As a window of urban civilization, the subway needs both an inclusive and open environment and orderly management
On January 7, at the entrance of the Shanghai subway station, a girl dressed as a cosplay game character was stopped by security inspectors on the subway and only let her go after some "education". **The screen shows the girl being asked to remove her hat and ask her to take off the ornament (character) that was pasted on her hair. Subsequently, the security inspector reminded: "Retro, scary, and vulgar costumes are not allowed to take the subway, and onlookers will be legally responsible." (Jimu News, January 11).
Despite social pluralism and increasing freedom of individual expression, people's behaviour still needs to be constrained in public spaces. As a densely populated and relatively closed public place, inappropriate clothing or makeup can easily cause onlookers and panic among passengers, bringing hidden dangers to public order and safety. Therefore, it is necessary for the security inspector to stop the girl in time for "education", and at the same time, it is also a reminder.
Under normal circumstances, wearing a cartoon costume on the subway would not be discouraged, in fact, the security inspector stopped the girl for "education" because her head was affixed with characters, which contained terrorist elements. A scary character may not elicit a strong emotional response like "thriller makeup", but the subway station is an open place, and other people's feelings and emotions cannot be ignored. What's more, the acceptance of special groups such as the elderly, pregnant women, and children is relatively low, and a terrifying element may make them frightened, and once an accident occurs, it will have unpredictable consequences.
Of course, everyone has the freedom to dress and makeup, and they also have their own cherished niche culture, which should be tolerated and respected by society. It's just that in the eyes of a thousand people, there are a thousand Hamlets, and the same is true for the definition of fancy dress.
Perhaps, for those who love cosplay culture, this dress up is a positive way of expression; However, for those who are not familiar with cosplay culture, exaggerated and unique outfits can easily be seen as fancy dresses, and may even be surprised or uncomfortable. When there are different voices, we should be rational. In contrast, how to balance the relationship between different groups of people and different rights and interests is an issue that needs urgent attention.
In fact, the Shanghai Rail Transit Passenger Code does not have clear regulations on the style of clothing of passengers, and even if the security inspectors are to maintain public order in the subway, their approach should be softer and more flexible. It is ideal to analyze specific problems on a case-by-case basis.
True civility and openness are not only reflected in allowing the free expression of various voices and behaviors, but also in rational guidance and regulation. The free expression of individuals should not be suppressed because of the pursuit of order, nor should the maintenance of public order be neglected because of the emphasis on individual rights. Finding the best combination between the two requires the joint efforts of people from all walks of life.
As a window of urban civilization, the subway needs both an inclusive and open environment and orderly managementThe subway management should improve the relevant regulations to clarify what kind of dress and under what circumstances it will be prohibited or restricted from taking the subway, and strengthen education and publicity in a timely manner to reduce the occurrence of such disputes. At the same time, passengers should also consciously abide by the order of public space. Only in this way can we create a safe, civilized and comfortable atmosphere in public places. (Zhengguan commentator Ren Sining).
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Co-ordinator: Chen Ruosong.
Editor: Han Jing.