Are Singaporeans allergic to smile :)

nicebeach · Post by **nicebeach** » Tue, 13 Sep 2011 10:05 am

He just stopped trying.. That's all..

applepievn · Post by **applepievn** » Tue, 13 Sep 2011 11:30 am

haha I was just teasing u (and ur friend). I may understand the way he feels. I've kinda stopped trying somehow. Every time I feel like I'm not opened up or being lonely, I try to make new friends. But then when I go out, I end up either too shy to start a conversation with someone (and feel stupid after that), or simply don't feel like being accompanied. And it already takes a lot of effort for me to go out and meet new people. Don't know why I've become so introverted now (or have I always been)

ngad0003 · Post by **ngad0003** » Tue, 13 Sep 2011 2:18 pm

Asian_Geekette wrote:
sundaymorningstaple wrote: <snip>
I often said, in response to the lack of courtesy here, that it starts with you. If you don't confront discourteous head on, then you are tacitly agreeing with the inconsiderate behaviour. Will it make a difference? No. Not immediately anyway, but as more and more get the message that it's not okay, then change, albeit slowly, starts happening.
<snip>
It is very hard to bridge the difference, the east/west divide, especially in the heartlands. It's easier today, but 20 years ago, it was virtually impossible without meeting them further than half way. I found, what for me, was an ideal solution, that worked better than I had ever anticipated it would/could. I'm basically an introvert. But I started working part time for SBC back in 1988 as a part time actor. In 18 years I acted (not as an extra) in over 100 Mandarin drama serials from 1988 to 2006. I've acted with all the old famous one including Zoe Tay (Pretty Faces) and Fann Wong (Golden Pillow) to just name a few. This has made me easily recognized in kopitiams, buses & MRt trains. So, even the office kopi lady has seen me over and over again, including even today as they are all being run in the afternoon rerun time slots as well. So, even with very little English at all, the curiosity gets the best of 'em. "You, ah, SBC izzit?" So if I happen to know which series is on I'll reply "Yeah, Mr. Brown" or whoever. All the barriers come down immediately.

One just has to find out what works, and you can bridge the divide.
I'm generally a jolly person and when I first moved to Singapore, someone told me not to smile too much since people will think I'm crazy.

Anyway, I should try to catch those movies and see the ang moh there... So that once I spot him in real life, I can get his autograph. j/k

my friends said that I have fierce face and seldom smile

but I am not singaporean... so how ?

ha..ha.

ecureilx · Post by **ecureilx** » Tue, 13 Sep 2011 5:40 pm

today morning, the bus driver was exceptionally in a good mood, and was greeting every passenger .. with a "hello, good morning" - I kid you not

Atleast half the people were confused and the rest, a majority of the rest had a silly smile stuck on their face as if they were the chosen one to be greeted

I applaud the driver to making somebody happy

reminds me of a Indonesian friend, who saw a couple dressed for wedding photo, arguing. My friend, being a tall lady, walked over, kiss the girl, and shook hands with the guy and wished them and walked off .. for a moment, the squabbling newly married were dumbstruck and a moment later, they were all smiles

Unfortunately, when everybody is rushing to catch a bus, train, schedule, work, and what not, it is easy to blame others for not smiling, but ask yourself, when was the last time YOU TOOK TIME TO SMILE ??

Cheers

nicebeach · Post by **nicebeach** » Thu, 15 Sep 2011 10:54 pm

Actually my bus driver always smiles and says 'hi'! 

And I also consciously smile more nowadays even though my natural reaction is act busy when someone smiles at me! Especially if they are guys!

xiaoqiqi · Post by **xiaoqiqi** » Thu, 22 Sep 2011 4:48 pm

hmm i am a local.. i always smile... maybe that's why my fellow local friends always think i am weird... hahaha
i am always laughing! :p
come on! people here is a little shy or tensed up...

Iveey · Post by **Iveey** » Thu, 22 Sep 2011 5:02 pm

Lol, my friend asked the same question!!!

xiaoqiqi · Post by **xiaoqiqi** » Fri, 23 Sep 2011 12:21 am

really is that bad???

Jezzy · Post by **Jezzy** » Thu, 06 Oct 2011 7:51 am

atsail wrote:Agree! Many singaporeans are so stiff, they can't even take a light conversation or smile from nice strangers. They need to live a little

I totally agree with you. I was born and raise in Singapore but lived in the U.S. for 26 years and am a U.S. citizen for 20 years now. I don't go back to Singapore often and when I do, I can't understand why people argue on the slightest issue or rather get all boiled up on petty matters. In public places, when you are lost and needed some help and if you look at the person next to you, boy....he/she avoided you like lepers. OK, maybe because I looked like Filipino but I am 100% Chinese. So, maybe the "maid" word was written all over my forehead. I've been mistaken for a maid by the locals and Filipino maid at Orchard Road so that's not a surprise. Come this January I have to make a trip to Singapore for 2 months. Am I going to enjoy my trip? Well.... we'll see.

Jezzy · Post by **Jezzy** » Thu, 06 Oct 2011 8:18 am

custard26 wrote:yeah a nerdy, blind and rude date ... kept looking at his mobile in between stares at ceiling lol my margarita was probably the tastiest thing at the table lol

Sorry gal! Don't you know American men are RUDE!!! I see them everyday here! I used to date British and European men because they are more well groomed and do not curse and use foul mouth in front of ladies.

Post by **sundaymorningstaple** » Thu, 06 Oct 2011 9:27 am

Jezzy wrote:
custard26 wrote:yeah a nerdy, blind and rude date ... kept looking at his mobile in between stares at ceiling lol my margarita was probably the tastiest thing at the table lol
Sorry gal! Don't you know American men are RUDE!!! I see them everyday here! I used to date British and European men because they are more well groomed and do not curse and use foul mouth in front of ladies.

So you fooled the Brit & Euros, but couldn't fool the Yanks, izzit?

Jezzy · Post by **Jezzy** » Thu, 06 Oct 2011 9:33 am

No. I am happily married to an American for 23 years but he is not the rude kind. He is well groomed!!

Post by **nakatago** » Thu, 06 Oct 2011 10:15 am

Jezzy wrote: I used to date British and European men because they are more well groomed and do not curse and use foul mouth in front of ladies.

Well, it's obvious you haven't met.....

Jezzy · Post by **Jezzy** » Thu, 06 Oct 2011 10:24 am

Yeah, maybe... as you're saying.... I haven't met the nice kind. No. I've met some nice ones. Because of the environment I worked in, guys are just rude and obnoxious. Was working as a financial broker for 15 years so guys I met are just plain freaking rude. Well, I was no angel either.

Post by **sundaymorningstaple** » Thu, 06 Oct 2011 11:24 am

Jezzy wrote:Well, I was no angel either.

Dat's wot I said methinks.

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Are Singaporeans allergic to smile :)

when somebody is extremely cheerful

smiles?

hmmm

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