Effective communication among countries is based on mutual respect and equality, and so is the communication between officials and netizens, said an article in the Southern Metropolis Daily (excerpts below).

A deputy governor of Guizhou province said on his micro blog that some Chinese people have taken pleasure in a recent series of violent incidents in China. He thinks these people are indifferent to the innocent victims’ misfortune and do not love their country.

It is necessary for government officials to communicate online with netizens on hot issues. Many misunderstandings and doubts between the government and the public can be attributed to a lack of effective communication and transparency.

Yet, it is improper for the officials to only blame some extreme discourses without reflecting on the government's responsibility in these extreme cases, which involves issues such as the treatment of mentally challenged patients and the enforcement of family planning policies.

Instead of criticizing some netizens with extreme language, as the official did in his first micro blog message, officials should take more time to see these incidents from the people's perspective and then try to communicate with them on an equal footing.