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Why I’ll Never Return to Singapore

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Re: Why I’ll Never Return to Singapore

#61

Post by ghshephard »

CaptainZapp wrote: post #51
ghshephard wrote: post #39

I've been working in singapore for four months this year, and I'm based out of Redwood City, California (not really a bastion of culture) but originally from Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada). I absolutely understand what the author was writing about - I really love this country - it's clean, safe, really clean, has really affordable food and incredible transportation system. The buses are actually worth using, an…

I've only visited for a weekend and was utterly prepared to hate the crap out of Singapore. We're not up to a good start when your landing card spells out in bold and red DEATH TO DRUG TRAFFICKERS (a bit more eloquent, but that's the gist of it). Reality, however, is not quite as black and white and - although I would never want to live there for an extended period - I left the country with rather mixed feelings. Let…

I'm looking at my Social Visit pass - you nailed it, it says in bright red:

WARNING DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKERS UNDER SINGAPORE LAW

But - you get that message while you are still on the plane (and presumably have a chance to turn back?)

Yes - GardenByTheBay is beautiful - as are the two conservatoriums (one of which they replicate Dry, Cool Mountain Highland Environment - which, is quite an accomplishment in Hot, Humid Singapore.) Indeed - so much of Singapore is actually Green/Catchment basin - it's a priority for them, as they rely on the catchment basins quite a bit for their fresh water (in addition to NEWater and their world class desalination plants.

Re: Why I’ll Never Return to Singapore

#62

Post by altero »

agilebyte wrote: post #36
jingwen wrote: post #24

> After graduating, every citizen is required to do active service in the military. Nitpick: Men only. It's a common lament here that the men start higher education/work a couple of years later than their women counterparts, hence "losing out".

Do women have children then during the same period? Seems more like an equalizer to me when it comes to time away from work. Edit: explaining the equalizing factor

Should woman go to jail for avoiding children?

It actually makes situation for woman with children much worse, since she is alone while her partner is in military.

Gay couple with children, where both parents would have to go illustrates it well.

Re: Why I’ll Never Return to Singapore

#63

Post by sleepyhead »

westicle wrote: post #42
sleepyhead wrote: post #30

Please tell me where in the world you shall live if you will not return to one of the best countries (as per most statistics) in the world? And this guy is American. A country which invades other countries, kills civilians and holds people locked up in Guantanamo Bay. Yes, surely that is much better. I haven't lived in Singapore but spent a bit of time there when I lived in Malaysia.

The guy simply expressed an opinion about where he doesn't want to live. You can't force him to agree with your opinion on the subject, and you're unlikely to convince anyone with a barely coherent rant about a bunch of topics not even relevant to the original post. Calm the fuck down.

An I expressed my opinion. I think you are the one who needs to calm down given your words.

Re: Why I’ll Never Return to Singapore

#64

Post by jingwen »

agilebyte wrote: post #36
jingwen wrote: post #24

> After graduating, every citizen is required to do active service in the military. Nitpick: Men only. It's a common lament here that the men start higher education/work a couple of years later than their women counterparts, hence "losing out".

Do women have children then during the same period? Seems more like an equalizer to me when it comes to time away from work. Edit: explaining the equalizing factor

The only "equalizing" compulsory conscription provides is when it puts men of diverse backgrounds into a tight-knit environment where they have to live, work and play together for the majority of the week. You don't get that outside of the military, or at least not in the same scale.

The pregnancy vs conscription issue really isn't debatable.

Re: Why I’ll Never Return to Singapore

#65

Post by sleepyhead »

thelettere wrote: post #45
sleepyhead wrote: post #30

Please tell me where in the world you shall live if you will not return to one of the best countries (as per most statistics) in the world? And this guy is American. A country which invades other countries, kills civilians and holds people locked up in Guantanamo Bay. Yes, surely that is much better. I haven't lived in Singapore but spent a bit of time there when I lived in Malaysia.

Yes, because numbers can measure everything. Congrats on completely missing his point.

A big part of the blog post is about numbers. Congrats on completely missing his point.

Re: Why I’ll Never Return to Singapore

#66

Post by agilebyte »

agilebyte wrote: post #36
jingwen wrote: post #24

> After graduating, every citizen is required to do active service in the military. Nitpick: Men only. It's a common lament here that the men start higher education/work a couple of years later than their women counterparts, hence "losing out".

Do women have children then during the same period? Seems more like an equalizer to me when it comes to time away from work. Edit: explaining the equalizing factor

I was addressing the comment that men complain it makes them start their work later in life because of a military service. I was saying that (some) women go through the same by having children.

Re: Why I’ll Never Return to Singapore

#67

Post by agilebyte »

altero wrote: post #62
agilebyte wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do women have children then during the same period? Seems more like an equalizer to me when it comes to time away from work. Edit: explaining the equalizing factor

Should woman go to jail for avoiding children? It actually makes situation for woman with children much worse, since she is alone while her partner is in military. Gay couple with children, where both parents would have to go illustrates it well.

  >> Should woman go to jail for avoiding children?
Do not see a reason why.

  >> It actually makes situation for woman with children much worse...
I am not discussing whether military service is good/bad, I am addressing the time away from work factor.

  >> Gay couple with children...
If both were in the service, they would need to get someone to take care of their children.

Re: Why I’ll Never Return to Singapore

#68

Post by alex_c »

ghshephard wrote: post #39

I've been working in singapore for four months this year, and I'm based out of Redwood City, California (not really a bastion of culture) but originally from Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada). I absolutely understand what the author was writing about - I really love this country - it's clean, safe, really clean, has really affordable food and incredible transportation system. The buses are actually worth using, an…

Dear god, how you feel about Singapore compared to Canada is exactly how I feel about Canada compared to, say, an European country. If the comparison holds, then Singapore truly sounds like a wonderful place to survive but a dreadful place to live...

Re: Why I’ll Never Return to Singapore

#69

Post by dualogy »

tlarkworthy wrote: post #60

"In my experience, people were polite but conversations rarely moved past surface-level niceties." As a Britain who lived in America, this is how I felt about Americans. I think its more of a cultural illusion.

As a German who lived in Britain, this is how I felt about Brits :D

It's a neverending circle..

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