Super Zoo

Journalists make a living off the written word. If you want to criticize a journalist for being problematic, you can accuse them of having skewed values, point out that their views lack depth and lean towards superficiality, or even assail them with mind-reading critiques, labeling their opinions as paid commentary or partisan bias, accusing them of whitewashing—but rarely does anyone say that journalists make foundational logic errors.

This would be like blaming a Chinese teacher for misspelling words or saying that a math professor cannot recite the times table for 99—it's like arguing within the expert's realm of specialty.

Besides, Suming is a businessman with a background in natural science, who surprisingly criticized a journalist, a top arts graduate, for having logical problems—several of them, no less—which made all the reporters present quite astonished.

This Mr. Su, he came prepared today, ready to blow his top!

The Jiangjin City reporter, who was accused of having logical problems and who had been indirectly speaking in favor of Boiling Platform throughout, did so because Boiling Platform is a Jiangjin enterprise; his stance is naturally biased, not due to any 'personal feud' with Suming or the zoo. But when Suming publicly criticized his professional level, the journalist was also somewhat annoyed.

"Then may I ask, Mr. Su," retorted the journalist without showing weakness, "what logical problems are there in what I just said?"

His recent question to Suming about whether he had ever watched adult films was actually quite representative. Most people would get the impression, "You've probably watched countless adult films in private, and now you're pointing fingers at others—that's just like the pot calling the kettle black, moral hijacking, shooting from a self-proclaimed moral high ground."

The other reporters hurriedly directed their cameras and recording devices at the stage, eager to hear how Mr. Su would explain himself.

Suming wasn't in a rush to answer; instead, he calmly waited until all devices were aimed at him, and once the reporters were ready, he began to speak slowly.

"You asking me whether I have watched **** has apparently nothing to do with the topic we are discussing today. Actually, there is no relation at all. Your main mistake is conflating personal behavior with corporate behavior, confusing the boundaries between morality and the law."

In the hall, Suming's calm yet powerful voice began to resound. Your next journey awaits at My Virtual Library Empire

"As an individual, as long as you don't spread it, it's a private matter. Watching or not watching has no relevance to morality and the law. I will not consider someone morally depraved because they watch **** at home, nor will I think someone is noble just because they do not; however, for a live streaming platform that is open to the whole society, broadcasting the kind of content we all just saw clearly presents two problems."

Suming wasn't in a rush; he spoke eloquently: "Firstly, the issue of honest business practices."

Before he could finish speaking, a low buzz of discussion rose from the audience. Was Mr. Su dragging things out too far? They thought he was going to talk about legal issues, but why had he switched to the topic of honest business practices?

"Suppose you plan to buy clothes for your son and enter a children's clothing store only to find that it's selling mostly adult women's underwear, yet the sign outside says it's a certain children's clothing store. Isn't that dishonest? It's the same with live streaming. Boiling Platform's provided content is 'competitive gaming' live streams, but what percentage of the actual broadcasts truly involves competitive gaming?"

Hearing him say this, it seemed to make sense. It was a bait-and-switch—using the sign of competitive live streaming, but the content was female broadcasters flaunting themselves.

Sure, the effect was great, the audience loved it, and the platform made money. But just because the outcome was good doesn't mean it was 'honest'.

"The second point is a legal issue," Suming's expression turned serious, and he spoke in a stern voice: "I can now answer the journalist's previous question: I have watched **** personally, and according to national laws, watching it alone at home is not illegal. However, the content of Boiling Live, like the clips we all saw just now with four or five instances of exposure, such video recordings, I can find many more. According to the existing laws of our country, whether that is illegal does not require me to say anything further."

He fixed his gaze on that reporter, articulating each word: "The logic between personal and public media, law and morality, these concepts are very clear, the rationale is very straightforward. I don't know, my journalist friend, whether you genuinely do not understand or you deliberately confuse the issue?"

The journalist had nothing to say; of course, it was intentional.

Shen Yan spoke up very timely from the sidelines: "Dear journalist friends, Taoyuan Entertainment has gathered approximately one hundred gigabytes of video recordings and officially reported Boiling Platform to the authorities for disseminating unhealthy content."

That statement landed like a bombshell!

The journalists looked at each other, none of them had expected a mere online feud to turn into a matter of life and death.

To report to the state, such behavior was always unpopular among the general public and peers within the culture of Huaxia. Those who report are suspected of being 'traitors.' Taoyuan Platform had truly gone all out this time, preferring mutual destruction over letting Boiling Platform thrive.

The hall went deathly silent, and the reporters' minds were filled with Shen Yan's words; they even overlooked the moment Suming criticized the professionalism of the Jiangjin City Daily reporter.

They had many thoughts flash through their minds all at once: what kind of deep hatred existed between these two live streaming platforms, to the point that they had to go this far?

"I know what you are all thinking."

Suming's calm voice rose again, making the reporters look up, expecting him to reveal the 'truth.'

"Although there has been name-calling, the zoo's fame has risen as a result. We didn't suffer a loss. Considering we all make a living from live streaming, what kind of deep grudge would it take for me to become an industry snitch? I know that to many people, this may not seem like a big deal. There are many illegal things happening around, and it might seem like I'm overstepping, being a busybody."

The reporters grew more curious, thinking that he must be crystal clear about what he's doing inside, so why go through all this trouble? After all, isn't it all about making money? Why bother making Taoyuan Entertainment out to appear saint-like?

"I never wish to extol morality or accuse others from a moral high ground. Speaking of business, I can clearly tell you that Taoyuan's reason for reporting is quite simple: it's a business counterattack!"

"If you pay attention to the whole affair, you will notice that after the first spat appeared on Taoyuan Entertainment's live streaming platform, Taoyuan Entertainment and the zoo, from the leadership to every broadcaster, were extremely restrained, and I immediately contacted the leaders of Boiling, hoping to peacefully resolve the issue. At that time, they told me they would take it seriously, handle it strictly, and avoid conflict between the two parties... Eh, Shen Yan, later, you can send the recording of my call with Mr. Zhang, the supervisor of Boiling, to all the journalists."

Suming's tone changed, and he let out a cold laugh: "What did our goodwill get us in return? A greater scale of targeted attacks on our social media, Boiling Live Platform allowing more viewers to openly berate Taoyuan Entertainment, disturbing the normal operation of our live stream! I want to ask, if the other party can engage in malicious competition, am I not entitled to use legal means to protect myself? I believe that is not the case."