Singaporeans and Caucasians

[razak]

Gooood Daay Singa,

From a legal point you may be right. Also I dont have a problem with people like you laughing at me for no reason. The actual problem is that feelings of inferiority, jealousy, lack of attention and personal frustration relate to disrespect for others (esp. westeners). Think about it - once you realize this causual relationship you might be able to help yourself and enjoy life to a fuller extent. Focus your energy on your personal advancement and not your (perceived) deficiencies vis a vis other people (specifically caucasians).

The Lord is with all of us.

[singaporean lad]

generally sing-ers are conservative lot. some of them are very liberal but to a certain degree. locals laugh at caucasians cos of the media we r exposed to. sitcoms like 'friends' usually give an impression how westerners lived in their countries. if you understand mandarin, tune in to channel 8 and u know what I mean. even if u dont, there is english subtitles to help u understand. yes, I do agree the english used could be below the standard native-english speakers used to but at least it is english, not singlish. why I stressed channel 8 is because it is a heartlanders' channel. u could say channel 5 is another heartlander channel but there is a certain differences which really bring out the true singaporean in every locals here.

when locals see/know a caucasian, instinctively, he/she will think of america and their way of living. media here get to broadcast american movies, gameshows , sitcoms,comedies etc. we do not get to watch a lot of british,irish ,ozzie or any shows done by native english speakers.

u could argue about the cable but only a certain percentage of the population here owned one. most of them subscribed to cable is to watch EPL or any live sports coverage.

[ahboy]

Joking apart, Sing lad there is some thruth to it but I guess thats only part of the story. Other reasons may be more applicable. Thats life aint it?

[decentxp]

Marc isnt that high level of attention something pleasant? No matter what it is...Laughing is also a form of attention.
Most people yearn for some form of attention...
Now, I find it great! So should you!

[decentxp]

Attention is someting great.Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Enjoy as long as you can.

[76er]

Hey Bud,
Take the advice from ''decentxp'' and enjoy the attention you get in Singapore. You must me damn bloody well off if you consider this your only problem in life;
All right I believe I made my point. I ll have a good sleep now. Good Nite!

[dragonboat]

Hi Webber,

You are probably too sensitve. They may be laughing at something else.
Maybe the next time you can go forward and ask them "WHAT ARE YOU LAUGHING AT?!" That will probably clear some of your concerns.

[prodigy]

I hate it most with people sitted at a corner and telling their friends abt 'u' and they will just giggle and laugh ( bcoz you can tell they're talking about you), and when you turn to look at them, they look away and quieten down, this is the most annoying kind of laughing one can get.

[Guest]

Absolutely agree that there is an inherent resentment of Westerners in Singapore. AS an expat female I am stared at because of my fuller body shape and resented in my office because of the perception that I earn more. Perhaps the fact that I am not a pack lead person but very independent does not help with breaking down the barriers....but I have tried with some and my efforts have never been reciprocated. I'm leaving Singapore. You've got a lovely country, shame about the small minded thinking.

[greatmistake]

To repatriate is the wrong response: jealousy and resentment at the workplace in the way you outlined it reflects a form hidden admiration: your local colleaques would indeed like to earn the salary you earn, well they might wish to have the brains you have got. They admire what you ve got. Instead of trying harder they surrender and the only strategy for them to alleviate their frustration is to look at one aspect where they might be able to score. And what is it? Your weight. Hehehe What a joke - you cant take these people serious. Would you be annoyed by a child staring at you coz of your weight: NO
Stay and dont give up a good paid job. Alternatively you might switch to a company with a mainly caucasian workforce.
:!:

[xp8]

Great christmas present for your colleaques. Thats precisely what these folks want you to do: to repatriate as they fear your competition. DONT DO THEM THE FAVOUR AND REPATRIATE !!!!!!! Other people face similar problems so youre not the only one. That might be little comfort but that puts it into perspective.

Best of Luck

[jacky]

The Singapore Government should do something about this rising resentment against westeners. Singapore is taking part in the global competition to attract investment and knowledge. But most of all its competing for the best brains on this globe. I am a Singaporean and so far my experience with Westeners is excellent (sure there are also some stuck up guys around but thats a tiny minority). The government should by means of the electronic/print media eradicate this destructive resentment and raise awareness that most of the caucasians are 'regular guys' - if people cant except that than at least they should respect their contributions they make on a daily basis and in this way keep Singapore ahead in this global economy.
Lastly, there is discrimination all around the world, but thats not an excuse. Singapore is striving for excellence in whatever they do, so why not prove to the world that we have the self-awareness and pride to respect people whatever their background. That should be part of our cultural and national identity. The government has succeeded to embedd racial harmony in Spore, however so far westeners have not been really be seen as part of this society and thus not included in this efforts. Thats what the government should now address as.

[Guest]

Jacky,

Well said. Although I hasten to add that as a regular visitor the island, I do not recall ever been given funky looks, sneers, or anything of that nature. I think this thread is becoming more of a self-fulfilling prophecy, and is giving more credit to an issue than it deserves, because I believe it it is a non-issue.

In my experience, there is no such thing as anti-Caucasion racism in Singapore. Any expat who thinks he or she experiences this, is merely the occasional subject of a group of curb-farties with very little else to do at that particular point in time, probably bored out of their skulls. Nothing to do? Let's get up a white guy's behind. Yeah, that'll be fun.

Hardly racism, though. You yourself drove this home when you mentioned the racial harmony. It's the one country I Know of that has such a happy mix of cultures, religion and what-not. It's just not in a Singaporean's nature to hate or resent on the basis of race.

I've just booked my trip to Singapore for February 2004. I'll let you know if I stick with my view when I'm back home in Europe in March.

SR

[jpatokal]

My dear unimaginative Mr/Ms. Guest, if you think all Singaporeans just luuuuuuuuuurve us Foreign Talents, I'd be interested in hearing your explanation of this:

http://forums.delphiforums.com/n/mb/mes ... sg=36566.1

So please. I URGED all my fellow countrymen to take action NOW. freak all these bastards up. Throw stones or shit at them if possible. DO NOT be nice to any of them.

I URGED all ROBBERS, THIEVES, PICKPOCKETS, RAPISTS and MURDERERS to target these cheebyes FTs.

I URGED all conmen in Sickapore to con these bastards.

Quick Hokkien vocab builder:
ang mor (kau) = red haired (monkey) = you
ah neh = Indian (pejorative)
cheebye = smelly vagina (very very pejorative)

I don't think this guy represents the majority in Sing, but he did get some sympathy... and I think it's quite understandable that, as an elite class who are "stealing their jobs" (ho hum...), we expats do face some resentment. It's not a problem in my workplace, because I try not to put on airs and am perfectly happy hanging out with our local talent, but I have no delusions of being considered truly an equal.

[Guest]

A lot of anti-government projectile vomiting in that thread also. I suppose some people get that way when times are lean.

Either way, it doesn't take a nuclear scientist to see that this bloke is a pretty rotten apple. I'm not going to get sucked into commenting on that rant, other then say that with 100+ posts that guy should be quite traceable by that forum's mediator.

By deciding to leave that inciteful rave on there, it seems to me they're at least passively aiding and abetting this guy's cause. I'm all for free speech, but I reckon this guy is taking us into a place we don't wanna be.

In my experience the vast majority of Singaporeans are cool about us Caucs, which is why I come back to Singapore again and again.