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Why I’ll Never Return to Singapore

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Re: Why I’ll Never Return to Singapore

#71

Post by VLM »

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…

> "Go to the Mall" or, "Take my kids to tuition".

The impression I've gotten about Singapore is its like a hyper urbanized American suburb. The vast majority of people silently love the American suburb, and a small extremely vocal group loudly hate the American suburb.

So thats how you end up with discussions like this, where you're really hearing very local burb vs downtown mumbling and declaration of membership in one local faction or another rather than an actual discussion of Singapore.

Re: Why I’ll Never Return to Singapore

#72

Post by VLM »

hrabago wrote: post #32

Like a lot of things I see grownups do, this action of leaving and never returning to Singapore strikes me as a reaction to one's past experience. I grew up in a crowded place where crime and terrorist attacks where a normal part of life. As an adult, I moved to the US and my job always took me to less crowded cities. I've visited places like New York since, and realized that I do not miss living in crowded places at…

> (the media and hollywood seems to view it as morally wrong)

Their advertisers have a certain preference for how you spend your money. And suburban land developers are not exactly known for buying advertising on TV and product placement in movies. Its not a moral thing, just follow the money.

Re: Why I’ll Never Return to Singapore

#73

Post by cdf »

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 dont like the Gardens, but it is not correct to say it is wasted. Precisely because it is reclaimed, it needs another decade or so for the soil to settle before we can build skyscrapers on it.

Trust me when I say it, real estate speculation is the primary path to wealth in Singapore, and the biggest, most well oiled speculator in Singapore is the government.

Re: Why I’ll Never Return to Singapore

#74

Post by army »

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…

The political system in Singapore also makes me uncomfortable: it's superficially democratic but not really in spirit.

Re: Why I’ll Never Return to Singapore

#75

Post by mathattack »

The complaints about Singapore all seem true for many years. Sure it's a little sterile. Sure it's conservative. Sure it's small. These have all been true.

It's also open to outsiders, and a model for good governance, and a mutli-cultural hub.

It's ok to leave, but to say, "Screw you, I'm gone forever and never coming back" just seems childish.

Re: Why I’ll Never Return to Singapore

#76

Post by Kurtz79 »

creamyhorror wrote: post #55

I've lived in Singapore all my life save for a few years in the US. This article's points are weakly argued, and Singapore's staidness is entirely a first-world problem which people from some neighbouring countries wouldn't find much of a problem at all. But on the whole, I'd agree with the author that Singapore is lacking in quite a few ways compared to the top cities (economically or culturally) of the world. Off t…

Great comment, thanks for sharing your view.

But in the end, although the original post is weakly argued, it seems that you more or less agree with it, isn't it ?

Re: Why I’ll Never Return to Singapore

#77

Post by azatris »

buster wrote: post #52

I don't get it... actually my dream would be to work in Singapore and to be able to get to Bali or Kuala Lumpur or Thailand or Australia in such a short time is just perfect. You have a great work place but the possibility to experience very different countries.

I am currently residing in Singapore and in my opinion - there is not really much to see here and in the surrounding areas, if you are here for more than a month.

I encourage you, before nosediving here for a longer period (like I do for 9 months), visit the place and make sure you really like it here. I do not, as my view of Singapore highly correlates with the article.

Re: Why I’ll Never Return to Singapore

#78

Post by yardie »

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 an American living in France, this is how I feel about the French.

But I've heard the opposite from other brits about Americans. We're too friggin nosey. We want to know where you live, where you went to school, what you do (this is really big blunder a lot of Americans make), and why you're here.

Re: Why I’ll Never Return to Singapore

#79

Post by crdoconnor »

LekkoscPiwa wrote: post #47
ewang1 wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd say the US has more problems than Singapore... And on the topic of taxes, the tax rate in Singapore is actually much lower than in the US (based on CA; middle class).

why BMWs are on average 4 times more expensive in Singapour than US? Low taxes at work? Need to use public transportation because cars ownership is taxed to hell and back? How came person using bus and not owning a car is considered to have better standard of living?

Because taxis are cheap and taxing private cars so much cuts down the traffic jams immensely.

I'm happier taking the bus in Singapore than I would owning a car in half on the United States.

Re: Why I’ll Never Return to Singapore

#80

Post by Kurtz79 »

ghshephard wrote: post #61
CaptainZapp wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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, Humi…

Makes much more sense that what you have to declare in the US landing card:

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3289/2949309916_5393a54eb5_o.j...

I mean, seriously.

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