27
Jun
Ugly Singaporeans — Saga II
Perhaps the situation is far worse than I have thought. Not only do Singaporeans have the nasty hobby of rushing into an already packed train without waiting for passengers to alight, now they even refuse to give way to a medic who needs the lift to rush a patient to the hospital!
Even the newspapers are on to the coat tails of this alleged phenomenon (as if the nightmare will go away when they wake up the next morning). The Straits Times conducted an investigation into the manners of Singaporeans, and the reporters came away shocked that the majority of the people do not hold doors for people behind them, don’t like to express gratitude in return for gracious help rendered, and feel that it is their right to think of themselves first.
The report went on to conclude that only a pathetic 20% of Singaporeans bother to thank others for courteous actions. I wonder how many of the reporters themselves do thank other parties for holding lift doors? Perhaps they are just guilty as the rest of us.
It is a scary situation, that despite more than 30 years of money spent by courtesy campaigns initiated by the government, there hasn’t been a single improvement in human to human interactions — that by itself is a frightening piece of statistic. Surprisingly, the government hasn’t come up to issue a statement on the apalling results (which in itself is strange, because they are well known for issuing swift and harsh rebuttals to any claims by the foreign media).
We claim to have morals. Authors write angry letters when we see something we don’t like. Bored people complain about extra letters in public signage to newspaper forums, irate callers shout at poor CSOs for slight inconveniences while being unapologetic when they are in the wrong.
Just today, while I was alighting the bus, an auntie tapped her EZ-Link card to out-process her card when she had no intention of alighting. She took advantage of the large number of people out-processing their EZ-Link card to tap hers too, so that she will not be charged for the rest of her journey. Being the average Singaporean, I gave her the stare, but made no noise. I considered complaining to the bus captain, but when he caught me in the eye, I quickly walked away.
What did you expect? I am the same as the rest: we are all ugly Singaporeans, and proud to have our morals!
on June 27th, 2006 at 8:49 pm
If you ask me.I don’t think its not because the government don’t want to issue swift and harsh rebuttals to any claims by the foreign media.Its because the government publish this fact to shame Singaporeans to change so that not a single cent be spent on campaigns on courtesy.
The press is government controlled so what the government want you to think they will publish in the according manner.
Don’t be surprised when certain things are not published at all.
The government don’t want us to know certain things.
on June 27th, 2006 at 8:59 pm
Sorry for the error .
“The press is government controlled so what the government want you to think they will publish in the according manner.”
I’m trying to say the press is government controlled so whatever the government want you to do.They will publish it in the according manner.
In my opinion , the government should bear responsibility to the tag “Singapore ranked 30th out of 35 cities for courtesy”( This title is taken from http://i-speak.blogdrive.com/ Sunday, June 25, 2006 post title )
If the government can claim credit for the good things why not the bad things.
In my opinion the government is very clever at using the press to ’shift the blame’ of the ‘courtesy rankings’ from the government to the people.
Just try to see if the government claim any credit for the rankings.Just see and you will know what I mean.
on June 27th, 2006 at 11:40 pm
Of course, but for this case The Straits Times has already published the findings, so I find it odd that nobody has come out to condemn us ugly Singaporeans.
Maybe we are all too guilty to even speak up.