Furious over negative comments on his poems on a local community website, Xiong Aichun, chairman of Leiyang's Confederation of Literature and Arts in Central China's Hunan province, stomped into the website's office and smashed its computer. Comments:

A person even with a little knowledge about the Internet would know a website is merely a platform for Internet users to freely discuss and express opinions on the topics of their choice, as long as they do so according to the law. Xiong, as the chairman of the local confederation of literature and arts, should not have been so sensitive to comments on his poems as to start a verbal fight in the office of the community website and smash its computer. Although it is an isolated incident, local departments should investigate it and give a convincing answer to the public.

Scol.com.cn, July 15

The incident has exposed the huge gap between Xiong's literary image and the person he really is, because he could not even write the word "smash" properly in the note he left. But what has irritated the public most is his refusal to accept criticism, which authors, poets and artists should be prepared for once they enter the world of arts. Xiong's reaction is a natural outcome of the flattery and praise he has become used to in his daily life, and reveals the long-standing administrative malpractice such as the lack of internal supervision and an atmosphere full of deceit.

Gmw.cn, July 15

Whether Xiong is suffering from some mental illness as the official response claimed is not the real issue. Instead, what is important is how an official is selected and supervised and whether or not Xiong is qualified to be the chairman of the local literature and arts society. The selection and appointment system of officials should be urgently reformed so that they are chosen on the basis of their moral integrity and professional competence. And a top-down supervision mechanism should be established.

Hinews.cn, July 15

(China Daily USA 07/16/2015 page11)