Early Morning Yells: A Jogger’s Routine Disrupts Jiangsu Town’s Peace

In the quiet serenity of early mornings, the town of Jiangsu province has been echoing with the shouts of an elderly jogger. For over a year, his ritualistic cries of “Haha, yiyi” have punctuated the break of dawn, much to the chagrin of a local resident.

This resident, woken daily by the distinctive shouts, took matters into his own hands on September 10th. Setting out at dawn, he stationed himself along the tree-shaded jogging path, video recording device in hand, waiting for the vocal elderly runner.

As anticipated, the distinctive shouts grew louder, heralding the jogger’s approach. The man approached the jogger, extending a respectful greeting and requested a moment of his time.

“I would like to talk to you about something,” he initiated, capturing the jogger’s attention. He elucidated his predicament, detailing the countless mornings his sleep had been disrupted. “My sleep is interrupted daily by your shouting,” he voiced, a tinge of desperation evident in his tone. The man, who had been waiting days to have this conversation, proposed a simple solution, “Could you possibly shout after running past our neighbourhood? I’d be grateful.”

The elderly jogger’s response remained indistinct, but with a farewell wave, he resumed his run. The man later remarked to Houlang Video, “I couldn’t bear it any longer, so I tracked him down.”

This incident rapidly gained traction on Weibo, garnering over 1.42 million views. Netizens poured in with empathetic comments, sharing their personal tales of dawn disturbances.

The belief that yelling during physical exercise aids in enhancing lung function is deep-seated among many Chinese. For them, the act of shouting is more than just noise; it’s a health regimen. Yet, the discord arises when these personal beliefs infringe upon communal peace.

One Weibo user lamented, “The noises are truly vexing, and those jolting us awake are even more so.” Another shared their ordeal with a local elder practicing with a noisy steel spinning top, echoing the sentiment, “I can deeply relate to that anguish.”

These aren’t isolated incidents. Earlier this year, an eastern Chinese woman acquired the moniker “human alarm clock” from her neighbors. Almost every morning, she would embark on a 6am cycling expedition around her community, fervently shouting to presumably improve her lung capacity.

The clash between personal exercise habits and the communal quest for serenity has been thrust into the limelight. As cities grow denser and more populated, these interpersonal conflicts are likely to increase. It underscores the need for understanding, communication, and perhaps, designated areas where such practices can be performed without disturbing the peace.

The incident in Jiangsu serves as a reminder: while personal wellness is paramount, it shouldn’t come at the cost of communal harmony.

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