HuaSheng Online, August 23rd (reported by Luo Hao) - "Any girl from mainland China who goes to France for study returns in a terrible mess, all of them are 'super Pan Jinlian'." In the early hours of August 23rd, the microblogger "Paris Observer" posted a video on Weibo showing Associate Professor Zhang Hexia from the Ministry of Justice's Judicial Administration College making derogatory remarks about female Chinese students studying in France, which drew a large number of netizens' attention.
After being forwarded by well-known scholar Yu Jianrong, the spread of the microblog post accelerated rapidly. Zhang Hexia claimed that he had already completed evidence collection and would sue Yu Jianrong. In response, Yu Jianrong asked, "Is this video artificially synthesized?"
[Incident] Controversial Video Draws Attention
At 1:16 AM on August 23rd, the microblogger "Paris Observer" posted a one-minute-and-eighteen-second-long video on Weibo. The video content was from a lecture by Associate Professor Zhang Hexia from the Ministry of Justice's Judicial Administration College. In the video, Zhang Hexia said, "Any girl from mainland China who goes to France for study returns in a terrible mess, all of them are super Pan Jinlian."
The microblogger "Paris Observer" expressed that "such irresponsible wording should be strongly condemned."
After being forwarded by Yu Jianrong, the number of forwards increased rapidly. By the time the reporter went to press, related Weibo posts had been forwarded more than 7800 times, with over 3000 netizens participating in the discussion.
[Argument] Is the Video Out of Context?
As the number of forwards by netizens increased, the party involved, Zhang Hexia, also saw the controversial Weibo post. At 8:59 AM on August 23rd, Zhang Hexia responded on Weibo, accusing Yu Jianrong of taking his words out of context and using an individual case as a gimmick to maliciously destroy others' reputation. He stated that he would "hold Yu Jianrong accountable through legal proceedings for this rash and irresponsible behavior."
In response to Zhang Hexia's accusation, Yu Jianrong appeared unconcerned. At 1:46 PM on August 23rd, Yu Jianrong replied on Weibo, "Now Dr. Zhang is cursing me for having no brains and says he will sue me, but I really laughed again. Could this video be artificially synthesized?"
Subsequently, Zhang Hexia responded with even stronger language. He referred to Yu Jianrong as a "lackey of commercial institutions" and said, "You training institutions that distort facts, you will not be spared, along with this lackey."
[Weibo Hot Discussion]
@“Cai Girl’s Little Mushroom”: “Taking things out of context and damaging someone's reputation is indeed very hurtful, but Teacher Yu Jianrong is also a person worth respecting. I hope misunderstandings can be resolved and the matter handled properly.”
@“This is called Love?”: “It wasn't like the whole class was talking about how female students in France are. It was just to lighten the atmosphere in the classroom, and there was no mention by name. This is just normal freedom of speech.”
@“Xuan Cai Provence”: “I'm quite surprised. As a professor, how could he say such things, and with a judicial background? Let's seek justice for the sisters in France.”
[Lawyer's Opinion] Forwarding Does Not Constitute Infringement
Does forwarding Weibo by Yu Jianrong constitute infringement? The reporter interviewed Lawyer Li Jian from Hunan Wanhe United Law Firm. Lawyer Li Jian pointed out, "Yu Jianrong merely truthfully presented the video and forwarded it, which does not constitute infringement."
Regarding the controversial video, Lawyer Li Jian believed: First, citizens have freedom of speech and can express personal opinions on social issues, but freedom of speech has relativity. One cannot maliciously fabricate relevant facts or insult and defame others or groups, otherwise it constitutes infringement. Second, among female students studying in France, there are indeed those who damage the image of our countrymen, but insulting all female students studying in France hurts national sentiment. Whether it is to ease the atmosphere in the classroom or in other public places, such incidents should not happen.
[HuaSheng Commentary] Who Directed This "Festival of Madness"?
By Li Chenghui
Upon reading this report, my only feeling is: we live in an impetuous era.
In such an impatient and noisy era, everyone wants to express their thoughts, and everyone longs to be heard. We are like living in a bustling room, shouting at the top of our lungs. Watching each other shout, yet not knowing what the other is saying.
This is an age of information explosion. Weibo makes people overwhelmed, and we yearn for attention. But with so much noise around us, to gain attention, we can only make our headlines sensational and unrestrained. Perhaps what I say is wrong or biased, but at least people hear it, at least my "followers" increase.
Public opinion today is like a restless patient, seeing wind and thinking rain. For instance, a sentence spoken by the doctor in a specific context was taken out of context and distorted, possibly losing its original meaning. But so what? At least the desires of most people are satisfied. In such an era, rationality seems superfluous.