Common courtesy?

[Conker]

The local press did an undercover shoot near where I work earlier in the year and got an actor to collapse at a bus station. No one even approached him for about three minutes of him lying on the floor clutching his chest!

Has the materialism of Singapore destroyed the populations emotional capicity to care or is it because they are so shy and retiring? The shopping culture is a whole new subject but buying clothes, jewelry, cars etc. MAY be the main way Singaporeans can express themselves...

I love the huge beam on girls faces here if I open a door for them...and the local men wonder why Ang mos get the women

[madwolfie]

Has the materialism of Singapore destroyed the populations emotional capicity to care ...

It has certainly brought down the percentage of population who can actually care...

or is it because they are so shy and retiring?

As for shy and retiring? Just excuses really...

[Spunky]

Perhaps everyone thought GOTCHA! is filming nearby

[Kimi]

well, i'm tempted to move to wales myself after reading what Bubbles wrote!

Ditto to that!
Bubbles, Wales is going to be one of my travel list then!

kimi, next time make sure you fall in front of me, i'll help!

Ah cheers luv, I know you would

I agree with Wham though, call it your inner consciousness calling or whatever, but I reckon it is rather common sense and a reflect unless it had turned to be the "kiasu" mode after following the "current" or the current trend for some time, to at least ask or offer to help those in front of our eyes who need help...

madwolfie, I reckon it's people who are rather cautious for reasons that Plavt mentioned about having used to live in a dodgy area for example or not to have much faith on strangers type of cautiousness perhaps, but please don't give up on standing out in the crowd aka to be courteous

Micknlea, I know how you felt. Same feeling I had yesterday when I fell with my laptop case and handbag, I haven't checked the laptop whether it's broken or not, oh dear
The thing is this acquaintance I was talking to yesterday, sort of delivered me a message that well life is a bitch so one just has to get used to it, to live in a world full of bitchy mode people. But call it my romantic side, I still refuse to believe it's true, despite of...

Besides, after all of your inquiries about my ankle, that is not true, is it?
Cheers everybody.
The ankle isn't serious, only I definitely have to give up my mission to run let's say for couple of weeks *snif snif*

There is something more I want to say about this acting like a gentleman thing that people mentioned, but that has to wait...

[jag78]

Hey Kimi,
Just saw your post; hope that ankle's okay! Do rest up for a bit...could be awhile before the swelling goes away...
Re the reactions of our fellow citizens, it could be a lot of things, as many have suggested. It could also have been plain 'ole apathy. Had a colleague 5 or 6 months pregnant who tripped and fell forward on her way home from work. A passing jogger called out, "You okay?" as he jogged past, not missing a beat.
Well at least he did ask after her.

[Cheekybeek]

I had the experience of falling over here during my first week in Singapore. I fell on the last step at Boon lay MRT as it was raining and my shoes were very slippery. I wasn't hurt and my partner picked me up but I am happy to say at least one friendly hand other than my partners was held out to me as I sat on my ass in the puddle.

I heard a story from a local girl that once a lady fell on the train tracks and was crying for help as she couldn't get up. The MRT came and she was killed, without anyone bothering to help her. I don't know how you could sleep at night if you stood by and witnessed this.

I agree it doesn't take much to be courteous and to offer a smile or a helping hand, you will be remembered for it and it could mean the difference to someone's day.

[micknlea]

Just want to say that today was the total opposite for me.

Everywhere I went people said thank you when I held the door/lift door open etc. This was smack bang in the middle of the city in many of shopping malls.

Maybe as a result of this thread I was looking out for it more, or maybe its not as bad as your initial impressions.

[banana]

Just like common sense, there's nothing common about it.

[Kimi]

Just want to say that today was the total opposite for me.

Everywhere I went people said thank you when I held the door/lift door open etc. This was smack bang in the middle of the city in many of shopping malls.

Maybe as a result of this thread I was looking out for it more, or maybe its not as bad as your initial impressions.

I wasn't looking out but a simple act of kindness was given to me today.
Cause of the ankle I couldn't reach a top shelf in one of the shops in Plaza Singapura when I was looking for materials to make the Christmas gifts, and an older Indian man was reaching for the thing for me.
So there is still hope!

[earthfriendly]

I don't know if I am correct in my assumption but please feel free to correct. SGeans are very shy, uptight, reserve, and somewhat lack a sense of confidence. By extending a helping hand, they are afraid of bringing attention to themselves. Like myself, they tend to do better in small social group, away from public glare and scrutiny. When socialising with a small circle of friends, they tend to "loosen up" and are extremely kind, always volunteering their assistance like offering to help you push the baby stroller and carry your bags etc...

Add to the above characteristics is their lack of general awareness of events happening around them. They are rather one-dimensional and only focus on what they are doing. E.g if they are walking, only see the single path in front of them that they will be taking and prone to bump into someone accidentally. In short, they are very "blur" or clueless.

[sundaymorningstaple]

I don't know if I am correct in my assumption but please feel free to correct. SGeans are very shy, uptight, reserve, and somewhat lack a sense of confidence. By extending a helping hand, they are afraid of bringing attention to themselves. Like myself, they tend to do better in small social group, away from public glare and scrutiny. When socialising with a small circle of friends, they tend to "loosen up" and are extremely kind, always volunteering their assistance like offering to help you push the baby stroller and carry your bags etc...

Add to the above characteristics is their lack of general awareness of events happening around them. They are rather one-dimensional and only focus on what they are doing. E.g if they are walking, only see the single path in front of them that they will be taking and prone to bump into someone accidentally. In short, they are very "blur" or clueless.

A better term might be just a total lack of spatial awareness. sounds better than blur like sotong.

[Wind In My Hair]

A better term might be just a total lack of spatial awareness. sounds better than blur like sotong.

er... who? what? where? .... *bump* ow!!! what the... oh is that you SMS? sorry didn't see you. what are you doing here?

[sundaymorningstaple]

Pretty much what I always do, swim upstream against the current!. bumping into everybody on the way.

[Bubbles]

I agree to a certain extent with the reasoning that Singaporeans do not like to bring attention to themselves, and this is perhaps why they don't like to 'jump in' and help....however, it's madness to think that just because of this they are not kindhearted.

Many local friends of mine are so sweet and caring. And also crazy and zany.

It's just a shame that whatever it is that stops them being demonstrative in public is what we latch onto.

It is quite strange though....knowing that if I fell down with a heart attack or something folk would worry about coming up to help. Are you SURE this is what the majority of S'poreans are like? Doesn't seem to ring true with me, or perhaps I've not been living there for a while and forgot?

[Rose_YG]

It's funny sometimes when i have to hold open the door for the local man.
And they 'happily' walk in without saying thank you!
Well to add to their 'embarrassment' i would usually say 'you are welcome' right at their face!