The recent incident of theft at a music festival in China has sparked heated reactions on social media. Several Chinese Weibo netizens have expressed their opinions on the matter with varying degrees of intensity and emotion.

Background Image

7 October 2023

The theft occurred during a music festival and involved a significant amount of money and items. The event's organizers have promised to reimburse those who lost their belongings, but this has not stopped Weibo users from expressing their anger and disappointment over the incident.

One netizen expressed concern about the normalization of crime in society, stating that it was rare to find people sympathizing with criminals, working hard to find reasons for them, while maintaining a respectable appearance for them. They argue that poverty is no excuse for crime and pointed out that many poor places have not had such prominent incidents. The netizen suggests that stealing should be condemned and reflected upon, rather than condoned or justified.

Another netizen criticized the lack of reflection among local residents and media outlets in relation to the incident. They believe that if the basic truths about stealing are not understood, those who commit such acts are simply bad, despite whether they act alone or in a crowd. The netizen felt that this incident should serve as an opportunity for reflection on what kind of event is being held and whether it will lead to similar incidents in the future.

Some Weibo users have taken the incident as an opportunity to criticize the system, suggesting that similar situations may occur in other cities like Beijing, Shanghai, or Guangzhou given the prevalence of tents left unattended in parks when people are absent. They argued that such behavior reflects the quality of the people.

One particularly inflammatory comment read: "It's just an incident of theft. I feel that being wrong is wrong, and what reflection? The thing to reflect on should be whether such a vulgar music festival should continue or not." This user blamed the immoral nature of the festival for causing harm to rural customs and traditions, and suggested punishment for those involved in the theft.

The incident has also sparked discussions about societal mindsets that protect perpetrators instead of victims. Some Weibo users expressed frustration over what they perceive as a culture of 'gluing clay' (protecting criminals), which they believe is prevalent in the local government's handling of criminals and promoting local consumption.

In conclusion, this incident has highlighted various opinions on crime in Chinese society. While some netizens have expressed anger and disappointment over the theft and its aftermath, others have used it as an opportunity to criticize societal norms and governmental policies. This event serves as a reminder of the need for reflection not only on individual actions but also on broader systemic issues within Chinese society.