Everyone in the society is chained together. Our values set the social norms, which influence our behaviours, mentality and actions, which shape the social environment. Through interactions we influence each other, thus bringing continuous changes to our environment (society).

So if applied in this case, if the majority of us in the society disapproved the actions and values of the policeman and the elementary/primary school student, we set new norms that consider following that particular moral code/rule is bad; honesty is stupidity; keep what you found or you will be humiliated.

Had the policeman not taking the Lost & Found matter seriously, the kid will learn that all policemen in China are corrupted and therefore should never hand them or anyone any money/item found.

This is so wrong but it’s what’s happening right now in our society. We shouldn’t allow it to happen. Let’s counter-influence them!!!

Translation: if you find it… it’s yours. Period.

What a waste of time.

Some posts were deleted by accident this morning and I was force to reload an old backup of the website. The website has been very slow, so I have spend the last 6-7 hours trying to fix everything. Before I reload the old backup database, I tried to save most of the comments for the new posts but I know some comments have been lost. Here are the comments I saved:

月
Monday, January 5, 2009 at 9:46 pm

No~ I dont want to be the second, 555555……
“我在马路边捡到一分钱，交给警察叔叔…….”Good memory of childhood.

哈哈哈
Tuesday, January 6, 2009 at 5:57 am

This stuff makes the news because the moral state of the Chinese people is so crappy something as stupid as this looks like an ethical victory of massive proportions.

USTCer
Tuesday, January 6, 2009 at 6:46 am

@ 哈哈哈

Your comments are funny.

fireworks
Tuesday, January 6, 2009 at 8:59 am

At least there are some honest people and students in a country who are willing to return 5 cents.

The same can’t be said of some bigwig corrupt officials in big cities.

Adam
Tuesday, January 6, 2009 at 9:39 am

Yeah 哈哈哈 is clearly the new troll. I’ve never of a Mao before, makes me curious about chinese money, off to Wikipedia.

sh
Tuesday, January 6, 2009 at 12:49 pm

Well..it maybe a very small sum but if the story is true. I think this will be a good start especially if it is from elementary school kids.

santa
Wednesday, January 7, 2009 at 1:25 pm

People who believe this story are idiots. Chinese people are trying to cheat money from each other all the time.

dave@yahoo.com
Friday, January 9, 2009 at 12:57 am

BS

Theres hardly a Chinese alive who isnt a thieving scumbag and miser enough to steal even 5 jiao.

Sorry for the inconvenience.

now lets read this post…