Taxi Nightmares

[x9200]

My husband told me to be very careful with those motocyclists. If you hit them, it will be always your fault even if they offended the traffic regulations.

This is true with two small exceptions: not motocyclists but cyclists and not in Singapore but in Holland
From my experience and overall country socio-political landscape I bet it is just opposite.

The secretary and her husband had just an accident a week ago and the policeman came and fined them though it's obviously motocyclist's fault.

I seriously doubt this - at best they were probably found co-responsible.

Have you seen how they drive on the streets, those motorcyclists? One week ago when I was driving the first time here, I almost hit one of them. They just changed the lane as they like, from the leftmost suddenly to the rightmost without giving any indication.

Yes, I've seen it and know what you mean but it definitely does not make them any more privileged in the traffic unless we are talking about the road to hell/heaven/whatever.

My husband said they have an IQ of a hen. I absolutely agree.

Your husband is probably right.

The secretary (a Singaporean) told him this story and gave him tips of driving in Singapore. Of cause she raised an objection and at the end she did not have to pay.

So the policeman probably misunderstood something and not favored anyhow the motocyclist. I was recently slightly injured in an accident (I wrote about this earlier in this thread) and the traffic police was not even interested what happened
And if I were your husband I would rather rely on common sense unless he is willing to compromise on his principles

[Eau2011]

I seriously doubt this - at best they were probably found co-responsible.

Have you seen how they drive on the streets, those motorcyclists? One week ago when I was driving the first time here, I almost hit one of them. They just changed the lane as they like, from the leftmost suddenly to the rightmost without giving any indication.

Yes, I've seen it and know what you mean but it definitely does not make them any more privileged in the traffic unless we are talking about the road to hell/heaven/whatever.

My husband said they have an IQ of a hen. I absolutely agree.

Your husband is probably right.

The secretary (a Singaporean) told him this story and gave him tips of driving in Singapore. Of cause she raised an objection and at the end she did not have to pay.

So the policeman probably misunderstood something and not favored anyhow the motocyclist. I was recently slightly injured in an accident (I wrote about this earlier in this thread) and the traffic police was not even interested what happened
And if I were your husband I would rather rely on common sense unless he is willing to compromise on his principles

Common sense? we don't know if Europe and Singapore share the same common sense.
e.g. Chinese is here privileged, but in Europe, Germans are not more superior than other races in D, Dutch people are not more superior than the immigrants in NL, so are France, UK etc...

She gave him hints, quite simple, she is Singaporean, of cause she knows her country much better than my husband. So we shall be very careful, that would not do us harm, if we're involved in any accident, we'll ask for justice, that's for sure, don't worry.

[JayCee]

I would say worse. Over half of the cases of utter stupidity on the road that I witnessed were of the expat kind, which is scary considering the % of overall drivers that are expats. Then again it might have to do with the area I live in.

I agree with this and your other post, the worst drivers on the road that I have seen are of the 'priveleged expat wife who doesn't work yet still has 2 maids to do everything while she sits on her fat arse or goes to lunch with her friends' kind. I cheer myself up with the thought that her husband is probably off somewhere with his mistress so she has to make herself feel important somehow

The only thing that pisses me off about the taxi drivers here is when they drive along with their green light on yet don't stop because they're going home, if you're not availabe then turn off the green light But that's my only bugbear, most of them are ok and I end up talking about football with probably half of them if it's long journey

[x9200]

Common sense? we don't know if Europe and Singapore share the same common sense.

I was referring to what you/your husband consider as common sense.

e.g. Chinese is here privileged, but in Europe, Germans are not more superior than other races in D, Dutch people are not more superior than the immigrants in NL, so are France, UK etc...

Eeee, I think you are entering pretty shaky ground. How this German superiority shows up?

She gave him hints, quite simple, she is Singaporean, of cause she knows her country much better than my husband. So we shall be very careful, that would not do us harm, if we're involved in any accident, we'll ask for justice, that's for sure, don't worry.

For curiosity sake, what other hints (besides that one on the motocyclists) she gave to you?

[dazzlebabe]

Is it against the law to drive with the triangle sign (probation drivers) if you are not on probation?

[Eau2011]

e.g. Chinese is here privileged, but in Europe, Germans are not more superior than other races in D, Dutch people are not more superior than the immigrants in NL, so are France, UK etc...

Eeee, I think you are entering pretty shaky ground. How this German superiority shows up?

German superiority?? Did you read it clearly? I said everybody is equal in Europe no matter where he is from.

I have been in Singapore a few times before but this time I moved here. I came to this forum and try to get much information about the society and the people. That's what I learnt (see below). To be honest, I've never been in a country where a certain race is more superior than others. What I have read here really upsets me. It's said it reflects how the majority think.
So I guess they don't share the same common sense here with e.g. in Europe.
http://forum.singaporeexpats.com/ftopic ... c-120.html

So, what are you implying, you ignorant, self-righteous racist?

A true racist.

Does he suggest the Singaporeans are the superior people in Southeast Asia? or maybe on the earth?

Actually he does. But at least that isn't his fault. It's his upbringing. The founder of this country thinks his race is the be-all and end-all hence all policies are geared to keep them in the dominant position. You don't think you'll ever see an non-Chinese PM do you. They do it as a sop to the minorities by having a minority President because the Presidential role in Singapore is largely ceremonial in nature therefore controllable. GRC's were created for the same reason. It allows the Chinese majority to keep a token minority MP in the GRC without giving them any real power as a sop to the minorities. Same with the HDB policies. Divide and conquer.

While I'll not take anything away from the troll for intelligence, he does have a total lack of common sense or direction. He's a frustrated little man who has to lash out at all others to pump up his own ego to cover for his short-falling. His current surprise over our members giving him back what he, himself started is a good example. He hasn't long to go before the same thing as happened to him before will befall him again. But he is a weekend diversion.

[JR8]

German superiority?? Did you read it clearly? I said everybody is equal in Europe no matter where he is from.

I have been in Singapore a few times before but this time I moved here. I came to this forum and try to get much information about the society and the people. That's what I learnt (see below). To be honest, I've never been in a country where a certain race is more superior than others. What I have read here really upsets me. It's said it reflects how the majority think.

I'm not sure it is quite a equal as that. There are groups that are - in general terms - rather looked down upon, such as Roma gypsies, but this is only because they have made such a bad reputation for themselves for their negative impact on the public/society.

You could take that a scale of equality. In the UK a West Indian might score slightly higher than a black African. Amongst Africans, Somalians would probably come bottom of the heap. Again this all tends to come down to the amount of grief they are perceived to cause society.

In Germany, most established Asians that you see appear to be Vietnamese (well in Berlin anyway). Before the fall of the wall, East Berlin was one the few and best universities that they were allowed to attend abroad. Many fled to the west (I know first hand, as I was sitting and partying on the wall on New Years Eve 1989 and helped pull up many people including several Vnese and Cambodians who were fleeing from east to west). Thing is Asians here work hard, and keep their noses clean. So people have no reason to be prejudiced against them. Plus the Germans love to travel far and wide on their holidays so I think these days they are much more open minded.

I take your point though in the majority of Europe there is no sense of feeling superior just because you are ancestrally European. (One might ponder if this is a liberal inspired death-wish.)

In SG society is engineered differently. The irony is that the anointed superior class are immigrants themselves!

p.s. SMS referred to a lip-gloss of multi-culturalism in SG, and it is just that. Behind closed doors anything will be said, and is. Some of the first words I learned of local languages in SG were terms of abuse for other races! My wife and friends (of many races) only used them in jest with each other, so it was actually pretty funny

'Dumb meena!'
'Dirty bukit!'
'Stinky mama!'

... and so on lol...

[x9200]

e.g. Chinese is here privileged, but in Europe, Germans are not more superior than other races in D, Dutch people are not more superior than the immigrants in NL, so are France, UK etc...

Eeee, I think you are entering pretty shaky ground. How this German superiority shows up?

German superiority?? Did you read it clearly?

Clearly not
Yes, some form of an institutionalized racism is around but I would not be that quick with passing the judgment just basing on that fact.

and the people. That's what I learnt (see below). To be honest, I've never been in a country where a certain race is more superior than others. What I have read here really upsets me. It's said it reflects how the majority think.
So I guess they don't share the same common sense here with e.g. in Europe.
http://forum.singaporeexpats.com/ftopic ... c-120.html

"Common sense" is just a fixed phrase describing what the thinking part of a society can share for understanding this or that but for majority of existing societies the sense we are talking about is not really that common. Racism on an average Joe level is everywhere, not only in Singapore. Do you expect it is only for the Chinese? And I also agree with JR8 on his comments on racism in Europe. It is just that is not on the official level but what majority thinks is a different story and one of a flag ship and kind of shocking examples would be the mentioned by you Holland with their super tolerant society.

So is there any chance for more hints from the secretary?

[Eau2011]

And I also agree with JR8 on his comments on racism in Europe. It is just that is not on the official level but what majority thinks is a different story and one of a flag ship and kind of shocking examples would be the mentioned by you Holland with their super tolerant society.

Holland....hmm...things have changed. Wilders has now more followers. Sad to say...

[Eau2011]

So is there any chance for more hints from the secretary?

I just heard from my husband.

E.g. always check the bill in the restaurants; don't drive to Malaysia with Singapore Car (number plate)....(but we did do once ), you can "buy" a driver's license for motorcycle in Thailand, no need to take course in SG, (this tip is for me because I'd like to have one.) etc.etc..

Helpful information lah.

I guess you've got enough tips from the locals...

[x9200]

And I also agree with JR8 on his comments on racism in Europe. It is just that is not on the official level but what majority thinks is a different story and one of a flag ship and kind of shocking examples would be the mentioned by you Holland with their super tolerant society.

Holland....hmm...things have changed. Wilders has now more followers. Sad to say...

I am afraid Wilders and such is only what have surfaced eventually but the animosity towards immigrants started much earlier. To large extent Dutch are probably victims of their own tolerance.

[Brah]

Why not? Do you or he have any actual experiences?

I believe i know the answer, just want to hear it from somewhere other than the ST. Never know what to believe what's printed about Malaysia.

I just heard from my husband.

don't drive to Malaysia with Singapore Car (number plate)

[Eau2011]

And I also agree with JR8 on his comments on racism in Europe. It is just that is not on the official level but what majority thinks is a different story and one of a flag ship and kind of shocking examples would be the mentioned by you Holland with their super tolerant society.

Holland....hmm...things have changed. Wilders has now more followers. Sad to say...

I am afraid Wilders and such is only what have surfaced eventually but the animosity towards immigrants started much earlier. To large extent Dutch are probably victims of their own tolerance.

I absolutely agree
A part of Middle class tended to share same opinion with him.

[JR8]

But you must ask yourself why. I believe that it is because the working and middle classes in much of Europe feel overrun and dominated by minorities. For example the governments pander to illegal immigrants before established citizens, it really is hopeless! Can you imagine...

- A mexican illegal is given a free house costing c. US$800 a week, plus full benefits. They complain that it is not convenient for the shops, and so they legally go and live in a taxpayer funded US$3000pw luxury villa? No that would not happen in America.
But this insanity happens in the UK.... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... -area.html


So I am not at all surprised Wilders found an audience. In fact I applaud him being able to make his point (freedom of speech!) despite all the death threats he gets.

[Eau2011]

In SG society is engineered differently. The irony is that the anointed superior class are immigrants themselves!

Do you know which country has the perfect multicultural society, people live there peacefully? Mauritius. I have been there once.

Because there were no locals, all are immigrants. The Chinese, The Creoles, the Indians and the French. Nobody can say, we are locals, you are the immigrants.