Americans: Does Singapore feel sterile?

[AllBiz]

I've been reading a lot about Singapore recently, and I'm noticing a general opinion from Americans that Singapore feels overly sterile. Not just in the sense that stuff like chewing gum and pornography is illegal, but also within the people themselves.

I've heard others suggest Singaporeans in general are a shallow lot, focused mostly on status and success. According to comments they tend to work long hours and come home to an unfulfilling life outside of work.

I hope it's not true but I have to ask what you guys think about this?

[sundaymorningstaple]

From a yank who's been here over 3 decades, I agree 100%. They have the IQ but not the EQ. The country has all the trappin's but none of the soul necessary.

[zzm9980]

yes, all of the above

[Berabouman]

I'm a Singaporean who has lived in America and yes, I feel that Singapore is incredibly sterile.

[Brah]

Why is this question directed at Americans?

And is this poster genuine or on a fishing expedition?

While I also concur (I'm sure some of my early posts echo it in some way), that kind of opinion is not one held by some people of only one country. Plus not all people of any country are going to agree either.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Brah, maybe the OP's perceptions are limited to the circles OP frequents, e.g., the American Club or some such. If they don't have much interaction with other nationalities (you and I both know people like that) expatriate or otherwise, then their scope of input is narrow and shallow.

[AllBiz]

No discrimination intended, I just wanted to ask other Americans since they share my cultural perspective.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Valid perception. I've already given you my views.

[Wd40]

I've been reading a lot about Singapore recently, and I'm noticing a general opinion from Americans that Singapore feels overly sterile. Not just in the sense that stuff like chewing gum and pornography is illegal, but also within the people themselves.

I've heard others suggest Singaporeans in general are a shallow lot, focused mostly on status and success. According to comments they tend to work long hours and come home to an unfulfilling life outside of work.

I hope it's not true but I have to ask what you guys think about this?

I am not an American, everything else you say seems to be true but the part that I have highlighted, I think its hard to arrive at that conclusion. Yes its true that Singaporeans love shopping, travelling and are materialistic but probably that gives them the high that they need. But you see them always gather in food courts as a family and they do appear cheerful.

BTW, its ironic that you are addressing this to Americans who are also known to overwork and have less vacation time, not at all different from Singaporeans. If you had addressed it to Europeans or Aussies then its a different matter.

http://www.linkedin.com/today/post/arti ... -6-p-m-too

[Brah]

I've been reading a lot about Singapore recently, and I'm noticing a general opinion from Americans that Singapore feels overly sterile. Not just in the sense that stuff like chewing gum and pornography is illegal, but also within the people themselves.

I've heard others suggest Singaporeans in general are a shallow lot, focused mostly on status and success. According to comments they tend to work long hours and come home to an unfulfilling life outside of work.

I hope it's not true but I have to ask what you guys think about this?

BTW, its ironic that you are addressing this to Americans who are also known to overwork and have less vacation time, not at all different from Singaporeans. If you had addressed it to Europeans or Aussies then its a different matter.

http://www.linkedin.com/today/post/arti ... -6-p-m-too

+1

The American atrocity of work-life balance and barbaric amount of annual leave is an embarrassment, especially when people who never worked outside the US defend it with weak rationale about how supposedly good it is to work like that, while working for companies who care less about its workers that other countries.

Also thanks for that LI link, I was compelled to comment but prefer to lay low on such things.

[nakatago]

Sterile?

Not anymore.

Now, it's just toxic; radioactive even.

[AllBiz]

What is your standard of overworking? I believe the 40 hour workweek in the United States is a modern luxury compared to many Asian countries where the six or even seven day work week, encompassing all daylight hours, still the norm.

[x9200]

This long working week with long hours, is it really a norm in Singapore? I know there are people working like this but I would not expect it to be that common.

[Wd40]

In my bank its definitely not the norm. I have never ever stayed back after hours and the only time I came to office on a Saturday was to take large amount of printouts for my PR application documents and even then all lights were off and like 3-4 people in the whole office.

[Brah]

This long working week with long hours, is it really a norm in Singapore? I know there are people working like this but I would not expect it to be that common.

I don't think so and I agree, to your two points. And I'm still not convinced that this person is not fishing (unlike the other person in the Latest News thread about the recent backlash). Sorry triple negative.

I think in any company there will be those who come in earlier and leave later, but what I've seen here more that the other places I lived is people religiously going to lunch like clockwork and taking the full hour or more, are in a little late and leave at 6 on the dot.

I think it's relative to times not country, in that Singapore is probably now working harder than before, but compared with other countries no way near as stressful or demanding. So to them it is more stressful, to those who have worked in other countries, maybe not so. Of course this is a generalization and depends on role and industry.

Having said that, the way people in the States work has become more and more stupid over the years, the guilt of always having to be on call, reading and responding to emails, before- and after-hours conference calls, and the like.

Those here who do work on weekends do so because their jobs call for it, and usually get comp time for that (as they should). I doubt this happens as often in the States.

In Japan and the US it was not uncommon for me to work at my desk through lunch, not take breaks, etc. and I do it here as well, and I'm usually the only one who does.