Whose way is it anyway?

[Mary Hatch Bailey]

And do you know why the zebra has stripes?

OK, I'll bite, why does a zebra have stripies? My guess it's not for camauflage on the savannah where all the predators are color blind...

[Carpe Diem]

There's no black-and-white answer, Mary.

But what I heard is that when a herd of zebras is together, all the stripes may confuse predators as they can't tell where one zebra begins and the other ends.

This way they cannot focus on one zebra (same is for small fishes by the way).

[sundaymorningstaple]

Following is extracted from the latest Press Release from the Ministry of Manpower dated 15 March 2006 on the Labour Market, 2005.

Local employment grew by 63,500 in 2005, up from gains of 49,900 in 2004 . This is the highest annual employment creation on record for locals, even exceeding pre-Asian crisis levels . Foreign employment grew by 49,800, higher than the increase of 21,500 in 2004. Last year’s foreign employment gains came close to the 50,100 increase in the boom of 2000 but were still lower than pre-Asian crisis when foreign job gains averaged 70,400 per year from 1995 to 1997. As at December 2005, there were 671,200 foreigners working in Singapore, constituting 28.9% of total employment.

This obviously is not the total number of foreigners here as this doesn't include following family members.

[tiki]

[quote="Carpe Diem"]There's no black-and-white answer, Mary.

But what I heard is that when a herd of zebras is together, all the stripes may confuse predators as they can't tell where one zebra begins and the other ends.

quote]

I noticed the same behaviour in humans too CD. Some of 'em just choose to cross the road in a dangerous manner even though a zebra crossing is like two steps away.

[Carpe Diem]

There's no black-and-white answer, Mary.

But what I heard is that when a herd of zebras is together, all the stripes may confuse predators as they can't tell where one zebra begins and the other ends.

quote]

I noticed the same behaviour in humans too CD. Some of 'em just choose to cross the road in a dangerous manner even though a zebra crossing is like two steps away.

Sorry I never saw a zebra crossing the road so I cannot comment.

[tiki]

There's no black-and-white answer, Mary.

But what I heard is that when a herd of zebras is together, all the stripes may confuse predators as they can't tell where one zebra begins and the other ends.

quote]

I noticed the same behaviour in humans too CD. Some of 'em just choose to cross the road in a dangerous manner even though a zebra crossing is like two steps away.

Sorry I never saw a zebra crossing the road so I cannot comment.

Oooo....

but being French, I'm sure you've had your fair share of cross sightings

..lala

[Vaucluse]

The Rainbow warrior being one . . .

[MobyDog]

@Dillion

Once I left a bus, and I was in the way of an student that was running to catch the bus. I saw that he realized that I was in his way, but he just decided to lower his view and pretend not to see me. Big mistake! I body checked that bantamweight and he was flying like a chicken thet got hit by an penalty kick. My personal highlight.

They a born and raised with this attitude so for them it is ok but I still think it is wrong and is caused by very deep-seated selfish nature.

WTF... Different situations warrants different actions. Obvously that chap was rushing to catch a bus.. you did that to him ? and you Were in his way ? Well done.. and feeling proud about it ? Calling yourself civil ? That's call bullying... and your action will no doubt persuade him to do same to the next Foreigner he comes across.. and starts a vicious cycle. Then other Expats who felt harassed or victimise will do the equivalent to the next local they come across.. who then bitch about it to their friends and post their discontent here - in this forum.

Isn't in the same in New York's Subway and London's Tube system during Rush hours ? Isn't there shoulder rubbing actions too.

Isn't all of you being too myopic ?

Yes, I also do hate it when walking on busy Orchard Road here, having to stop all the time in order to not bump into all the other people, 99.99% locals. But the funny thing is, thye never bump into each other, it is always a mad foreigner bumping into them or into another foreigner.

So the Singaporeans never bump, the foreigners do and also do get frustrated as a result.

Now who is the smartest?

Eric

Precisely, well said.

[EADG]

One thing ceases to amaze me though. The average pedestrian here is totally inconsiderate. One does not move out the way when walking past, instead preferring to charge at you (at a snails pace) and battle to the end. Is this a national sport - guessing who will give way first? I find this obstinate behaviour rather uncivilised. Someone help me understand - please.

ditto the rest, my theory is being so close to the equator

funny thing is, that's what I said when I got to Japan

funnier thing is, my Japanese friends here say the same thing about the Singaporeans

[EADG]

You'll get used to it just in time to discover something else equally as annoying and mystifying...

she lies - you do not get used to it, the numbness wears off sometimes

[EADG]

Very much agree and probably the only exceptions are the Japanese. Extremely considerate

well....yes and no

they can be extremely rude on trains or crossing crowded streets - you almost never hear a 'sumimasen/excuse me' when they bump into you/step on your foot/ etc. - this NYer learned to be rude living there, caught myself (not) doing this after a few years

find yourself walking north when there is a train to your south with the doors closing, and you'd better anchor your centre of gravity for the onslaught

a place of some odd contradictions, but overall mostly very good and accomodating people