas expressed are those of the author alone, and do not represent the position of the Global Times.



Posted in: Twocents-Opinion

blog comments powered by Disqus