From Chinese Press

Forcible demolitions

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-09-20 08:02

An online game that makes a mockery of forcible demolitions has become a hit in cyberspace. The online game has become popular with players because it depicts the cruel reality in an entertaining way. It will probably provoke an even stronger public reaction against forcible demolition, says an article in Beijing News. Excerpts:

Most of the netizens who play an online game that mocks forcible demolitions are people who are upset by cruel reality. In a way, the game offers them a way to vent their anger. But despite all this, the players can be caught between the realms of the real and virtual world.

Although games and reality both can be found in certain rules, a player's success or failure depends on whether he/she follows the rules. In a game, if a player does not follow the rules he/she will be met by nothing more than a "game-over" sign on the computer screen.

But in real life, a person's failure to follow the rules could escalate tensions and aggravate an already charged atmosphere, resulting in violence and counter-violence. Rules are there to be obeyed by property owners and demolishers, and the failure of either to do so is a violation of social and legal ethics. By violating the rules and ethics, some local governments and developers have transformed demolitions into brutal acts of "violence".

(China Daily 09/20/2010 page9)