Can't culture

[KittyJules76]

Well my new assistant says just the opposite. Everytime I say something to her, she says "can lah, no problem" and end up doing wrong or doing nothing.

[x9200]

So you see Macaroonie, this is really a problem and you should appreciate your co-workers for being so honest with you. Yeah, I am a bit sarcastic but at least you do not waste your time. I have really problems with ppl saying yes first investing mine time to introduce them to a project just to discover few months later they never actually intended to commit to their duties and they knew it right from the start.

[local lad]

My company employed a new guy last week. My supervisor asked whether he was able to do such and such and he told him , with full conviction ' No problem! ' . Hence, my supervisor passed the job to him. He proceed to do it without asking more. Yesterday, when my supervisor asked for status and he showed my sup what he had done. A shock of his life. My sup was in total fits as the job was totally done wrongly. Needless to say, the deadline is tomorrow ( which explained the fits ) and he had to redo everything and my sup had to keep a close eye at his work.

[ksl]

My local cafe!

Yes sir what would you like......

"Mmm I want sweet and sour fish no rice. I want Frech fries in stead..... Cannot lah, see menu fish comes with rice.....

I don't want rice, I want fries, just deduct the price of the rice and give me the 2$ fries....cannot lah! How much is extra rice? Cannot have extra rice, only Sweet & sour fish with rice must have fish.

You pay full price no rice okay lah! 15 minutes of frustration and I gave up! The fries were a side dish!

[Strong Eagle]

My local cafe!

Yes sir what would you like......

"Mmm I want sweet and sour fish no rice. I want Frech fries in stead..... Cannot lah, see menu fish comes with rice.....

I don't want rice, I want fries, just deduct the price of the rice and give me the 2$ fries....cannot lah! How much is extra rice? Cannot have extra rice, only Sweet & sour fish with rice must have fish.

You pay full price no rice okay lah! 15 minutes of frustration and I gave up! The fries were a side dish!

Wife and I ate at a hawker center in Plaza Singapura. She wants chocolate ice cream. Only picture of chocolate is on a banana split. Wait person would sell a cup of vanilla but not a cup of chocolate as it only comes with the banana. Big tub of both flavors right in front of her.

[ksl]

My local cafe!

Yes sir what would you like......

"Mmm I want sweet and sour fish no rice. I want Frech fries in stead..... Cannot lah, see menu fish comes with rice.....

I don't want rice, I want fries, just deduct the price of the rice and give me the 2$ fries....cannot lah! How much is extra rice? Cannot have extra rice, only Sweet & sour fish with rice must have fish.

You pay full price no rice okay lah! 15 minutes of frustration and I gave up! The fries were a side dish!

Wife and I ate at a hawker center in Plaza Singapura. She wants chocolate ice cream. Only picture of chocolate is on a banana split. Wait person would sell a cup of vanilla but not a cup of chocolate as it only comes with the banana. Big tub of both flavors right in front of her.

Inflexibility has its cost!

[nakatago]

"Mmm I want sweet and sour fish no rice. I want Frech fries in stead..... Cannot lah, see menu fish comes with rice.....

I don't want rice, I want fries, just deduct the price of the rice and give me the 2$ fries....cannot lah! How much is extra rice? Cannot have extra rice, only Sweet & sour fish with rice must have fish.

Wife and I ate at a hawker center in Plaza Singapura. She wants chocolate ice cream. Only picture of chocolate is on a banana split. Wait person would sell a cup of vanilla but not a cup of chocolate as it only comes with the banana. Big tub of both flavors right in front of her.

[Vaucluse]

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?

. . . and look where that 'Can do' attitude has led them.


One of the things I have often found disturbing about many Americans in business is that the 'can Do' attitude is hollow . . . a load of hype.


I'd rather have someone tell me 'cannot' than like in Thailand where everything is Kaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa or Kaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaap and then it isn't.

As for Boleh-land . . . The Chinese will say 'can' and try to figure out a way to do it and rip you off . . . the Malays will say they can do it ten times bigger, refer you to their 'old friend', expect to get paid for their 'work' and nothing ever happens . . . Indians will usually tell you if it is possible or not.

[missis]

"Mmm I want sweet and sour fish no rice. I want Frech fries in stead..... Cannot lah, see menu fish comes with rice.....

I don't want rice, I want fries, just deduct the price of the rice and give me the 2$ fries....cannot lah! How much is extra rice? Cannot have extra rice, only Sweet & sour fish with rice must have fish.

Wife and I ate at a hawker center in Plaza Singapura. She wants chocolate ice cream. Only picture of chocolate is on a banana split. Wait person would sell a cup of vanilla but not a cup of chocolate as it only comes with the banana. Big tub of both flavors right in front of her.

Used to happen a lot in Tokyo too. Things like: I wanted a vodka and tonic. The bar menu had Moscow Mule (vodka & ginger ale) and Gin and tonic. The staff refused to serve a vodka and tonic - "not available." Should add that the drinks were not ready-mixed, there was a bottle of vodka and the tonic came out of one of those nozzle things. And stuff like the rice example from Strong Eagle - even if you said forget the price just give me without rice they would still serve it all up! And this wasn't a language thing, I speak Japanese.

[aster]

It all depends on the "default" setting that people have. For some it's "yes" and for others it's "no".

Some actively and strenuously look for every reason to say "cannot" before they can utter "can".

Whereas others are inclined to say "can" unless something gets in their way.