I'm pretty sure you must know about how useful Stomp has recently become at exposing some people's "un-graciousness" in the public, most commonly on public transport. In fact, it's not only Stomp, it's social media in general. People would take a video or photo of how a soldier is sitting down in front of an elderly, of how young people are sitting on reserved seats, post them online and lament on the downfall of the society.
Honestly speaking, you gotta admit such actions are effective against the truly "ungracious". But what about the soldier that was simply exhausted from who knows how long of army? Or the youth who actually has an injury that you didn't know about?
And please, what about the elderly standing in front of the soldier? Why didn't he or she kindly wake the soldier up to request for the seat that was reserved for the elderly?
I was just taking the mrt home yesterday after attending the NDP Preview 2, and I was standing at an area in the mrt for the wheelchair-bound. And just so happen, there was an old lady sitting on a wheelchair in the same carriage.
Look, I stood there knowing well that there was a wheelchair-bound on the same carriage, but only because the lady did not move to occupy this area despite having been on the train for 2 stops already.
A lady then approach me, and in a rather stern manner, told me to vacate the space for the old lady on the wheelchair. I did vacate immediately, as the lady wasn't wrong in telling me to do so, I was just unhappy that she had to "scold" me about it. I mean, you could just tell me nicely to vacate that area, or even better, simply approach the old lady if she wants to move to the area.
That got me thinking actually, what a gracious society truly means.
You can't expect every single person to be constantly conscious of his or her surroundings. I shouldn't have to live my life constantly looking out for pregnant ladies, elderly or injured people on public transport and areas.
Because that is simply not possible. And if I have to simply leave all the reserved places empty, isn't that just inefficiency at its best?
Just imagine this, it's the rush hour at 7 am, the trains are super full, especially near the doors, and you see empty reserved seats and wheelchair areas. And then 5 people are stuck outside to wait for the next train because no one dares to use these areas.
Is this really graciousness? Isn't this just fear of cyber bullying?
And so, I believe that a truly gracious society, is one where we can freely request for our own rights whenever it applies. It means that no matter where I am sitting at, if I happen to notice someone who needs a seat more than me, I willingly offer my seat to them. It also means that should I have sprained my ankle and would really need to seat, I should approach someone who is on a reserved seat, explain my situation and request for the seat.
As simply as that.
Wouldn't that erase some of the awkward situations that could arise? For example not being positive if a lady is pregnant or simply on the heavier side.
It would be difficult to reach such a level, I guess. I mean, it's Singapore we're talking about, where smiling to a stranger will be deemed a weird action.
It is a dream nonetheless.
Sunday, July 31, 2016
Sunday, July 17, 2016
Camps: I have never ever truly WANTED to join one
I dislike camps. There I said it. I truly dislike camps. I don't hate them, but really, my worst behaviour is on show during camps.
Chill, I don't mean I become an ultimate bitch that complains till no end. That goes on silently, unnoticed in my brain. I just mean that my introvert self is completely out and about during camps.
Why is that so? Some may ask. Well, I came to this conclusion after chatting with a fellow camp mate that thought the same way as I do: it's because that for some people like us, we can be all high and enthusiastic on the first day. But then we'll need to take a break from the world and hide to heal before we are ready to meet the world again. Unfortunately, camps normally mean that you expose this side of yourself to your camp mates as well. If I'm with people I'm close to, they understand my need to recover silently, and hence I can freely retreat and emerge out of my zone without feeling awkward. The true problem comes when I'm with people I'm not so close with, like during orientation camps, when you are most probably grouped with strangers. After showing my quiet side, I just don't have the drive to get high anymore. And by then I, and the rest who are similar to myself, will most probably be labelled the "quiet one" already, even though people who know us, and even ourselves know it's a big fat LIE .
And so, camp becomes this tiring process of preventing our introverted side from showing itself too much. This often means being constantly outgoing, which is like the ultimate killer for me, unless I'm high on alcohol, lack of sleep or drugs(never tried this before though).
That being said, camps are still fun to a certain extent. You get to meet new people, find new friends, learn new cultures, and basically step out of your comfort zone.
I actually just finished a camp at NUS, and am going for another one soon, like tomorrow (and it's at moments like this that we ask ourselves: what the freak were we thinking). It was fun, I met people that I never had the chance to in my past 18 years of life. But there was this culture shock as well, I guess. Particularly for me.
Now, I feel like I have always been living a rather.....shelled life, meaning I never really got the opportunity to meet different types of people that aren't like me. Oh man, how to put this nicely. Ok so let's just say that I have somehow always been around people who are academically strongm obedient children. I was in a pretty good primary school, in the top class, in the IP programme in secondary school, in the top class in JC. And even though I joined committees outside of school, the people there somehow also hail from good schools, good backgrounds, leading an obedient life.
So imagine the shock when the people in my camp group drank for all the nights straight during the camp. Right from the first night man, it was drinking session already, at 2 am in the morning.
It isn't a bad thing, I'm not saying that I dislike such behaviour and think it is bad. I'm simply not used to it. I do appreciate the exposure, as it's always interesting to find out about other ways of life.
Ok, enough with the rant. Yes, if you haven't realised, it's a rant. I guess what's important is to hold the correct mindset when joining new stuff. That is to be open, but firm with your own personal believes. I guess that's my mistake in my first camp, being too resistant to the exposure. Right now, I'm just going to go into my second camp with an open mind, ready to try new things and meet new people.
University life is bound to be a change for anyone, from any walk of life. I am excited for this change, yet eager for things to settle down into a nice momentum. While I'm hasty for certain things to happen, I'm going to cultivate my patience and simply enjoy the process, while still doing well enough to maintain my scholarship. All the best to me!
Chill, I don't mean I become an ultimate bitch that complains till no end. That goes on silently, unnoticed in my brain. I just mean that my introvert self is completely out and about during camps.
Why is that so? Some may ask. Well, I came to this conclusion after chatting with a fellow camp mate that thought the same way as I do: it's because that for some people like us, we can be all high and enthusiastic on the first day. But then we'll need to take a break from the world and hide to heal before we are ready to meet the world again. Unfortunately, camps normally mean that you expose this side of yourself to your camp mates as well. If I'm with people I'm close to, they understand my need to recover silently, and hence I can freely retreat and emerge out of my zone without feeling awkward. The true problem comes when I'm with people I'm not so close with, like during orientation camps, when you are most probably grouped with strangers. After showing my quiet side, I just don't have the drive to get high anymore. And by then I, and the rest who are similar to myself, will most probably be labelled the "quiet one" already, even though people who know us, and even ourselves know it's a big fat LIE .
And so, camp becomes this tiring process of preventing our introverted side from showing itself too much. This often means being constantly outgoing, which is like the ultimate killer for me, unless I'm high on alcohol, lack of sleep or drugs(never tried this before though).
That being said, camps are still fun to a certain extent. You get to meet new people, find new friends, learn new cultures, and basically step out of your comfort zone.
I actually just finished a camp at NUS, and am going for another one soon, like tomorrow (and it's at moments like this that we ask ourselves: what the freak were we thinking). It was fun, I met people that I never had the chance to in my past 18 years of life. But there was this culture shock as well, I guess. Particularly for me.
Now, I feel like I have always been living a rather.....shelled life, meaning I never really got the opportunity to meet different types of people that aren't like me. Oh man, how to put this nicely. Ok so let's just say that I have somehow always been around people who are academically strongm obedient children. I was in a pretty good primary school, in the top class, in the IP programme in secondary school, in the top class in JC. And even though I joined committees outside of school, the people there somehow also hail from good schools, good backgrounds, leading an obedient life.
So imagine the shock when the people in my camp group drank for all the nights straight during the camp. Right from the first night man, it was drinking session already, at 2 am in the morning.
It isn't a bad thing, I'm not saying that I dislike such behaviour and think it is bad. I'm simply not used to it. I do appreciate the exposure, as it's always interesting to find out about other ways of life.
Ok, enough with the rant. Yes, if you haven't realised, it's a rant. I guess what's important is to hold the correct mindset when joining new stuff. That is to be open, but firm with your own personal believes. I guess that's my mistake in my first camp, being too resistant to the exposure. Right now, I'm just going to go into my second camp with an open mind, ready to try new things and meet new people.
University life is bound to be a change for anyone, from any walk of life. I am excited for this change, yet eager for things to settle down into a nice momentum. While I'm hasty for certain things to happen, I'm going to cultivate my patience and simply enjoy the process, while still doing well enough to maintain my scholarship. All the best to me!
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