SINGAPORE EXPATS FORUM
Singapore Expat Forum and Message Board for Expats in Singapore & Expatriates Relocating to Singapore
Minor Annoyances
Is not only Sg that has these problems.. Sydney is fast becoming the same way.. all about me me me.. nobody cares about how they treat other people or what they do.. all the same issues, people walking into you, standing in front of you etc etc, + the road rage (our roads & infrastructure are severely lacking) maybe it's marginally better here for now, but is fast becoming the same.. and the difference is we don't have the cane or capital punishment, which is a pity..as it would certainly clean the country up for sure.. We are also becoming a melting pot of different nationalities (have been for years), as we all the "refugee" boats arriving because of the incompetent guvment's policies.. hence we also have too many do gooder lefty social workers that lobby to give them more rights than the locals have .. anyway, could rant about all this for ages, but doesn't get me anywhere.. no doubt i have all the Sg annoyances to look forward to soon..
- sundaymorningstaple
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And, for the first 6 months you will sing Singapore's praises. By the time you've been here one year and reality set in, you may well start to sound like the majority of us. 

SOME PEOPLE TRY TO TURN BACK THEIR ODOMETERS. NOT ME. I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW WHY I LOOK THIS WAY. I'VE TRAVELED A LONG WAY, AND SOME OF THE ROADS WEREN'T PAVED. ~ Will Rogers
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Density is hardly a reason. It is more about a culture clash and a fatigue factor. Singapore has a beautifully pained facade of a Western country what also includes everyday politeness. Most negative things are like moderate level nuclear radiation - it's there right from the start but you do not see it until one day you realize you are sickMichael_A wrote:always the honeymoon phase, am sure it's the same in other densely populated cities as well... the longer i can see the praises to sing the better i figure..

- nakatago
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At least for Sydney, you can go away to anywhere not Sydney.* Problem with Singapore is well, the city's the whole country. It can't be helped, but at least JB (and the rest of Malaysia or Southeast Asia for that matter) is there to act as "the get away" place.
Well, whatever you guys say, they won't change the fact that those bloody people like clogging up the malls! Everytime I go to a mall, I just pretend I'm playing a video game ("objective: avoid the asteroids") so at least there will be some level of enjoyment while navigating.

*About most cities, I think New York is an excellent example but that warrants a whole different discussion.
@Michael_A: sorta agree with you on the boat people but again, a whole different discussion.
Well, whatever you guys say, they won't change the fact that those bloody people like clogging up the malls! Everytime I go to a mall, I just pretend I'm playing a video game ("objective: avoid the asteroids") so at least there will be some level of enjoyment while navigating.

*About most cities, I think New York is an excellent example but that warrants a whole different discussion.
@Michael_A: sorta agree with you on the boat people but again, a whole different discussion.
+1 on the radiation analogyx9200 wrote:Density is hardly a reason. It is more about a culture clash and a fatigue factor. Singapore has a beautifully pained facade of a Western country what also includes everyday politeness. Most negative things are like moderate level nuclear radiation - it's there right from the start but you do not see it until one day you realize you are sickMichael_A wrote:always the honeymoon phase, am sure it's the same in other densely populated cities as well... the longer i can see the praises to sing the better i figure..
"A quokka is what would happen if there was an anime about kangaroos."
guess i will just have to try and avoid the malls and the radiation ... and try to stay positive as long as i can.. will no doubt report back in this once i have been there awhile.. will be me starting a similar thread, but i hope my regular travels with work will keep a fresh perspective on it all..
see, convinced myself already
see, convinced myself already

Don't worry, after the honeymoon phase passes you'll switch to negativity mode for a while, but once you get over that you'll begin to love Singapore even more and appreciate living here every day.
So if you come back within 6-12 mths you'll be in that middle phase and you'll see what people have been writing about. Come back in 18-24+ months and you'll feel at home and glad you can live here.
So if you come back within 6-12 mths you'll be in that middle phase and you'll see what people have been writing about. Come back in 18-24+ months and you'll feel at home and glad you can live here.

Singaporean spacial awareness.. Many cases today at the PC show lol.. i was like "mate, say excuse me or walk around me"
coughing with the mouth open ..
walking slowly then stopping as your walking behind.. and its usually over something stupid.. eg " Oh look a moth! *stops*"
heaps more but meh.. lol
coughing with the mouth open ..
walking slowly then stopping as your walking behind.. and its usually over something stupid.. eg " Oh look a moth! *stops*"
heaps more but meh.. lol
then after a few more years it becomes


aster wrote:Don't worry, after the honeymoon phase passes you'll switch to negativity mode for a while, but once you get over that you'll begin to love Singapore even more and appreciate living here every day.
So if you come back within 6-12 mths you'll be in that middle phase and you'll see what people have been writing about. Come back in 18-24+ months and you'll feel at home and glad you can live here.
Using a mobile phone 24/7 - even if people are paying for something, getting out of a lift - they've still gotta be checking that phone. It simply cannot wait. I saw one woman literally stop in the middle of the road a few weeks back to check her phone. Cars were honking and had to drive round her, and she was completely unaware of anything going on around her.
MRT & Lifts - a lack of manners and common sense in letting people out first seems to be lost on people here.
Changing direction randomly.
Walking round you, almost full circle, just to cut in front of you, rather than wait for you to walk past.
Taxi drivers and selective hearing. You ask them to go a well known place - they stare blankly, and give the old 'don't know lah' or 'cannot understand'. But say to them in a strong manc accent very quickly - 'just gimme the notes back', and amazingly they ALWAYS understand that!!
MRT & Lifts - a lack of manners and common sense in letting people out first seems to be lost on people here.
Changing direction randomly.
Walking round you, almost full circle, just to cut in front of you, rather than wait for you to walk past.
Taxi drivers and selective hearing. You ask them to go a well known place - they stare blankly, and give the old 'don't know lah' or 'cannot understand'. But say to them in a strong manc accent very quickly - 'just gimme the notes back', and amazingly they ALWAYS understand that!!
Yeah, you'd think it's extremely silly to do that when you're walking with a stroller. I think I've taught quite a few people not to jump in front of a moving vehicle, no matter how small. Ouch!BillyB wrote:Walking round you, almost full circle, just to cut in front of you, rather than wait for you to walk past.

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