Civility strikes back

The Internet, apps and the many other technological trappings of 21st century life are doing nothing but turn us all into selfish, asocial automatons. Right? Wrong

It used to be one of Ma Tianyi's best and most reliable friends. No matter what his mood was, in sunshine, hail, rain or snow, waiting for him each day as he prepared to journey to and from work was his car radio.

Even if the conversation was all one way, it relieved the monotony of the 38-year-old's one-hour commute to and from the office and was a good distraction on days when Beijing's bumper-to-bumper traffic could try the patience of a saint.