Another Angmoh in trouble!

Max Headroom · Post by **Max Headroom** » Wed, 29 Jan 2014 9:46 pm

It's quite depressing. I was in the north, some MRT station, waiting to meet up with a mate. There's this KFC with a glass door. The door has obviously had it because it's stuck at ajar and I can see it takes a lot of effort to pry it open when people go in.

Standing there, observing, I must have seen dozens of people yank the door open and then barely squeezing through the gap, before letting the door slam back behind them, without so much as a peek over their shoulder to see if perhaps there's someone behind them that may get clobbered by the door, or may want to go in too.

I mentioned earlier that I try not to sweat the small stuff too much. But seeing this sad scene unfold again and again is ever so depressing.

JR8 · Post by **JR8** » Wed, 29 Jan 2014 10:14 pm

Max Headroom wrote:I mentioned earlier that I try not to sweat the small stuff too much. But seeing this sad scene unfold again and again is ever so depressing.

There is a dichotomy, a friction, between how you'd treat people, how the TV ads say you should be, and how the locals treat other locals.

... there is a point as a ''''visitor''' you're sick of being Mother Theresa and/or an 'educator-example'.

Max Headroom · Post by **Max Headroom** » Wed, 29 Jan 2014 10:31 pm

Yeah, maybe. Maybe all of the boorish stuff accumulates over the years, wears you down to the point of surrender, after which you turn the corner and go "bugger all of this".

Me, for now, I try to let the good things in Singapore tip the balance eh. Such as this awesome breeze that we're having for weeks now. Shiokness.

Post by **sundaymorningstaple** » Wed, 29 Jan 2014 10:45 pm

Max Headroom wrote:Such as this awesome breeze that we're having for weeks now. Shiokness.

^^This!

JR8 · Post by **JR8** » Wed, 29 Jan 2014 10:56 pm

Great for you maybe, my wife and I both off work on MC precisely because of this change of season.

stuckmojo · Post by **stuckmojo** » Thu, 30 Jan 2014 11:27 am

Manners are always welcome and always practiced. I guess I was brought up that way, but maybe I am a bit distracted and don't really pay attention to those who don't acknowledge courtesy.

I even try that on the road: let the next vehicle in, signal early et cetera. It's mostly to drive defensively and avoid the kamikaze lane splitting 100cc scooter jockeys.

I do get assertive and even aggressive at times when they cut me up dangerously. Mostly just and evil scowl at the next set of lights but you can tell the perpetrator of poor driving would wish they could sink into the ground and disappear.

iloverice · Post by **iloverice** » Thu, 30 Jan 2014 11:47 am

But not all angmoh will say thank you or at least look at you when you hold the door or the lift for them, just had the experience few days ago, I think he thought I was the door girl.

just saying...

nutnut · Post by **nutnut** » Thu, 30 Jan 2014 12:14 pm

You are absolutely right, not all angmoh's are polite. I have seen a few, these are the types I am more likely to scald. However, a lot of missing manners stems from locals.

Steve1960 · Post by **Steve1960** » Thu, 30 Jan 2014 12:48 pm

Leaving the office now to go China Town with the family and practice my manners and self control!

QRM · Post by **QRM** » Thu, 30 Jan 2014 1:26 pm

Mind you some ang moh take the piss, I was at a medical clinic today and the ang moh mum just left two kids with a foot ball and tennis ball to run riot around the waiting area when she went into the consultation room, she left the helper with them but she had no control over them at all.

Post by **sundaymorningstaple** » Thu, 30 Jan 2014 1:41 pm

I also think, to a certain extent, that the 'when in Rome....' syndrome eventually tends to creep into our habits after you've been constantly cut off, shut out or walked into enough times.....

JR8 · Post by **JR8** » Thu, 30 Jan 2014 2:13 pm

sundaymorningstaple wrote:I also think, to a certain extent, that the 'when in Rome....' syndrome eventually tends to creep into our habits after you've been constantly cut off, shut out or walked into enough times.....

Yes, it's sad but it's true.
- why should I trouble myself to hold a door open when it will go unacknowledged by the 'dozen people' who decide to race through?
- when I'm walking along, why is it always me that feels forced to give way: Perhaps I should just stop doing so?
- why should I hold a lift for someone I can hear approaching around the corner, when they'd never do it for me?

Good manners is not a selfless act of charity, it presumes some level of reciprocity.

movingtospore · Post by **movingtospore** » Thu, 30 Jan 2014 2:17 pm

When I was back in the US recently for work I keep causing a "jam" at the elevators as I would just stand there waiting to get on the elevator when there was a male in front of me (a woman)...but they were always showing some manners waiting for me to get on...but I'd forgotten about that as I've become so accustomed to the survival of the fittest approach over here...I'm sure they were wondering what on earth was wrong with me.

Max Headroom · Post by **Max Headroom** » Thu, 30 Jan 2014 5:55 pm

^^ Hahaha!

Addadude · Post by **Addadude** » Mon, 03 Feb 2014 7:36 pm

For a good laugh, here's the Courtesy Campaign commercial I did way back in 1995.

Following a precise prescription from the Courtesy Council (many of whom were habitually late for all our meetings) we highlighted important acts like freeing up the seat beside you on the bus, arriving on time for wedding dinners and holding doors open for others following behind.

Clearly it (and every other commercial and campaign) failed miserably...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wch97uIm ... e=youtu.be

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Another Angmoh in trouble!

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