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| Chinese Turn to Website for Emotional Outlet |
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Pour out your anger against your teacher, curse your mother, insult your lover, rail against regulations; letting it all hang out by posting anonymous on-line sticky notes has become China's latest Internet fad. It's not the Great Wall but the "Hate Wall", where web surfers with any kind of gripe can get relief from the stresses of life by writing away their blues. Xiao Xu, is a typical poster on Hate Wall who says she feels better after repeatedly plastering a phrase over and over again. She goes on-line and writes a single word -- yu men, meaning depressed -- on a post-it note that is then stuck on the animated wall. "I am addicted to it now. I log on to the website whenever I am upset, no matter how trivial the cause," Xu told the Shanghai Youth Daily. Although she feels better after pouring out her emotion, she finding the exercise is giving her personality a boost of aggression. "I've begun to use dirty words in daily life, which I've never done before, " she said. The "Hate Wall" website is not alone there are several of them serving the same purpose. Predictably many of the posted notes are full of venom and nasty language. Some are even directed at people. The websites become more popular a hot debate on whether they are ethical has spread over the internet. Dai Wei, a public relations officer with the Internet Society of China say the organization doesn't have the authority nor is it interested in regulating the portals. "I hope the websites and the netizens show some self discipline," he said, pointing out that people who post nasty notes directed at identifiable individuals can be sued for libel or slander. While posting quick notes is helping Xiao Xu expel her pent up anger not everyone thinks it's a great form of release. Xu Leiting, psychologist and vice director with the Beijing Internet Addiction Treatment Center said websites designed for emotional outlet are no substitute for professional help. "Outbursts on a website won't solve people's problems," he said adding that exercising or listening to music may be better mood-improving therapies. (Xinhua News Agency November 23, 2006)
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