Living here - Why I get so put off.
Will somebody get them to shut up already?!?!?!?
Someone recently posted a blog touching on the topic of misbehaving parents in Singapore - this post linked to a letter in ST by a Mrs Tay, who was voicing a complaint about the rigid practices of a librarian in Singapore who refused her child entry to a story-telling session due to her age. There was a rather stupid comment (excuse my judgment, perhaps its a bad day, and his comment just irked me badly!) by an Anon. blogger who said the librarian should "lighten up" as these are KIDS we are dealing with, what's the big deal???
What's the big deal about letting a pushy parent force entry for her child (aged 2 yrs and 4 mths) into a reading session meant for 5-6 yr olds or worse yet, sit IN for the reading session? I guess there isn't any big deal about opening a "floodgates" that may at the moment seem like a small issue, but fast forward a good 20 - 30 years, and I can guarantee that the kid will grow up to be yet another i) spoilt, ii) inconsiderate and iii) ill-mannered child. Oh big whoop. As if our country didn't have enough middle-aged (and mostly middle-class wannabe rich) inconsiderate louts pushing and shoving their way on the streets of Singapore! Yes, granted that the kid IS only barely hitting 3 yrs, but these are the most influential years of a toddlers life - they learn from their surroundings, and pick up vital life lessons in their childhood days. Whoever argues that childhood doesn't play a role in one's development is seriously short-sighted or hugely misinformed.
Ok, let's get things straight here. I'm not an angel myself, never have been, never will be. However, I believe basic courtesy, manners and consideration for people in OUR community are skills lacking in this so-called developed country. Come on Countrymen, are we that barbaric? Are we working so hard on building up wealth for ourselves that we've forgotten that only with a collective effort can a Nation live peacefully? It takes one rotten apple to turn a whole basket of fruits bad. Encouraging behavior such as that of Mrs Tay, and many other likeminded Kiasu Singaporean parents will only end up in more of such Types living here. Why do you think those that prefer the gracious world move overseas? It isn't usually the pull of money that drive citizens out of the country. It is the People.
Living Overseas - why I loved it so much more.
I had a good run of 6 years in Melbourne and during my stay there I experienced the Good, the Bad, the Ugly. And boy, is their ugly ever bad! However, their good seemed to overrun the bad. People don't give fierce stares if you bump into them at the supermarket aisle, they give a nod and say "you're alright". They greet each other in the lift with "G'day Mate". This may be diverging from the main stem of argument, but one incident chalked clearly in my memory is sitting in my apartment corridor with my dog and my neighbour and her dog. Her little cat (a stray she had rescued) had climbed into my unit over the balcony, and I had walked next door to pass it back. We both brought our doggies out to play and have a chat on the clean carpet. It didn't matter that we were of a different colour, or background. It didn't matter that we worked different jobs. It didn't matter that I actually hadn't known her name, until that day. :) What mattered was, that we were living side by side, and we both had little dogs of our own. Two male neighbours returned (TV presenters on a local news station) and they ended up standing there and having a little chat with us. Friendly words exchanged, it felt warm, cozy.. despite the cold winter breeze outside, and I felt so at home.
Colour of skin was never a real issue in Melbourne, Whites and Asians danced alongside each other at rave events. Interracial couples strolled hand in hand, as did same-sex couples, and no one seemed to blink an eye. Things that people here would stare at, or even mock, was seen as accepted there. People never judged. At least, not the ones that I had the chance to mix with. Though the cultural divide was quite great appearance wise - there were several Aussie friends who would comment on the texture of my skin, or how black my eyes were - we were all still Humans nonetheless. In a country where the One People Party once dominated, Australia has now opened up to immigrants, regardless of ethnicity. The Whites found us endearing and interesting, they enjoyed hearing our accents when we spoke in rapid English. They enjoyed hearing our descriptions of our various homelands. They enjoyed playing host to us, and they enjoyed us being there too.
As for standard of living, despite the article about a Sydney man dying alone, it didn't seem the case where I was living at. The elderly walked around looking pretty cheerful, hand in hand, holidaying in idyllic places. Or enjoying their morning cuppa at a quaint cafe. Cafe's that had tables free from "choping" with packets of tissue paper. Cafes where no service was charged for, but with waiters so engaged in your well-being that you simply had to tip 10% or more. You wouldn't get a parent wanting to "sit in" for a child's reading session and you definitely wouldn't get one writing in the national news quoting the Government as encouraging us to bring out kids for "reading activities". What pish-posh they'd say! And looking at how the public's (aussie) reacted to Corey Delany, the interviewer drew much flak than Corey by her insisting he take off his "famous" glasses and apologize nationally!
Conclusion
Well, Singaporeans don't look anywhere near to being a considerate nation which respects people, and Kiasu-ism is definitely NOT a dying trait. To me, I wish that the majority of locals who do nothing but rant and rave about how the government isn't doing enough would just SHUT THE FUCK UP.
Because seriously, have a glance in the mirror and take those damned tinted glasses off, this isn't Oz and there aren't any ruby slippers here to save the munchkins from the Evil witch.
Will somebody get them to shut up already?!?!?!?
Someone recently posted a blog touching on the topic of misbehaving parents in Singapore - this post linked to a letter in ST by a Mrs Tay, who was voicing a complaint about the rigid practices of a librarian in Singapore who refused her child entry to a story-telling session due to her age. There was a rather stupid comment (excuse my judgment, perhaps its a bad day, and his comment just irked me badly!) by an Anon. blogger who said the librarian should "lighten up" as these are KIDS we are dealing with, what's the big deal???
Jesus Christ.
What's the big deal about letting a pushy parent force entry for her child (aged 2 yrs and 4 mths) into a reading session meant for 5-6 yr olds or worse yet, sit IN for the reading session? I guess there isn't any big deal about opening a "floodgates" that may at the moment seem like a small issue, but fast forward a good 20 - 30 years, and I can guarantee that the kid will grow up to be yet another i) spoilt, ii) inconsiderate and iii) ill-mannered child. Oh big whoop. As if our country didn't have enough middle-aged (and mostly middle-class wannabe rich) inconsiderate louts pushing and shoving their way on the streets of Singapore! Yes, granted that the kid IS only barely hitting 3 yrs, but these are the most influential years of a toddlers life - they learn from their surroundings, and pick up vital life lessons in their childhood days. Whoever argues that childhood doesn't play a role in one's development is seriously short-sighted or hugely misinformed.
Ok, let's get things straight here. I'm not an angel myself, never have been, never will be. However, I believe basic courtesy, manners and consideration for people in OUR community are skills lacking in this so-called developed country. Come on Countrymen, are we that barbaric? Are we working so hard on building up wealth for ourselves that we've forgotten that only with a collective effort can a Nation live peacefully? It takes one rotten apple to turn a whole basket of fruits bad. Encouraging behavior such as that of Mrs Tay, and many other likeminded Kiasu Singaporean parents will only end up in more of such Types living here. Why do you think those that prefer the gracious world move overseas? It isn't usually the pull of money that drive citizens out of the country. It is the People.
Living Overseas - why I loved it so much more.
I had a good run of 6 years in Melbourne and during my stay there I experienced the Good, the Bad, the Ugly. And boy, is their ugly ever bad! However, their good seemed to overrun the bad. People don't give fierce stares if you bump into them at the supermarket aisle, they give a nod and say "you're alright". They greet each other in the lift with "G'day Mate". This may be diverging from the main stem of argument, but one incident chalked clearly in my memory is sitting in my apartment corridor with my dog and my neighbour and her dog. Her little cat (a stray she had rescued) had climbed into my unit over the balcony, and I had walked next door to pass it back. We both brought our doggies out to play and have a chat on the clean carpet. It didn't matter that we were of a different colour, or background. It didn't matter that we worked different jobs. It didn't matter that I actually hadn't known her name, until that day. :) What mattered was, that we were living side by side, and we both had little dogs of our own. Two male neighbours returned (TV presenters on a local news station) and they ended up standing there and having a little chat with us. Friendly words exchanged, it felt warm, cozy.. despite the cold winter breeze outside, and I felt so at home.
Colour of skin was never a real issue in Melbourne, Whites and Asians danced alongside each other at rave events. Interracial couples strolled hand in hand, as did same-sex couples, and no one seemed to blink an eye. Things that people here would stare at, or even mock, was seen as accepted there. People never judged. At least, not the ones that I had the chance to mix with. Though the cultural divide was quite great appearance wise - there were several Aussie friends who would comment on the texture of my skin, or how black my eyes were - we were all still Humans nonetheless. In a country where the One People Party once dominated, Australia has now opened up to immigrants, regardless of ethnicity. The Whites found us endearing and interesting, they enjoyed hearing our accents when we spoke in rapid English. They enjoyed hearing our descriptions of our various homelands. They enjoyed playing host to us, and they enjoyed us being there too.
As for standard of living, despite the article about a Sydney man dying alone, it didn't seem the case where I was living at. The elderly walked around looking pretty cheerful, hand in hand, holidaying in idyllic places. Or enjoying their morning cuppa at a quaint cafe. Cafe's that had tables free from "choping" with packets of tissue paper. Cafes where no service was charged for, but with waiters so engaged in your well-being that you simply had to tip 10% or more. You wouldn't get a parent wanting to "sit in" for a child's reading session and you definitely wouldn't get one writing in the national news quoting the Government as encouraging us to bring out kids for "reading activities". What pish-posh they'd say! And looking at how the public's (aussie) reacted to Corey Delany, the interviewer drew much flak than Corey by her insisting he take off his "famous" glasses and apologize nationally!
Conclusion
Well, Singaporeans don't look anywhere near to being a considerate nation which respects people, and Kiasu-ism is definitely NOT a dying trait. To me, I wish that the majority of locals who do nothing but rant and rave about how the government isn't doing enough would just SHUT THE FUCK UP.
Because seriously, have a glance in the mirror and take those damned tinted glasses off, this isn't Oz and there aren't any ruby slippers here to save the munchkins from the Evil witch.
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