A Chinese man, Chen Fuchao, who was almost $300,000 in debt was threatening to jump off a busy bridge in Guangzhou, China. He had been standing on the side of the bridge for 5 hours. And apparently, for the full five hours, he had been holding up traffic.
A bystander, 66 year old former soldier Lian Jiansheng, walked across the bridge to shake the would-be jumper's hand. After shaking it, he pushed the man off the bridge.Lian said he was tired of selfish people like Chen inconveniencing so many others when they didn't have any attention of truly committing suicide.
Chen was the 12th person since early April to threaten to jump from the same bridge. None of the 12 jumped - well, unless you count being shoved by a bystander as jumping.
Don't fear for Chen. Authorities had managed to partially inflate an emergency air cushion which he landed on with only minor bumps and bruises.
Yes, I am odd. I loved this story. I can just see this 66 year old man sitting in traffic for 5 hours while the guy stands on the bridge threatening to jump. Even more maddening would be watching the emergency personnel take five hours to partially inflate an air cushion. What were they inflating it through - a coffee stirrer?Don't get me wrong, I'm relieved that Chen wasn't hurt. And I hope he gets the help he needs. But the whole story reminds me of a crude saying my Appalachian kinfolk always used. You know the one - something like "Do it or get off the pot".
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138 comments:
OMG that is frickin hysterical! If I sat in a traffic jam because of that moron, I'd have gave him a push too! That is TOO TOOOOOO funny!
That's almost as good as that dude in england years ago who was found not guilty of strangling his wife to death...even though he admitted doing it,....the judge found that the man had just cause because she was a constant nag. LOL.
Ahhhh, you can't make this stuff up.
That's hilarious. And I totally understand. Last week when I was in LA and sitting in traffic jams on the 5 freeway and it took ying-yang hours to go from point A to point B.....I'd have pushed him too. But them I'm an impatient, uncaring, mean itch-bay. NOW how would you like to meet me.
Hahaha ohhhhhhhh dear I'm trying to distract myself because my daughter is now in labour (her first child) ...and that did make me really laugh!
Thank you.
this story is horrible, but (since it turned out well) i do see the humor in it. :)
Now that is one funny story!
I had not heard that story. That is incredible! You could make a movie out of that.
is there a Lien fan club?
So funny. I guess that guy who pushed him had really had it! Glad he wasn't too hurt. Love the babies onesie.
Lian is probably on his way to becoming a national hero.
Great story... glad that Chen had a soft landing though! And in my mind it really would be a giant whoopee cushion that he landed on.. imagine the noise from that?!
The older Chinese have been through so much that they just don't get this younger generation. I can see where someone would just say screw it and give him a push. After eating grass and bark and maybe even your own kids during a famine you haven't got much sympathy for someone that caused their own misery and then holds others captive to it.
The real tragedy here is that someone can get themselves into $300K debt.
Although it does kind of make you wonder why in 5 hours someone from the police couldn't just walk up to him and pull him away from the bridge.
That man deserves a standing ovation for being the one to finally give him the push he needed. I would have been so pissed at having traffic held up for 5 hours but would not have had the guts to do what this guy did. Good for him!
Love the story!
I love this story too. It is an illustration of so many things gone wrong, and it takes an act of colossal "wrong" to set everything right.
Where do you find these stories, Debbie?! I want to subscribe to your newspaper :)
This is a great post -- well said!
This kind of reminds me of the movie "Falling Down" with Michael Douglas. A man who loses his mind and does so many things that we would all like to do but we don't because, well, we'd end up in jail.
You can read about it at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falling_Down
I read that story on Yahoo yesterday, and I have to say that (while I am sorry the guy felt the need to jump, am glad he is OK disclaimer here), I totally understand the need for the little shove!
Lian seems a bit ... cranky.
That is a sad but hilarious story - and your comment about them inflating that air cushion with a coffee stirrer...priceless! ;)
Five hours! I can't believe he sat there for five hours. I can bet that after this he will no longer be threatening to jump or anything like that.
The "pusher" was tired of selfish people like him who would never really jump...but just wanted police to take pity on their plight.
Oh, and for the record - I read the story to Lo Gung when I saw it, and he thought the pusher should be arrested for attempted murder. (At the time of publishing, it was unclear whether Pusher would be charged with anything.) So, not all Chinese men are heartless Pushers...but still, the Jumper must be pretty determined to chill on the ledge for 5 hours!! I'd get bored..
The story was fascinating, no doubt. I hadn't thought about how long it took them to inflate the cushion. I am guessing they were taking turns blowing it up like you do with a balloon, and it took longer because they had to wipe off each other's cooties.
I like your coffee stirrer comment. It does seem that the help would have been a bit more helpful with five whole hours.
WOW. Just WOW. I can't believe it...well, of course I can believe. We humans are seriously messed up. I wonder if he knew he'd be fine if he pushed him, with the partially inflated thingy there and all?
That is a great story! Reminds me of my grandfather. You gotta hand it to the old guys. I imagine at some point in life you just stop caring what people might think of you...
I love that story as well. I agree with the Appalachian quote.
Selfish, stupid people!
You have to hand it to the old generation, they know how to get things done, "do it yourself". I hope the 66 year old wasn't charged, thats something a lot of people probably wanted to do. I wonder how many more "jumpers" will be going to that bridge now....
*Wipes eyes* Oh goodness, that was funny! I am glad the jumper/pushee is ok, though. But sheesh!!!
I'm just wondering what on earth he did to get into so much debt. It's China for heaven's sake.
That is hilarious.
I probably would have pushed the guy too if I had been waiting for 5 hours with my 2 impatient kids. I don't have the patience for nonsense.
I am glad the guy was okay though. Maybe he's learned an important lesson.
Wow, where is a jaw dropping icon when you need one!
Wowowowow what a story! lol Thanks for visiting my blog today! I hope you have a fantastic day!!!
Oh wow---so what happened to the guy that pushed him? Anything?
I'm Appalachian. BWAHAHA.
Wow. Though you've got to admit, if someone is simply threatening to jump, and waiting that long, they are incredibly selfish holding up traffic just to gain attention for themselves. Still...
Oh, and the image of them only partially inflating the air cushion? Priceless.
A man was pushed off a bridge onto a giant whoopee cushion, basically, thus getting thousands of people moving on their commute home...
We should all be so lucky!
Pearl
OMG! That guy did what we all would have been saying under our breath! Life...you just can't make this stuff up!
Please don't tell me the follow-up to this story is the guy doing the pushing is now being tried for attempted murder. That would really push me over the edge. No pun intended :-)
Disturbingly curious. Not sure I'd call it hysterical...but one of those, I-can't-let-anyone-see-me-looking kind of scenes.
And of course, I love your telling.
Oh you find the sunny side of EVERYTHING!!!! So love your wit!!! I'm laughing until the tears run down my face! Terrific post! ~Janine XO
Quite frankly, I'm surprised this kind of thing doesn't happen more often!
Gee. They ought to have full-time bridge jumper patrolmen or something over there.
Wacky!
holy crap.... i thought you were going to say the guy paid off his debt or something or the government paid it off....but that's a better story... love it!
I would have pushed him too.
I get you! I'm just sick of people confusing wisdom with condescending arrogance!
That's entertaining, in kind of a sick way!
Even in China the guy was probably applauded for pushing him.
That one photo makes me wonder who holds the world record for the world's loudest fart...?
That is a bizarre and awesome story.
The LAST thing I thought you were going to write was that he pushed him off the bridge - that is awesome (and kind of scary!) So many commentaries on this and society are spinning in my head right now...
I agree everyone needs a push every once and a while
Debbie, Debbie, Debbie...you never ceases to make my face hurt from smiling and laughing so freakin hard...
I'm guessing the hand shaking was just a formality, along the lines of "Nice to meet you, now I must kill you"???
ha ha ha thats funny. I hope the old guy wasnt arrested or anything.
I should laugh, poor man, but I am laughing and now my sides hurt and I've got no one to push.
Wow! I better take note...for the next time I linger a little to long on a bridge trying to capture that perfect picture (which, according to my family can take up to five hours while holding up traffic). I wouldn't want to end up on one of those giant whoopie cushions... for fear I'd pop it! That would take a whole new post to describe the aftermath!!!
Sweet wishes,
Sara
Well, I hope this cured the guy! I mean, can you imagine pretending to threaten killing yourself for attention and then being pushed! Talk about a smack in the face to snap out of it! I mean, gee! They should use this more often in therapy sessions!
If only I had the courage to do the same thing. Push the guy, not jump, I mean.
Love the image of the rescue workers filling the "whoppee cushion" with a coffee stirer. Classic! I wonder if the pusher knew there was a cushion under the bridge. If not, this is a very disturbing story.
I loved that story too!
Oh, I read that story too. So glad there are other (sick?) minds out there who found it too funny!
I found it hilarious too! I think it just spoke to the fact that whiners suck!
Hmmmm, very interesting! Something to think about, thanks for sharing.
Nice Debbie, very nice. So the takes time I see someone standing on the Golden Gate Bridge I should try to give them a little push?=) And then I can scream, "Debbie told me to do it"!
I love the fact someone pushed him over. Teach him a lesson.
If I recall Mr. Jiansheng was on his way to the hospital to pick up his medicine that he takes for mental illness. After he pushed the man he saluted the crowd. Talk about another form of road rage.
I'm pretty sure if it happened here he'd of gone to jail. One would think.
My favorite line is: "What were they inflating it through - a coffee stirrer?" That's what I was thinking!? Except for the coffee stirrer part - that was genius.
I have to admit - I gasped when I read about the pushing - but I'm over it now that I know there was not murder 1 charge for the 66 year old man. Apparently I am concerned for murderers.
oh my! i completely wasn't expecting that!! :P
It's sad that people feel like ending their life will put an end to their problems and I hate to sound cold hearted because I've had some bad luck but sheesh, if you're going to end it, do it quietly. I'm sorry to say after 5 hours of whining, I'd be a shover too.
I don't blame the pusher. And I agree 100% with the saying "Poo or get off the pot!"
Ben told me about that! I thought it was awesome!
So jump already! Five hours is a bit much. So . . . did the suicide pusher get arrested?
Good post. I'm sure many other people were thinking the same thing. I'm not saying Lian was right but why do so many people think the world revolves around them?
I know that "get off the pot" saying. Grew up with it myself. Great story.
You're right! How crazy is it that we both blogged about this guy on the same day?? Of course, I'm not up to 74 comments on the subject, but I don't download pictures, either. I bow to your superior blogging skills!
And always happy to share a brain with you, Deb!
I heard a lot about the suicide story and very true, they held up the traffic... and I like the quote, too. :)
I'm glad the guy was OK, but also glad someone did what so many of us feel. you didn't want the guy to fall to his death, but get some help.
And, if the man can get close enough to shake his hand and push him.... why did a police officer not just walk up, shake his hand, and pull him off the ledge to safety?
I was kind of hoping that you were going to say that someone walked over and gave him the money he needed. What a sad thought to feel so overwhelmed by debt that you would be willing to end your life and what a sad statement that someone else would push him off, I wonder if the man even tried to find out what was wrong? (Also, where the heck were the police to prevent such an incidence)
I couldn't believe this story. Made me scratch my head and kind of smile.
And now there's a new one for your family, courtesy of yours truly: Jump or get off the bridge!
;)
Are you sure that guy was not from 'Jersey?
LOL, that was a funny story!
I think I would have applauded if I had been there. Thanks for sharing. That was funny.
You're right. What the world does not need is more drama. And as we all struggle to make ends meet and, hey, pick up a pizza every other Friday, we don't need any sad stories.
This sounds like something in a movie! It's not funny but I kind of laughed. Is that wrong?
I heard that story too!! I don't know why I was so shocked but I was!
Okay...the 'coffee stirrer' line got me. LMAO
You're such a hoot.
XOXO
Yikes, is that a true story --very insteresting. Luckily I ride the train to work, --no traffic jams, but there are tiimes I'd love to "throw mamma off the train" (so to speak)
I read that story and thought I would have pushed him too! I don't take any shit from anyone!
So glad that you reported on this story! LOL
I too love that story!
Oh, and how odd --I JUST WATCHED THIS STORY ON THE NEWS--so I guess it is true (not that I doubted you of course) but WOW who would actually do such a thing
You know, I am afraid I have had this same idea too many times. Hmm. The pushing thing, not the jumping thing.
I want to shake the 66-year-old man's hand who shoved him off! LOL!
We saw this on the news too. My hubby said "good" when he heard someone pushed the guy. I can see how much sympathy I would get if I decided to commit suicide. lol.
I hear it is your Birthday today. May 28th. Happy Birthday.
Okay, I'm glad he wasn't hurt. But how hilarious is that, that a 66-year-old bystander got frustrated and gave him a shove! Would LOVE to have seen that! (As long as I knew there was that semi-inflated safety net). Wow.
I feel a bit disturbed for actually laughing while reading that post. You just know the other drivers were quietly applauding that guy for pushing the other guy off the bridge. Some people have their breaking points I guess!!
I read about it over on another blog----thought it was great!! So many people are so selfish and can't see how they are affecting others.
Great story!! *giggle* I want to know if they charged the guy who pushed him. Or how the "jumper" felt afterward about being pushed...
Oh he is lucky he had a safe landing. A friend of mine used to work in the boats that used to fish the dead bodies out of the water after jumping off a bridge in Sctoland. Wasnt too much fun! I think in China one wouldnt be missed really - my theory is Cen works for the population control centre and pushes lots of people off bridges, under trains, you get my drift. Then again I have been full of theories lately and most wrong. Great post.
I bet Chen will someday look back at this man and be grateful. I'd imagine seeing your life nearly ended would give you a greater appreciation for it--especially when measured against someone's impatience in traffic. =]
Part of me is horrified, the other part laughing... I reacted too about the partially inflated rubber cushion! I think they were blowing air into it with a straw!
Wow! I was very relieved to hear that the guy didn't get any major injuries. I wonder why someone else, like the police, didn't get involved during the five hours. I love your blog, but don't comment as often as I probably should! I'll do better! :)
I actually gasped out loud when I read the guy pushed him. But one can kinda see why the pusher gave into temptation. Scary.
Thanks, Debbie, for your comments! I just have to say I LOVE your stories - great!
Too funny! Thanks for visiting our blog! Lovin' yours!
This happens all too often in Atlanta. Not the pushing part, but the threatening to jump. I thought the old chap did the world a favor. And um... that Appalachian phrase is pretty universal ;) gotta love it, though.
LOL. What an interesting story. I wouldn't have wanted to push him but I might have yelled out the window to get it over with.
Your photos are hysterical and always fit your posts perfectly! ROFL!
I am totally reminded of the time a jumper named Ivin Pointer stood on the Woodrow Wilson Bridge (in the DC area) for over FIVE FREAKING HOURS during afternoon rush hour. Officials closed the bridge because they feared Mr. Pointer might have had a gun. Traffic was backed up halfway to Baltimore. It was a NIGHTMARE.
I totally laughed at this! You seem to find the most interesting news stories.
How far does one really need to go for attention? I'm glad he's okay... so we can continue to laugh.
Having a close relative who is a bit of an authority on Chinese culture (he worked as a copyright attorney in Taiwan and when he shut down a factory that was doing a knock-off of Cross pens, the owner committed suicide) I feel for the man who pushed. In their culture, suicide is a perfectly honorable way of dealing with one's shame. Those who waffle about it are seen as being pretty wimpy and those who shut down traffic for five hours, well, clearly he deserved to die. Just saying . . .
Is that for real!? I'm horrified and proud of that guy at the same time...
This story tickled my fancy too and I read it out loud to the hubby. I believe most of us are thinking "Enough is enough" in regard to a lot that's happening today and wouldn't mind pushing a politician or forty-seven over a bridge.
Oops, did I just write that? Hopefully it doesn't put me on somebody's watch list.
Haha! But did anything happen to the guy that pushed him?
This is funny ... because the guy didn't die. We wouldn't be able to have fun with it if he had. And yeah ... time to get a faster pump emergency people!!!!
great story!
I read that the other day and had to chuckle quietly to myself. I think the impatient dude is going to be prosecuted but you just know everyone else felt the same way!
My friend, that Appalachian saying drifted way down south too. LOL
I've been to Guangzhou and I'd push someone off a bridge too, let me tell ya...
I LOL'd when I read that story on MSN. I'd have been ticked if I was jammed up because of him too!!!
HAHAHAHAHA I can't help it...that's hilarious! Sad...but hilarious!
I used to ride the train often, and discovered that suicide by train is more common than I ever knew. We were once delayed a few hours while police and RR people searched the track for a mile behind us for a possible body. All of us hardened riders complained that people should commit suicide in a way that isn't going to inconvenience hundreds of people.
P.S. There was no body. The engineer had seen someone on or near the tracks and didn't know if he had run over the person. He hadn't. That time.
Is this serious??
Sorry, I would have loved to been the man who pushed him off. haha
I have been to Guangzhou, China. What a tale. I am stunned at the stats. Can it really be so?
Shaking his hand and then shoving him...LOL. That IS funny. I'd be pretty pissed about sitting in traffic, too. (But maybe not that pissed. MAYBE. LOL)
I have to admit - after five dreaded hours - I would have championed the guy on!!
I think we should give an award to the soldier. I've always wondered at the suicide "attempts". Nothing is easier than killing yourself and here I am, at age 60, TRYING to stay alive. Don't "bring them in". Push them out. Damn I must be in my MEAN zone tonight!
Yup.
I laughed.
Right or wrong..I laughed.
well I for one am glad that the rescue crew hurried in their attempt to save the man- ha! any one else would have been fired if after 5 hours the safety cushion was only partially inflated-
I would of been sitting in traffic saying the same thing. But, I don't think I would of pushed him. Why would it take five hours to get the balloon blown up?
bizarre!!
I could so picture my grandfather doing the exact same thing (The nicest man on the planet. Ever.)
He didn't have time for over indulgent sh!t either. Get help or jump, please.
And this from someone who has been there (not on the bridge, but pretty damn close).
A Large whoopie cushion...now I would so jump for that! LOL
Watched this story the other day and made an audible...AMEN.
Debbie,
I loved this story, too. Not that I ever want to see someone get hurt, but like Chen, I am so tired of the idiots who think that their problems should trump everyone else's lives. Chen just took the action that everyone else was just thinking about! "Oh poor Mr. Bridge Sitter, could you please just jump or get off the bridge so that I can get to my job in order to start paying off my $300,000 debt?"
When I read that story, I thought that guy was a bit of a genius. Just a little, though. Of course, it's wrong to push someone off a bridge, but seriously 5 hours???? That was more a pity party and "everybody pay attention to ME", I think.
Hee! I must have a warped sense of humor because I, too, dug this story. That saying is so accurate.
Loved this story!!
Side note - I've actually been to Guangzhou, China. No jumpers that day!
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