The Ugly Singaporean
It’s been a while since I blogged about anything non-related to anime or Japan.
This is an entry about Singapore. Please do not read on if non-anime entries bore you.
So anyway, I was in a certain shopping centre, located in a certain HDB district starting with the letter “B”, near my school, looking at some HD-enabled LCD TV and feeling sad and poor. I stood there for a few minutes to ogle at the power of High Definition and decided that those TVs were way overpriced. I’d rather have a 24″ LCD monitor from Dell for less. I walked to a DVD store nearby and found out that they had removed their entire anime selection, mostly bootlegs. Looks like they finally realized that selling bootleg DVDs with cheap-looking packaging for exorbitant prices just doesn’t work.
But that’s not what I want to talk about today.
On the way down to the first floor, a woman and an elderly man had stopped in front of the escalator. They didn’t look local and, I know I’m stereotyping, appeared to be foreigners who are in Singapore either looking for jobs or relatives.
The reason why they stopped was because they were afraid of stepping onto the escalator. The woman tried to take a step forward but retreated before her foot touched the moving steps. The man held on to her hands as the both of them looked down, uncertain with hesitation and a trace of fear.
I happened to be behind them and I stopped to wait because they were blocking the way down. I could sympathize with them. I used to have a fear of escalators too. I rolled down one when I was five. (Yeah, the whole way down.) It’s really quite difficult to get the timing right if you aren’t used to it, especially since that particular escalator was on the fast end of the speed scale in terms of escalators.
Of course, it only took a few seconds before a mini line formed behind the man and the woman. And it only took slightly longer before the ugly Singaporeans reared their empty heads. In this case, it was a bunch of school girls.
“Who’s blocking the way?”
“Why (sic) so scared one?”
“Ahahahahaha!”
“Lame.”
These were not five-year-old girls. These were teenagers who looked old enough to know when to keep their mouths shut. The man and the woman in front knew they were causing trouble for everyone else and they tried their best and finally got onto the escalator with half a jump. The pack of bitches behind continued with their mocking the whole way down. The man and the woman looked visibly distressed.
In my 10 years of citizenship, I have never felt more ashamed to be a Singaporean.
Are the girls so stupid that despite all the subsidized education they receive, they cannot tell the difference between right and wrong? Or do they do it despite knowing that it’s wrong? I really don’t know which possibility is scarier.
Stupid kids.
November 16th, 2006 at 8:18 pm
no lar… the future isnt doomed lar.. (haha trying to show Singlish can be typed?)
Even tho the social fabric is being torn apart by these females, there are no adverse side effects for Singapore wad. We’re still doing damn well compared to other countries. Its more like a success as opposed to a failure. That’s how Singapore works, the leaders dont care abt some aspects of the social fabric (not including racial harmony) as long as Singapore is successful. Look at the public perception of anime in SG.. SAF computers block out all websites with the word “anime” in it. Fucked up media I tell u.
How did this come about?
Meritocracy. Females = males, thus females get education easily. Alot of them are smart, and as long as they do well at sch, their parents treat them like god (e.g. buy lots of stuff). Most parents are like that nowadays due to guilt. Admit it lar, in SG as long as u do well at sch most parents let u do whatever fuck (pun intended) u want.
So since females treated like god, and feel like god, and noe that they are god through their results, that’s how it comes about.
Bottom line is: SG wud be a better place if girls get NS as well.. of coz i duno whether its feasible or not statstically so if it isnt, as in we need all these talented young women in the offices, then never mind lar.
November 16th, 2006 at 8:33 pm
Actually, be it girls or guys, SG is becoming a little tavern full of spoilt brats like us. And especially so since we haven’t really seen much shit around and about, so we still stay very arrogant and conceited with that “air” of superiority that many would be felt from the WSM incident.
The prevalence of such immature pple around in SG doesn’t go unnoticed thanks to these peeps, but we musn’t forget that they are the few that voice their thoughts out. Many will think to themselves the same thing, but just don’t voice it out due to some sense of decency of respect.
But the bulk of us are still a long way from sympathising with them, much less empathising with them.
November 16th, 2006 at 10:57 pm
…we have our government to thanks for this. In order to achieve economic superiority, social morals have been sacrificed. Studies? Get a good grade and you can just screw everything else. Get that degree? Cool, go work in some top end company but you have already forgotten all the crap thats been hammered into your heads by your teachers.
November 17th, 2006 at 12:26 am
Yea…its sad but true,im also ashamed,especially when i see how people just wouldnt let passengers alight first at the MRT…….Singapore is experiencing moral decay and nuthings gunna save or stop it….
November 17th, 2006 at 12:30 am
had to agree what elohir said, in Singapore, education is everything, people praise and award you for having the brains to score well in exams and they dun even care whether you have basic manners or moral values…it’s quite a sad thing even we have moral value lessons in schools…sigh….just what is the use of having them?
@DM : those type of girls can be seen everywhere as what everyone had said, and being a teenage girl myself, i feel the shame of being one…perhaps should take up dkiwi’s suggestions…all girls go for NS training >_> seriously, someone has to stop their arrogance somehow….
showing disrepect for the eldery…they really deserved some tight slaps…but then again..i lack the courage to confront them even such thngs happened in my very eyes…some of them are real scary, u just glanced at them and those vulgarities words came pouring out of their mouths which i really cant stand all those plus those high-pitched screaming [OMG], thus i cant help it but act ignorant while cursing them inside my heart….weak sia, it’s all because people like me that these people are all getting their way….
orz…this is just so frustrating…
November 17th, 2006 at 10:50 am
speaking of MRT, i noticed that most people would just stand near the exit and not “move” inner to the seats (unless there are empty seats around) i usually saw the exits cramped up with people and the seat cabins with like only 6 to 7 people (and yes.. theres enough space for others)
November 17th, 2006 at 11:50 am
“And psychical abuse is the same or even worse than physical”
The word you are looking for is “psychological”, not “psychical”…psychical pertains more to the “psychic” sense of the of the mind and metaphysical phenomena, psychological refers to the state of the mind and emotions.
It seems that some of the previous comments have misplaced “elitism” with “misbehaviour”. It is not always so. They overlap but being elitist doesn’t implicate misbehaving, similarly misbehaving doesn’t implicate having elitist frames of mind.
November 17th, 2006 at 2:51 pm
@Tsugari moral lessons? More like free period.
November 17th, 2006 at 7:06 pm
I think somewhere in this discourse, we have become far too myopic and conclusive. What with “experiencing moral decay and nuthings gunna save or stop it”, “the future is doomed”, “most people would just stand near the exit”… and what evidence do we happen to use to prove it? Some anecdotes mostly on one side of the issue: isolated observations and conversations that appear to point to the presence of a moral malaise in Singapore.
Yet, there is little or no consideration for the big picture, or for the other side of the story. What of youth crime? Youth crime has been steadily decreasing since 2004 (link) —perhaps police enforcement has become more effective, but how much changed in these two years?
What of youth volunteerism? According to a 2006 survey by the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre, 28% of those aged 15 to 24 are volunteers, up from 25% in 2004 and well above the national average of 15.5%—and ‘volunteer’ doesn’t even include CIP (except those done above requirement).
Moral decay? Worse, one that is inevitable? The evidence presented above doesn’t seem strong enough to support a claim of this magnitude.
“Most” people will just stand near the exit? Really? I would believe this if you were to record the scene in 500 train carriages taken across different times at different places, perhaps use the chi-square test of statistical significance to determine whether there are more people near the exits, and eventually come to a quantitative conclusion. Human impression, especially when it’s skewed by the fact that we tend to over-represent the undesirable, just doesn’t cut it.
November 17th, 2006 at 7:31 pm
@wei zhong
Moral contradiction perhaps?
I would like to criticise the context in which you placed the examples you gave. While I agree with you that the mere essence of individuals’ perception of their fellow singaporeans is not enough to signify a “moral decay” or amageddon, there is an incompleteness in your examples too.
To begin, the rate of youth crime decreasing could be the result of extensive campaigning on the part of the police and youth welfare functions of the government as well as better education standards in Singapore leading to more fear of the consequence of crime. If so, then this is not an improvement in morals, but merely better knowledge of consequences.
Also, I know for a fact that some youths do volunteerism as part of their compulsory CIP hours that they have to tend to rather than the good of their own morals. Also, some are persuaded into doing it through peer pressure rather than through their own initiatives. Where is the increase in moral standards in that? It merely shows a weak link to POSSIBLE increase sense of duty.
I understand where you’re coming from in insisting the use of proper surveying methods for the gathering or empirical data. However, you cannot deny the importance of human impression. When people see Singaporeans, they impression they get is very important. For example, why do you think the four million smiles campaign was set up? It was to give the foreigners a better impression of Singapore. It could work to increase the level of interest in Singapore amongst the other citizens of the world, which in turn could equate investment and other big money spinners. If you were a foreigner, would you like investing in factories of unfriendly, uninspired and unsociable workers? I understand that you should insist on pure, unadulterred knowledge that is as objective as can be. However, you need to understand that both knowledge and beliefs have big roles to play in this society. Belief, even if it is unfounded, can damage the image and association of any country, organisation, or individual.
When people have a cultural meme that says bad habbits, the meme can proliferate through society and lead to a self-orientalism of sorts. This may further lead to more decay in moral standards.
Therefore, it is important to realise that human impression, which contructs beliefs, does “cut it”. Infact, some may say that any and all knowledge is unobjective and subjective and hence the only thing of any importance is belief, instead of knowledge.
November 17th, 2006 at 10:51 pm
@exalt dragon (to your reply to mine) The problem with people is that everyone afraid of getting beaten up. Ask yourself, how many people actually do get beaten up in public? So many fucked up things happens everyday, so shouldn’t more people get beaten up?
As long as you know you are right, just go ahead and tell that person off. Of course, if you get stabbed because of doing something like this, at least you die a matyr ya? Lol.
November 18th, 2006 at 5:41 pm
I think that this kind of phenomena occurs all around the world.. I even once had similar experience, but I’m the victim..
Unless the goverment do something critical, we can do nothing much. The least we can do is to teach our kids well enough in the future, I think..
November 18th, 2006 at 8:16 pm
No comment. I’m pretty sure that if I say anything bad about those schoolgirls, somebody’s ugly head is going to pop up and defend them in a very ugly way.
Which of course, isn’t any bit glorifying to be Singaporean either…
November 18th, 2006 at 9:05 pm
well, keep in mind that not just in Singapore, in every place on this planet has these inconsiderate people… I am very pleased that you knew it was wrong… And please feel proud that you realised it’s wrong… Maybe you may think how you can help when next time this kinda thing comes up…
Anon
November 20th, 2006 at 4:45 pm
Hm……………..90% of Singaporean girls are bitches eh?? From my point of view it should be 95%. The additional 5% is for those stupid girls who think they look so cute and act cute when they are so freaking ugly and have seriously freaking disgusting habits
November 21st, 2006 at 11:18 pm
Here we got mat rempits (illegal motorcycle racers) to worry about. Like, they throw some stones at the police. Recently.
February 11th, 2007 at 5:41 pm
its not totally the teens and kids fault i feel it has to do with parent’s upbringing sometimes so yea but still i feel like giving those bitches a tight slap “PIACK!!” >.
October 14th, 2007 at 9:54 am
think you’re absolutely right in what you said. i think that singaporeans are very ugly in terms of manners and social behaviour. i was talking to 2 of them last night, 2 singaporean girls, and one actually snapped at me because i did not agree that dating should be based on money. she said it was practicality. the behaviour of singaporeans is appalling and shocking. i feel ashamed 90% of the time to be a singaporean
October 19th, 2007 at 9:23 pm
I do not believe that this is merely limited to the teenage population; a large number of Singaporeans regardless of age behave this way as well.
Just a few weeks ago, I was on an MRT. An old man, bald and dressed in grey Buddhist monkly robes was hobbling along on a walking stick. When the train arrived, I boarded it and the man hobbled along towards the train. The berk boarded the train just in time but the momentum of the train’s movement threw him off his balance. I hastened to grip his arm and help him gain equilibrium and he settled down.
Suddenly, he gave a forceful shove towards another old guy standing beside him (we were all just next to the door, this other old guy was next to the “window seat”). The monk glared at the man and mumbled something; the man was perplexed, I think he thought I pushed him at first but the monk pushed him again and the second time he clearly saw it.
Next, he turned to the window seat at the opposite end and made for it, the Chinese scholar seated there stood up a bit shocked, and his friend who sat beside him tried to help and settle the old berk down but the man again just forcefully pushed the 2nd Chinese guy.
The Chinese guys were not the only foreigners on the train; there were 2 men of African descent right next to me, one of them in fact tried along with me to settle the old man down when he entered the train. This monk, if he be a Singapore Citizen, is a truly disgusting example of the Ugly Singaporean. All that, in spite of the fact that he is a monk, who is supposed to have spent years of meditation and introspection to find inner peace!
For shame! This monk not only disgraces Singapore, he highlights what organized religion does not and will not achieve- inner peace and enlightenment. Being old and wizened does not then, I think, make you any wiser, maybe you will have more experiences in life but you may just be more stuck in your ways.
November 27th, 2007 at 8:38 am
Our society is doomed seriously.
All kids do now a days when they get together is talk about well other people and well me being raised the great way I was luckily my parents we’re crazy with my mannerism and things around that so I know when enough is enough.
I personally don’t like talking about people even if there not around it leaves a bad after taste in my mouth. If they we’re bad to me or something like that I’d mention it once or twice to myself or a close friend but I wouldn’t go public with it. What I hate the most is when Asians start dissing other people seeing I am one I feel humiliated when they do. When Harry Potter was released me being the big Hp fan I was all for Order of the Phoenix. I got the ticket in advance and was at a midnight showing and there were some kids in costumes of well howgwarts student me being the Asian I am can take costumes without laughing being used to and wanting to do cosplay myself ;) however a group of Asians just started bawling with laughter I was like wow!
I didn’t say anything because I didn’t want to start a scene and well I don’t really like telling people from right and wrong, since I don’t feel as if it’s my place in the matter.
But I find it if someone my race or someone close to me at all does something embarrassing I get embarrassed or I feel ashamed I don’t know why maybe because there the same race as me, it’s just unsettling.
April 15th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Singapore is still better than Jakarta though….
May 14th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
I can’t agree more…. I’m a Singaporean myself and I’ve experienced quite a handful of sickening events myself. This one bothers me the most:
I was at the Admiralty MRT Station with my wheelchair-bound grandpa. Guess what happened? When I was about to enter the elevator to the Ticket Concourse, a lot of locals rushed for the door… Hell, that elevator is meant for physically-handicapped people and in a blink of an eye, it’s full of healthy, heartless locals. Man, I can’t believe my eyes….
Back on topic: I agree with DarkMirage… Most of our teenagers’ population(that includes me) do consists of punks and brats who just don’t know how to keep their mouths shut. I’m so ashamed of myself… as a Singaporean.
August 16th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
some singaporeans are just bitches. What they said and did simply deserve others spiting to their ugly faces.
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August 27th, 2009 at 9:37 am
I totally agree that Singaporean; especially girls are very inconsiderate, ill-mannered and pampered. I have travelled overseas many times with my friends which includes girls (Singaporean) as well, and they are always bragging about how big our currency is, how cheap things are, complain and choosey about food and enviroment. loudly! Total disrespect for other people’s culture.
I am not physically attractive or rich but when i try to ask foreign girls out Ie(Taiwan HK Indo Malay Phillippines Nepal), chances are they will agree. Singaporean girls on the other hand are extremly narrow minded. When I ask them out, they will think that im interested in them or sometin. I mean… cant a guy and a girl just go out as friends?.