China Tries Pushing For Public Shaming Of Smokers

Long before the Internet was invented, China’s Communist Party was already skilled in the art of public shaming. Dissidents have been known to disappear and then reappear after having published essays of self-criticism. On state-run television, business people, celebrities and editors have appeared so regularly from behind prison bars speaking about their misdeeds that the segments were like an early take on reality TV. Now officials are using the tactic on another group that it feels has wronged the country: smokers. On Monday, the capital city of Beijing launched a tough ban that prohibits smoking in indoor public places and workplaces.