Censorship question

[phyzen]

Hello there, first post for me. Thanks for such an informative forum!

I'm moving to Singapore in the beginning of January and I just realised that some of the pink leafs on my bathing shorts are marijuana leafs (I think it's pretty subtle, but it's still there). I'm a bit worried as Singapore seems so anti-drugs and actively censor a lot of stuff. This combined with the employment pass saying "I shall not take part in any political or other activities during my stay in Singapore, which would make me an undesirable or prohibited immigrant under the Immigration Act.".
Is it allowed to wear this kind of clothes? Will people care? What if it was a t-shirt with a giant leaf with "legalise marijuana!" written all over it? I don't own one of those, but would like to get a feel for where the limits are.

This might be seem like a silly post, but I'm not used to censorship or the harsh laws and I have no idea what the culture is like over there which is why I'm asking. Better safe than sorry


I don't use drugs and have no intentions on starting now. I don't really care, but if someone asked I would say I'm pro legalisation of marijuana, but that's from a "not putting too many young people in prison" and "freeing up police resources for real crimes" than a "I'd like to smoke it"-point of view.


Thanks in advance and a happy new year!

[The Ref]

This post has been removed by the Government.

The Black Helicopters are outside your window now, reading this off your screen.

[JR8]

The OP should relax lah!

You'll see 'the symbol' here and there on clothing, and most people have no idea what it means anyway. It's mostly youngsters trying to be rule-breakers.

However I'd suggest not wearing a 'Legalise cannabis' t-shirt. It'd be similar to wearing a 'Death to the police' t-shirt in the US, just likely to attract the wrong kind of attention.

[phyzen]

Thanks for the replies. So there are no laws, just common sense (as you said, you might not want to catch the wrong kind of attention from people).
That's nice as I quite like the shorts, they cost more than they should and I haven't used them that much over the years that I have had them. Hopefully there will be more bathing in Singapore

[zzm9980]

Your pro-legalization perspective will be totally irrelevant in Singapore then. Police aren't too busy here, are drug-related offenders generally leave prison rather quickly. Just sometimes in a bag. This is the immigration card:

http://wapedia.mobi/thumb/25d7510/en/fi ... onCard.png


JR8 is right, most people likely won't have a clue. But you will *not* make a good impression on those that do. I wouldn't tempt it. Foreign workers is already a touchy subject in Singapore. Please for the sake of all of us, try not to make waves and push boundaries while here. This isn't the US or Western Europe.

[sundaymorningstaple]

^^^^

+1

[phyzen]

No no no, I'm in no way trying to push boundaries or anything like that.
Thanks for the input though, I'll see if I can get some other, but if I can't I can use these for a while. I think it's pretty subtle (or I'm just blind, took me a while to realise what was on them) so should be ok I guess. Just need something for my planned morning swims (power of new years resolution activate!)

[sundaymorningstaple]

Don't worry about it. Seriously.

[ecureilx]

zzm9980: +1

Oh, to the OP, well, just make sure you don't smell of anything druggie ..

Nowadays rare, but years ago, visitors used to get a free-health check, thanks to CNB

As, consumption of any banned drug too is illegal .. even if you do it outside the country ..

Oh, SMS is right .. fret not ..

[JR8]

Even as recently (? lol) as the late 70's, travel guidebooks were suggesting men not try and enter SG with hair longer than collar-length.

Next time I have my carton of Lonely Planet guides down I'll quote from the 'South East Asia on a Shoestring 2nd edtn'. This was back when they covered the whole region in under 200 pages hehehe...

[sundaymorningstaple]

When I arrived here in 1982 the post offices still had posters on the walls showing a drawing with a guy with hair over in collar in the back with the admonishment that men with collar length hair or longer would be waited on LAST. No S**t! Things have loosened up considerably today. But it's still really easy to get your neck stretched at Changi Prison though.

[zzm9980]

Sorry Phyzen, didn't mean to come across as too harsh earlier either. The shorts should be OK.

I just get easily annoyed because every other week there is some story about a drunken anh moh (white person) diving into the bay on a bet (and dying), or foreigners showing up to organize things like "Slut Walk 2011" and "Occupy Raffles Place". All these things rile up the locals who then rant about what a bunch of idiots we are (but are somehow also "stealing" all their good paying jobs...). Just don't wear the shorts to some "LEGALIZE IT" rally

[JR8]

Occupy Raffles Place, no $hit!?. Howabout "Occupy Speakers Corner"

[phyzen]

Thanks for all the replies. Might still look for a new pair, but can do that when I have moved down there instead.
Rallies sound like a political activity to me, so that's out anyway
I promise I'll try to behave, honestly

[JR8]

I am reminded of a Japanese expression I heard many years ago whilst living there, that speaks of Asian conformity:

'The nail that sticks up, will be hammered down'.


So, just don't publicly stick up eh? Simples