Is author Mai Jia right to call Internet literature ‘garbage’?

Author Mai Jia shocked many when he called Internet literature “garbage” at a seminar held on April 7.

"If I had the right, I would eliminate all Internet literature," said Jia, to everyone’s amazement. “The rise of the Internet is proof that humanity is coming to an end.”

Mai Jia said that 99.99 percent of writing on the Internet is “garbage,” and only 0.01 percent is worth reading. 　

It is shocking that Mai Jia says that. Of course he can voice his opinion, but how can he be so exasperated? It shows that some traditional authors simply cannot understand, accept and adapt to the flourishing of Internet.

As a pioneer of modern conventional literature, Mai Jia became famous because his works were adapted for television and movies and won him great success. How does he have so much hatred of the Internet literature?

We have entered the age of Internet, and nobody can change this fact. Facing this new era, Chinese traditional writers fail to seriously study the new situation and to adapt to new development, but rather they rail against the Internet literature. It shows not the strength but the weakness. It is incomprehensible.

Even if you speak viciously against Internet literature, can you really prove the traditional literature is greater? I think not.

In comparison, the Internet writers rarely speak ill of the traditional literature. Even though they have time to do that, they do prefer to write some more works and leave it to readers to make evaluations. Internet literature writers neither talk against others, nor make a display of themselves. It is an expression of confidence. Shouting to others cannot prove he is elegant and civilized, but instead shows he is unconfident

The attitude of Mai Jia on Internet literature is very representative. Many share his view. Many people think that the works on the Internet have a lot of problems and are low-level, untrustworthy. Some people cannot to shut all Internet out of China. This is also the basic reason that the writers like Mai Jia are hostile to network literature.

Honestly speaking, the real reason why the Internet literature it hated by some people is it dares to face life, defies the political power and criticize the fake, the bad and the ugly sides of society. It upholds truth and glorifies the good and the beautiful sides. The points expressed by the Internet writers are more representative of individual opinions. The Internet has come to mean a refusal to be enslaved.

Although some traditional literary writers appear to be aloof from politics and material pursuits and show complete contempt for the network literature, they actually reveal how outdated and irrelevant they are in the new era. Some people who used to be a leader and a role model for others are always judgmental about the "disorderly" behaviors.

It is regrettable that the writers are so afraid to face the times and the readers. Your abuse of the Internet literature cannot hinder its development. On the contrary, to refuse new things ultimately brings failure.

The rise of the Internet is important evidence to prove that humans have made a lot of progress. Many myths and lies are exposed because of the Internet. For those people who benefit from the status quo, it is obviously a threat. Only if tradition continues, can they enjoy the benefits forever. Whether Mai Jia thinks so or not, just like many other people who hate and fear Internet, he has such a heavy heart. Accepting the existence of Internet is perhaps the attitude that we should actively promote.

By People's Daily Online