Kao Chien-ming Hits Back at Candidate Over Alleged Online Insults, Cites Past Safety Probe

Taiwanese legislator Kao Chien-ming has directly addressed online attacks attributed to Kuo Kuang-yu, the son of another legislator, who is currently campaigning for a city council seat in Taoyuan. The dispute centers on alleged cyberbullying and insults directed at Kao, including a particularly offensive comment referencing a past domestic violence incident.

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Are you fucking beaten into an idiot by your boyfriend?

Kuo Kuang-yu's candidacy has been accompanied by numerous online revelations about his past behavior, including accusations of bullying classmates, abusing privileges, and making threats. A significant point of contention is an anonymous online account, reportedly belonging to Kuo, which allegedly posted a comment on Kao's past social media post: "Are you fucking beaten into an idiot by your boyfriend?"

In response, Kao Chien-ming not only condemned the online harassment but also revealed her past actions. She stated that two years prior, she had initiated a thorough investigation into a workplace safety accident involving a construction company owned by Kuo Kuang-yu's father. This revelation casts a shadow over Kuo's aspirations for public office, with Kao suggesting that his alleged online conduct raises questions about his basic capacity for rational communication.

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Whether a person who wishes to become a people's representative possesses the basic qualities of rational communication is for society to judge.

Kao emphasized that her decision to publicly share her experience with domestic violence was intended to prevent others from suffering similar fates and to encourage victims to speak out. She condemned the online shaming and mockery of victims, calling it a form of "secondary trauma" that could silence others. Kao asserted that bullying exists both online and offline, and any behavior that humiliates or attacks others, especially through anonymous accounts or group tactics, should not be normalized. She concluded by stating that society will ultimately judge whether an aspiring representative possesses the fundamental qualities of respecting others and communicating rationally.

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The online shaming, mockery, and malicious attacks on victims are not only secondary trauma but may also cause more victims to choose silence and forbearance.