She Installed a Stairlift for Her Mom. Then the Neighbors Rebelled. Here’s Why They Were Right.
A Shanghai woman installed a stairlift for her elderly mother, then called the media to frame it as filial piety. But the neighbors rebelled—because the track left only a 67-centimeter gap on a 1.2-meter stairway, creating a fire hazard. The real issue isn’t the stairlift itself: it’s that a 78-year-old with a bad leg was expected to climb six floors to provide free childcare. This story exposes how modern caregiving often pits safety against compassion, and how ‘selfless’ acts can be the most selfish of all.