The "perfume girl" affair was nothing but a promotional farce spread by the Internet, says an article from the website www.China.com.cn. Following is an excerpt:

According to recent blanket coverage, a female college student nicknamed "perfume girl" on the Internet said she was dismissed from the Beijing Foreign Studies University because of her bold blogs lashing out at the current education system.

But the rumors turned out to be groundless. The girl later admitted the whole thing was a farce.

After scores of netizens defended this poor "perfume girl" but later discovered they had been conned, who in the end benefited from this farce? Obviously not the "perfume girl". After the bubble of her national fame breaks, she must now readjust to her obscure life.

Her so-called agents probably won't benefit either. The incident was more a lesson than something that glorifies them.

What about the Internet website which recommended her articles on the front page? Definitely no. Their irresponsible promotion just blurred the truth for people.

It is a shame another girl falls victim to overnight online notoriety. Websites should stop spreading provocative but groundless news in order to purify cyberspace.

(China Daily March 23, 2009)