Typical Singaporean! Can hear them a mile away!
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Sawadeeeeeee.....!! Phom cheu Gentlerock.
Greetings from Khrungthepmahanakorn (aka Bangkok). I'm here for the 90th time on a semi-working, semi-holiday trip.....and after a two-month lapse, I still can hold a simple conversation in Thai
. Just came back up to my hotel room and something interesting (disgusting) happened in the lift.
So on the way up to my room, I shared the lift with two other groups of people.
Group 1: Two Singaporean women, who were chatting about their computer keyboards being worn out. Yes, of course their conversation could be heard in the lift, but it was by no means intrusively loud. Acceptable by any Asian standards (unless you're the type who is used to whispering in lifts).
Group 2: Two women, one most likely a Singaporean (from her accent), the other spoke with an American accent (she's Asian). Dyed and styled hair, well-dressed, with loads of shopping.
The women who chatted about their computer keyboards (Group 1) left the lift first, since their rooms were on a lower floor. After they had exited, the remaining two women (Group 2) made some loud comments, their exact words being "Typical Singaporean! Can hear them from a mile away". The irony of it all was that their comments were even louder than the "loud" women they were criticising. Sheeeeesh, what dumb poopoos...!!
Honestly, if Group 2 had thrown their criticisms softly, it would have been totally fine. But to LOUDLY criticise others for being too loud is, at best, hypocrisy + blind arrogance + stupidity....especially when the criticised party wasn't too loud at all. Seems to me like a failed attempt by Group 2 to promote their own social status.
On a totally different topic, I went to the all-new sparkling Siam Paragon today (supposedly the biggest shopping mall in Asia?). If size does count, then this would be the most potent of them all! But its too high-class for me, with all the expensive branded stuff. They had a car exhibition there today too, with Ferraris and Lamborghinis (isthathowyouspellit?) displayed, with gull-wing doors opened and all. Nahhhh....I still like my Subaru. At least I have a backseat.....especially useful when my wife drives and I sit behind to play the role of backseat driver.
Ooooh...Thai traditional dance starting on TV now....gotta go!! Always loved to watch these. One day, I'm gonna be able to curl my fingers as far back (although this might be dangerous at the age of 39).... -
lemmie see.... I was at Euro Disneyland in Paris this summer... and out of the blue I heard "chao C*** B***!!!"
instantly I know there were singaporeans behind me. turned around, viola. 3 or 4 early 20s singaporean guys there -
Originally posted by HENG@:lemmie see.... I was at Euro Disneyland in Paris this summer... and out of the blue I heard "chao C*** B***!!!"
instantly I know there were singaporeans behind me. turned around, viola. 3 or 4 early 20s singaporean guys there -
in my school, im the only one from singapore lol... dont even have anyone from malaysia or indonesia.. lmfao..
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You should have told them.. N* N* B**..Originally posted by HENG@:lemmie see.... I was at Euro Disneyland in Paris this summer... and out of the blue I heard "chao C*** B***!!!"
instantly I know there were singaporeans behind me. turned around, viola. 3 or 4 early 20s singaporean guys there -
sigh...Originally posted by HENG@:lemmie see.... I was at Euro Disneyland in Paris this summer... and out of the blue I heard "chao C*** B***!!!"
instantly I know there were singaporeans behind me. turned around, viola. 3 or 4 early 20s singaporean guys there 
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Well, the government has been harping on Singaporeans to forge a National Identity.Originally posted by HENG@:lemmie see.... I was at Euro Disneyland in Paris this summer... and out of the blue I heard "chao C*** B***!!!"
instantly I know there were singaporeans behind me. turned around, viola. 3 or 4 early 20s singaporean guys there
I think we have one now!
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wait till you hear KNN in Oregon or some place in Alabama..Originally posted by Meia Gisborn:Well, the government has been harping on Singaporeans to forge a National Identity.
I think we have one now! -
soooo.. what are you guys going to do to change that perception?
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Fact of life is, you cannot remove the bad bits without making the whole shebang look too artificed.Originally posted by the Bear:soooo.. what are you guys going to do to change that perception?
But we try, we do try. -
i meant, ourselves...
are we the courteous people we wish everyone would be?
that would be a start.. -
good point.Originally posted by the Bear:i meant, ourselves...
are we the courteous people we wish everyone would be?
that would be a start.. -
We're only as courteous as the campaign tells us to be....Originally posted by the Bear:i meant, ourselves...
are we the courteous people we wish everyone would be?
that would be a start..
In my opinion, courtesy is a function of one's upbringing and surroundings. It's hard to inculcate courtesy when you're brought up in a 'succeed at all costs' environment like Singapore. -
never ever blame society when the responsibility is personal...
that's a copout...Originally posted by Meia Gisborn:We're only as courteous as the campaign tells us to be....
In my opinion, courtesy is a function of one's upbringing and surroundings. It's hard to inculcate courtesy when you're brought up in a 'succeed at all costs' environment like Singapore. -
Wont apply to me
I got people asking me whether I come from China, Malaysia, Singapore etc etc
Coolz -
you know ... actually, "class" snobbishness aside .... I think we Singaporeans are pretty well received ... in third world and developing countries that is ... we're loud, a bit arrogant, but essentially harmless ... like the prosperous country bumpkin come to town eh .... but we're not obnoxious ... we don't jump queues, abuse salespeople (I mean assault), or whack golf caddies ... (if you're wondering who'd do the latter two ... ask the south koreans ... they have an "awesome" reputation around the developing parts of south east asia ... ), so there ... I think we're behaving pretty okay compared to lots of other people actually ...
speaking of C.C.Bs ... I remember this incident at Bangkok's weekend market once ... we spied a fair, tall, slim chinese lady with a movie star face wearing a pastel sundress and a straw hat .... *happiness ! ... so we trailed her for a bit ... just to lick on more of the eye candy ... she stopped by a stall ... asked for the price of something .... then ! ...
"Wah Kau ! ....!#$%@#$%^@%$@$%@$%@$%#$ " she opened her mouth and questioned the entire ancestry of the storekeeper ! ....
... so becareful yah ... these pretty ladies ... -
Even if some of the responsibility is personal, you cannot deny that society plays a significant role in shaping a person's behaviour.Originally posted by the Bear:never ever blame society when the responsibility is personal...
that's a copout...
Besides, who sets the standard for what is considered an 'acceptable' level of courtesy? The family? -
Well...upbringing does play a part I feel. I see with my own eyes lots of parents and grandparents teaching/training their children how to cut queues and rush for seats on buses and trains and other public places, mind their own business and never help strangers, never to help their own friends or classmates because they are competition for examinations/entrance into good schools etc. How do you think these kids will turn out? Some teachers I know have commented that whatever good values they try to instill in children often gets reversed by the parents at home.Originally posted by the Bear:never ever blame society when the responsibility is personal...
that's a copout... -
Originally posted by Meia Gisborn:Well, the government has been harping on Singaporeans to forge a National Identity.
I think we have one now!
KNN
CCB
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Originally posted by av98m:Well...upbringing does play a part I feel. I see with my own eyes lots of parents and grandparents teaching/training their children how to cut queues and rush for seats on buses and trains and other public places, mind their own business and never help strangers, never to help their own friends or classmates because they are competition for examinations/entrance into good schools etc. How do you think these kids will turn out? Some teachers I know have commented that whatever good values they try to instill in children often gets reversed by the parents at home.
That's so sad, isn't it?
I believe what you said because I've overheard parents teaching their children similar atrocious stuff!
With parents like these, the kids don't stand a chance to turn out any different from their parents. -
Oh, u forgot the parents who just stand by and watch while their kids bully, throw rocks at poor, defenceless, pitiful stray kittens/cats, or try bouncing the poor kitten up and down like a ball, and basically, inflict all sorts of cruelty and abuse on the poor animal who had done nothing to them.Originally posted by av98m:Well...upbringing does play a part I feel. I see with my own eyes lots of parents and grandparents teaching/training their children how to cut queues and rush for seats on buses and trains and other public places, mind their own business and never help strangers, never to help their own friends or classmates because they are competition for examinations/entrance into good schools etc. How do you think these kids will turn out? Some teachers I know have commented that whatever good values they try to instill in children often gets reversed by the parents at home.
Still, having grown up, been educated in school, and hopefully be wiser and more enlightened about the ways of the world, I do agree with the bear that it is our personal responsibility to be self-aware and not be over kia su and kia si to the extent of being oblivious and inconsiderate to the rest of the people around us. I don't think the excuse that 'we were brought up this way' can or should justify bad public behaviour. -
Hehe Chris and I were in Phuket some time back (waayyyyyy before the Tsunami) and we went for a day tour. Apparently there were only 4 couples who went along.
2 couples were Korean and the other 2 were definately Singaporeans. It was so damn easy to tell. The guide brought us to this shop that sold dried goods and we overheard the guy telling the girl ," Let's go down a few shops. I bet it's much cheaper there." -
Originally posted by Wanda:
animal abusers DIE!!!!
Oh, u forgot the parents who just stand by and watch while their kids bully, throw rocks at poor, defenceless, pitiful stray kittens/cats, or try bouncing the poor kitten up and down like a ball, and basically, inflict all sorts of cruelty and abuse on the poor animal who had done nothing to them.
Still, having grown up, been educated in school, and hopefully be wiser and more enlightened about the ways of the world, [b]I do agree with the bear that it is our personal responsibility to be self-aware and not be over kia su and kia si to the extent of being oblivious and inconsiderate to the rest of the people around us. I don't think the excuse that 'we were brought up this way' can or should justify bad public behaviour.[/b]
I agree. Upbringing is just a contributing factor. Some people amazingly turn out very well adjusted despite having screwed up parents.
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Originally posted by Wanda:Oh, u forgot the parents who just stand by and watch while their kids bully, throw rocks at poor, defenceless, pitiful stray kittens/cats, or try bouncing the poor kitten up and down like a ball, and basically, inflict all sorts of cruelty and abuse on the poor animal who had done nothing to them.
I have seen kids abusing kittens whilst their parents did nothing. I have deliberately shouted at them to ''STOP IT!!'' and then, ask equally loudly, ''WHERE are your parents?!!'' to embarrass them. -
If I see them in school uniform, I'll claim that I know their school principal, and threaten to tell on them.Originally posted by Rhonda:
I have seen kids abusing kittens whilst their parents did nothing. I have deliberately shouted at them to ''STOP IT!!'' and then, ask equally loudly, ''WHERE are your parents?!!'' to embarrass them.