Singapore Expats

Try googling "Number of neighbour disputes hit high" with "Neighbours lack communication and increasingly intolerant: CMC."

As it turns out, we're not the only ones with passive-aggressive neighbors (click this for context) and the number is increasing. People can't seem to be bothered to approach their neighbors to settle things and would rather go out of their way to complain to government officials. Pretty amusing, actually, in a sad way. Also, check out the comment by "Steve." Sounds like someone's given in to xenophobia; probably another anonymous coward.

The police/authorities here probably should also make it an offense for wasting their time.

Case 1: A family, who had just moved here from China, had resorted to mediation because they could not stand the smell of curry that their Singaporean Indian neighbours would often cook. The Indian family, who were mindful of their neighbour's aversion, had already taken to closing their doors and windows whenever they cooked the dish, but this was not enough.

"They said: 'Can you please do something? Can you don't cook curry? Can you don't eat curry?'," said Madam Marcellina Giam, a Community Mediation Centre mediator. But the Indian family stood firm. In the end, Mdm Giam got the Indian family to agree to cook curry only when the Chinese family was not home. In return, they wanted their Chinese neighbours to at least give their dish a try.

You will notice, it was the minority who had to change their ethnic eating habits.

sundaymorningstaple wrote:

Case 1: A family, who had just moved here from China, had resorted to mediation because they could not stand the smell of curry that their Singaporean Indian neighbours would often cook. The Indian family, who were mindful of their neighbour's aversion, had already taken to closing their doors and windows whenever they cooked the dish, but this was not enough.

"They said: 'Can you please do something? Can you don't cook curry? Can you don't eat curry?'," said Madam Marcellina Giam, a Community Mediation Centre mediator. But the Indian family stood firm. In the end, Mdm Giam got the Indian family to agree to cook curry only when the Chinese family was not home. In return, they wanted their Chinese neighbours to at least give their dish a try.

You will notice, it was the minority who had to change their ethnic eating habits.

Some commenters on the original article have the same sentiment.

What I notice is local Singaporean give way to FOREIGNER

therat wrote:What I notice is local Singaporean give way to FOREIGNER

That was just one case; it may have been highlighted as some form of bias (or not). It could still cut both ways.

I'm sure we all have our stories to tell so let's not get into a "us vs them" debate.

morning glory and belachan can smell just as bad but so yummy...

Shortly after I moved into my new apartment, I got a vist from security.

Apparently my new dining chairs are annoyingly audible in the flat below, I was asked if I could refrain from moving the chairs after 7pm as the flat below doesn't like it when watching TV. Fair enough.

So the next evening on my way home from work, I stopped off to apologise and show them the new felt pads I would be installing on each chair leg that very night, and to say that if there is any problem in the future, here is my number, please call and let me know. The man of the house dared to open the door only 3" and mumbled god-knows-what before shutting me out.

A few minutes later I got another visit from security, asking me don't bother the neighbours, if I have a problem to talk to them.

So now I am sure to scrape the chairs non-stop every night I am home until 6.59pm

curiousgeorge wrote:Shortly after I moved into my new apartment, I got a vist from security.

Apparently my new dining chairs are annoyingly audible in the flat below, I was asked if I could refrain from moving the chairs after 7pm as the flat below doesn't like it when watching TV. Fair enough.

So the next evening on my way home from work, I stopped off to apologise and show them the new felt pads I would be installing on each chair leg that very night, and to say that if there is any problem in the future, here is my number, please call and let me know. The man of the house dared to open the door only 3" and mumbled god-knows-what before shutting me out.

A few minutes later I got another visit from security, asking me don't bother the neighbours, if I have a problem to talk to them.

So now I am sure to scrape the chairs non-stop every night I am home until 6.59pm

I'd also buy a box of nails, a hammer, a big plank of old wood and practice your DIY skills just to p*ss them off even more.....

About the curry in the original article, I just found this jaunty little ditty: http://youtu.be/QWvgIr_YawI

@curiousgeorge: I know a place where you can get tap dance lessons (DISCLAIMER: I gain no benefit if I recommend them, woof-woof).

Following on from the youtube link I love this Facebook reaction event

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=254441147918239

Tigerslayer wrote:Following on from the youtube link I love this Facebook reaction event

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=254441147918239

I am incensed at this!

They didn't post a recipe. What if I don't know how to cook curry?!?

/sarcasm

Solutions to the problems.

Be prepared for the machete attack, when language is a problem, as the frustration and misunderstanding can be intolerable
http://www.amazon.com/SAS-Survival-Hand ... 309&sr=8-3

BillyB wrote:

curiousgeorge wrote:Shortly after I moved into my new apartment, I got a vist from security.

Apparently my new dining chairs are annoyingly audible in the flat below, I was asked if I could refrain from moving the chairs after 7pm as the flat below doesn't like it when watching TV. Fair enough.

So the next evening on my way home from work, I stopped off to apologise and show them the new felt pads I would be installing on each chair leg that very night, and to say that if there is any problem in the future, here is my number, please call and let me know. The man of the house dared to open the door only 3" and mumbled god-knows-what before shutting me out.

A few minutes later I got another visit from security, asking me don't bother the neighbours, if I have a problem to talk to them.

So now I am sure to scrape the chairs non-stop every night I am home until 6.59pm

I'd also buy a box of nails, a hammer, a big plank of old wood and practice your DIY skills just to p*ss them off even more.....

or accidently drop some coins.... daily

We've had that problem with former neighbors above us, and always try to respect those below us, so I think what you did was good and is really what, where I come from at least, any normal decent human would or should do.

It shouldn't be negated however by what you put in your last sentence - you started out taking the High Road, I personally think it's best to stay on it and not stoop to the level of those who choose the other path.


I know, you said it in jest...

curiousgeorge wrote:Shortly after I moved into my new apartment, I got a vist from security.

Apparently my new dining chairs are annoyingly audible in the flat below, I was asked if I could refrain from moving the chairs after 7pm as the flat below doesn't like it when watching TV. Fair enough.

So the next evening on my way home from work, I stopped off to apologise and show them the new felt pads I would be installing on each chair leg that very night, and to say that if there is any problem in the future, here is my number, please call and let me know. The man of the house dared to open the door only 3" and mumbled god-knows-what before shutting me out.

A few minutes later I got another visit from security, asking me don't bother the neighbours, if I have a problem to talk to them.

So now I am sure to scrape the chairs non-stop every night I am home until 6.59pm

Splatted wrote: or accidently drop some coins.... daily

Bouncing a golf-ball on the floor is like Chinese water torture.