10 things I hate about Singapore

[JR8]

I've had instances of holding open a heavy door in a mall for a lady with a pram and suddenly everyone behind rushes and I'm standing there as 20 people follow through behind all acting blur to the impromptu doorman... lol![/color]

I still do the same for those that look like they need it. If that happened to me though, I'd let go, hell give it a push shut, as soon as the woman with the pram went through.

I come from a country where people don't tend to take the P out of someone who just happens to be polite. Travel, learn, adapt.

[v4jr4]

Go to the security counter of that building and call police.

Although they charge him for "unknown" service?

[x9200]

Go to the security counter of that building and call police.

Although they charge him for "unknown" service?

If you consider the situation from the repairmen's perspective there are many many things that can go wrong so it is rather risky move to snatch somebody's phone and ask $600 for a service. He surely counts on that it would never got reported. A single situation like this and next time he is done. If he asks $600 he would need to justify the cost. Buying a card probably won't in the eyes of the policeman... etc etc etc

[v4jr4]

Go to the security counter of that building and call police.

Although they charge him for "unknown" service?

If you consider the situation from the repairmen's perspective there are many many things that can go wrong so it is rather risky move to snatch somebody's phone and ask $600 for a service. He surely counts on that it would never got reported. A single situation like this and next time he is done. If he asks $600 he would need to justify the cost. Buying a card probably won't in the eyes of the policeman... etc etc etc

Alright. Fully noted. I guess he kena tekan.

[sensei_]

Well, I got a story from someone I know as follow: he was asking for a card for his Blackberry in a shop at Lucky Plaza, but the shop owners just suddenly snatched his BB, and after that, he was charged 600S$ for "blackberry service". He came to Singapore as tourist. I don't know why he didn't report it to authority, but actually, can he do anything to overcome that kind of situation?

if anyone of those guys in lucky plaza/SLS tried a shifty like that on me, they would be in for the shock of their lives. i can guarantee that someone will be going to the hospital, maybe not there and then, but they will pay.

not long ago, i had one debtor who when i asked for payment, asked what i would do if he didnt pay, and whether i would ask someone to beat him up.

my reply: i wont get someone to beat you up, instead ill come down myself. NOW!!

needless to say, the kiasu/kiasi sillyporean ran off and hid for a few days. the cheque came in the mail a few days later too.

[Steve1960]

Is it the time that wears you down?

I have only been here 3+ months and have seen little that offends me more than when I lived in my native UK (London).

Yes its hot and wet but I can live with that given the disappointing summers and low temperatures we frequently have in the UK.

It may help having a cute baby but everyone has been very polite to me and my wife in lifts, MRT trains, everywhere. We live in HDB housing in Toa Payoh Lorong 2 and I rarely ever see a caucasian.

We use the local wet market to buy our seafood and meat. Sure at first people stared but now we are greeted warmly when we go there and they don't rip us off on the prices, no foreigner tax! My wife is Filipina and we check prices by sending her shopping the first time on her own. Only after that do me and my daughter go with her then we see if the prices change

I think the only topic that has made me angry in a couple of instances is people using their mobile phones whilst walking in the street. They are an accident waiting to happen. In fact I did see a Chinese guy fall down the escalator at Novena MRT because he was concentrating on texting....................and yes I did stop to help him after he fell

Maybe I will become more bitter and twisted over time.

[x9200]

Is it the time that wears you down?

Some people say they see (get annoyed) it immediately but typically it happens after 1-1.5y. It's a fatigue related thing and what you are experiencing now is within what is call here a honeymoon

[nakatago]

Maybe I will become more bitter and twisted over time.

Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated.

[wwww]

Is it the time that wears you down?

Some people say they see (get annoyed) it immediately but typically it happens after 1-1.5y. It's a fatigue related thing and what you are experiencing now is within what is call here a honeymoon

I am here for three years and still love it like it was my first day...I wonder how long it takes until my fatigue kicks in. Yes, the locals are sometimes too "kiasu" in public transport and in the streets, but I have just accepted it as a fact of the "local culture". Besides the locals are generally a very kind bunch of people.

I am more irritated with foreign workers from a certain subcontinent who often dont understand the fact that there will be another MRT just 2-3 minutes later and that it is very unpolite to brutally push into the carriage in groups even though the trains is already full.

Additionally, the thing that really pisses off my wife off is the fact that everyone automatically assumes that she speaks Chinese due to her East Asian looks, which she absolutely does not...

[v4jr4]

Is it the time that wears you down?

Some people say they see (get annoyed) it immediately but typically it happens after 1-1.5y. It's a fatigue related thing and what you are experiencing now is within what is call here a honeymoon

I am here for three years and still love it like it was my first day...I wonder how long it takes until my fatigue kicks in. Yes, the locals are sometimes too "kiasu" in public transport and in the streets, but I have just accepted it as a fact of the "local culture". Besides the locals are generally a very kind bunch of people.

I am more irritated about foreign workers from a certain subcontinent who often dont understand the fact that there will be another MRT just 2-3 minutes later and that it is very unpolite to brutally push into the carriage in groups even though the trains is already full.

Additionally, the thing that really pisses off my wife off is the fact that everyone automatically assumes that she speaks Chinese due to her East Asian looks, which she does not...

Well, in my case, they love to "squeeze" other passengers in MRT even if there's enough space. Not to mention they love to show the armpit section, and the aroma . . . good God. I love durian, but not this armpit

[Steve1960]

Point taken I am definitely in the honeymoon period

I have thought of another one though. Film censorship. I couldn't work out why sometimes when I am watching a film I lose the plot and scenes don't look joined up. I now realise the Government is protecting me from unsuitable content. Funny at 51 years old I thought I was old enough to decide that for myself.......................

[x9200]

I have thought of another one though. Film censorship. I couldn't work out why sometimes when I am watching a film I lose the plot and scenes don't look joined up. I now realise the Government is protecting me from unsuitable content. Funny at 51 years old I thought I was old enough to decide that for myself.......................

Even more funny, they censor differently for what is on the DVDs and differently for the cinemas.
Also what they censor is pretty amazing. My favorite example is this French movie Amelie few good years back, there was a scene where a couple was having sex in a phone booth and all what was shown in the uncensored movie IIRC was the glasses on the bar's shelves nicely vibrating with the corresponding frequency. They removed it all.

[wwww]

Some people say they see (get annoyed) it immediately but typically it happens after 1-1.5y. It's a fatigue related thing and what you are experiencing now is within what is call here a honeymoon

I am here for three years and still love it like it was my first day...I wonder how long it takes until my fatigue kicks in. Yes, the locals are sometimes too "kiasu" in public transport and in the streets, but I have just accepted it as a fact of the "local culture". Besides the locals are generally a very kind bunch of people.

I am more irritated about foreign workers from a certain subcontinent who often dont understand the fact that there will be another MRT just 2-3 minutes later and that it is very unpolite to brutally push into the carriage in groups even though the trains is already full.

Additionally, the thing that really pisses off my wife off is the fact that everyone automatically assumes that she speaks Chinese due to her East Asian looks, which she does not...

Well, in my case, they love to "squeeze" other passengers in MRT even if there's enough space. Not to mention they love to show the armpit section, and the aroma . . . good God. I love durian, but not this armpit

Fully agree...and somehow even the more educated ones have a tendency to emit a strong odor since they seem to take a shower first ting in the morning and then go on cooking and eating their curries and having a cigarette right after...

I used to pass by a certain "little" MRT station every morning.

I love the food myself, but please dont cook it and then go commute without taking a shower in between...

[sundaymorningstaple]

Welcome to the Nanny State. If you could have seen the situation on High Street across from where the old US Embassy stood, there was/is a Clan Association that brought in an Art collection from China. Unfortunately there were a lot of nude paintings as well. The place was filled up every day from opening to closing by Ah Peks, who I guess, afterward, when into the carpark at the back and did who knows what. Yeah, they do need protecting from themselves here. Unfortunately, we all are collateral damage as they don't do anything here by halves.

Oh, my honeymoon here lasted around 10 years. The the next decade I just suffered in silence. The past 10 years? I've gotten rather vocal Or at least I did.

Look up another former regular, ozchick, using the search function to see her transformation from bright shiney-eye lovin' it to oh crap. We tried to tell her, she found out the hard way.

[wwww]

Welcome to the Nanny State. If you could have seen the situation on High Street across from where the old US Embassy stood, there was/is a Clan Association that brought in an Art collection from China. Unfortunately there were a lot of nude paintings as well. The place was filled up every day from opening to closing by Ah Peks, who I guess, afterward, when into the carpark at the back and did who knows what. Yeah, they do need protecting from themselves here. Unfortunately, we all are collateral damage as they don't do anything here by halves.

Oh, my honeymoon here lasted around 10 years. The the next decade I just suffered in silence. The past 10 years? I've gotten rather vocal Or at least I did.
Look up another former regular, ozchick, using the search function to see her transformation from bright shiney-eye lovin' it to oh crap. We tried to tell her, she found out the hard way.

Vocal like a local?

I am really wondering how long it will take in my case...