Can it get much better than this

[sundaymorningstaple]

With that look, more than likely. Sure looks like it.

[poodlek]

I think the kid's sitting on a two-tone faux suede sofa, which would account for the difference in colours. But that doesn't mean he didn't pee on it.

[JR8]

Maybe he is pondering how his SGn landlord is going to scam him on wear and tear/damages.

[richie303]

I love it here and to go back to the OPs first post, yes it is brilliant, much better than UK, much better than Africa and Middle East in many ways, and yes there are faults (where on earth doesn't have faults)

You can't please all the people all of the time, you know what, you have to live somewhere though! If you don't like it then go elsewhere!

Like my old man used to say "Put up, or shut up son!"

[JR8]

[quote="richie303"]
If you don't like it then go elsewhere!

Given most people do not have complete control over where they live, this is not a practical suggestion.

What do you do for maids who hate it in SG but have no realistic option but to stay? What do you do for people like my SGn wife who hates SG? Is she not entitled to voice her opinion? SG has many strong points but on balance I preferred living in NYC, can I say that here? lol


Like my old man used to say "Put up, or shut up son!"[

A forum is for discussion and debate. Suggesting that only one side of a topic is valid or somehow permitted is contrary to that. People should be willing to 'put up with' all sides of a debate, rather than trying to close it down.

/quote]

[vozzie]

Had an interesting discussion today. Was with a group of friends, both expat and Singaporean.

As I still have this irrational issue with footpath dodgems, I asked the Singaporean ... "on which side of the footpath should you walk?" "On the left, of course" ... she said. My eyes rolled back into my head.

One of the expats chimed in .... "why don't people get out of my way when I'm cycling along the footpath?" She was surprised by our quick reaction ... "it's illegal to ride on the footpath!" Well, she added, "why do people scatter when I ring my bell?" ... She was equally surprised by our equally quick response ... " because they don't want to die "

Seems even the expats have something to learn.

But, the point of all this .... one friend suggested that the reason that Singaporeans engage in footpath pinball might be because few of them drive a car ... and so they aren't used to navigating a safe passage.... whereas most Westerners have driven since young.

I think her theory might have something to it.

[sundaymorningstaple]

I don't know about their meanderings on the footpaths, but that is definitely true when they are given a shopping cart in the supermarket!

[JR8]

Had an interesting discussion today. Was with a group of friends, both expat and Singaporean.

As I still have this irrational issue with footpath dodgems, I asked the Singaporean ... "on which side of the footpath should you walk?" "On the left, of course" ... she said. My eyes rolled back into my head.

One of the expats chimed in .... "why don't people get out of my way when I'm cycling along the footpath?" She was surprised by our quick reaction ... "it's illegal to ride on the footpath!" Well, she added, "why do people scatter when I ring my bell?" ... She was equally surprised by our equally quick response ... " because they don't want to die "

Is she German by chance?



Seems even the expats have something to learn.

But, the point of all this .... one friend suggested that the reason that Singaporeans engage in footpath pinball might be because few of them drive a car ... and so they aren't used to navigating a safe passage.... whereas most Westerners have driven since young.

I think her theory might have something to it.

what about my anecdote? there seems to be a kiasuness in making others move. Also there seems to be a fury when their blindness gets met with an oncoming 100kg+ FT who doesn't budge. Consciously oblivious, comes to mind.

[x9200]

But, the point of all this .... one friend suggested that the reason that Singaporeans engage in footpath pinball might be because few of them drive a car ... and so they aren't used to navigating a safe passage.... whereas most Westerners have driven since young.

I think her theory might have something to it.

Unlikely. People actually behave in Singapore very similar way on both the sidewalks and in the road traffic. The common denominative seems to be (let stick to non-pejorative definitions) that they are very target oriented. How this target is achieved is kind of secondary. An example - hardly anybody joins the traffic on the highway watching (giving priority to) it. It is the traffic who has to watch people about to join it. Exactly the same happens on the sidewalks or any pedestrian areas. They want to get from A to B and that's all they care about.

[poodlek]

I don't know...I can remember being a dippy kid walking through the shopping mall with my mom and having her jerk my arm and say "PAY ATTENTION TO WHERE YOU'RE GOING!" frequently until I eventually learned my lesson. The same with holding doors, waiting my turn, queueing, etc.
Until I'd been in Singapore for a while I had a terrible urge to apologize if ever I felt I'd gotten in someone's way by my own inattention...maybe I'm the anomaly, but I think that people learn this as an extension of their manners, not just common sense-figure it out, what have you.

[x9200]

So you were taught that the way to achieve the target is often more important than achieving the target itself. They were not, or so it appears.

[nakatago]

But, the point of all this .... one friend suggested that the reason that Singaporeans engage in footpath pinball might be because few of them drive a car ... and so they aren't used to navigating a safe passage.... whereas most Westerners have driven since young.

I think her theory might have something to it.

Unlikely. People actually behave in Singapore very similar way on both the sidewalks and in the road traffic. The common denominative seems to be (let stick to non-pejorative definitions) that they are very target oriented. How this target is achieved is kind of secondary. An example - hardly anybody joins the traffic on the highway watching (giving priority to) it. It is the traffic who has to watch people about to join it. Exactly the same happens on the sidewalks or any pedestrian areas. They want to get from A to B and that's all they care about.

That's what I observed about certain people. The ends justify the means for them.

[poodlek]

So you were taught that the way to achieve the target is often more important than achieving the target itself. They were not, or so it appears.

True! To be clear, I wasn't disagreeing with you, I was just lazy to quote the person to whom I was replying...that's what happens when I'm on here when I should be in bed, eh?

Also, if it were a matter of just being clueless, I would be running into just as many people with my stroller as without, but for whatever reason they always manage to get out of the way (read: pick a lane) without my ever having to break stride when I'm pushing something that could conceivably cause bodily harm.

[x9200]

That's what I observed about certain people. The ends justify the means for them.

But then this is typically mean and intentionally abusive. In Singapore I believe majority is driven by cultural preconditioning. They are not aware that they cause any troubles.

[nakatago]

That's what I observed about certain people. The ends justify the means for them.

But then this is typically mean and intentionally abusive. In Singapore I believe majority is driven by cultural preconditioning. They are not aware that they cause any troubles.

Which makes it even sadder.