Since July 26, when the painted images of characters from the famous Japanese animated series Love Live! first appeared on a train on metro Line 2, teenage fans have been going to stations on the line to pay homage.

When the train arrives, the animation fans bend their knees and put their heads to the ground to show their devotion to the characters, according to a report on the news website dfdaily.com.

The kowtowing of these fans drew some criticism from more conservative residents in Shanghai, who asked if these young people were perhaps too wrapped up in the fantasy world depicted in Love Live!, according to the report. For their part, the fans asserted that they had the right to demonstrate their love for the animated characters in this way.

As far as controversies go, this one isn't front-page material. But it does serve to illustrate a widening cultural gap between the generations. The kowtowing fans have been criticized for mocking tradition and "going astray" under the influence of an animated fantasy. But the truth is that these are just fans of a cartoon expressing themselves in an unusual way. The public should be more tolerant.

The critics of the fans might be reading too much into this case. Some even suggested that it reflects a prevailing tendency of the sickness of idol worship among the youth.

For those unfamiliar with Chinese culture, it might be difficult to understand just what people are so bent out of shape about. In China, the kowtow has religious significance. It is intended to be used to worship deities, emperors and ancestors. So, for some, kowtowing to cartoon characters makes a mockery of tradition.

The metro operator received complaints about the animation fans, as well as requests to put an end to their kowtowing, which the operator refused, said Lan Tian, the press officer for Shanghai Shentong Metro Group. "These guys have not broken the law or violated metro regulations. They also did not affect the train's operation," Lan said. "According to some witnesses, they only kowtowed to the train for a little while, so we do not need to drive them out."

Kowtowing may not be the best way for these fans to show their love for the animated characters because some people see it as a rebellion against tradition. Because the fans have chosen to "worship" in a public space, they should have taken the public's reaction into consideration.

Once a kind of behavior that contradicts mainstream social rules appears, the public only thinks about how to prevent teenagers from going astray, which may not be beneficial for the growth of the teenagers or the development of society.

Since these fans did not break the law or affect other passengers, the public should be more tolerant toward these teenagers. Moreover, society cannot use tradition as the only criterion for judging its members. It is also a bit arbitrary to criticize others just because you personally believe their behavior is improper.

Kowtowing to a cartoon character may seem a bit strange, but it is just a way for animation lovers to express their feelings. The public should work to understand and accept the actions of these teenage fans, or at least respect their right to express themselves.