The military yesterday asked a female officer to show “self-respect” after it had been reported she had on Sunday reopened a personal blog where she posted a number of revealing photographs of herself, attracting thousands of hits within a matter of hours.
Major Fan Chun-chen (范群偵) of Missile Command Center had apologized and been given a minor demerit on Monday last week for posting more than 1,500 revealing photos of herself on her blog.
Fan closed her blog on Aug. 13 because she knew news media were going to report on the matter.
The Chinese-language Apply Daily reported yesterday that after the blog was closed for a week, Fan reopened it on Sunday evening. She removed about 300 photos of a more revealing nature from the 1,500 pictures of herself.
Within hours, her site had received more than 16,000 visits, the paper said.
“I have my freedom. To those untrue media reports and accusations against me, I accept them humbly, but my determination has not changed,” the newspaper quoted her as writing on her blog.
Commenting on the matter, Missile Command Center Ethics Department Director Chang Kan (張敢) said the whole incident was regrettable and added that Fan should show self-respect.
Military spokesman David Lo (羅紹和) said spirit and dignity were important among military personnel and that members of the armed forces should avoid behavior that could have a negative impact on the military.
Fan’s behavior and rationalization have drawn a variety of reactions.
“I like showing off [my body] and I’m narcissistic; I won’t pretend not to be anymore,” she had written on her site prior to closing it temporarily.
“I have my freedoms, on the basis that they do not infringe on other people’s liberties. I have not harmed my professional image and have not indulged in promiscuous affairs. I do not have to mind what my superiors think of my opinions,” Fan added.
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