Friday, July 04, 2008 @ 6:10 pm
This is an intriguing thought. I've been thinking about is since I was 13. Why is it that after decades of living in high-rise housing and decades of taking the public transport, people in Singapore just don't seem to understand what CONSIDERATION is. Let's talk about very basic things, like thanking the uncles and aunties at the food court after buying food from them. I realise that hardly anyone even say THANK YOU. I have no idea if people here ever thank their parents or maid for preparing a meal. Do you? Thanking people is very very basic, it's the first thing parents usually teach to their children. I know that we pay for our food to the auntie at the food stall, but don't we realise that they've also put in effort to prepare the food that we eat to live? What if they suddenly turn evil and put poison into the food because noone is ever grateful for their efforts. Hmm, will need to pay more money for hospital fees.
Oh, and I realise that people of "lower income jobs" are often not as respected. It's as if they are invisible in this world. Wonder who keeps the streets clean. Wonder who empties the bins. How many people actually even look into the eyes of the cleaners, the construction workers, the security guards, the gardeners, and say hello. Or even look and smile at them, to acknowledge their existence.
Was on the bus today on my way home from NTUC. There were 2 St Marg's girls on the crowded bus. As there were more and more people boarding the bus and the front of the bus was getting very squeezy (familiar scene huh?), I told them to move in a bit so that people can board the bus. And they were like, "It makes no difference what", and they took a step in with great reluctance. I just kept quiet, because I know that kids here are obstinate and if I were to say another word they might raze NJ to the ground, or something, since I was wearing my uniform. Not the first time that when I ask people, especially teenagers (oh these future generations of the country) they give me "THE LOOK", or rather, THE GLARE, just because I was wearing my uniform. And trust me, when I wear my outside clothes, they have another attitude. Hypocrites! Omg, if kids these days can't even show respect for people of their age, it shows something about their upbringing. Oh and worse still, the uni students at the back of the bus were bumming around at the back of the bus, chatting, with this huge wide gap that could fill in like 2 more people. THE WHOLE BUS GLARED AT THEM, a screaming sign that hey dude you should like take one freaking step in so that other people can take the bus to go home and rest. It's Friday, the whole world is beat if you aren't. But of course, some people who have always taken the bus everyday for almost 2 decades have no sensitivity for fellow passengers. They just continued chatting and ignoring like 40 over people. Selfishness or insensitivity? I really can't decide, both maybe? Ho hum. Until, me, wearing my JC uniform had to say loudly, "Could you move in please? Thank you." Then there was this sudden awareness and they moved in. I swear it only took them like one step, and the passengers were able to rearrange themselves and people could be spared of one another's body odour. There was this silent sigh of relief as I reminded the people at the back that there are other people in this world. Oh and of course I told working adults move in before, and they were like "Hey girl who do you think you are?" And I shot them back the look, "Only someone more gracious than you are." Goodness gracious me, if you're really so shameless to obstruct the world from revolving round the sun, I will shame you because I'm younger and more aware of the world than you are, and more daring than other people in the bus to take the initiative to tell you for goodness sake please move in! If you happen to be inconsiderate on the bus, pray hard I'm not on the same bus as you are.
Of course, there are always those inconsiderate Singaporean neighbours who have the hobby of irritating other neighbours. I specifically say Singaporean because it's really the Singaporeans who are always making trouble. Especially the ones living one level above mine. Let's see, since when was the HDB first established? Since when did people start living in high rise housing? How come there's no common knowledge that there are people living above and below you? So why is it people don't seem to give half a damn about stomping, screaming, playing Mahjong after midnight, when other earthlings are supposed to be sleeping, resting. Sometimes all we really need is to consider the other person's perspective and life will be so much better for everyone. A little kindness goes a long way, even if it doesn't make much difference! Can't all of us be more mature thinking? And actually learn to behave like real humane humans? I dunno what's wrong with everyone.