Do you find this strange?

[PrimroseHill]

Reminded me of the Wannabes. Pretentiousness.

Another type that I hate are the ones that are exteremly nasty because you are better than them - be it more As, own a jet to his Ford Ka etc.

[Beeroclock]

I've noticed that and to the poster above, I have been trying to see it from their viewpoint. It just still doesn't make any sense to me.

Your desire to understand/ make sense is admirable, but such cultural differences I think are more about acceptance/non-judgement over logic/science. that's what I "try" to do anyway

[Chantikki]

So he pays roughly SGD 2,000,000 for a unit but goes to the club house to use free wi-fi

You should look inside some of those units that the frugal Chinese live in. You'll see most rooms completely bare of furnishings, except the most basic and ugly hand-me-down furniture and/or cheap Ikea. Really all you have to do is look at ads of units for rent that come "furnished" and find some of the ones with photos. Thirty year old HDB or $2 million condo at Reflections, and they all look furnished the same on the inside.

they don't really seem to be into decorating do they.

[x9200]

From my observations it looks like there are 3 major types: (1) almost bare flat with some basic furniture with no style connections; (2) something that they called a designer flat/place/furniture - normal to high furniture density and more uniform style (never seen what I would like); (3) completely packed with random style furniture

[PrimroseHill]

mostly (1)

[JR8]

My extended family; paternal and maternal are like that, materialistic and competitive. I hate this keeping up with the Joneses stuff - your son has how many As? 20? Wah, your Ah Boy so clever, my son has 39As now in Oxford reading Classic.
Or as soon as they walk into the house, how much is your house worth? Wah Ashley Cole is your neighbour meh?
How much is your salary? How much is your bonus?

Thanks for the genuine LOL PH

Doesn't it all reek of 'new money'. To get it, you need to compete, and gauge your success against others. When you have it, it no longer matters, to the point that discussing it is positively vulgar.

[the lynx]

When you have it, it no longer matters, to the point that discussing it is positively vulgar.

So, only those who "have it" have the right to consider it to be "positively vulgar" to discuss it?

[JR8]

When you have it, it no longer matters, to the point that discussing it is positively vulgar.

So, only those who "have it" have the right to consider it to be "positively vulgar" to discuss it?

Where did your suggestion of a 'right' come from?

[sundaymorningstaple]

JR8, obviously you don't consider it "positively vulgar" as you are a self-made millionaire and you don't mind telling us at least once a week.

It's Friday, what!

[the lynx]

When you have it, it no longer matters, to the point that discussing it is positively vulgar.

So, only those who "have it" have the right to consider it to be "positively vulgar" to discuss it?

Where did your suggestion of a 'right' come from?

Alright, my word "right" wasn't from you but your sentence implied that those who made a fortune thinks it is positively vulgar to discuss such success. With that line, the opinion poorer people (or rather people who don't care about it) have that it is vulgar to discuss it, is a bunch of sour grapes.

It is ok. This is not a personal attack. Just an interesting discussion on perspectives.

[x9200]

I yet have to see the case where a nouveau riche is any positive in being vulgar but perhaps I missed the whole point.

[JR8]

@ SMS. Really. Am I? Well if so please don’t tell my wife ok Smile I don’t recall saying much about anything beyond my career, and subsequent post-career strategy. I have no points to gain. If I can make a suggestion of a retirement/post-retirement strategy for a questioner here to consider, that’s all I’m interested in. For example, after 20 odd years landlording I’d hope I’ve some insight to share with others that might help them.

[side-thought] At what times do you present credentials prior to making a statement, and what is the purpose? Soldiers do. Businessmen exchange business cards. Isn’t daily intercourse projected, and based upon knowledge of ‘perceived qualifications and relative status’? If someone comes here and says, we’re a family of 5, moving on an expat package from Aus, and want a house in D10 on a budget of S$2k, or indeed S$100k, what does one say? I think the (natural/helpful) tendency is to suggest why your opinion is of value ...> ‘I’ve lived in D10 for 3 years, and... ‘


@ Lynx. I don’t know. I find it interesting coming here from a country where discussing money is vulgar, to later living by Short Hills NJ, to living in SG, to where watching the Osbournes on TV is daily fare. In a place with lot’s of new money, well to them it seems much more everyday, acceptable, expected. Just go down 7/11 and witness the magazines re: top-luxury cars/wine/cigars etc. It is interesting that back home to be showy would be considered vulgar, and count against you. But here, I think the reverse is true, you almost have to, as everyone else is...


Dunno!


p.s. Isn't there something of a logic-conflict? Expats had the guts, nerve, talent and wherewithal to emigrate. Then some elements suggest they should have no pride in these same talents?

[x9200]

Isn't the intention the key?

[JR8]

Isn't the intention the key?

Perhaps. Just I don't think 98% of 'the accused' think about it.

[Addadude]

So he pays roughly SGD 2,000,000 for a unit but goes to the club house to use free wi-fi

You should look inside some of those units that the frugal Chinese live in. You'll see most rooms completely bare of furnishings, except the most basic and ugly hand-me-down furniture and/or cheap Ikea. Really all you have to do is look at ads of units for rent that come "furnished" and find some of the ones with photos. Thirty year old HDB or $2 million condo at Reflections, and they all look furnished the same on the inside.

they don't really seem to be into decorating do they.

A couple of considerations:

1. You can't really get a fair gauge on local interior design preferences from ads for apartments to rent. Those places are always going to be furnished as cheaply as humanly possible with Ikea and/or cast off, hand-me-down furniture.

2. In my experience Asians are perfectly comfortable sitting or lounging around on floors so having lost of plush sofas and chairs to sprawl on is not really necessary. (I used to attend a small church group in Simei. The group leader's semi-detached was very comfortably furnished but whenever he had a large group over, the chairs and sofa would be pushed back and everybody would sit on the floor. As the only Westerner in the group I was the guy who was always shifting around as various part of my nether regions went to sleep from the prolonged contact with the hard floor.)

3. Just check out the proliferation of interior design firms and interior design magazines here, not to mention the relatively thriving Park Mall. Somebody is clearly spending a lot of money on furnishing and interior design.