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A SPATE OF noisy disputes between middle-aged women and nearby residents has prompted China’s communist leaders to step in and regulate dancing in public places, the country’s state media said earlier this week.
Groups of dancers often gather on China’s public squares and street corners performing choreographed routines to loud music, sometimes provoking anger from neighbours.
China will step up efforts to manage such dancers, creating a “public square dancing management mechanism” which will be “under government leadership”, the official Xinhua news agency reported.
“Public square dancing will enter into the social management system,” Xinhua cited a joint statement from four central departments including the culture ministry and the civil affairs ministry as saying.
The agencies will manage dancing in accordance with existing laws, it added.
“Dancing in public squares, as a cultural sporting activity deeply loved by the masses… has enriched the spiritual lives of people,” the statement said.
But it added: “problems such as inadequate space and… disturbances to local residents by noise and defects in management mechanisms have gradually appeared”.
Simmering disputes
Square dancing has become a hot topic in China, with stories on dancing “damas” – a term referring to middle-aged and elderly women – lighting up state media.
But disputes have increased. A man in Beijing who could not bear the loud music played by local dancers was jailed for six months after he fired a gun into the air in protest, the state-run China Daily reported last year.
In the central Chinese city of Wuhan, a simmering dispute between enthusiastic “damas” and their irritated neighbours made headlines in 2013 when the residents threw coins, rocks and ultimately faeces at the group in a bid to make them stop.
The China Daily said in March that authorities had hired an “expert panel” to choreograph 12 state-approved dances.
The government statement won plaudits from users of Sina Weibo, a Chinese equivalent of Twitter.
“It is good to ensure that damas will never disturb citizens close to residential areas,” one person said online.
“It is definitely necessary to discipline them,” added another.
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How does it even cross someone’s mind to complain about a fairly humorous ad. Stop the world and let me off.
@Colin Howard: I’m even more surprised that some saddos complaint was upheld. If someone wants to eat a bucket of KFC that’s their choice.
@Jp Cleary: you will do as you’re told or we’ll do U for hate speech…now line up for your booster vaccination!
@Jp Cleary: problem is someone will eat that amount have a heart attack and sue them
@Rafa C: they can only sue if Colonel Sanders personally force feeds them a Bargain Bucket and they have a heart attack
@Colin Howard: it’s almost like people have been makimg stupid complaints for decades, or don’t you remember mail bag?
@damien leen: Justice for everyone that was slightly inconvenienced 3 years ago!
@Rafa C: don’t be da ft
Seriously, do people have nothing to do……..I guess the person who complained and the body who decided to uphold the complaint are the reason why a packet of peanuts needs a “may contain nuts” warning!
@Jean C: Some manufacturers voluntarily include a separate advisory statement, such as ‘may contain’ or ‘produced in a facility,’ on their labels when there is a chance that a food allergen could be present. A manufacturer might use the same equipment to make different products. This is why (multi-product producing) companies may have ‘may contain nuts’ on a packet of nuts.
People need to grow up,
@Val Kane: My thoughts exactly. Nothing could be more childish than eating huge portions a bucket!
@Val Kane: grow up or out the way
Nanny, nanny please protect me from everything
It doesn’t matter about other people as long as I’m safe.
@Pato: and again
Absolutely Ridiculous. The complainant needs to get a life!
No fun to be had anymore…It has been decreed that all Irish people henceforth are to be po faced at all times.
@JP: You class being able to view that ad as fun?! Wow.
Im just in from KFC.. the chicken was wonderfully cooked.. no complaints from Mise or my children nom nom nom..
How is 3 pieces of chicken too much for 1 person? Must have been someone jealous that they dont have a kfc in their area
What a load of nonsense.
Just ban laughter and enjoyment and be miserable all the time
God I miss the days where companies didn’t heed to every trivial little complaint… tired of this era of outrage and sensitivity.
Clearly the complainant is a chicken.
The world has gone mad. Now I have my food ads controlled by some loon who sits and times how long it will take to eat a bucket of chicken
The complaint may have come from the fiance waiting at the church
@bernie hennessy: brilliant.
the reply should of been feck off.
I think many people would easily clear a bucket of chicken by themselves, I know I would.
But continue bombarding us with adverts for booze, gambling and energy drinks?
Having to boil drinking is not safe…….
This is a serious issue for some of our population suffering from Obesity. The advertising watchdog has rightfully upheld this complaint.
@RIP: triggered easily it seems
@RIP: Maybe some of our population suffering from obesity should employ common sense. “I’m overweight cos the telly told me it was okay to eat 2000 calories of fried chicken as a regular meal”. Give me a break.
FFS
@John Garrigan: FCK
Name the person that made the complaint. They obviously need the attention so give it to them.
If this was a complaint, just delete the emaill and move on ffs, the world is gone bonkers
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