China Bans Beating of Internet Addicts

of the "internet addicts" I know are usually pretty busy beating themselves, if you know what I mean...

If they are levying a ban right now. Was it allowed before?

"If they are levying a ban right now. Was it allowed before?"


Yes they did. And worse. Back in July 2009, China banned using electro-shock therapy on kids for internet addiction.



"BEIJING (Reuters) - China has banned electro-shock therapy as a treatment for Internet addiction, citing uncertainty in the safety and effectiveness of the practice after criticism in the local media."

vis
http://www.reuters.com/

indicative of a larger problem? people can´t deal/interact with others anymore, and so seek solace from it?

where there is a much greater proportion of men to women, I would be an internet addict too

probably not... it was however probably tolerated, or simply ignored...

though by common law (civil law, which china does have) anything that isn´t explicitly against the law is technically within the law, hence why they ban such practices; because they´re simply wasn´t already a law covering it, not necessesarially were they actually allowing it in the first place as DeepSand infered.

They "allowed" it in the sense that it was widely known to occur but the government generally turned its collective head until too many traumas or deaths occurred to such a point that they couldn´t just be silent anymore. Word was starting to leak outside China about it. Horror of horrors! In China, it´s more about saving face than anything else.

The usual government response to such a situation is to publicly announce the practice officially banned. If it quiets the public down and fades away by never being mentioned again, then the purpose has been served, and this usually proves to be the case - until next time - rinse, lather, repeat ...

By the time we hear about it out here, a far greater amount of damage has been done they they would have outsiders believe.

Unfortunately, it sometimes it takes a loud outcry causing public exposure to get positive action.