The Rat Head In The Cafeteria Of Jiangxi Industrial Vocational And Technical College
On June 1st, a video was posted by someone claiming to have found foreign objects in the cafeteria of Jiangxi Industrial Vocational and Technical College in Jiangxi Province, China. The person suspected it to be a rat’s head.
In the video, the piece of meat clearly had fur and teeth, but the cafeteria staff repeatedly insisted that it was duck meat, just duck meat!
However, law enforcement officers from the Changdong Branch of Nanchang High-tech Zone Market Supervision and Administration Bureau quickly arrived at the scene and conducted multiple comparisons to confirm:
It was indeed duck neck.
On the evening of June 3rd, the school involved also issued a notification, once again confirming that the “foreign object” was indeed duck neck, a normal food item.
Furthermore, the student who filmed the video provided a written statement on-site to clarify the content of the video.
Not only did the student who filmed the video provide a written statement, but he also had to release another video to clarify the situation. He have a so significant responsibility!
Although the individuals involved have clarified the situation, the school has denied the claims, and the local market supervision bureau has confirmed the matter, the doubts from netizens still persist.
Perhaps it is because their eyes are not deceiving them.
“Am I the only blind one on the internet? Is this damn thing really duck neck?”
“Calling a deer a horse in the modern society.”
“A duck choked to death after eating a rat’s head, and then…”
“Are those two peppercorns on the duck neck supposed to be its eyes?”
“Now duck necks have grown teeth.”
“Isn’t it normal for a duck neck to have a beard?”
“You might as well believe that I am Qin Shi Huang.”
…
Someone else said: “Even though the individuals involved have admitted it’s duck neck, you still don’t believe?”
The reasons for the individuals clarifying the situation on behalf of the school are well understood by everyone. Who doesn’t have vulnerabilities? Without children, there are parents; without careers, there are studies. People are like fish threatened with a knife.
Just as netizens have said:
Those two white strips in the video are actually borders of graduation certificates, and that tuft of hair could be the tassel of a master’s cap.
As for the process of transformation, as someone who frequently speaks out online and was even invited for tea a few days ago, I know it best.
I can empathize with the perspective of the person who filmed the video by using my own personal experience. Just imagine the pressure he must be under.
Some people will play the sympathy card, saying, “The school cafeteria also has a hard time, and they know they made a mistake.”
Some people will reason with him, saying, “You can’t fight against the powers that be, so stop being stubborn.”
Some people will label him, saying, “You’re tarnishing the school’s reputation and disrupting the market order.”
Some people will question his motives for doing such a thing, asking, “What’s the point of causing trouble like this? What does it accomplish?”
If he is resolute enough, he will face the panic and helplessness of his parents, the well-intentioned advice from his counselor, the overall considerations of the market supervision bureau, the coercion and temptation from the school, and even the scripted responses from the police.
Everyone surrounds him as if he is the main culprit, as if he is the only trouble that needs to be resolved.
Perhaps someone mentioned graduation certificates, or perhaps he still needs to continue studying here. In any case, when someone has a vulnerability held in someone else’s hand, the only path to take is to comply and clarify.
Believe me, no one can withstand such a relentless onslaught. I thought I was firm enough, but I couldn’t hold on till the end a few days ago.
You have no choice but to surrender in the face of reality.
This is the latest model of public opinion management:
There are things they can do, but you can’t talk about them. If you do, it’s considered tarnishing this and obstructing that. Nobody cares whether the problem is actually resolved, but you, who speak up, become the problem that needs to be resolved. Resolving you becomes the common goal and systematic project of sincere cooperation from top to bottom. Once you’re resolved, the problem is resolved, and all will be well.
Calling a rat a duck is just a microcosm and extreme form of this contemporary model of public opinion management.
Because of the unquestionable authority of the officials, even if it’s absurd and obvious, you can only helplessly watch it all unfold before your eyes.
However, the people will always remember the abuses of those in power. This story will become a new anecdote passed down among the people.