Keyboard Man 键盘侠

Keyboard Man 键盘侠

It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s … “keyboard man”? This latest superhero was invented by none other than People’s Daily to refer to folks who take to the Internet to solve society’s ills, but are nowhere to be seen when actions are needed. It all started when six people allegedly belonged to a cult called Quannengshen, or Almighty God, beat a 35-year-old woman to death in a McDonald’s in the eastern province of Shandong, because she refused their recruitment efforts. The fatal beating happened while several people sat and watched. Net users got to talking, and some said they would stop the assault had they been present. On June 4, People’s Daily ridiculed these would-be heroes in a commentary, calling them “keyboard men.” The article then urged the public to do more when they see a crime occurring and help children and the elderly in need.