Hong Kong actress Shu Qi's (Fanny Shu) withdrawal from Sina Weibo has become the latest buzz to hit the Chinese cybersphere. She quitted the micro-blogging service after a bitter online feud resulted in pictures from her early days as a soft-porn star flying around the Internet

It all started when she was dragged into a war of words over two kung fu actors Zhen Zidan (Donnie Yen) and Zhao Wenzhuo (Vincent Chiu). She voiced her support on her micro blog for Zhen by praising his professional attitude. Within hours her nude photos surfaced on the Internet. On March 26, Shu Qi deleted all her posts and declared she would henceforth withdraw from Sina Weibo, apparently upset by the photos and tons of abusive comments. A host of celebrities including director Feng Xiaogang showed their support and sympathy towards Shu Qi and her move also sparked a wave of discussion about cyber-bullying. 

@Huxijin Editor-in-chief at Global Times

As a public figure, you have to be more tolerant. I really don't think the online comments of the public did actual harm to these actors, or that the show business is more difficult than any other industry. In this world, especially in China, no job is easy. No one deserves more sympathy than any one else. You should learn to be emotionally detached from the troubles in the first place if you are trying not to be angry. 

@Shibugui Executive Director of CCSMEDIA 

To be honest, Shu Qi's nude photos have little to do with the present war of words. The rage coming from the grassroots is directed against those pretentious celebrities in the show business, and those behind-the-scene PR (public relations) teams who lavish lots of money to stifle the voices of netizens at will. The cultural conflict between the mainland and Hong Kong as well as the public's discontent about the elite’discourse power can also be seen in this incident.

@Jiazhuangzainiuyue Editor-in-chief at VIVA Wireless New Media 

Cyber-bullying on weibo gets more and more frightening. I'm scared of netizens's frequent outpouring of emotions and their disregard for rational debate. Shu Qi's case is not singular - there are countless other incidents like this one. Vigilantism goes against the very ideal of a civil society - rule of law. No matter how angry you are, you have to appeal to the law, instead of acting like a Robin Hood.

@Lianpeng Columnist

Having watched Shu Qi delete her weibo posts one by one, I have to say those who claimed the moral high ground and hurled abusive words to the woman are simply vicious and darkminded. Everyone has a past, but it's wrong to use it to abuse and hurt that person. If we can be more tolerant and kind to others, the world would be a better place. 

@Haozheng Sports reporter

I know how scary cyber-bullying can be since I myself have also experienced it. A web user using real name can never win against those anonymous online thugs. They are living in the shadows and never know what sunlight is. They are just a heartless rabble with whom you can never expect to have a rational conversation.

@Xinruohong Sina Weibo user

There are deeper social problems in Shu Qi's case. On the surface, it is all about cyber-bullying - "Give a dog an ill name and hang him," as is traditionally known. But it is also a debate on traditional values and ideas, one of which is 'should a man or woman be forgiven and still be treated as a "normal person" if he or she traded his or her body for personal gains?'

Shu Qi later stated publicly that the wounds her past left her had long been healed. She also said she was thankful for those criticisms as "it is they that taught her to grow". However, the very fact that Shu quitted weibo suggests harm has been done, at least as far as she is concerned. While the Internet provides an unprecedented open platform to express ideas, it does not mean we should abuse the power it lends us. Words can hurt and they do hurt.