Singapore Expats

Lunch time yesterday standing in a pleasant pedestrian area near where I work a guy came out of a building with a black bag of refuse and launched it at the earth surrounding a tree where it crash landed and split open. He just turned around and walked away.

Later in the afternoon in the same area a guy came out of a building and sat on a park bench. He took off his sports training shoes, tied a plastic bag to each foot, put his training shoes back on and went back into the building. An interesting way of stopping your trainers getting sweaty and smelly?

Standing in line on the MRT platform waiting to go home. Two of us behind the red line one side and two the other side. As the train arrives a woman with a small boy in tow, maybe 6 years old, walks right up the centre and stands directly in front of the doors. The boy says 'mummy we need to move and let the people out first'. She completely ignored him and they pushed their way into the train as soon as the doors opened. What chance has the Governments politeness campaign got.

Maybe it's time for the alternative MRT campaign. I name yesterdays wonderful mother 'couldn't give a sh*t Sheila'

Sometimes I have 'why oh why' days like this too

I was recently considering why they happen.

I reckon you arrive in this country, and you pretty much accept everything at face value, as you have to.

It is only later, when you're more embedded, that small things can get to bug you, (the current discussion here of the unfairness of restaurant 'Service Charges/+++' being one such example).

If you're here for ever nothing will bug you, as you have to accept it. If you're here temporarily, things will progressively bug you more towards your ETD. You don't decide or control this, it's entirely sub-conscious. Maybe the phenomena could be graphed and called the Bug-Curve or something

It's not happened to me in Singapore but I did snap in China after 3 years of living with people shoving into the lift as I was trying to get out. Once again it happened - some arsewipe trying to push in before we'd had a chance to get out - I reached over my wife's shoulders (she was in front being pushed back) - put both palms on either shoulder of the arsewipe and shoved him over on his back. We stepped over his body and went on our way. I knew then it was time to leave.

We should have a "Bring an intimidating-object-so-that-people-will-get-out-of-your-way-as-you-exit-the-MRT day."

If you search the threads, I use a hanbo; SMS uses a Samsonite luggage.

JR8 wrote:Sometimes I have 'why oh why' days like this too

I was recently considering why they happen.

I reckon you arrive in this country, and you pretty much accept everything at face value, as you have to.

It is only later, when you're more embedded, that small things can get to bug you, (the current discussion here of the unfairness of restaurant 'Service Charges/+++' being one such example).

If you're here for ever nothing will bug you, as you have to accept it. If you're here temporarily, things will progressively bug you more towards your ETD. You don't decide or control this, it's entirely sub-conscious. Maybe the phenomena could be graphed and called the Bug-Curve or something

I recall reading the threads on this some time ago and thinking to myself I am not in the honeymoon period, I am sure I am such a calm person these issues will never bother me. Two years and four months into my term and they are starting to bug me

I am on the bug curve for sure

Steve1960 wrote:Standing in line on the MRT platform waiting to go home. Two of us behind the red line one side and two the other side. As the train arrives a woman with a small boy in tow, maybe 6 years old, walks right up the centre and stands directly in front of the doors. The boy says 'mummy we need to move and let the people out first'. She completely ignored him and they pushed their way into the train as soon as the doors opened. What chance has the Governments politeness campaign got.

Maybe it's time for the alternative MRT campaign. I name yesterdays wonderful mother 'couldn't give a sh*t Sheila'

But the other 98% of people were doing the right thing, yeah?

Try living in China

If I try and get out of the lift, and no one is behind me but people are trying to get in and block my exit, I just stand in the middle of the door way blocking their entrance until they realise and get out of the way. It often takes them a few seconds to realise. I am hoping one day the doors close behind me and they miss the lift.

I was at Sentosa once in the line up for the Monorail out from Beach station. There was a huge line and a group of XXX tourists following their tour guide with a little flag who was leading the group up to the front of the line. As they were just about to push in I stepped in front of the tour guide - pointed to the long line and let out a KNN pointing to the back of the line. I had a huge applause behind me from (most) people in the line and they sheepishly slunk off to the back of the line FTW.

The foreigners not realising doesn't bother me too much but those who live here should know better (yes, I consider myself both foreigner and a little bit local)

I am prone to be the one to bury my shoulder into those who don't let me off the train, and this happens about once a week.

But since all the anti-foreigner stuff happening, I find myself less inclined to do this, and actually feel, not sure how to say, uncomfortable to do so, like I'm that foreign guy telling people here how they should do things.

I really don't want to be That Guy, and even more I don't want to be in the situation where one is almost forced to be.

While I will never accept that kind of barbaric lack of humanity when it happens, I think I've given up hope on this place ever being civilized, it just aint gonna happen, and I catch myself speaking out less than before.

Nihility wrote:
But the other 98% of people were doing the right thing, yeah?

Try living in China

No I am sure the other 98% were not doing the right thing. If they were the Government would not have started the MRT politeness campaign.

Of course I accept China is worse. I also know other countries are better.

The Ref wrote:If I try and get out of the lift, and no one is behind me but people are trying to get in and block my exit, I just stand in the middle of the door way blocking their entrance until they realise and get out of the way. It often takes them a few seconds to realise. I am hoping one day the doors close behind me and they miss the lift.

I was at Sentosa once in the line up for the Monorail out from Beach station. There was a huge line and a group of XXX tourists following their tour guide with a little flag who was leading the group up to the front of the line. As they were just about to push in I stepped in front of the tour guide - pointed to the long line and let out a KNN pointing to the back of the line. I had a huge applause behind me from (most) people in the line and they sheepishly slunk off to the back of the line FTW.

The foreigners not realising doesn't bother me too much but those who live here should know better (yes, I consider myself both foreigner and a little bit local)

I like the KNN bit. Class!

The MRT and the lift issues happen a lot to me. There are days when I would shrugged it off, but on most days it bugs the hell out of me. And I dont get how once off the train, they would walk at a snail's pace because they are too busy watching some KD drama on their smartphone.

Yesterday evening, husband decided that he really needed to buy the new Murakami, so off we went to Ngee Ann City. As we come down Holland Road, a taxi oblivious to others on the road, went through at least 2 if not 3 lanes to slip into the left turning on the corner of Gleneagles and Botanic Gardens. No indicator and was not aware that we were behind him in the left lane either.
Seriously, driving here is horrendous.

We went over to Batam last weekend. On the way back we were queuing for immigration at the harbour prior to departure, and since we arrived a bit early we were near the front, maybe 20th or so. We were outside, it was hot and uncomfortable, and there was no seating for the 200-odd manifest/pax.

A SGn* auntie simply walked up past 100+ people, and joined the queue right in front of us. What do you do, do something, or ignore it? Well, it was so egregious I couldn't just ignore it. Plus I was hot and tired so not in the mood for such stuff. So I jabbed her several times on the shoulder, and when she turned around I said 'Oi, you, BACK!' gesturing with my thumb. And indeed that's what she did, moving back some way in front of some people who presumably didn't care.

Once through immigration with everyone ambling down the jetties to the boat, the said auntie hammered past us at such speed I couldn't help but burst out laughing. A classic example of 'Must win!' And indeed when we came to board she had put herself in the #1-kiasu seat right next to the entrance doorway. We were in the row in front on the other side. For almost the entire journey (50 mins) she was doing a fixed laser-beam stare to the rear/side of my head. Jeez, something had really p'd her off! Maybe she didn't like that despite her 'having won', my wife and I were too happy and not projecting a sense of defeat.

Anyway, that would have been the end of the story, but for one unexpected irony. When we came in to dock, we docked on the opposite side to that we embarked through: The side nearest to us. So in the end divine justice played it's hand, and we left her for dust




*she was holding a SGn passport.

^^^ Hilarious!

I've always found it best to laugh at all the selfish, kiasu idiocy; it helps keep the blood pressure down and as a side effect it also pisses off the kiasu-er (if you see what I mean). Having said that, I'm also in favour of pointing out the 'errors of politeness' when necessary.

I also find that a hearty and cheerful "Good Morning!" on entering a lift, room, etc. seems to really aggravate the wasp chewers.

That was hilarious. I think we should have a sticky for Kiasu Encounters.

I have a few canned responses, like, "Keep living in the kiasu prison of yours and you'll never get out!", or "How very kiasu of you" and about 5 more I can't think of right now.

I used to hammer about one a week who plays their TV drama, music or phone call on speakerphone in the bus or train, less now than I did before. This kind of this puts them in a place where they know they are wrong and everyone is looking at them, so a kind of double kiasu.

It's like how everybody starts queuing to get on a plane 10-15min before boarding is even scheduled.

My seat is confirmed, I have a boarding pass, I am not carrying the kitchen sink that I need to squeeze into a pokey overhead "bin" (don't even get me started on them calling it THAT) and the plane will not leave without me, with me sitting at the gate.

The Captain himself would most probably leave the aircraft and hand carry me to my seat before wasting the 30min required to off load my bags in the hold. Now, that would be service!

If I'm not walking on through via the Priority Boarding announcement then I'm usually nearly last......and all the more relaxed for it.

It is the same in Malaysia with the highway tolls. The guys are flying at 210kph on the N-S then sit 30min at a toll booth to pay cash. My SmartTag and I both say "Thank You" and smile.