Today’s quote of the day comes from the response of internet users to a recent video released by the Communist Youth League criticizing the phenomenon of “lying down.” This term refers to people who are seen as slacking off, giving up, or dropping out of society to cope with the intense competition and exploitation in the workforce.
The video, titled “CYL Central Committee: ‘Only a Tiny Minority Are Truly Lying Down, While the Vast Majority Are Working Tirelessly,'” sparked controversy as an online survey revealed that 93 percent of respondents identified with the “tiny majority” of slackers, while only seven percent saw themselves as hardworking individuals.
Columnist and psychologist Tang Yinghong provided insight into the survey, suggesting that while many respondents may have been joking, the CYL’s claim that only a few are inclined to “lie down” may be true, as slacking off is a luxury only a privileged few can afford. The majority of Chinese youth are too busy struggling to survive to consider giving up.
Tang also mentioned the concept of “Four Won’t Youth” who are unable to pursue traditional milestones due to financial hardship. The Party-state has previously aimed to transform these individuals into “Four Will Youth” through initiatives promoting dating, marriage, homeownership, and childbirth.
Additionally, Tang discussed Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and cited data on employment, income, and poverty to emphasize that most Chinese workers face precarious conditions and cannot afford to slack off. The majority of college graduates struggle to find jobs, with a significant portion of the population earning low incomes. This economic reality forces many to work tirelessly just to make ends meet.
