Bloggers slammed for ‘poo-poo girl’

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Thu, December 8, 2022 | 02:12

Bloggers slammed for ‘poo-poo girl’

‘대변녀’ 장애인 실수 결론

Posted : 2012-04-29 19:41

Updated : 2012-04-29 19:41

The “poo-poo girl on the subway” incident, which created the latest online buzz, was later found that the woman was mentally unstable.

Human excrement is in the middle of the floor of a subway train with tissues placed on top in this photo taken by a passenger on the subway between Seoul and Bundang, Gyeonggi Province, on April 23. Captured from the Internet

By Kim Rahn

The “poo-poo girl on the subway” incident, which created the latest online buzz, was later found that the woman was mentally unstable.

This case and several others showed Internet users are sometimes quick to harshly criticize and make comments about a situation without learning the exact details or hearing the full story.

On Wednesday, a blogger posted a photo taken on a subway train between Seoul and Bundang, Gyeonggi Province, last Monday. In the photo, human excrement was in the middle of the floor of the train, urine forming a dark line and tissues placed on top. The blogger said a woman relieved herself there and left while a dozen of passengers were watching.

Following the post, bloggers immediately began denouncing the woman with the nickname “poo-poo girl.” They said they couldn’t believe how such a thing could happen. “Swearing at the elderly, smoking and drinking beer, and now defecating. What will be the end of barbarism on the subway?” a blogger lamented.

Some wondered why other passengers on the same train didn’t stop her.

The next day, a blogger who claimed to be another witness said online that the woman looked mentally challenged.

With no more witnesses or comments, the case has been concluded as a mistake by a psychologically unstable person. Police are searching for the woman but admit they may not fine her if she really has mental problems.

Afterward online criticism has died down. Instead bloggers comment on how Internet users jump to conclusions, as many users often pour verbal attacks on alleged wrongdoers without properly understanding the situation.

In February, a shabu-shabu franchise restaurant Chaesundang came under attack after a pregnant customer claimed that a waitress there kicked her in the stomach as she complained about poor service.

People got furious about Chaesundang, boycotting the restaurant, and the restaurant made a public apology. But a police investigation found her claim to be false: there was a row between the customer and the worker but no kicking. The customer then apologized to the company.

In another case called “gukmul (stew) woman,” the full account later showed the alleged offender was not at fault. On Feb. 20, a boy running to get water at a cafeteria of a downtown bookstore collided with a middle-aged woman who was taking her hot stew on a tray to the table.

The nine-year-old boy’s mother claimed the boy suffered extreme facial burns but the woman just left without apologizing.

Bloggers nicknamed the alleged offender gukmul woman and criticized her.

But a surveillance camera recording showed it was the boy who dashed toward the woman and the boy ran to his parents immediately after the collision.

The woman’s hand also got burned and the footage showed her pouring cold water on her hands. She voluntarily appeared before police and said she left the scene because she thought the boy and the parents had already left.

An Internet user, badaeuisin, said, “The most important thing is the inside story. Libeling people wrongfully is an offense.” Another blogger, sunrace, said, “Seeing the buzz, I think those who take and upload photos of such incidents are the real troublemakers. Not everyone in the world is perfect, and human beings sometimes make mistakes.

If there’s a problem, we need to solve it by finding a right solution. But people spread the photos everywhere and pour criticism as if they are huge issues. It is those people who have mental problems.”

‘대변녀’ 장애인 실수 결론
최근 인터넷을 달군 ‘분당선 대변녀’ 사건이 불과 한나절도 안 돼 정신지체 장애인의 ‘실수’였던 것으로 드러나면서 섣부른 마녀사냥에 대한 자성의 목소리가 커지고 있다. 잇단 ‘○○녀’ 시리즈를 잇는 ‘분당선 대변녀’ 사건을 비롯해 ‘채선당 사건’, ‘악마 에쿠스’ 등 인터넷에서 논란을 일으킨 사건들의 실체적 진실이 처음 알려진 것과는 다른 것으로 밝혀지자 사진 한 장으로 성급하게 판단하지 말자며 자제를 요청하는 글이 꼬리를 물고 있는 것. 이른바 ‘분당선 대변녀’ 사진은 25일 오후 들어 인터넷에 떠돌기 시작했다. 한 커뮤니티에 ‘내 친구가 분당선을 탔는데’라는 제목으로 올라온 사진에는 지하철 분당선의 객차 바닥 한가운데 배설물과 휴지 등이 놓여 있었다. 이 사진을 올린 네티즌은 “분당선 객차 안에서 한 여자가 배변을 했고, 승객들이 이를 지켜봤다.”는 설명을 덧붙였다. 그러자 네티즌들은 이 사진의 진위에 의문을 제기했다. “왜 사람들이 피하지 않고 가만히 있나.”, “다른 ‘○○녀’ 시리즈와는 달리 목격자가 없다.”는 의문이 트위터 등 SNS에 쏟아졌다. 이런 가운데 자신이 목격자라고 주장하는 한 네티즌이 “정신지체 장애인으로 보였다.”는 의견을 SNS에 올리면서 ‘분당선 대변녀’ 사건은 심신이 미약한 상태에서 불가피하게 빚어진 실수로 결론지어지고 있다. 네티즌들이 예전처럼 물불 안 가리고 대드는 게 아니라 냉정하게 사안의 겉과 속을 따지고 드는 성숙함을 보인 것이다. 배정근 숙명여대 미디어학부 교수는 “인터넷에 떠도는 글이나 사진 자체가 앞뒤 맥락을 잘라낸 것이라 자칫하면 마녀사냥이 될 수 있다는 점을 네티즌들이 학습한 결과”라면서 “사회에서 흔히 일어나지 않는 아주 특이한 사건을 하나하나 인터넷에 올려 공론화하는 것이 의미가 없음을 네티즌들이 느낀 것이라고 볼 수도 있다.”고 말했다.

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