Talk:Chinese cardboard bun hoax

Hoax or no hoax

Chinese state TV retraction or not, it cannot be uncategorically accepted that the story, as reported, was not factual. Badagnani 02:47, 20 July 2007 (UTC)

Good point. Thanks. --S.dedalus

I'm a Chinese and I feel compelled to speak up on this matter. I feel deeply ashamed not because of the "Cardboard Bun" incident, instead of the government declaration of so-called "Hoax". I'm not one of those anti-government activists you normally see on US streets, but I have the morality to stay away from blatant lies.

The whole thing has turned into such a political scandal that beyond blief, yet at the same time so ture and logical within my 30 years of life experience as a Chinese. It is bad enough that ppl would use that thing to make buns, which is a must-have on typical Chinese breakfast tables, but it's 100 times worse when a government for obvious reasons(export pressure, 08' Olympics) to distort truth this way and control its puppet media to spit blatant lies to the face of people.

I watched the original show on TV, the video was very authentic, I couldn't possiblly image that:

1) Some producer/reporter would come up with an idea this "original" all on his own, in fact many people claim this method of making bun has existed for at least 10 years.

2) and he would do it for no convincing gains (this is a show called "clarity", which is a show not being looked at with a fond eye by the government, it surely will never win awards, no bonus even it's successful, and it airs every week, why the risk? There are enough material to report on food safty in China even everyday);

3) The bun makers, unless they are professional actors instead of normal uneducated poor peasants living on the lowest social ladder in Beijing, couldn't possibally make such a convincing performance;

4) Most importantly, what is the bun makers to gain participating in this "Hoax"? For a couple of hundred Yuan, he would do it with the knowledge of knowing this would certainly bring an unpleasant encounter with the police? which did happen in the video shot just the day after.

And now, after couple of days of silence on the government side, though the TV stations had replayed it many times on different channels, and it DID became a big issue because everyone eat it. (It is true that this kind of show are deemed normal by TV stations nowadays and government usually Okey with it), in mere two days, the producer and reporters are arrested, BTV appologized, high level offcials ousted.

You know, this is China,

1) First rule: nothing happens this fast, with such force and resolute, unless it is political in nature, and you know what, the mayor spoke up in the matter with something like "Get the truth, or find the perpetrator";

2) Second rule: TV stations never apologize. You know TV stations in China are state owned, so they above anybody except the government. And in 30 years I've never ever seen TV stations apologizing for anything, because "they are the government", and government never wrongs.

So combine all the information above, I just couldn't find a trace of truth in the government handling of this issue. If you read Chinese, check up the internet, there are a lot talks, but obviouly being marginalized because CCP also controls this area. 3und 3:55, July 21 2007

Questions

Some questions that may help to get to the bottom of this.

• What is the cost comparison of the alleged chemical solution against the cost of ground pork, in China? That is, how much monetary gain would be at stake for vendors involved in this activity?
• Were there less-publicized reports or rumors about paper-stuffed dumplings prior to the scandal, i.e. was this a preexisting legend?
• Have any independent investigators tried to replicate the process that was described in the report? Ham Pastrami (talk) 13:06, 7 January 2008 (UTC)

The accusation came on the tail of a long trail of real food scare (see Food safety in the People's Republic of China) so it seemed believable. 114.45.160.64 (talk) 16:38, 23 July 2008 (UTC)