Vulgar Pop Culture Rules!

IN SINGAPORE!!! ARRRRGGGH!!!

I had been wanting to blog about this for a while but just did not get down to it.

So what am I talking about? What else but Phua Chu Kang!!!!

I still cannot believe that the courtesy campaign that the public transport operators embarked on, using Phua Chu Kang as the ‘talent’ ACTUALLY works. I am SO not kdding.

I am doing a simple comparison of my own experience as a pregnant person travelling on public transport. During my last pregnancy I hardly ever got a seat if I were to either travel by bus or by the train. More often than not, back then, a baby bump invited disapproving stares (I really wonder why?!). They made pregnant women felt like they were aliens.

Now the story is different. I can safely say 8 out of 10 times I am on the train, I get offered a seat. That is a huge improvement. I am actually amazed.

But I do notice one more thing. The men, especially the younger ones (those in their twenties) are very likely to pretend to be asleep and would not volunteer their seats. The women on the other hand, especially the middle-aged ones, would readily do so. Young yellow-skinned people, regardless of gender, are also less likely to give up their seats willingly.

For decades, the government had tried many ways and used many campaigns to teach people to be courteous, gracious and kind. But there has never been much success. Surprisingly, all it take is just some slapstick in a rather raw and crude form to get people to act. What’s with these people??????? Where’s the finese? It does feel like the society is ‘regressing’ in that sense… at least to me….

but i think the authorities wouldn’t care too much now. Whatever tactics they have used this time, it worked and I think that matters most to them.

And here are some interesting reads I found on the internet:

1. S’poreans: Educated, but with poor upbringing (gosh! I definitely don’t identify with this)

2. Happy Journey? ( I do agree with this writer)