Is the Game of Flattery Compliments Praiseworthy?

来源 :Beijing Review | 被引量 : 0次 | 上传用户:luckchenhu
下载到本地 , 更方便阅读
声明 : 本文档内容版权归属内容提供方 , 如果您对本文有版权争议 , 可与客服联系进行内容授权或下架
论文部分内容阅读
  There is a new craze among young people—flocking to so-called kuakuaqun, or fl attery groups, on the Internet, where they praise one another, at times even paying to be exaggeratedly complimented.
  This is mainly happening on WeChat, China’s largest messaging app. Some fl attery groups are free, like those set up by university students. But users can also search for commercial flattery groups on e-commerce platforms like Taobao. Once you join any of these groups, you will be showered with praise on your topic of choice, like academic achievements, your appearance or even your characteristics.
  Defenders of the flattery groups say they help young people to release the high pressure from their studies and daily life. Besides, everyone needs encouragement in the process of growing up. Compliments will strengthen their self-confidence and push them forward, although they know the flattery is fake.
  But some critics fi nd such groups ridiculous. They say the obsession for compliments, even though they are fake, will distract young people from the efforts they should make instead to make their real life better.
  A pressure-reducing outlet
  Mao Jianguo (www.gmw.cn): Those who seemingly look for praise may not necessarily be seeking actual praise while those who extol others may not be really praising others. A lot of people join these groups for plain fun. Some students go to such WeChat groups when they feel tired of reading their textbooks and want a short break. Some fl attering comments are very innovative and fresh, and make them happy and relaxed.
  Some people do need praise. In kindergartens and primary schools, students win little stars or fl owers, a form of praise for doing something good, but in college, encouragement or praise is rare.
  The eagerness for praise stems from pressures after entering college. Difficulties in studies and life, or even incidents or accidents, can all add to the pressure. Some people say that students’ pursuit for praise implies a lack of encouragement in their real life. The fl attery group is thus an outlet for them to express their feelings and release the pressure or emotions. Their psychological need must be paid attention to.
  As a matter of fact, people other than college students also need this or other ways to let off steam. People who work full-time are also struggling with all kinds of pressures. Some companies believe in wielding the stick while withholding the carrot. Even though people can tell others what’s bothering them, through their WeChat moments online and even in real life, it is often diffi cult to get someone who will have an encouraging response to their feelings or anxieties. In an environment full of pressure, everyone needs encouragement. The flattery groups cater to this demand.   On one hand, young people should learn to balance their emotions and try to face diffi culties with equanimity; on the other hand, society should also realize that the young generation is living under immense pressure and there is a need for ways to defuse this. The truth is, it is not only children who need praise and encouragement, college students and even older people who are working need praise as well. In this sense, the WeChat fl attery groups’ existence can be justifi ed to an extent.
  Feng Qingyang (www.sohu.com): The emergence of the WeChat flattery groups among college students is no happenstance. These young students are struggling under huge pressures of academic work and job hunts. Some even face the tragedy of breaking off with their boyfriends or girlfriends due to difficulties. When there is little pleasure in real life, some students begin to seek psychological comfort in fl attery groups. It eases anxieties and the specter of more fierce competition after graduating from college.
  In these fl attery groups, people don’t need to worry about whether they’ll leave a negative impression or be seen as complaining. To some extent, the fl attery groups sweeping campuses countrywide is a kind of anti-pressure valve system created by young people who need encouragement and positive feedback from others.
  Students are seeking praise in flattery groups because they lack compliments in their real life. Some need comfort after failing exams or being pulled up for being late for class, some come to the groups for fun.
  It is unexpected to see flattering or praise singing turned into a business charging fees per minute. There are even standard models for praising. At a fi rst glance, it’s ridiculous, but on a second thought, probably it’s not as disgusting as some think. It’s just that the young need comforting and such fl attery groups provide a place where they can fi nd it.
  Generally speaking, most Chinese grow up in a milieu stingy with praise. Parents and schools alike like to push students, neglecting the importance of praise and encouragement. Most of them grow up in the shade of those regarded as their superiors and are hungry for praise, which would feed their ego and make them think their existence is meaningful. Young people are, in a sense, helping one each another by praising one another.
  Keep a clear head


  Jia Liang (Beijing Evening News): Even within these groups, you have people pointing out that the praise being lavished is fake. The people in these groups don’t know one another but even so, fl atter one another. This kind of unprincipled compliment is obviously fake. College students are not dummies; so why do they keep asking for praise from strangers even though they know it’s fake?   Those critical of the flattery groups say these are platforms where dull young people play mindless games to exhaust their surplus energy. Some are worried that this atmosphere of fake flattery is corrupting the young. They are sad that young people are deceiving themselves and cherishing misguided values.
  All such concern is farfetched. Actually, the students know the nature of these flattery groups and they also know how genuine these compliments are. They seldom believe these flattering comments. Do not underestimate the young generation’s power of judgment, and do not hurt them by attacking their games.
  The WeChat flattery groups are misunderstood due to disrespect for young people’s feelings and ignorance of their psychology. The young are eager for praise and encouragement. Even children do not grow up in an environment free of worries and diffi culties. Once they enter school, even kindergarten, they face competition from other children. After rounds of competition, they enter college to fi nd that the pressure is mounting instead of ebbing. They need some way to release this pressure. Praise helps them to relax and so fl attery groups have their merit.
  To some extent, the WeChat fl attery group is a platform jointly constructed by the young to help each other psychologically, provide social integration and help them win admiration. The original aim behind forming such groups was to have fun and share joy. The administrators of some of these groups claim that they set these up with young people’s mental health in their mind, hoping they would let their hair down in the group.
  However, some psychologists say that although flattery groups offer young people mental satisfaction, it’s better for them to choose healthier ways to release their pressures because ultimately, they’ll fi nd that the fl attering comments in the groups never help to solve any real problem. Instead, these fake plaudits may actually distract them from looking for real ways to let off pressure.
  Yuan Guangkuo (Yanzhao Metropolis Daily): Some people think fl attery groups are ridiculous, especially the ones where you have to pay for praise, although they can provide some kind of satisfaction.
  Although these groups have been formed for the purpose of fl attering and give you fake compliments, you have to admit that most people feel satisfied and enjoy these compliments. They fi nd their ego is boosted and that can even strengthen their confi dence in themselves. Some people say fl attery groups help to drive away the frustration and misery caused by setbacks in their studies or love affairs. They attribute their recovery to the flood of praise coming from these groups.
  Whether the compliments are true or false, they don’t harm the giver or the receiver. Praising others doesn’t mean violating laws or regulations, and so the groups should be tolerated. If you think fl attery groups are disgusting, you can choose not to join such groups.
  As a means of entertainment, WeChat fl attery groups are not bad. The problem is that the praises sound similar and are limited in repertoire. Therefore people are bound to get tired of these fake compliments eventually. So young people need to learn to balance their emotions themselves, instead of relying on fl attery groups. They can seek comfort from sports, reading, music and other healthy and real ways. The flattery groups, at most, can be a supplementary way. n
其他文献
近年来,由于经济面临下行,很多中小微企业都面对着资金短缺的困境,传统的依靠银行贷款融资的方式由于银行业所遇到的危机和高坏账率而变得更加困难。融资租赁由于其门槛较低
9月13日,中华慈善总会和波司登公益基金会举行战略合作签约仪式,波司登公益基金会10年内将向中华慈善总会捐赠财物2亿元.中华慈善总会会长李本公、江苏省慈善总会会长蒋宏坤
期刊
在市场结构不断变化的影响下,我国企业正面临着激烈的市场竞争。企业要想发展,就必须加强内控管理的认识,改变内控管理方式,让企业在市场竞争中处于优势地位。本文主要从企业
期刊
Web writer Zhang Wei, known as Tang Jia San Shao, used to primarily write fantasy novels before he began contributing to Web literature in 2004. In February, hi
期刊
目前我国建筑市场高速发展,给国家的经济人民的生活带来了一定的便利.然而,由于种种原因,建筑工程的质量总不能令人满意,这就需要监督人员提高自身素质,加强对于建筑工程的管
无论是大型普查还是小型抽样调查,宣传工作始终是普查和调查工作的重头戏,是普查工作必不可少的重要环节。普查宣传的法定程序功能有人认为,宣传工作是普查的辅助措施,不是法
成本管理是疗养院经营管理的重中之重,不但是疗养院可持续经营和财务稳定的关键,也是有效控制疗养院财务资本、增强自身竞争力的保障。本文详述了当前疗养院成本管理工作中存