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UPDATED: April 19, 2008 NO.17 APR.24, 2008
Should Universities Ban Profanity Online to Resolve Moral Dilemma?
From this perspective, supporters for Peking University's move believe its proposed action is a counterattack against the deterioration of the Internet's method of communication and also expresses its wish to rebuild moral standards
 
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LI SHIGONG

Peking University recently announced that in response to frequently seen profanity and malicious rumors by some netizens on Internet forums and bulletin boards, it is considering modifying its school rules to ban this form of behavior online.

China now has 200 million Internet users for whom being online is part of modern culture. Internet offers room to express opinions and ideas freely but it's also a way for people to release the stress of life. It's inevitable that this freedom is abused, resulting in all forms of insults, damaging gossip and the spreading of lies. Because of the lack of self-restraint and imposed disciplines, this kind of communication is rapidly lowering moral standards.

Human behavior experts indicate that some Internet users believe that in order to attract attention, they must use extreme language, often coarse and unwarranted. In this aspect, it's necessary to improve people's morality. Internet management departments, both at universities and elsewhere in the public domain, must take quick action to improve relevant laws and regulations too.

From this perspective, supporters for Peking University's move believe its proposed action is a counterattack against the deterioration of the Internet's method of communication and also expresses its wish to rebuild moral standards.

Chinese see themselves as an ancient civilization with a fine tradition of social etiquette, so it should be a basic requirement for Internet users not to curse or insult each other.

A necessary measure

Cai Fanghua (Beijing Youth Daily): Against the backdrop of overwhelming curses and insults on the Internet, Peking University's move to take the lead on moral behavior on the Internet should be praised rather than being criticized.

In recent years, school rules have often triggered controversy in the society. Criticism on school rules mainly targets the violation of individual privacy. As for the ban on profanity on the Internet, some people doubt its effectiveness.

Undoubtedly, Peking University's move will not probe into individuals' privacy. By imposing the ban on online abuse in the form of school rules, the university means to give correct guidance to the students. Some people argue the restrictions are not practical, as the users can well disguise their true identity. To locate those who have given unacceptable remarks on the Internet will cost a lot, even more than the school can afford. Nevertheless, this is not the key. As long as they help encourage higher morality and give positive guidance to the students, whether the school rules are easy to be carried out at the current stage is not a problem.

In my opinion, people's opposition toward Peking University's move is that they have long cherished prejudice against various school rules because these rules have sometimes been unreasonable.

As China's top tertiary institution, Peking University is taking the lead in standardizing Internet language and cleaning up the Internet environment. This is courageous. As for whether the ban on curses and insults should be written into the school's rulebook, it's the university's own business.

Cha Yijing (www.cqnews.net): Cursing on the Internet is a showcase of indignity. Nowadays people may easily act on impulse to vent on strangers while they sit safely anonymous in front of computer screens. The Internet offers an ideal virtual space for them to throw text thunderbolts without having to bear any responsibilities.

College students are in the process of learning how to behave well in society and thus universities are held responsible for guiding them in moral attitude.

Chinese traditional moral standards require us not to curse at any time or anywhere. It also applies to the moral standards on the Internet. Even at Peking University it would be difficult to suppress cursing and rumors on the Internet, but this cannot serve as an excuse for not setting up rules, as rules impose a latent deterrent.

Besides, any school rules in essence came into being for education and inspiration and they are not laws. If they are treated as laws, its function will be affected. Actually, school rules are just another form of education, so they have nothing to do with compulsory implementation.

Yue Ruoyu (www.sohoxiaobao.com): All those who have the experience of surfing on the Internet know that online profanity is rampant. It's noticeable that currently Internet users are largely composed of young people, mostly middle school and university students.

In writing the online curse ban into its school rules, Peking University means to give guidance to the young students. Online curses are almost omnipresent on the Internet nowadays and the university is scrambling to assume its responsibility as an educational institution.

Peking University is traditionally famous for embracing different thinking schools and for its tolerance to different ideas. However, to curse others online actually reflects Internet users' intolerance toward dissidents. This goes against Peking University's glorious tradition of tolerance. Online curses in most cases are illogical and may degenerate to personal abuse. It's a desperate insult to suppress others' ideas.

Malicious abuse often reveals a kind of cruel and wicked mentality and some people's psychological autocracy. It absolutely falls foul of the tradition of tolerance. If unbridled, this may defile young's mind.

Not only universities, but also primary schools are supposed to incorporate the online curse ban into their school rules. People are expected to act online as politely as they do in real life. Since facts have shown that the current education system is not doing well in curbing online abuse, it's necessary to take action to correct it, just as Peking University has done.

Much ado about nothing

Ma Yunchi (www.sznews.com): Apart from those concerning academic ideas or violations, most school rules are non-compulsory, such as being polite, thrifty and working hard. Individuals are free to choose to abide by these rules or not. That is to say, those who often abuse others online will not automatically stop because of the new rules.

I don't think online profanity is a big problem. Just as in real life, people argue with each other for certain reasons. Even swearing is a kind of communication. Those who are fearful of being abused can just stay away from the Internet, as the Internet is a free space.

Morality should be something rooted in an individual's heart. Everyone has the right to choose to abuse others or not and to behave morally or immorally. Laws and regulations are supposed to regulate what they are designed for and should leave moral issues to moral education.

Xiong Bingqi (www.sina.com.cn): Intending to contribute toward rebuilding moral integrity, Peking University is praised for its resolve to order a ban on online profanity. However, as a matter of fact, the ban is unnecessary and difficult to practice even if it's approved by the university.

The ban on fights and abuse has been imposed on us since we were primary school students, and are seen inside and outside schools, as well as online and offline. To underline the ban will do nothing to encourage people to be more polite.

Besides, if the students do not write on blogs or BBS under their real names, it's difficult for the university to locate the miscreants. It's impossible for the universities to scour all forums to ferret out the delinquents or ask students to supervise each other.

Although, amending the rules shows the school's determination to raise moral standards, it will prove to be more effective if the school insists that students adhere strictly to the laws and regulations, including those concerning online expression. The best choice is for the university to always govern the school in accordance with the law and encourage the students to act in this way too.

Xian Zi (www.eastday.com): Some people may consider Peking University's ban on online insults as a plot to showcase its determination to boost moral education, but I believe university managers depend too much on school rules.

In the new era of university education, problems are popping up one after another. And some universities completely resort to the modification of school rules to soothe these headaches. For university managers, although this may not really tackle the root cause, at least it can partly admonish the students against rule violations.

But I am wondering whether the decision-makers know that when there are too many school rules and moral taboos, students may well turn a blind eye to the many regulations.

The online profanity ban reveals university managers' anxiety over overwhelming moral deficiencies among the students. Saddled by thorny issues, it seems their solution is to revise the school rules. Moral building is a complicated process that demands painstaking efforts. Random revision of the rules may turn out counterproductive in the end.

Dear Readers,

"Forum" is a column that provides a space for varying perspectives on contemporary Chinese society. In each issue, "Forum" will announce the topic for an upcoming issue. We invite you to submit personal viewpoints (in either English or Chinese).

Upcoming Topic: Can excessive charges on plastic bag use effectively wipe out this environment-unfriendly packaging?

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Editor: Yao Bin

 



 
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