 |
|
A Chinese man has become popular in his home country for adopting the
role of “bad uncle” and scaring strangers’ children into finishing their
meals and going to bed early.
I remember my mom telling me that the Boogey Man would get me if I
didn’t listen to her, but in China, the “bad uncle” is a more popular
figure, and I dare say a more efficient one now that kids can finally
associate a face to the name. That’s right, parents trying to get their
kids to be more obedient can try the services of a bad uncle for hire,
who will record a video of himself frowning and making faces at the
camera to scare kids into listening to their parents, for a fee.
Luo Qingjun, who hails from Lishui City, in China’s Zhejiang Province,
reportedly played bad uncle for a friend’s child, as a favor, but after
recording a very effective video, his friend recommended him to other
parents, and before he knew it, Luo became a bad uncle for-hire.
Whether we’re talking kids who never finish their meals, refuse to go to
bed early or don’t clean up their toys, Luo Qingjun knows just hot to
handle them. He takes commissions from their parents and creates custom
videos for each of them, addressing them by name and warning them that
if they don’t listen to their folks, they’ll have to deal with him. And
they don’t want to do that…
“Trash should be thrown into the trash can, don’t you know? I will catch
you if you don’t listen to your parents!” the 27-year-old bad uncle can
be heard saying in a video.
|
 |
|
“If you don’t do your homework, don’t eat and don’t go to sleep, I will
take you away!” he warns another kid.
Luo’s threats may seem disturbing to many modern western parents, but
Chinese parents are reportedly going crazy over his fierce facial
expressions and roaring voice, and throwing money at him to make their
kids behave better. And apparently he gets the job done most of the
time, especially when dealing with very young children (under the age of
5).
“Thank you, brother, it was very effective, the child is already
sleeping!” one satisfied user wrote on Luo Qingjun’s page.
|
 |
|
“My three-year-old son was scared at first sight, and he was immediately
obedient,” someone else posted.
The bad uncle service has been making national news headlines in China,
but while most of those who have hired Luo Qingjun praise his
effectiveness, there are those who disapprove of his methods and warn
that it could cause psychological trauma.
This kind of ‘scare’ education has limited educational effect on
children, and it can have negative effects,” Zheng Xiaobian, a professor
of psychology at Central China Normal University, said. “Mental
intimidation is more harmful than physical punishment and is not
conducive to children’s healthy development!”
|