Beware of reports on ill-behaved elderly people damaging social harmony

Almost every other day, there are reports about elderly people misbehaving in public. Such reports say that elderly people compel youngsters to offer their subway/bus seats to them, and, in some cases, become violent if the youngsters do not comply with their demand. Some reports say elderly people walk in big groups on the road, refusing to make way for even fire engines and ambulances.

Reports about elderly people practicing dancing in public places accompanied by loud music till late into the night and disturbing others are common. A few media outlets have also highlighted how elderly people climb up trees to take "beautiful photos" with flowers or to pick fruits, and how they "invade and occupy" supermarkets, not for shopping but for enjoying air-conditioning in the summer.

There have also been reports on the elderly faking being hit by vehicles on the street to get compensation, and stressing that when a car driver or bike rider tries to help them up on their feet, he/she runs the risk of being accused of having knocked them down. There have been so many staged accidents in recent years, according to reports, that a new Chinese term pengci (porcelain scam) has found its way into the dictionary.

The damage pengci could cause to Chinese society can be very destructive. When we see someone falling down in the street and struggling in pain, our immediate reaction is to help the person. But given the rising number of pengci cases, according to reports, people now hesitate to help even genuine accident victims.

There have been so many reports on elderly people's disgraceful behavior that people can't help but ask: "Whether the elderly have become tricksters or whether tricksters have all grown old?"

I have not come across any data on the increase in cases of elderly people's misbehavior. But I believe there have always been some people who misbehave in public both in and outside the country. We read about such cases more frequently because the media — especially social media — have been highlighting more and more such incidents, and even exaggerating conflicts between different age groups to draw more readers.

We are overwhelmed by reports on elderly people misbehaving in public not because there has been a drastic increase in the number of such cases but because we have much easier access to such reports. Hence, we should not get carried away by such reports and start believing that ill-mannered, ill-behaved elderly people are damaging social harmony.

Elderly people who regularly venture out, including those going to parks or those just taking a walk on pavements to get some exercise, are usually aged between 60 and 80. They largely belong to the generation that has experienced the horror of hunger during childhood. As youngsters, they were taught to fight against their so-called fate to build a better life. They deserve our respect as the drivers of China's fast-paced socioeconomic development. They belong to a group of people who are diligent, hardworking, proud and, sometimes, aggressive.

When they use some of these traits inappropriately, it leads to arguments and even physical violence. When such conflicts are reported, the concerned elderly people become the target of criticism, but at the same time well-behaved elderly people like us also suffer, because we can feel that young people nowadays maintain a safe distance from us to avoid trouble.

There have been online discussions among youngsters on how to deal with ill-behaved elderly people. Suggestions include staying away and avoiding any argument with them. My impression about such discussions is that the youngsters, who've been taught to respect the elderly, are largely helpless when facing ill-behaved elderly people.

Online discussions by elderly people on this issue are rare — perhaps because most of the elderly either stay away from social media or are not that tech savvy. As a senior citizen, I criticize anybody who misbehaves with others, be they elderly or young. I believe that elderly people should behave properly if they want to be respected. They should become role models for their children and grandchildren by following social norms, being courteous, patient and caring, and by helping maintain social harmony.

The author is former deputy editor-in-chief of China Daily.