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Americans: Does Singapore feel sterile?
Americans: Does Singapore feel sterile?
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'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
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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.
SOME PEOPLE TRY TO TURN BACK THEIR ODOMETERS. NOT ME. I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW WHY I LOOK THIS WAY. I'VE TRAVELED A LONG WAY, AND SOME OF THE ROADS WEREN'T PAVED. ~ Will Rogers
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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.
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
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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. 

SOME PEOPLE TRY TO TURN BACK THEIR ODOMETERS. NOT ME. I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW WHY I LOOK THIS WAY. I'VE TRAVELED A LONG WAY, AND SOME OF THE ROADS WEREN'T PAVED. ~ Will Rogers
- sundaymorningstaple
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Re: Americans: Does Singapore feel sterile?
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.AllBiz wrote: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
Re: Americans: Does Singapore feel sterile?
+1Wd40 wrote: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.AllBiz wrote: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?
http://www.linkedin.com/today/post/arti ... -6-p-m-too
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.
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.x9200 wrote: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 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.
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