xenophobia on the rise

[sundaymorningstaple]

Excellent posting on facebook by Dr. Siew Tuck Wah. Well written and a balanced viewpoint. Very unusual coming from a local in the current xenophobic state of the country.

http://www.facebook.com/notes/hawk-cut- ... 4529841068

Nobody bothered to tell him that when 5 out of 10 Singaporean are rude and passive-aggressive, that the stereotype sticks there as well. Otherwise excellent posting.

[zzm9980]

It is a well written piece, a bit more fair than almost any other I see, but balanced? Maybe less imbalanced. Oh, and it's not in poorly written Singlish, so many points for that.

It's balanced at first in its discussion on the Ferrari accident, but then the last 75% of the article goes on to attack PRCs as being less refined than Chinese Singaporeans. Amusingly, all he does is describe a super Kiasu version of themselves. He then tries to justify all of this by with an anecdote from when he lived in Geylang by prostitutes (It's loud there at 2am? You don't say!) and people not liking his dog. We've established here ourselves that plenty of different cultures in Singapore don't like dogs, it isn't just PRC immigrants. The way he tries to justify his barking dog by equating it to a crying PRC child is especially amusing. All kids cry, you can't help it. If Singaporeans had more of their own, they'd know this.

He tries to balance out his attacks with two cutesy but pointless examples of foreigners being benign. Apparently the mobs of Bangladeshi men holding hands in the grass he enjoys so much have never hit on his wife or girlfriend.

In an amusing way, it's a great argument for importing more PRCs. They're more kiasu and more concerned with having kids than pets.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Yeah, but you gotta admit. PRC's DO have a fondness for dogs. Supposedly heaty and best eaten in winter. Same-same drinking snake's blood cocktails.

But you gotta admit, it's actually refreshing to see a well written piece of prose by a local (admittedly, he was probably educated at an overseas university).

[NorrinRadd]

Interesting that when I saw this reposted earlier the same comment was made, about it being well-balanced, etc.

As I saw the comment before reading the article, what occurred to me was why is something as basic as being well-balanced now some sort of achievement?

Or have those who read things like these been conditioned for anything less than "well-balanced" to warrant things like this for greater consideration than would be so anywhere else?

That's rhetorical, not meant as a question.

I have another, separate thing to say on this, perhaps in a different post.

Meanwhile, his "Comparing a PRC and a Singaporean is like comparing Hematite (Iron Ore) and Stainless Steel - we are all of the same element, but many times more refined." comment says it all.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Meanwhile, his "Comparing a PRC and a Singaporean is like comparing Hematite (Iron Ore) and Stainless Steel - we are all of the same element, but many times more refined." comment says it all.

Relatively speaking? Not absolute terms.

[zzm9980]

Yeah, but you gotta admit. PRC's DO have a fondness for dogs. Supposedly heaty and best eaten in winter. Same-same drinking snake's blood cocktails.

They're too gamey. I wouldn't recommend trying it unless it's just to say you did.

[nakatago]

Meanwhile, his "Comparing a PRC and a Singaporean is like comparing Hematite (Iron Ore) and Stainless Steel - we are all of the same element, but many times more refined." comment says it all.

I was like

[sundaymorningstaple]

I tried it, but unknowingly. It was in 1967 in a small village in the NAM. Didn't know what the headman was serving us but you don't ask. Wasn't till later I found out. In hindsight, I didn't find it all that bad. At least when comparing it to stringy, tough & very gamey monkey (also in the NAM). But against my upbringing/instincts, I'd never do it again (knowingly).

[NorrinRadd]

And that's probably why there are so many Likes on the post, which is nothing more than a diplomatic form of would-be elitism.

Dunno about anyone else, but the distance I see between Singaporeans and foreigners is as broad as the distance Singaporeans seem to see between themselves and the PRC.

Which for this foreigner, is not quite as wide.

It is a well written piece, a bit more fair than almost any other I see, but balanced? Maybe less imbalanced.


Amusingly, all he does is describe a super Kiasu version of themselves.

He tries to balance out his attacks with two cutesy but pointless examples of foreigners being benign.

[zzm9980]

And that's probably why there are so many Likes on the post, which is nothing more than a diplomatic form of would-be elitism.

Yep, it's the same old garbage, just much more articulated.

[morenangpinay]

not balanced but more diplomatic than the rest. But in fairness to the PRCs I learned the "making a ruckus.."behavior from living in Singapore. I tried it once when i bought something from a shop only to find out they wrapped and gave me the one with the defect. I returned and informed them but they wouldnt exchange it so i complained loudly and demanded the manager..which i never do. Only then did they change it.

they seem to be prone to suggestion, all these increased tension is created by the media highlighting news on foreigners without actually being balanced in reporting. They don't see the big picture. What will Singapore offer to the world then if they don't have resources.

They said its okay to have slow economy growth rate but they fail to realize the impact it will be in their lives. For example i know a certain hospital who will not be renewing all their nurses who are on S Passes. I wonder if they expect the locals to work as nurses...goodluck to that.

[NorrinRadd]

Same here, and I don't like being That Person, but it's what works.

But in fairness to the PRCs I learned the "making a ruckus.."behavior from living in Singapore.

[poodlek]

Meanwhile, his "Comparing a PRC and a Singaporean is like comparing Hematite (Iron Ore) and Stainless Steel - we are all of the same element, but many times more refined." comment says it all.

I was like

+1

But in fairness to the PRCs I learned the "making a ruckus.."behavior from living in Singapore. I tried it once when i bought something from a shop....wouldn't exchange

Me too...I never would have seen myself acting as assertive and aggressive as I do here, but people just don't seem to take me seriously if I go in with my Western manners intact.

Yep, it's the same old garbage, just much more articulated.

+1

Another thing I noticed from the article is how the author seems to think Singaporeans are being victimized by PRC over the dog issue. Perhaps his (and his friend's) neighbours really are big jerks, but if I was in his place I wouldn't a) move or b) worry about the authorities and definitely not c) give up my dog if I wasn't doing anything wrong. I'd stand up for myself and my family and tell the stupid neighbour where to go! No point in playing the "poor me" card in a situation like that.

[hypezeta]

Aiya...

Give us some time can?

Not so long ago Singapore was still a nation of kampong villages and mostly uneducated people.

Singapore's infrastructure progressed quickly. Our manners though, while better than Shanghai etc (as a Chinese who lived there I got the worst of it - because they thought I was 'one of them' and thus no need to give you face) still leaves much to be desired.

We have a long way to go before we can match the cultural sophistication and manners of the Japanese and Western city-dwellers, who have practised urban living for many decades.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Hypezeta,

May I ask you a question? How old are you? Are you under 30/33? If so, they what is YOUR excuse. I've been here 1.5 generations (30 years). It's been 2.5 generations since being a nation of kampong dwellers, I daresay. The courtesy campaigns started 33 or 35 years ago. And educations have been pretty high since I arrived here. Time is one thing, but you seem to be just looking for an excuse. Sorry, it just doesn't wash.