Feasibility of anti-exploitation strategies

The incident began when the weekly update of "The Survival Diary of Contemporary Working People" was finally released after much urging.

The theme of the third episode is work content.

This shouldn't be a particularly offensive topic, and indeed it is. Of course, this excludes the regular guest – Zhixing Games.

Actually, the production team has never publicly stated that the finale company is the same one; it's all just netizens' subjective feeling—it's also because Zhixing Games' style is too unique.

In addition, variety shows often resort to unethical tactics in their pursuit of popularity.

Zhixing Games was attacked in this way.

Xiao Tianqi was naturally behind this, and his plan was to kill two birds with one stone: to eliminate Tang Yue and to severely damage Zhixing Games, which had unexpectedly become a regular guest on "The Survival Diary of Contemporary Working People".

Because Zhixing Games is so unique, whether it's hype or a company that actually exists with a very low probability.

From an employee's perspective, it's probably like saying, "I could have endured the darkness if I hadn't seen heaven..."

Cattle and horses don't need paradise; they just need to work hard.

There's no such thing as making money without paying a price.

Is your boss just paying you a salary for nothing?

The third episode was very calm and peaceful, a stark contrast to the confrontational atmosphere of the first two episodes, which sparked public outrage.

It mainly showcased footage recorded during the working hours of the selected workers.

Everyone is working and doing their jobs normally.

If you only listen to the literal meaning, it doesn't seem very appealing; it's like everyone goes to work. But in reality, viewers are analyzing frame by frame, seeing the diverse lives of employees slacking off.

Occasionally, such peaceful daily life is not bad. Every episode is so full of tension, which easily leads to emotional fatigue—Meng Feifei knows this all too well.

So the real theme of this episode should actually be—slacking off.

"Hahahaha, that's hilarious. I saw someone there, the one at the workstation in front of the main character, two seats away. She was making pixel art in an Excel spreadsheet, isn't that like modern electronic cross-stitch? And it turned out pretty good, hahaha. She's cultivating her mind and improving her aesthetic sense. Even at work, she doesn't forget to constantly improve herself."

"I think the company should strongly support employees' self-improvement. Who hasn't embroidered a couple of pictures like this while at work? Hahaha, they're still my meme to this day."

"Wow, at first I thought this bricklayer was seriously researching, but upon closer inspection, I saw a novel with a transparent background that automatically rotated in the document on his computer screen, hahaha, it's actually an old-fashioned domineering CEO romance novel, buddy, you have pretty unusual tastes."

"If you don't understand, just ask! How do you create this automatic carousel with a transparent background?! I really want to learn!!"

"Let me show you the beginning! First, download a Reader app, then import the text content in .txt format. Press F12 on your keyboard to turn off the border. Then, use Ctrl and the mouse wheel to adjust the background transparency!"

"Note that when using the above methods, you should also learn the keyboard shortcuts: Win+D instantly returns to the desktop, Win+W closes the page, and Alt+Tap switches pages! Long live slacking off!"

Long live slacking off!

Long live slacking off!

Experienced users who had plenty of time to slack off were enthusiastically exchanging their tips in the comments section.

Newcomers to the workplace can learn step by step by following along.

Those unaware of the situation might marvel at how studious this netizen is, mentoring newcomers and passing on knowledge—what a wonderful, positive cycle!

One of the few moments of happiness at work, and here it is!

"Slacking off" – its main theme is an anti-exploitation boss.

Of course, there were also some comments expressing differing opinions and a lack of understanding.

"Since I've received a salary, it's better to do something, right?"

"Those upstairs are obviously college or high school students, their eyes have that clear yet foolish glint in them. How much does the boss pay? We get what we pay for, and we're paid fair and square."

The phrase "I have no shame when it comes to my salary" means that my salary makes me feel no guilt whatsoever when I slack off.

There are also the older generation, I don't know if they don't like it or if they're just biased, but they still have to say something.

"Aren't you afraid of losing your jobs if you don't take your work seriously?"

A quick reply followed, delivering a sharp blow: "Does this mean you won't lose your job if you don't slack off like this?"

That's absolutely right.

"Young people need to be more hardworking and persevering. Don't always think about being lazy. How can you grow like this? How can you stand on your own? You need to work hard to develop your skills."

This sounds like a truism.

It simply appeared in the comments section of "The Survival Diary of Contemporary Working People," at the wrong time, in the wrong place, and in the wrong position.

Then it was naturally washed away.

"What we mean is, if you're willing to endure hardship, then you'll have endless hardships to endure."

"I don't care what the main building says, as long as I'm true to myself, the rest is up to retribution."

If the style of contemporary working class is to seek dignity in the cracks, then the style of contemporary netizens is to give up entirely.

Rather than wasting your own life, go mad and bury others.

Before the show reached its finale, the comments section was filled with what felt like a massive, friendly team-building session for working professionals.

Then the show switched gears and focused on Zhi Xing Games.

At first, all the audience heard was the loud clatter of keyboards and the constant clicking of a mouse.

These two sounds are completely different from the sounds of a regular office keyboard and mouse, creating a fast-paced and tense atmosphere.

There's still speculation going on: isn't the socially awkward, friendly company going to be the grand finale?

Or is it that the show has been exploiting the boss for the entire episode, and at the end, it will show some footage of the boss exploiting the employees?

This is indeed in line with the usual style of variety shows.

Netizens are thinking too simply.

As the camera moves deeper, the first thing that catches the viewer's eye is the serious expression of the workers in their workstations, as if they are dealing with some huge deal worth hundreds of billions.

Seriousness, being serious about one's work.

This is somewhat normal, falling within the normal range of bosses oppressing employees, but viewers just don't know what went wrong; it just seems inexplicably contradictory.

I can't feel that deep-seated bitterness and resentment at all.

The production team only maliciously showed the whole thing at the very end—what the heck?!

These people are actually playing a game?!

Playing games?

No, if you slack off at work and play games, that's perfectly understandable, because everyone does that.

But you're playing games so openly, and it's like a group of people playing games for team building?

That makes it hard not to be jealous.

And it wasn't just the first day; the show also showed footage of them playing games for many days afterward. I don't know if it was malicious editing or something else, but anyway, everyone was just happily doing manual labor.

Who actually enjoys going to work?!

Who is it!

"Could this be some kind of joke the production team pulled by an esports club?"

"It doesn't look like an esports club either, because they play different games. Some people play single-player games, some play action games, and some play Orange Light games. The game types are completely different."

"Based on my ingenious deduction, this company is the same one that was featured at the end of the previous two episodes, but I still can't figure out what kind of business this company does."

"I work in the gaming industry and have been in this industry for three years. I am quite certain that they are not in the gaming industry."

"I am a new media operations professional who has been in this industry for 6 years, and I am quite certain that they are not self-media practitioners."

"So here's the question: which industry is it? I'm starting to prepare for changing jobs now."

At the beginning of the show, everything was actually quite good. The comments section was swayed, but it only happened in an instant.

First, some people questioned whether "The Survival Diary of Contemporary Working People" was a publicity stunt, arguing that it was impossible for such a company to exist in the world, where employees are not allowed to work and are only allowed to play.

Are they desperate for attention?

Doing this kind of thing.

It's supposed to be a reality observation variety show, but it ends up using such exaggerated and fake content to attract viewers' attention?

What about the tone of the program?

The comment section quickly attracted a large number of comments, some of which supported the program team: "You just haven't worked in a company like that, you're just sour grapes."

Some people supported the original poster: "I thought the first two episodes were okay, but this one is really outrageous and illogical. Does the boss just pay employees for nothing? It's too fake."

It's unclear whether there are more comments from real people or paid commenters; the scene is always quite chaotic.

This is another strategy by which Xiao Tianqi deliberately spared time to kill two birds with one stone: by using Tang Yue's first video, which mentioned "The Survival Diary of Contemporary Working People," to spread this dirty flames against the production team.

Meng Feifei noticed the matter immediately. Of course, she had nothing to be afraid of. Such controversy could bring more popularity to the show, so why not?

The only two things their production team is suspected of doing to create hype are: first, the trending topic they wasted money on last time; and second, deliberately putting the Zhixing game segment at the end of each episode to create a stark contrast.

The rest are all done in a real and substantial way.

Do they not know whether they're creating hype or not?

"Sister Meng, are we really just going to leave them alone?"

Meng Feifei hesitated for a moment, worried that the rival who came to make trouble for "The Survival Diary of Contemporary Working People" might have something to do with it.

So, what aspects of her show are still lacking? What aspects might be vulnerable to attack?

The dedicated online trolls in the comments section provided the answer; after thousands of arguments, someone finally spoke up.

"As an observational variety show, this program serves no practical purpose other than entertainment and evoking empathy from the audience. Some of you might question this, saying that's the intended function of a variety show, isn't it?"

"The problem is that the production team has big ambitions. They are not satisfied with ordinary variety shows, so they came up with the idea of ​​observing working people."

"Since the starting point is this, why can't you do better and tell us migrant workers how we can live with dignity?"

"Why didn't you do it when you could have?"

"I used to follow the videos of that blogger who was eliminated at the bottom. In the first episode, she talked about those interview pitfalls that everyone has encountered to some extent, right?"

"Why did the production team of this show, which claims to be a true observational variety show about working people, remain so tight-lipped about these issues in the first episode? They could have done it, but they didn't."

"Essentially, it's still selling anxiety and negative emotions. The only positive aspect is that it provides a channel for people to vent their emotions."

"Since selling emotions is such a simple thing as gaining attention, why bother with a thankless solution?"

"Actually, you could have done better."

The statement appeared extremely objective, quickly dissecting the core of "The Survival Diary of Contemporary Working People"—a condescending, dimensional-reducing tearing-down approach...

Yes, it's obvious this isn't a paid troll post.

None of the online trolls Xiao Tianqi hired were this educated.

This is a loyal viewer of "The Survival Diary of Contemporary Working People," who was awakened by online trolls and Tang Yue.

"Brother, look at this... are these our people?" In the group chat where the online trolls were contacting each other, a professional troll immediately realized that someone was trying to recruit them.

Is it really necessary to make such a big fuss over such a small amount of money?

The head of the online trolls was also a bit confused. He looked at the other party's ID and comments again and again, and fell into a kind of calm bewilderment: No, I didn't give you any money. How come you are talking more enthusiastically than those of us who have been paid?

Second update—