Two separate series of incidents that happened in recent months have had the effect of shocking the nation.

The first was the string of 11 successive suicides by employees of the Shenzhen-based technology firm Foxconn since the beginning of this year. The latest tragedy happened as this writer was working on the column yesterday. The other, six fatal attacks on kindergarten kids and students in various provinces across the country over two months.

The public, understandably, was shocked by the loss of so many lives in such a short period of time. Yet, they were more puzzled at the weird recurrence of such tragedies. Why did such incidents take place despite widespread vigilance and preventive measures undertaken after the first few cases?