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I moved to Singapore

sivers.org

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Re: I moved to Singapore

#91

Post by throwaway0506 »

lzy wrote: post #36

While Sivers is obviously an awesome guy, why is this post about him moving to Singapore hitting the frontpage? Just curious. (Congrats on becoming a Singapore citizen btw!)

He's a community member telling us not just about a big change in his life, but about two new projects he's starting. As a weekend post, it's pretty good. At least much better than the current top item (http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2621132), which screams "video of pratfall!"

Too bad the main discussion here has turned out to be a low-quality back-and-forth about the political system and macroeconomic factors, just like the Indian reverse braindrain thread last week (http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2601240)

Re: I moved to Singapore

#92

Post by netcan »

chad_oliver wrote: post #84
astrec wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Australians have no constitutional right to free speech, and some forms of speech are expressly criminalised via the sedition and various vilification acts. The only form of speech that enjoys some protection is political speech. So whilst Australian's can freely talk crap about the government, Australia is far from a beacon of free speech.

Remember that in Australia, the constitution isn't as foundational as it is in the USA. Just because it's not in the constitution doesn't mean that it's not enshrined in the consciousness of the people. I come from New Zealand, and although there's a lot of rivalry between Australia and New Zealand, I nevertheless consider Australia to be a second home -- even though I've only been there twice.

The Australian constitution kind of claims New Zealand.

Re: I moved to Singapore

#93

Post by csbutler »

yaix wrote: post #81
keyle wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've visited Singapore twice. I've settled in Australia, originally from Europe. I was really worried when I visited Singapore and took their 'tourist' tour. They put you in a bus, drive you around all jetlagged and give you orange juice on the beach. Completely surreal. What really put me off was their unconditional love for their government. The woman 'tour guide' in the bus just couldn't stop thanking the governme…

When you take a look around Singapore's neigbor countries and their living conditions, you must admit that the Sing' government did a pretty good job so far. And then there is the asian culture of not being to critical to the "superior". You even have that in democratic Japan and SKorea. Talking crap about the gov is more a Western life style (mine too, 'cause I m from Europe too, but have lived in Asia long enough t…

At the moment, the only part of the internet in Australia that is censored by law are some usenet groups.

Re: I moved to Singapore

#94

Post by astrec »

keyle wrote: post #78
astrec wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Australians have no constitutional right to free speech, and some forms of speech are expressly criminalised via the sedition and various vilification acts. The only form of speech that enjoys some protection is political speech. So whilst Australian's can freely talk crap about the government, Australia is far from a beacon of free speech.

Are you referring to rights of anarchism? I'm no trespasser and trouble maker, but I can tell you that anybody is free to do whatever they intend to in Australia, so as long as it doesn't impair other people doing so. In other words, you're as free as you can be without causing damage to others. I'm not sure what you're referring to though. On my way home I saw dudes roller-blading half naked in the city. I call that…

No. I'm referring to the constitutional right to free speech.

The statement "anybody is free to do whatever they intend to in Australia, so as long as it doesn't impair other people doing so" is as absurd as it is false.

There are reams of legislation to prevent you from doing everything from arriving unlawfully by boat, to lying about your income, to using a wire carriage service to cause offence.

As to speech, here is a simplistic example: Let's say I walk into Federation Square and say to you "Go and burn down the Parliament, you useless white cunt!" Depending on who takes offence to my comments I can be:

a) Issued an on the spot fine for AUD$238.50 for using language likely to cause offence in a public place.

b) Prosecuted for racial vilification.

c) Prosecuted for sedition.

The fact that all but a) are highly unlikely does nothing to progress the case that "anybody is free to do whatever they intend to in Australia".

Re: I moved to Singapore

#95

Post by kiiski »

CamperBob wrote: post #40
d99kris wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I second that. It's a very safe city and I don't mind that minor crimes are taken seriously here [1]. [1] http://nope.se/temp/bike_theft_singapore.jpg

I love the icon at lower right in that sign. Is the cop joining hands with his fellow citizens, or dragging them away?

Red == bad thing == criminals?

Re: I moved to Singapore

#96

Post by netcan »

yaix wrote: post #81
keyle wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've visited Singapore twice. I've settled in Australia, originally from Europe. I was really worried when I visited Singapore and took their 'tourist' tour. They put you in a bus, drive you around all jetlagged and give you orange juice on the beach. Completely surreal. What really put me off was their unconditional love for their government. The woman 'tour guide' in the bus just couldn't stop thanking the governme…

When you take a look around Singapore's neigbor countries and their living conditions, you must admit that the Sing' government did a pretty good job so far. And then there is the asian culture of not being to critical to the "superior". You even have that in democratic Japan and SKorea. Talking crap about the gov is more a Western life style (mine too, 'cause I m from Europe too, but have lived in Asia long enough t…

I think we really need to watch out when we label certain sorts of thing Western. I know it usually comes from an attempt to be culturally sensitive, but it's just not true and potentially harmful.

Gender equality is not rooted in Western culture. It sucked being a woman equally in Glasgow, Shanghai & Algiers. Gender equality was spread with difficulty and imperfectly over a decade in throughout liberal democracies and communist countries. It skipped the third world, but gender equality is no more part of Spanish culture then it is Qatari.

Same for "western" democracy, western medicine and a big chuck of western values.

It wasn't cool to criticize kings or dictators anywhere at some point.

Re: I moved to Singapore

#97

Post by tommi »

keyle wrote: post #78
astrec wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Australians have no constitutional right to free speech, and some forms of speech are expressly criminalised via the sedition and various vilification acts. The only form of speech that enjoys some protection is political speech. So whilst Australian's can freely talk crap about the government, Australia is far from a beacon of free speech.

Are you referring to rights of anarchism? I'm no trespasser and trouble maker, but I can tell you that anybody is free to do whatever they intend to in Australia, so as long as it doesn't impair other people doing so. In other words, you're as free as you can be without causing damage to others. I'm not sure what you're referring to though. On my way home I saw dudes roller-blading half naked in the city. I call that…

I call that limited. If he was naked then it would be truly freedom, freedom to be a human.

Re: I moved to Singapore

#98

Post by rdl »

ido wrote: post #70

Race: Caucasian Maybe it's cultural bias, but I was really surprised they'd list something like that on an ID card!

It's pretty useful when trying to describe someone, or prevent a photo from being swapped out. Gender, hair color, skin color, etc. are all obvious physical traits.

Re: I moved to Singapore

#99

Post by mhd »

jrockway wrote: post #16

Ah yes, Singapore... the one developed country with harsher laws than the US.

Depending on how you're looking at things lots of first world countries have harsher laws. The US gets kinda batshit with their punishments (drug war, three strikes etc.), but a lot of European countries have bigger restrictions on free speech, the UK has its libel laws, generally employment is more regulated etc.

And then there's the whole gun issue.

(No, this doesn't make Singapore any "better", I'm just saying that the US isn't exactly dystopian just because it doesn't have legal hookers)

Re: I moved to Singapore

#100

Post by dualogy »

Lucadg wrote: post #79
kylec wrote: post #11

I'm surprised at his choice of location - Singapore is quite a nanny state, and the punishments are sometimes quite severe. "Singapore society is highly regulated through the criminalization of many activities which are considered as fairly harmless in other countries. These include failing to flush toilets after use, littering, jaywalking, the possession of pornography, and the sale of chewing gum." "Singapore has o…

A few years back I was at Singapore's airport and I saw, along many other signs forbidding most human activities one which still haunts me at night. There was this symbol of a person reading and the text was: no studying. Then one day while I was walking down Orchard road I saw a long line of people quieing on the street to get in...Sweansens (a chain crappy ice-cream store). That's when I decided Singapore was lost.…

Sounds like the good thing about Singapore seems to be that is successfully drives out people who go to pieces over others queueing for ice-cream... they must be doing something right there B-)
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