The lot of S'poreans...

Manthink · Post by **Manthink** » Fri, 15 Jul 2011 1:53 pm

I was wandering if this thread degenerate into a Singaporean-basing session...and it didn't.

Great way to end the week...thanks to ScoobyDoes & WIMH.

Post by **nakatago** » Fri, 15 Jul 2011 2:12 pm

Manthink wrote:I was wandering if this thread degenerate into a Singaporean-bashing session...and it didn't.

Great way to end the week...thanks to ScoobyDoes & WIMH.

Degenerate? It's the whole premise of the thread! So, technically, it didn't degenerate.

Wind In My Hair · Post by **Wind In My Hair** » Fri, 15 Jul 2011 2:48 pm

nakatago wrote:Degenerate? It's the whole premise of the thread! So, technically, it didn't degenerate.

It always degenerates. Even a thread on 'can it get any better than this' where the premise is the opposite of the bashing it became. It's got nothing to do with the premise of the thread, but with the posters.

JayCee · Post by **JayCee** » Fri, 15 Jul 2011 3:16 pm

Wind In My Hair wrote:
nakatago wrote:Degenerate? It's the whole premise of the thread! So, technically, it didn't degenerate.
It always degenerates. Even a thread on 'can it get any better than this' where the premise is the opposite of the bashing it became. It's got nothing to do with the premise of the thread, but with the posters.

To be fair, "can it get any better" implies a question, so people answered with ways in which they thought Singapore can indeed get better.

This is an expat forum anyway so of course people are going to have a bit of a moan about Singapore every now and again, better to get it off your chest on the internet than go and chin someone on the street. You'd be better off posting on temesakreview or stomp if you can't handle it, because God knows foreigners aren't liked there

Post by **sundaymorningstaple** » Fri, 15 Jul 2011 4:53 pm

Wind In My Hair · Post by **Wind In My Hair** » Fri, 15 Jul 2011 5:56 pm

JayCee wrote:To be fair, "can it get any better" implies a question

Oh purleese. Anyone with a rudimentary grasp of English would know that in that context it was an expression and not a question. A bit of a desperate defence, I must say.

JayCee wrote:You'd be better off posting on temesakreview or stomp if you can't handle it

This response is the exact mirror image of 'you'd be better off living in another country if you can't handle it here'. I'm glad you think the same way

JayCee wrote:God knows foreigners aren't liked there

That's why I don't hang out there. I don't believe in herd think and it's too easy to have a 'them and us' hate mentality. I suppose this forum tries to provide a counterbalance to those sites. God knows locals aren't liked here.

Post by **sundaymorningstaple** » Fri, 15 Jul 2011 6:18 pm

JayCee · Post by **JayCee** » Fri, 15 Jul 2011 6:19 pm

Wind In My Hair wrote:
JayCee wrote:To be fair, "can it get any better" implies a question
Oh purleese. Anyone with a rudimentary grasp of English would know that in that context it was an expression and not a question. A bit of a desperate defence, I must say.

That's your interpretation, a sentence beginning with "can" would imply a question in almost all cases. Try and mock me all you like with your "anyone with a rudimentary grasp of English" comment, that sounds a bit desperate too

This response is the exact mirror image of 'you'd be better off living in another country if you can't handle it here'. I'm glad you think the same way

Not really, it was just a suggestion that you might enjoy somewhere else more. Bit different to the rabid demands that we should leave which are made by the locals whenever someone dares to criticise something about this island paradise

That's why I don't hang out there. I don't believe in herd think and it's too easy to have a 'them and us' hate mentality. I suppose this forum tries to provide a counterbalance to those sites. God knows locals aren't liked here.

Ones who bitch about foreigners letting off a little steam on a EXPAT forum are welcome I'm sure, but rather pointless IMO

I don't see many foreigners on Stomp or Temasekreview complaining about the comments there, because most people have the common sense to realise what the site is about and so don't bother. Considering you've been on here bitching about anyone who says a negative thing about Singapore for months now it would seem you still haven't grasped this concept.

Let me ask you a question - suppose you were a football fan, and suppose you supported liverpool. Would you then go on to a rival team's forum and complain when the people say bad things about liverpool?

Manthink · Post by **Manthink** » Fri, 15 Jul 2011 7:51 pm

Wind In My Hair wrote:
nakatago wrote:Degenerate? It's the whole premise of the thread! So, technically, it didn't degenerate.
It always degenerates. Even a thread on 'can it get any better than this' where the premise is the opposite of the bashing it became. It's got nothing to do with the premise of the thread, but with the posters.

Looks like you had proven me wrong about the trajectory of this thread. *sigh*...technically or otherwise..

I am curious why OP remain silent when the presented figures speak for itself? To me, this thread started off more as a rant than an attempt to understand the Locals.

Post by **x9200** » Fri, 15 Jul 2011 8:55 pm

Manthink wrote:I am curious why OP remain silent when the presented figures speak for itself? To me, this thread started off more as a rant than an attempt to understand the Locals.

Check his other posts and you will have the answer.

Manthink · Post by **Manthink** » Fri, 15 Jul 2011 9:40 pm

x9200 wrote:
Manthink wrote:I am curious why OP remain silent when the presented figures speak for itself? To me, this thread started off more as a rant than an attempt to understand the Locals.
Check his other posts and you will have the answer.

I rather wait for the OP's reply to WIMH's finding rather than simply passing judgement on those few 3 dozens posts in last 4 years.

taxico · Post by **taxico** » Fri, 15 Jul 2011 10:28 pm

the public transport system IS good in singapore but i do sometimes wish it was easier to get a cab when i need one.

i had drinks a week ago at vivocity and left at about 10pm - it was impossible to get a cab. the queue was incredibly long. the 3 of us were calling and calling different call centers but to no avail.

after 25 minutes we all took the train home instead... looking and smelling rather drunk. there was a long queue to use the ticket dispensing machine. there were queues to get into the train. there were queues getting out of the train.

FWIW, cabbies are also changing/ending shifts at much earlier/more peculiar hours than before. everybody wants them to work harder but they probably won't.

i took a bus to meet my wife at the museum today after waiting 15 minutes for a cab. it turned out to be faster, albeit the driver's braking left much to be desired for...

singapore (like many other countries such as HK and taiwan) is an asian country with a predominantly chinese population, and dignity (face) is important to them. i won't go beyond that - it's a slippery slope...

HOWEVER if buying a car or private property (99/999/FH) is something that is within the buyer's means, i don't see why not...

i mean, come on, we only live once.

for those who buy over-priced cars on $0 drive aways, 10 year loans and then lose their jobs and homes... serves them right for not being more fiscally prudent.

(no, sunday, i have NOT bought a car yet... :b)

Post by **sundaymorningstaple** » Fri, 15 Jul 2011 10:47 pm

That's okay, I haven't bought a new one since 1991 and it's in the US and is still new with only 16K miles on it.

revhappy · Post by **revhappy** » Fri, 15 Jul 2011 11:09 pm

JayCee wrote:According to a few reports I've read recently, 2013 is the time when a lot are predicting that things will go belly up regarding the house prices as a lot of new private developments will come on to the market at that time, a lot of which will apparently stand empty.

No idea how much weight is behind these reports, but will be interesting to find out

I dont quite subscribe to that view. I think there is will be enough demand to soak up the supply.

Consider this, becoming a PR is not going to be easy from now and so lots of foreigners wont eligible to buy HDB houses. All these people will be pushed towards mass market condos.

Even a person with a 4-5 year view of staying here would rather buy a 1 bedder studio than to blow away 2k-2.5k a month on a stupid HDB apartment rent.

taxico · Post by **taxico** » Fri, 15 Jul 2011 11:28 pm

someone's still gonna have to crank out the downpayment... which even for a shoebox unit at about 600k, will not be a small sum.

and they are difficult to sell in future (even for singaporeans) as these tend to be 99 year leasehold apartments meant to earn rental income.

hdb flats were designed to be an appreciating asset for singaporeans, with different types so that the citizens will aspire to work harder and "upgrade" to a better type (4-room + 5-room in resale, BTO or DBSS form + maisonette and ECs).

given that the prices are dictated by the government through HDB, as are "productivity drives" in previous decades (pap's version of minimum wage), these properties will unlikely loose out in value over time when compared to 99 year LH condos.

people who bought flats when they were first introduced (senior citizens now) are fully able to afford private property (probably not a detached house!) if they sold their 20-30 year old flats but it's very unlikely such appreciations will happen again given the same amount of time.

singaporeans being singaporeans... will always want something better and beyond their means.

the 2012/13 theory has been floating around for some time. i have time. i'll wait. it WILL come and then i'll pick through what has been abandoned...

ooops. i'm rambling again.

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