A bizarre complaint about the moon being “too bright” and affecting someone’s sleep has sparked heated discussion online, after the issue was reportedly raised through China’s 12345 government service hotline.
The unusual complaint quickly went viral, with many social media users joking that even the moon had somehow become the target of a public complaint. Others, however, raised concerns over the amount of public resources required to process such requests.
Similar complaints are reportedly not uncommon. The Baotou 12345 hotline previously highlighted several unusual requests, including a parent asking authorities to organise another university entrance exam after their child performed poorly, someone asking officials to check their husband’s salary and another person seeking help to abandon responsibility for their child.
Some people have also been accused of treating public hotlines as personal chat lines or outlets for emotional frustration. In one case, a Shanghai diner called police after receiving a plate of big-bowl chicken containing potatoes, claiming the dish was not authentic and accusing the restaurant of consumer fraud.
Police reportedly explained that there was no legally fixed standard requiring the dish to contain or exclude potatoes, while the restaurant had clearly displayed its price. The restaurant eventually offered the customer a free meal to settle the dispute.
Another reported case involved a consumer complaining after AI allegedly identified a product as counterfeit. Authorities later checked the product and found that the seller had the required qualifications, rejecting the complaint.
In response to growing concerns over unreasonable complaints, several Chinese regions have introduced measures to regulate the misuse of public hotlines. Jiangsu, for example, has introduced provincial-level regulations allowing action against repeated harassment and complaints without substantive content, with serious cases potentially being referred to police.
Xiamen has also adjusted its hotline assessment system so that authorities handling clearly unreasonable complaints will not necessarily face negative evaluations if they have fulfilled their responsibilities. Similar measures have been introduced in Sichuan and Ankang, where repeated false complaints or harassment may result in temporary suspension of hotline access.
Public service hotlines are intended to help people solve genuine problems, seek assistance and raise legitimate concerns. They are not unlimited complaint channels or platforms for settling personal disputes.
Every unreasonable complaint still requires staff time, case registration, referrals, investigation and follow-up. With public resources already limited, excessive frivolous complaints could potentially make it harder for people facing genuine emergencies or urgent problems to receive timely assistance.
While public services should remain accessible and responsive, authorities and citizens alike are being reminded that public resources have limits — and complaints should have reasonable boundaries too.
