Tan Kin Lian's Blog: A bad culture in Singapore

Thursday, September 24, 2009

A bad culture in Singapore

This letter printed in the Straits Times showed that the investment seminar was well attended and that food was amply provided before the start of the seminar and during lunch. I wonder if the participants had to pay for the seminar. I checked the SIAS website and found that it was offered free.

I am saddened that Singapore has now developed into a society where people have to be enticed to attend functions by offering free meals and goodie bags. This approach is adopted for a few decades in community events. It develops a bad culture among our people - to expect things for free, and to pay for them indirectly by "being cheated".

20 comments:

Anonymous said...: The organiser wants to ensure the success of the event by appealing to the greed.People attend for different reason, some hunger for knowledge while others for food.; September 24, 2009 9:13 AM
justicenequality said...: Biasa[normal in Malay],nothing surprising.
I have attend quite a no. of forums and when food is provided, there is always a mad rush for it. If the refreshment is provided mid-way in the forum, when the forum is resumed, half of the auditorium will be EMPTY? Why? Simply, there are those who goes there for the buffet. Sad, but that is the culture amongst our population now. I will coin the words "Seize Mentality" & "Herd Instinct".; September 24, 2009 10:05 AM
Anonymous said...: The way the writer describes, most people are there for the free food. If this is just a fashion show, it's ok. If it is for investment, people should consider as seminars tend to make people sign up for investment products after the talk is over.; September 24, 2009 10:27 AM
Anonymous said...: Holier than you mentality.

Why don't the writer think on more positive side. Maybe there are simply too many people and the organiser did not prepare enough food for all.; September 24, 2009 11:30 AM
Anonymous said...: our government sector should discourage organising investments talks by speakers who have vested interest in securing business.

Heard about a friend who contacted Springs Singapore to organise a speaker for her company. Sadly, we are disturbed as the speaker boast about his earlier retirements by investing in certain products. The speaker is also selling products and encourage attendees to contact him or his down line after the seminar.

V bad!; September 24, 2009 12:09 PM
Anonymous said...: Aiyah!.. you must understand our past!.. we are offsprings of immigrants remember? Our forefathers
came here to make a living remember? They were hungry and yet enterprising people.

This is the legacy that we bear! Hungry and enterprising!

The hallmark of our ancestors! Stand tall and proud to be a singaporean!; September 24, 2009 1:09 PM
Anonymous said...: Nothing surprising when even voting is tied to what is offered. In due time people's mentality changes and very soon everything must come with a price.

In the end who ended up paying for the supposedly free this and that?; September 24, 2009 1:44 PM
Anonymous said...: Well, another possibility is, if you've been out of job for a while, you would appreciate such occasions where free food and (hopefully good) advice are dispensed.; September 24, 2009 2:54 PM
Anonymous said...: For those who are unemployed and hungry, please feel free to visit Singapore Buddhist Lodge at Kim Yam Road for free breakfest/lunch/dinner.
(absolutely no condition attached); September 24, 2009 3:48 PM
Anonymous said...: I am not too sure that those who get their free meals at Singapore Buddhist Lodge are unemployed or for that matter, poor.

Of course lah, some people will tell you that as there are absolutely no conditions attached, why can't those who can afford also have a free meal. This is the kind of society we have developed into. And because of them, the real purpose of providing meals for the really hungry are again exploited by some to the full.

Human nature can never change.; September 24, 2009 4:41 PM
Anonymous said...: What was hundry like in early days?
Ask 110 years old Nurse - Sister Theresa Hsu.
She stay Hougang New Town.

http://www.hearttoheartservice.org/AboutFounder.htm; September 24, 2009 5:50 PM
Anonymous said...: "..why can't those who can afford also have a free meal.." (4:41PM)

Free for all regardless of race & religion, rich or poor.; September 24, 2009 6:41 PM
Vincent Sear said...: I'm not a Buddhist but I understand that Buddhism has some traditions and practices. One of them is occasional (or even regularly scheduled if affordable) free food for public, regardless of financial or religious status.

Helping the poor is one of the purposes. But thanking the rich for their donation and contribution is another purpose. Open invitation to non-Buddhists as a sign of friendship and harmony is also another.; September 24, 2009 6:51 PM
Anonymous said...: Singapore culture!?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wk51lfLfIQ&videos=StmPGJS7RYo; September 24, 2009 7:09 PM
Anonymous said...: So what is good in your view? No food or a lot of leftovers?

Programme starts at 9am, people have to take our world class transport that Mr. Tan wrote about recently to attend.

Of course one would be hungry if one has to leave home at 7.30am to reach seminar on time.

Most importantly, at the seminar no one is left hungry and all have a good time. Why complain about the whole issue - isn't it making a mountain out of a molehill?

No food - complain organiser stingy;
Got food - complain not enough, poor logistic;
Too much food - complain wastage, poor planning.

If some of you think the event not enough food, and hence people have to "fight" for limited resource, then donate some money to SIAS so that they have money to cater more food.

It is too judgemental to generalise the behaviour of society through one event. Anyway the event only mention "breakfast starts 8.30am" - it did not say what type of breakfast.

Do you really think people got so much free time and be enticed to wake up at 7am to go all the way to Suntec to have cheese sandwich and tea?

Let us look at the positive side of things rather than pinpointing the "flaws" of others.; September 24, 2009 10:44 PM
Anonymous said...: Yum Yum I love free food; September 25, 2009 12:02 AM
Anonymous said...: There are many retirees in Singapore. They make up about 20% of these events. They are sent by their sons, in-laws who are too busy to attend.
They eat and then join their friends outside to spend the rest of their time, until the next AGM or seminar.
Attend some of these yourselves. Note how many silver haired and how many young people below the age of 50. Most who are below 50 are probably part of the organising group.
By the way, social etiquette does not get better with age.; September 25, 2009 10:57 AM
Vincent Sear said...: Another product of bad culture in Singapore:

http://www.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Crime/Story/A1Story20090924-169805.html

"RECENTLY crowned Miss Singapore World Ris Low, 19, had earlier been found guilty of credit-card fraud.

The beauty queen was convicted of five charges of misappropriation, cheating using illegally obtained credit cards, and impersonating their users' identities."; September 25, 2009 2:01 PM
justicenequality said...: I assumed that some of the above comments by various anonymous have NOT attended any SIAS organised Seminars nor Health talks/forums where food/beverage are provided free.
Seeing is beliveing! Even the SIAS President normally will announce to those present to be orderly in going out of the hall to partake of the buffet. But very few heed Mr Gerald's words. There will be a MAD Rush and in no time the chafing dishes will be wipe CLEAN! So the next time when SIAS organise a Free Seminar, pls attend and see for yourself before you make assumptions. TQ.; September 25, 2009 4:34 PM
Anonymous said...: to justicenequality:

that's because SIAS made these important mistakes:

1. very poor planning - they under-estimated the number of attendees;

2. provided wrong type of food - they should supply plain no frills break/crackers or khong guan biscuits (provide one flavour only) and plain water. make sure no spare food containers are available for them to use to take food home; crackers cannot eat full? try take 6 packets and drink 3 glasses of water. I tell you, you will be very full.

3. timing wrong - food should be made available at the end, and not only at the beginning and middle.

if SIAS follow these three simple and cost-effective rules, i assure will be no mad rush and ample food for everyone.; September 27, 2009 1:10 AM