This kind of behavior reflects the lacking of confidence to the government and the public media, in China, that is pretty much the same thing. When there is no enough information the make the sound judgment, a the government has consistently demonstrated lacking the will and power to care for its people as it promised. People have to act on their own to protect themselves. Their action might be silly, but this behavior is expected and understandable. How poor the characters of the Chinese people can they be? Worse than their western counter part of a hundred year ago?