Can't culture

[macaroonie]

I am so amazed with the number of people who so quickly say CAN"T - can't do this, can't do that, this won't work, no one will follow that, it can't be done this way... WHY!?

Whatever happened to ingenuity? finding ways to CAN scenarios, finding possible solutions, doing some research before giving up the ghost! giving things a go, a chance before resigning to "it can't be done..."

Why such a defeatist attitude? I thought the locals should have backbones of steal and ridiculous determination to be able to build up this country... but day in and day out it's CAN'T CAN'T CAN'T... sigh!

[nakatago]

you have it all wrong. it's "cannot, cannot, cannot! [lah]"

and about the ingenuity, creativity and initiative? a nanny doesn't exactly encourage those things. when someone tells you what to think, what to do, when and where to do it...




...now, before someone goes up in arms, of course it's a generalization

[dazzlebabe]

I CAN'T understand why you are so frustrated????

[local lad]

The locals will keep saying it unless the subject is something they are passionate about.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Which as everybody knows is only two things. Shopping and eating.

[macaroonie]

I can hire a parrot to tell me CAN'T CAN'T CAN'T the whole day long...

[dazzlebabe]

I can hire a parrot to tell me CAN'T CAN'T CAN'T the whole day long...

Might just be a swearing parrot!

[raden888]

My favourite is no stocklah for retailers

[x9200]

Which as everybody knows is only two things. Shopping and eating.

Watching TV-screens excluded!?

[x9200]

Why such a defeatist attitude? I thought the locals should have backbones of steal and ridiculous determination to be able to build up this country... but day in and day out it's CAN'T CAN'T CAN'T... sigh!

Girl, you are so lucky. Typically it is can can and then nothing happens except lame excuses.

[durain]

if you go to malaysia, then it is BOLEH all the way.

[ozchick]

I am so amazed with the number of people who so quickly say CAN"T - can't do this, can't do that, this won't work, no one will follow that, it can't be done this way... WHY!?

Whatever happened to ingenuity? finding ways to CAN scenarios, finding possible solutions, doing some research before giving up the ghost! giving things a go, a chance before resigning to "it can't be done..."

Why such a defeatist attitude? I thought the locals should have backbones of steal and ridiculous determination to be able to build up this country... but day in and day out it's CAN'T CAN'T CAN'T... sigh!

I cannot say that I've noticed this. Yeah sure I've heard lots of "cannot lah" but equally when I've thought something wasn't available or couldn't be done, I've heard lots of "can lah".
Admittedly there is a huge issue with locals not being able to think outside the square so I guess that this in itself is related to your assertion. Yeah there's sometimes a 'black and white' view of things with no 'shade of grey' in between........

[earthfriendly]

LKY had commented how he admired the can do attitudes of Americans and wished Singaporeans were the same way. What should one expect of citizens brought up in a nanny state? Is this a chicken or egg problem?

[februus]

Girl, you are so lucky. Typically it is can can and then nothing happens except lame excuses.

i had exactly this conversation yesterday

"please stop telling me you are going to do things you have no intention of doing, just tell me what will stop you, why you can't etc so we can work together to find a solution"

"can can"

[macaroonie]

I don't mind if things can't truly be done a certain way, but then go and find what way it can be done! Not just CAN"T, CAN NOT....and leave it at that!