Random acts of violence/destruction in China

[Brian US]

Now this isn't meant to bash China, as every part of the world has a few bad apples that take pleasure in hurting others. A man in my hometown in the States decided to go around slashing tires. A group of kids drove around shooting windows out with BB guns.

I'm bringing this up, because there are a few people in my apartment building that constantly throw things out their window. A few minutes ago a glass bottle landed about 10 feet in front of me, shattering. This is a busy sidewalk and many of the people around me stopped to look up before continuing on their way. Last week, as I parked my bike, rocks were being thrown down. I didn't think it was a good idea to look up, but the apartment complex is 21 stores tall and I greatly fear for my safety.

I have yet to see anyone hurt by these projectiles, but it seems no one really cares as they continue to walk on. Is there anything I can/should do? Has anyone experienced something like this before?

[kongli]

Wow, that sounds incredibly dangerous. A glass bottle to the face would definitely result in serious injury.How often is it happening? I would suggest you alert the building manager to the problem. Is their anyway to tell what floor it's coming from?

[anonymoose]

Yes. People often chuck things out of their windows, without a thought to who or who's property is below.

I was living on the ground floor of an appartment building, with a small yard outside, surrounded on all four sides by other appartments, up to something like six floors.

It was so full of litter, like bottles, empty packets of this that and the other, random pieces of wood and metal, and so on. Although there was a drain in the yard, it got blocked up by other people's rubbish, and when it rained, the yard used to fill with water. Eventually the water level got so high that water started seeping under the door into my kitchen.

I find it quite hard to understand how people can be so selfish, but that seems to be the mentality of a lot of people. If they can wash their hands of something, they don't care who else's problem it becomes.

[kongli]

He said they were throwing rocks though. To me that sounds like some people/person who is intentionally trying to cause destruction or hurt others, not just throwing out their garbage.

[anonymoose]

Yes. But even if it's just garbage, throwing it out of the window onto someone else's property isn't the normal way of disposing of it.

In the case of the OP, my guess is that it's kids messing about. I've had a similar experience with a banana skin.

I've also seen a workman spit a nice gob full of mucus from a construction site onto a woman waiting at a bus stop below.

[Kenny同志]

Call the police if that happens often. I am not making a fuss about it, but such acts are very likely to result in serious injuries.

I find it quite hard to understand how people can be so selfish, but that seems to be the mentality of a lot of people. If they can wash their hands of something, they don't care who else's problem it becomes.

I loathe selfishness. I think apart from imparting knowledge, education should also teach people how to be a good, nice person.

[xiaocai]

Report to police as soon as possible. It sounds like it is getting worse and worse. Who knows what is going to come down next after the rocks, probably a body. And anonymoose, very sadly I have had the same impression after living in apartments for 20 plus years here, some people will never think it could be a problem unless it happens to themselves.

[calamindos]

What building is it? It would be safe for people in Beijing to know where to should watch their head

[kongli]

"Yes. But even if it's just garbage, throwing it out of the window onto someone else's property isn't the normal way of disposing of it."

haha, yea I wasn't saying that their is nothing wrong with tossing your garbage out the window, just pointing out that it seemed like a different situation.

[Xiwang]

Well, at least you weren't hit by a falling cat.

http://www.weirdasianews.com/2007/05/07/woman-hit-by-falling-cat-sues-200-people/

[Brian US]

I live outside the West gate of Renmin University, where rent isn't terribly cheap. I guess my shock to the situation has been overshadowed by my passiveness. I don't think I'm ready to bring this to the police, but maybe I'll bring it to building management. When people started throwing rocks I did look up, but there was no clear sign of what floor it was coming from.

A few days after moving in I was enjoying the view outside my window when I noticed some droplets fly from the corner of my eye. I looked over to see my neighbor, directly over, spitting down on the busy sidewalk below.

For the time being, I'll just avoid the West side of my building.

[adrianlondon]

The government should knock down all these high rise buildings and put these people into single storey dwellings. Maybe arranged in blocks of four around a courtyard of some sort.

[gougou]

Yeah, or just install huge rubber bands at the bottom of all high-rises so everything people throw down bounces back up. Ah, Beijing'd be so much nicer if Adrian and me got to plan it...

[Xiwang]

The government should knock down all these high rise buildimgs and put these people into single storey dwellings. Maybe arranged in blocks of four around a courtyard of some sort.

After hearing so many stories about poor people waking up and finding that their old homes have been marked for demolition, I've often been tempted to go around spray painting 拆 on some of the new high rise apartments just to freak out the developers.

[roddy]

Is it just one apartment this is coming from? It could 'just' be construction work going on - I can't see anyone carrying rocks up just to chuck them out the window, was perhaps masonry? Not that this makes it any better, but building work will at least finish one day.

[Brian US]

I'm not sure what apartment this is coming from. I should be more clear with the "rocks." It seemed more like plaster or something a little harder as it would shatter on impact. This could very well be construction, but flying bottles are also of concern.

[cui ruide]

Hah, I was just talking about how much nicer it would be if I could be King of Beijing...at the time I was talking about banning all cars save for taxis, particularly from hutongs.

[roddy]

Well, when I'm emperor of the entire place I will give all your kingly ideas full consideration.

[adrianlondon]

Roddy for emperor!

"Hey, Roddy, what's the F in F-visa stand for?" "F is for Friends. Here you go!"

[Lu]

Hah, I was just talking about how much nicer it would be if I could be King of Beijing...

I guess that'd make you the Pe-King :-p