China: Visit your parents or go to jail

[Faith No More]

Just thought I'd post this for the lulz...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-23124345

Grown children in China must visit their parents or potentially face fines or jail, a new law that came into effect on Monday says.

China's new "Elderly Rights Law" deals with the growing problem of lonely elderly people by ordering adult children to visit their ageing parents.

[Something completely different]

lol, we cant deny that there is a problem with there being to many elderly.

In Berlin they are currently experementing with founding "Rentner WGs" - flat sharing for the elderly.

[festive1]

How does that even get reported?? The elderly parent turns their kid in? Any parent who would do that... Well that's why the kid isn't visiting in the first place.

ETA: We have a multi-generational daycare not far from here. They have the elderly and kids from 18 mos. to 5 years in the same facility. I think it's a lovely idea, benefits everyone.

[Creed of Heresy]

How does that even get reported?? The elderly parent turns their kid in? Any parent who would do that... Well that's why the kid isn't visiting in the first place.

ETA: We have a multi-generational daycare not far from here. They have the elderly and kids from 18 mos. to 5 years in the same facility. I think it's a lovely idea, benefits everyone.

Remember it's a very different culture than ours, Festive. Asian cultures tend to be very heavy into the whole "respect your elders" thing. Regardless whether or not they DESERVE that respect.

Not all of them do, though, clearly, and I imagine this is some attempt at enforcing traditionalism, not unlike how we in the states have people saying that marriage is "traditionally" between a man and a woman and that we must preserve our American "traditions." Except, unlike here in the states, people in China don't actually have a say in whether or not this law goes through. Sucks to be them.