"Brother Sharp"(L3) poses for a photo with tourists at a park in Jiangxi Province on March 22.

BEIJING, March 23 -- We have all seen the power of the "cyber manhunt", and how dramatically people's lives can be changed when they are caught in the media spotlight.

It sometimes seems as if everyone here is virtually stalking someone. But while it might be argued that most of the people involved are public figures who have put themselves in this position either through choice or actions, there are also unwilling and blameless victims who are thrust before the public gaze through no fault of their own.

The drama of "Brother Sharp" is such a case, and I want to say making news and satisfying our voyeuristic needs should not violate someone's rights and privacy.

When a photograph of Cheng Guorong, who was described as the most "good-looking beggar in the universe", was first posted on the Internet, millions of Chinese netizens started following him for what was described as his "sharp dress sense". Of course, his appearance on the Internet soon made him a target for newsmakers, and his face was soon to be seen everywhere, in newspapers, on TV and the Web.

He was compared to a famous Korean actor, and his image was analyzed in close detail: his face, the expression in his eyes, his clothes, and his way of walking.

When reporters said they wanted to help Cheng find his family, they brought their cameras and followed him. Suddenly, Cheng's life was totally exposed to the public eye. And the reports induced many citizens to search for him on the streets.