Singapore Expats

The word kiasu should be replaced with 'a weirdo' or 'freakish' in the English vernacular. I don't think a soft word like Kiasu (and it's literal meaning) does justice in describing this behaviour:

- Fights in fastfood joints over a free toy, harassing restaurant staff (and also reselling it to make a buck). Police called in. Harassing each other as to their nationality.

- Taking water from a swimming pool to save money while living in a condo.

- Over stocking on surgical masks that don't filter pollution or buying tons of N95 masks, harassing shop staff (and also reselling them to make a buck a week after haze has lifted).

V disappointing

Edroche wrote:V disappointing

Yes, but not really unexpected, given countless previous examples. Pathetic and tedious, certainly.

The word weirdo or freakish would mean that such behaviours must be isolated from societal norms, but in uniquely Singapore, kiasuism IS the essence of the societal norms!

We need to look another adjective for this!

Petty, self-centred twats are probably closer in meaning.

Edroche wrote: - Taking water from a swimming pool to save money while living in a condo.

That is a new one to me. What exactly were they doing with the water?

EDIT: Don't worry, found the thread. I love Asia for its strangeness!

The Kiasu word has been overused. It seemed to have lost its original meaning.