Manners campaign required??

[bluenose]

Singapore is a leader in so many ways compared to the West, it has a decent MRT system, decent housing, low crime, decent education, no or little racism, fabulous airport along with many others....unfortunately one thing it lacks compared to the Western world is MANNERS??
From inconsiderate drivers to ill mannered people in Supermarkets to Christians leaving places of Worship like they are possessed by the devil (Driving or walking!)...I think LKY needs to start a campaign for manners here.
I know the West has some issues with lack of respect etc and racial problems....but a lack of manners I have never seen it as bad anywhere else as it is here??

[nakatago]

Singapore is a leader in so many ways compared to the West, it has a decent MRT system, decent housing, low crime, decent education, no or little racism, fabulous airport along with many others....unfortunately one thing it lacks compared to the Western world is MANNERS??
From inconsiderate drivers to ill mannered people in Supermarkets to Christians leaving places of Worship like they are possessed by the devil (Driving or walking!)...I think LKY needs to start a campaign for manners here.
I know the West has some issues with lack of respect etc and racial problems....but a lack of manners I have never seen it as bad anywhere else as it is here??

That's what the graciousness campaign is for. And there were several already through the decades.

None of them seem to be working.

[the lynx]

Singapore is a leader in so many ways compared to the West, it has a decent MRT system (not decent any more after the major breakdown at EW line this morning), decent housing, low crime, decent education, no or little racism (ahem, there is, in the policy, quota etc but not in-your-face), fabulous airport along with many others....unfortunately one thing it lacks compared to the Western world is MANNERS??
From inconsiderate drivers to ill mannered people in Supermarkets to Christians leaving places of Worship like they are possessed by the devil (Driving or walking!)...I think LKY needs to start a campaign for manners here.

Not sure if you're here long enough but there have been numerous campaigns launched by the government and related government agencies already, with all these catchy names too (kindness campaign, smile campaign, 'make it right for a better ride' campaign, etc).

I know the West has some issues with lack of respect etc and racial problems....but a lack of manners I have never seen it as bad anywhere else as it is here??

[bluenose]

The MRT has broken down a few times, but locals are not realistic and think it should never break down....Go to London and see it everyday!
Singaporeans cannot handle situations that are not normal to them and broken trains are not normal for them....hence over reaction....in the west we are used to it and a bit more realistic.....
The policy quota for Government housing works....where in the UK we have NO GO areas where one race has been allowed to take over....

Purely required is a manners campaign....surely parents are teaching their kids manners...but here it seems not?? Seems all the parents want here is a decent education and decent salary...to come at any price??

[nakatago]

Purely required is a manners campaign....surely parents are teaching their kids manners...but here it seems not?? Seems all the parents want here is a decent education and decent salary...to come at any price??

Sounds right, except for the decent part--they want the best education money can buy and the highest salary they can get.

[ScoobyDoes]

....unfortunately one thing it lacks compared to the Western world is MANNERS??

Our family was walking along a narrow pavement at the weekend through a nearby construction site, meaning hoardings erected either side. We were buzzed by a couple of push bikes..... dad, with a kid on the back followed a moment later by mummy dearest.

We had to scramble to get out the way as they came up from behind without so much as an 'Excuse us, please' or a 'Thank you.' Sorry, Westerns can also lack basic manners......said as one!


With regards the MRT....... it is breaking down far too often these days (even the new line and new stations) as management pushed for profits at the expense of maintaining a proper system and doing due diligence. Now it comes to bite them on the ass.

[bluenose]

I did not state Western People....if you read correctly I stated the Western World....different....of course some Western People are picking up the habits here...it goes without saying right...when you live in Rome

Generally in the West the manners are far better than here...I have taken my Singaporean wife to the UK and she has seen in it action.....driving manners are the norm in the UK, manners in checkout queues are the norm.....wher as here it is abnormal to see any manners at all...

[sundaymorningstaple]

Sadly I have to agree. I've seen my share of rude westerners here as well, though, truth be known. How many of these are "retaliation" or "throwbacks" I don't know. But I do know that money doesn't buy manners or grace. It is something learned from the family & societal influence. It's just like kiasuism. Not all are kiasu here, but a much higher percentage of them are compared to other countries. When that happens, stereotypes abound, tarring all with the same brush. I've been here for 30 annual courtesy campaigns. I've yet to see any discernible difference. They try while the banners are up, but revert back to type the day after the banners come down.

Which, if you think about it, tends to support Pavlov's Response. Speed on the highway and get caught - pay money. Throw litter on the ground and get caught - pay money. If no one is looking? Speed and throw the garbage out of the speeding car window. (Which is exactly what they do as soon as they get across the causway (in fact, only halfway across). You can "train" them, but you cannot "teach" them.

[JR8]

The MRT has broken down a few times, but locals are not realistic and think it should never break down....Go to London and see it everyday!

I think there is a significant difference that should be noted. The London Underground dates from 150 years ago and was originally designed for steam powered trains. To retrofit it for the current day is a nigh on impossible task.

[morenangpinay]

i think it is because:
1) years and years of brainwashing that they need to win everything so they don't pay attention to what they perceive as small details like basic courtesy.
2) there is the "me first" attitude which sometimes make it seem there is a lack of empathy.
3) they are too busy to bother
4) values formation in schools will just be a waste of time, money and resources because it wont benefit their child in becoming rich.
5) parents are too stressed at work to actually do any parenting

just my observation ofcourse I could be wrong.

[bluenose]

morenangpinay - I agree and feel basically this nation has the highest percentage of most selfish people I have ever come across....quite ironic seeing as the churches who preach the opposite are always full up!
Parents are too busy to do anything...thats why we have maid culture...and they do not even show courtesy to the maids!
The government really needs to look before it is too late as the manual labour here is sadly lacking.....and Singapore will sink without it...the reliance on foreign labour cannot go on as China is becoming cheaper and Myanmar too will become a threat in time! The people here think it is bad to carry out manual labour....shipyards,oil and gas,industry have very few local workers....only a core white collar workers and management......
I started in the manual/Technical labour and am still in it....I might not dress in Designer gear, drive a ferrari, but earn a lot more than the majority of degree educated locals!
There is a lot on offer here, but real manners, real values, real respect taught from childhood are missing and it could be the downfall.....self created!

[the lynx]

....quite ironic seeing as the churches who preach the opposite are always full up!

This, my friend, is when we are in a 'first-world' country where the equation goes like this: wealth + religion = hypocrisy...

And we're not just talking about churches alone around here...

[sweetgazebo]

I had this experience about a month ago but not with a local. This bunch of 3 frenchies (i am guessing they are tourists) boarded the train on a busy saturday afternoon. what made them obvious to me was the way they walked into the train and rudely brushed against me (when i was busy texting on the phone). the phone nearly fell of my hand (as my other hand was full with shopping bags and so was texting with one hand). however seeing that her action had nearly caused me to nearly grab the phone before it falls onto the floor of a moving and crowded train she did not even apologise. instead she just looked at me then at her 2 other friends and went on talking. i was pissed. anyway, as the train was nearing the station i wanted to get down, i had to navigate my way through the crowd. well, since she was standing in my way, she refused to make way despite seeing that i was nudging my way and had said 'excuse me' to her. she continued to stand in the way. i had no choice but to push my way through. this, she did not like. when i managed to push my way through and was standing in front of her, she took the opportunity to step on my foot. i look down and noticed that there were only 3 pairs of feet where i was standing and immediately realised that it was this french bitch who stepped on my feet but she had quickly moved a little further back from me so as to not make it obvious. i waited until the train was about nearing the station and it was just unfortunate that the train made a sharp jolted move as it was about to slow down near the station. i took the opportunity to step (and really hard) on her foot. it must have been very painful for her coz i heard through my noisy earphones her complaining away in french.

so it's not just locals who can be rude. the westerners (and i have met countless of them, majority women) are also down right rude. but this episode particularly stood out.

[JR8]

Hate to say it but I think a person's ability to get on/off a crowded train is a higher priority than another person's right to stand on the train and type an SMS.

[sweetgazebo]

Hate to say it but I think a person's ability to get on/off a crowded train is a higher priority than another person's right to stand on the train and type an SMS.

you have no idea how rude this french girl really was. there's a lot more to what i described that you are not aware of but i m not here to say if locals or westerners r more rude than the other. i happened to encounter more rude westerners than local, women in particular.

have another brush of an episode just last week with a western couple and their dog but will leave this for another time