"Why China cannot produce a Steve Jobs" and Why Online Critics should be less harsh


Associate Professor Shi Yuzhi, a Chinese language and linguistics professor, has suggested in his personal blog that youths should be allowed to consume psychedelic drugs to produce a generation of creative thinkers.
Steve Jobs, the late Apple CEO, had publicly credited his use of LSD – a type of psychedelic drug – as a primary reason for his success.  Drawing on this, Dr Shi is writing a book titled “Why China cannot produce a Steve Jobs”.
Some netizens have since called on NUS to sack Dr Shi. I understand that our local newspapers are keen to follow up on this incident and hope that they do not polarize this issue.
Prior to this debacle, I do not know who Dr Shi is.
I do not want to take any psychedelic drugs nor do I believe that taking them will make me a creative thinker. I do not wish for Singapore to legalise drug consumption because of the associated problems that would occur.
And I do not agree with the way Dr Shi is being hounded.
Dr Shi’s book is referring to China, not Singapore.
His expertise is in Chinese culture, not medicine or science.
He is commenting in his personal capacity on his personal blog, not as a NUS professional.
“But he is a lecturer!” A friend said. “Surely, he must have a moral obligation not to stir such controversies.”
Yes, he is indeed a NUS lecturer but this is not his area of specialty. He is a human being and he is entitled to his opinions (just as we are entitled to ours). We can meet up and debate over this issue but there is no need for me to call for his resignation.
I understand that there are differences in Dr Shi’s and my paradigms, just as there are differences between his critics and his. This, however, does not grant me the right to attack him online. It seems as though criticisms are bandied about casually in the cybersphere, without considering that there are people at the receiving end of it.
Criticise his ideas, yes. Have honest discourse, yes. But no online attacks please.
LSD has an indole  system.
Coincidentally, my current research involves indoles.
This article was first posted here.

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