Pattern Many Many

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I have all along been interested in sociology, especially observing how special our society is from other societies... here I illustrate some Singaporeans who somehow amaze me (with the help of some Chew On It comics)...

Rank 5: The "Plan-Ahead" Singaporean

Source: http://www.chewonit.net/pages/unique.html

Great foresight! Would admit that I always lack such foresight because by the time I come to realize that there are like possibility for long weekends, others would have beaten me to the game and would have applied for leave. Sighhh, similarly, I didn't know about this week's 2 holidays until someone told me a few days ago.

Rank 4: The "Queue-Up" Singaporean

Source: http://www.chewonit.net/pages/spore.html

Years of public education has paid off and Singaporeans are always very orderly when it comes to queueing up for condos, schools, tickets, freebies etc

Rank 3: The Inconsiderate @&!^@$%!^@* Singaporeans


Took this at Junction 8, like the poster as it looks intimidating enough... so many eyes looking at you...

This category of people really amazes me and irkes me as well... how can they even bear to be such a public nuisance e.g. using their handphones in movies when everyone is so engrossed in the plot only to be disrupted by irritating ringtones and some bugger talking loudly on the phone... or people who somehow feel that just because they pay taxes, they have the right to take 2 seats on public transport; one for themselves, one for their bags / stuff etc.

Recently met this person who sat opposite to me on the green type of bus seat (i.e. those which you should give up when there are elderly or pregnant ladies aboard the bus) and she had put her paper bag next to her on the seat. Eventually, an old auntie came on board and had nowhere else to sit but yet she refused to remove her bag!

The old auntie soon sat herself down on the seat (with the lady's bag taking up almost half of the aunite's seat). Can see the old auntie was quite fed up so she intentionally pushed the paper bag with her back towards the lady (yes! that would teach the lady a lesson). Alas, she did not budge and just left the bag there... (argggghhh!). After a bit of "pushing", she got the picture and removed her bag...

Some people just have such low EQ. Now, I personally don't find the actions of the old auntie nice but then putting it in context, this lady just needs to be taught a lesson.

Rank 2: Die-Hard Good Deals Fans

Source: http://www.chewonit.net/pages/spore.html

Despite being known for being orderly (look at Singaporeans ranked 4th), the orderliness can also turn ugly especially when people are just so easily irritated after a whole night of queueing up and someone comes along to step on their toes. Remember the fights for hello kitty, free textbooks, cheap bread etc?

Rank 1: The Picky Donor

Source: http://www.chewonit.net/pages/unique.html

Here's the top one that is worth mentioning... something that has been puzzling me. When disasters happen overseas, you see lots and lots of donations being poured out... not the case when it comes to helping fellow needy Singaporeans... amazing indeed! Having done flag-selling, I have also come to notice all the tactics that Singaporeans use when trying to avoid donating... there is the:

• "parting-of-the-red-sea" tactic: crowds will somehow mysteriously part where someone stands with a donation tin or bag...
• "pretend-that-I-am-looking-for-coins" tactic: used by some when they are being approached by flag sellers. The moment they find the opportunity to run away (because the flag seller is engaged with other donors), they will do just that
• "I-didn't-see-you" tactic: some Singaporeans will look everywhere (the watch, the sky, the floor) except at the flag seller...
• "I-have-donated-but-somehow-lost-my-sticker" tactic: self explanatory but OK if they smile
  
• "I-am-in-a-hurry" and/or "don't-come-near-me-or-I-will-kill-you" tactic

among many other creative tactics devised by our very own Singaporeans. It is a very humbling experience selling flag.

Of course I have also seen a fair share of Singaporeans who are generous enough to want to donate... some would give the money to their children and ask their children to donate, some would, without hesitation, take out all their coins or even some dollar notes and donate, some will donate again despite having donated and some would always do it with a smile.

To Help or Not to Help
Again, putting things into context, Singaporean's patience with charities and requests for donations maybe thinning since there is always flags being sold every saturday and some charities even fund-raise on normal weekdays. Throw in a number of charity challenges and variety shows (note: some even had the funds to throw not 1 but 2 or even 3 shows), it is no wonder Singaporean's patience are thinning. And finally, the recent scandals of supposedly "not-for-profit" organizations mismanaging public funds just upset the balance all together. It is almost with doubt that some Singaporean's confidence in charities in Singapore has dipped, even maybe to an all time low.

The fact remains: there are still a lot of needy Singaporeans out there and equally there are also social service agencies which has remained true to its cause from day one, it is just not fair to penalize them because of all that has happened. We live in a fairly affluent society and although we do not see fellow Singaporeans who are living below the poverty line, as a social worker, I can testify that such Singaporeans do exist and live lives that we cannot imagine given current living standards. Similarly, I have seen social service agencies which has remained faithful to their cause from day one but are now struggling because the public are relatively more skeptical of request for donations and help.

Singapore is a non-welfare state (believing that welfarism will foster unnecessary reliance on state resources and an unequal distribution of income) and the government adopts a "many-helping-hands" approach to helping to support the needy i.e. everyone from the public, private and people sectors all have a part to play. With public confidence in social services dipping and nothing done about it, this system might just fail... in the end, the needy suffer.