Are Singaporean really “stupid” or “Dumb”?

[agentmonkey]

most of time i dread meeting other singaporeans overseas... i met and travelled a while with this guy from hk and we were walking along the streets of hanoi one day and i could hear a family from a long way off and i knew immediately they were singaporean...got closer and saw that as usual, the male arrogantly bossing his way around with the shop keeper, speaking ever so loudly...my friend patted me on the shoulders and said, "eh your friends?"..i was so embarrassed.

while ermmm could have phrased his opinions more tactfully, i do agree with them...i agree with Li Au too... even from CS alone you can see alot of really inane postings (i'm not talking about grammar and all that..i understand not everyone was brought up speaking english..but rather the ideas behind them)...like someone earlier mentioned, perhaps we should reflect with humility on what's really wrong with us as a nation that could cause someone to have an opinion like that, rather than being so defensive...we are not a great nation (contrary to what our one and only newspaper says that is owned by you know who, albeit indirectly)..we have so much more to go. if we were, there wouldn't be so many singaporeans migrating to other countries..we have the potential to be great, but arrogance is blinding...and there are a lot of arrogant singaporeans

 

[jsbn]

On the contrary, I think Singaporeans are rather distinguishable even if you're blind folded in a foreign land.... when you bumped into someone and get a response like "Alamak, why you like that one...." don't think you need 2nd guesses

I also dissagree with that Taiwanese bloke, as a Singaporean myself, I don't think I am neither "stupid" nor "dumb".... basically, I'm just "blur" ... very sotong one....:sweatsm:

That's kinda funny that u happened to mention it cos:

- I get mistakened as a Chinese National in my own country, Singapore
- I get mistakened as a Taiwanese/Chinese in Japan
- I get mistakened as a Chinese National in Australia

The best part? My own countrymen sometimes think I'm a Chinese National or a Malaysian (cos I'm more comfortable speaking Chinese and I have a bad fashion sense). The only group of people that can identify my nationality in my own country are Chinese Nationals.... Ironically. :bsmilie:

However, I can recognise a Singaporean from a mile away, especially when u put a buffet on. I was at Sydney holidaying with my family a couple of years ago. We were on this boat that was supposed to bring us to see Dolphins and naturally, there was a buffet lunch. I juz saw a whole family (of my own countrymen) rushing, fighting for plates, jumping queue, shouting and carting off overloaded plates with obscenely huge servings of seafood (like Calamari, Dory Fish, Salmon and other seafood). The poor staff were shouting in their attempt amidst the confusion to top up the fast disappearing food, "DON'T RUSH! THERE IS ENOUGH FOR ALL!" I was in the queue, facepalmed and did not even dare to identify myself as a Singaporean thereafter.

I guess that's where the 'typical Singaporean' stereotype image comes from. Its seriously upsetting when u see your own countrymen seriously lacking in basic social graces overseas and fail to realise that when travelling overseas, in a group or as an individual, one represents their country and is acting like an 'image ambassador' to our own country. I guess some of the elderly (as well as young ones who doesn't know how to set themselves right) ought to go for some lessons.

 

[LazerLordz]

Identities are like hats. Sometimes, we switch them around when we want to bask in the glory of our countrymen, others when we are ashamed of their boorish behavior.

 

[jawzsg]

That's kinda funny that u happened to mention it cos:

.................

Identities are like hats. Sometimes, we switch them around when we want to bask in the glory of our countrymen, others when we are ashamed of their boorish behavior.

:bsmilie:, well like it or not, it's all our countrymen, many has done us proud while there are equally embarrasing ones. Guess we can't choose for every individuals but definitely we can choose for ourselves to be good embassadors for the nation. Our government seriously need to look into the education & valuation systems for a start and set good examples.

A bully goes punch up a guy and he gets fined, lesson learned is not to get caught in future if he's gonna commit the same offence again or maybe, have some spare cash in ready to pay fines. Guess it was a bad move to do away with civic and ethic classes to begin with.

Isn't it sad if the majority eventually feels it's alright to litter if there is no "fines" imposed? All intangible values are either lossed or ignored then. Well, like they say, this is a "fines" country we're living in. I seriously looked forward when the proper behaviour are practiced due to it's moral reasons rather than driven by the fear of monetary losses.

 

[contaxable]

It is perfectly fine how Singaporeans are. If someone wants to judge this society, they have plenty more to reflect about their own country.

As for the irritating Kiasu attitude that Singaporeans exhibit, do not blame them for being such. Do you remember the hardship our ancestors endured during the war and post war phase? In a tiny island where there was hardly any resource or enough space for farming, how did the people live on in the thirties? The people had to fight and struggle to stay alive!

Do you know the phrase. "jia ba buey" (translated as have you eaten?) In those days of hardship, to have a decent meal was a real talk about.

Food was always the focus. People would join in long queues for anything that was free or cheap. Our ancestors were poor when they arrived here. Even more so after the Japanese occupation.

If we see a Singaporean exhibiting the Kiasu attitude, should we not thank our forefathers in their struggle to stay alive? This attitude is in the Singaporean's blood. Be thankful for the next meal instead.

 

[ianwurn]

Close this dumb thread already la... wtf man...

I second closing this discussion....

Li Ao haven't looked at his own countrymen. There's stupidity in every country if you look hard enuf.

 

[contaxable]

It is true how people from North Asia view us.

For eg, in the business entertainment environment (ie at ktv, at restaurant, etc),
In the past, the Chinese sees people from HK very quick witted, sharp and daring.
People from Taiwan very smooth and extremely friendly (but cunning like a fox).
People from Singapore: like a dead fish.

When I asked who they love to have entertainment with. Their first choice is people from Taiwan. Singaporean is not in the list as most shy away from drinks with lame excuses.

When I asked whose money is the easiest to earn. Singaporean is No. 1 for being gullible.

Now, this does not make us less smart. It is the culture we are raised in. We are too protected and we are not used to the way Asians from North Asia lives.

It took me close to two decades to learn about their cultures. It is not difficult to earn their respect. You just have to think how they think and be better.

 

[ianwurn]

okkke..i was jus bored at work so fishing around the net for entertainment and could not stop myself from replyin to this thread!

@ Ahbeng - personally i dont think singaporeans are stupid or dumb... they are just lack of talents, lame, naive, fake/plastic, sad and "we love to kiss angmo feet" robots. u guysare always pissed off man n have no life!

let me start off by reply directly to ur post...

"medal winning imported athletics" - perfect example..they have no talents on their own. starting from the football team to bartenders...its all imported! comong singis get out of the house and get out of the books and learn smthn!! and the fact that u boast abt it actually shows how over proud u r of smthn that isnt even urs!

"they get to live in expensive houses" - haha! thats another joke.. what expensive houses?? abt 80% of those living in over-priced condos are all on mortgage! and now that the economy is bad - theyr all gonna be trashed. the only thing u can afford are cheap low grade hdb. i gotta give credit to the gov. coz without them half the locals would have been homeless!! so stop complaining abt the gov!!

"They even have an award winning movie "I am not stupid" to tell people that Singaporeans are not." - errmm i really have nothing to say to this point. now im begining to think that singis are infact stupid! U NEED A MOVIE TO PROVE THAT UR NOT STUPID!! HAHA - i would love to see this go to oscar...not for what its worth but for how lame this really is!!!

i'm an expat workin here and here are a few things id list which i find really really annoying.

1. 9 out of 10 ppl would show a very irritating V sign when takin pics (LAME)

2. try to show themselves superior by degrading construction workers and PRC ppl - well without the workers u would have all the fancy bldgs so learn to respect them!! and like it or not...most of U ARE FROM PRC even if ur great great grand folks are born here ur still from PRC so LEARN TO RESPECT UR ROOTS!!

3. u feel the gov treats u unfair by gettin foreign talents - and u look down on the gov and these ppl coz u feel threatened! well learn to be creative then the gov wouldnt need to get these ppl in the 1st place!!

4. plan out every little details including what underwear to wear to meet ur friends in 6 months time!!

5. the so called KIASU attitude - God its so bloody annoying! get a life ppl!!!

6. "Oh my God I live soo far..it takes me 30mins to get to work!!" Jeesus try livin in the states!! sg is tiny how far can u actually live!!!

the list goes on... i think im bored of listing em all.

cheers.

p.s. all comments welcome!

1. V signs - Have you seen the teens in other countries ? Same sh*t. Nothing peculiar to Singapore.

2. Agree to an extent but history has shown countrymen detesting other countrymen to the extent of genocide. Which is worse ?

3. Not everyone share the sentiments. You are making a generalisation and a sweeping statement.

4. Meticulous can be a boon and a bane, as with everything else.

5. Kiasuism appears in many forms in other countries as well. You might want to be better travelled. It's just that we have a term for it in Singapore.

6. Generalisation again. One comment from someone doesn't mean everyone's like tat.

Suggest you broaden your scope of frens ? Hmmm, seems like you cant stand being here. May I suggest moving back to where you came from ?

 

[Old Boy]

Well, if anyone would have travelled to Taiwan and I believe the first impression is the standard ( not cost ) of living is not that great. It is really no difference when compared to our 70s-80s. Also to bear in mind of the standard of the housing, not sure how many can recall on the number of houses that collapse during the moderate quake. I am happy with what our nation has achieved and many outsiders envy Singaporeans. Of course in every nation, there will be bound to have some weakness. If there's any thing that's worthy of praise for Taiwanese, I would commend on their collaboration with one another. Singaporeans may be too guarded, not stupid, selfish absolutely..yes. Singaporeans may be easily "conned" , that's because our society do not have that many evil lurkers. Maybe much of the things are being taken care of by the our government and has taken for granted when we are in other countries, hence the "stupidity".

 

[night86mare]

every country has its stupid and dumb people

from australia to america to britain to denmark to china to india to singapore. we all like to think that we're all oh so different and special, but from a macro point of view, it is always the same. the difference lies in the opportunities, the lifestyle, among other things.

and this is one of the most boh liao topics i have ever seen.

 

[ianwurn]

every country has its stupid and dumb people

from australia to america to britain to denmark to china to india to singapore. we all like to think that we're all oh so different and special, but from a macro point of view, it is always the same. the difference lies in the opportunities, the lifestyle, among other things.

and this is one of the most boh liao topics i have ever seen.

Second that.

 

[agentmonkey]

It is perfectly fine how Singaporeans are. If someone wants to judge this society, they have plenty more to reflect about their own country.

As for the irritating Kiasu attitude that Singaporeans exhibit, do not blame them for being such. Do you remember the hardship our ancestors endured during the war and post war phase? In a tiny island where there was hardly any resource or enough space for farming, how did the people live on in the thirties? The people had to fight and struggle to stay alive!

Do you know the phrase. "jia ba buey" (translated as have you eaten?) In those days of hardship, to have a decent meal was a real talk about.

Food was always the focus. People would join in long queues for anything that was free or cheap. Our ancestors were poor when they arrived here. Even more so after the Japanese occupation.

If we see a Singaporean exhibiting the Kiasu attitude, should we not thank our forefathers in their struggle to stay alive? This attitude is in the Singaporean's blood. Be thankful for the next meal instead.

sorry i don't really agree with you. it's not fine. just because singaporeans were like that in the past, doesn't justify how we're behaving now. yes it helped them then and yes we should be thankfully, but we should not be stuck at that stage either, we should be improving. times are different... so many singaporeans eat "ba ba" and i always ask my friends why they order so much when they can't even finish their food. as Jsbn said, we need to be showing a lot more social grace.

why is it so hard for singaporeans to say sorry? or acknowledge some one when he or she actually bothers to sincerely apologise, instead of shooting a dirty look? or how about being appreciative and saying thank you? why are there so many kwai lan singaporeans and just can't be or don't know how to be civil when it comes to settling disputes?

now i'm sure singaporeans are not alone...people of other nationalities too are guilty...but why should we be bothered about them? why can't we try to improve ourselves first? God knows i'm trying my best to do all of the above, but it's so frustrating and discouraging sometimes when my efforts seem all for naught

 

[night86mare]

now i'm sure singaporeans are not alone...people of other nationalities too are guilty...but why should we be bothered about them? why can't we try to improve ourselves first? God knows i'm trying my best to do all of the above, but it's so frustrating and discouraging sometimes when my efforts seem all for naught

and why should people be divided by nationality when it comes to improvement?

there is always room for improvement when it comes to being a human.