Search for human flesh
- By Jonathan Jones
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China.org.cn, July 8, 2011
Like many innovations it started out with good intentions. The human flesh search engine was seen by many, including myself, as a way forward.
Taking the direction of a search away from a computer program and putting it in the hands of humans. A human powered search engine that could harness the power of the people to tackle life's problems and inequalities. A stroke of genius that propelled the collective mind of the masses through the Internet to produce results in a matter of hours that a body of professionals would take months to uncover.
That was the vision when the idea was in its infancy. Fast forward to today and we see a different picture. The recent furore around a young woman's claims shows just how far we have come from those early, heady days of optimism.
Guo Meimei has sparked outrage by flaunting her wealth whilst at the same time claiming charitable connections. In the past such words would have been treated with mockery, skepticism or simple disinterest. The woman no doubt being seen as someone with financial comfort but with no self esteem, seeking a purpose to her life even if that purpose was based on fantasy.
No such generosity exists in the views currently expressed online about Guo Meimei to date. Every sinew is geared to finding out her identity regardless of the fact that the Charity she claims to represent has no knowledge of her. A spoilt kid who was seeking attention has been elevated to a level of importance and infamy that makes her public enemy number one.
When she is unveiled, as she surely will be, what will be the charge laid against her? Stupidity? If so she's probably guilty but then again so are most of us at one time or another.
The Guo Meimei case is a clear indication that somewhere, somehow, the purpose of human flesh search engines has been lost. A search for knowledge or social justice has been replaced by a demand for retribution no matter how petty the offence.
Human flesh is no longer a search by humans but also a search for humans.
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