Are we overpaying for safety, cleanliness & others in SG?

[solarv]

Implicit and explicit costs of satying in SG:
- super pricey housing cost
- low quality housing
- unfriendly/inconsiderate/selfish neighboours
- being stared by weirdos in public places
- very expensive car
- can hardly have a smart conversation with someone
- get excited over junk food
- enjoy going to malls even though it's just window shopping
- hot and humid weather that could fck your thought process
- inconsiderate drivers
- competing for space and fresh air with others
- lack of freedom of speech
- expensive alcohol
- not many good looking people around (unless u think face with flat feature and/or bony body are sexy)
- irritating colleagues that love to gossip
- get excited over little news
- cost more to travel to other more developed countries
- ultra low purchasing power
- could hardly get any good joke throughout the day
- have to speak broken english to blend in

Benefits of staying in SG:
- safety
- cleanliness
- old people takes care of your tray and dirty dishes at foodcourts
- super maids that could perform multiple tasks at an emerging country pay: housemaids, babysitters, car washers, grocery shoppers, masseurs, dog walkers, security guards, & etc.
- tap water is safe to drink

Are we overpaying for safety, cleanliness and other benefits here?

[x9200]

What's your point solarv? Your blog does not receive enough attention? You think you are overpaying? What or who holds you then here?

[beppi]

Implicit and explicit costs of satying in SG:
- low quality housing
Much better quality housing than in all other regional countries.
- unfriendly/inconsiderate/selfish neighboours
Exist anywhere.
- being stared by weirdos in public places
Never happened to me - what am I doing wrong?
- can hardly have a smart conversation with someone
You have the wrong friends - mine can!
- get excited over junk food
Best food in all of Asia.
- hot and humid weather that could fck your thought process
It didn't freak up my brain - but apparently yours suffered ...
- inconsiderate drivers
Exist anywhere - and I'd rather drive here than in Jakarta or Manila!
- lack of freedom of speech
Never noticed this - even a friend who is opposition candidate (he didn't win in the last elections) seems pretty free to express his opinion.
- not many good looking people around (unless u think face with flat feature and/or bony body are sexy)
Many Westerners prefer Asian features, what's wrong with you?
- irritating colleagues that love to gossip
Exist anywhere.
- cost more to travel to other more developed countries
Cheap trips to dream holiday destinations around Asia.
- ultra low purchasing power
Very high living standard and one of the strongest currencies in Asia - akin to the Swiss Franc.
- could hardly get any good joke throughout the day
Learn to understand the locals - Singlish can be very funny!
- have to speak broken english to blend in
No discrimination of non-native speakers (=meritocracy).

Benefits of staying in SG:
- safety
- cleanliness
- old people takes care of your tray and dirty dishes at foodcourts
- super maids that could perform multiple tasks at an emerging country pay: housemaids, babysitters, car washers, grocery shoppers, masseurs, dog walkers, security guards, & etc.
- tap water is safe to drink
A pension system that is not bancrupt.
Authorities that are unbuerocratic and a joy to deal with.
Sound economic policies.
Well-planned and executed city with lots of greenery and space for social exchange.
Good education system.
Daily life things work and are reasonably easy.
No worries lifestyle (if you can afford it).

Are we overpaying for safety, cleanliness and other benefits here?
No!

[carteki]

Every place comes with the good and the bad and I get exactly what solarv is getting at. The question to me is "is anywhere else any better". As this is a personal decision - some people think SG is the "bee's knees" and others can't wait to leave - it just depends on the person and what their tolerances are.

- lack of freedom of speech
Never noticed this - even a friend who is opposition candidate (he didn't win in the last elections) seems pretty free to express his opinion.

The scary part about Singapore is how complacent you become and think that everything is "okay". Nowhere in my mind is the concept of "keeping face" so prevalent as in the image the gahmen have created about Singapore, but just one step in the wrong direction (and not necessarily even out of line) and you can be in BIG trouble. One of our esteemed moderators got in some serious trouble based on posting factual information on this forum last year that the gahmen didn't want shared.

[nakatago]

N o t h i n g i s w r o n g.

E v e r y t h i n g i s a l r i g h t ; t h e r e a r e n o p r o b l e m s . W h a t a r e y o u t a l k i n g a b o u t ? N o o n e i s t r y i n g t o c o n t r o l w h a t I t h i n k .

A l l h a i l t h e h y p n o - t o a d .

[solarv]

Great to get some feedbacks! It's a neutral question. As a resident here, I would like to hear more people disagreeing with the question I posted here.

Many thanks for those who contributed...

I must agree with this statement "No worries lifestyle (if you can afford it)" posted by beppi. I have the same feeling. But, does it mean that a more affordable place gives us less worries?