When I Was Young

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Still on the natural disaster side, monsoon rain has its impact on 5 villages in India. Read the news here.

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While this gets a go in India, it does not in Singapore. Read the news here.

Some events are really that unfortunate… do you have yours to tell? The below story tells of how really unfortunate some things are, especially if your expectation and image of the company is high. As has always been the case, a small dot of ink of a clean, white sheet will be noticed, immediately noticed, and will always be remembered…

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Letter from Dinakar Sethuraman

I HAD an unfortunate incident when I went to receive five friends from India who were visiting Singapore on May 24.

We booked an SMRT limousine at Terminal 3 and paid $16 as limo charge. My wife has a neck problem and there were two old women and a child in that group of five.

When they got into the cab, my wife told the driver that he must drive carefully and slowly because of a neck problem.

In the past taxi drivers have always been careful. But this limo driver drove recklessly, above 90kmh, even after repeatedly being asked to slow down. He claimed that he cannot drive below 90kmh in Singapore.

My tourist friends, who had been impressed with Terminal 3, were very unhappy with the experience. My wife experienced severe neck pain for two days because of the ride.

I called SMRT to complain and they filed a report. Subsequently, someone called back, did not give his name and said that they would monitor the driver, before putting the phone down.

It seemed quite a callous dismissal of a complaint from a customer.

I wonder why one should pay a premium for a limousine for such poor service. I would expect SMRT to take action again the driver and refund the premium of $16 paid.

A country's image is formed at the airport and such experiences do not do justice to this otherwise hospitable city.

From TODAYonline.com, Voices – Monday, 01-Jun-2009; see the source article here.

Is this also indicative of the prevailing culture or predisposition in life? It seems that the ‘mobile phone’ is taking precedence over a lot of things... think so?

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MOBILE PHONE HABITS

SINGAPOREANS will take mobile phone calls almost anywhere, no matter how inappropriate or dicey the situation - such as when driving.

But at least, most stop short of agreeing it’s okay to propose over the phone, unlike their counterparts in China or India, revealed a Microsoft Windows Mobile poll.

Singaporean respondents would answer their phones in the middle of a wedding (35.2 per cent), a funeral (18.7 per cent), at places of worship (22 per cent), while driving (48.4 per cent), or even in the midst of a quarrel (16.5 per cent).

Most have taken calls during meals with others (93.4 per cent), while nearly two-thirds of some 100 respondents polled last month have yakked on the phone while in the loo.

Ms Chiam Ru Lin, 30, an auditor who carries her phone “wherever I go” because she feels “handicapped” without it, told Today: “Singaporeans are technology-driven, whether it’s for work or their personal lives.”

Still, there are some occasions when they would let their mobiles ring off the hook: The heat of passion being one of them (93 per cent). “Singaporeans have good bedside manners,” concluded the report’s authors.

And when it comes to marriage proposals, they would never use the phone to pop the “would you marry me” question. Almost nine in 10 feel it is unacceptable behaviour.

“The right guy would make the effort to make it special for me. It shouldn’t be like ordering take-out,” said Ms Zhou Shimei, 28, a corporate communications executive.

By contrast, some 50 per cent of those surveyed in China and India thought it was okay to propose on the phone.

Of course, there are those who would not pick up a call at a funeral or a film screening.

Ms Wee Mei Jin, 29, a corporate communications manager, said: “Some Singaporeans have no idea of what constitutes graciousness, and probably have no sense of respect for the environment they are in.”

Other findings

• 47.3% have flirted with someone other than their spouses or partners on the phone
• 45.1% have taken calls during business meetings
• 12.1% have broken up with their partners using SMS/MMS/IM
• 10% have shot a voyeuristic picture/video with their phones

From TODAY, News; Friday, 15-May-2009

Channel NewsAsia - Friday, May 15

3/4 of S’poreans won’t cut back on mobile phone usage during downturn: survey

SINGAPORE: Three quarters of Singaporeans said they will not cut back on their mobile phone use during the downturn. That’s because, going by a survey result, the mobile phone is quite an indispensable social tool.

Half of those surveyed in India and China will propose to their partner over the phone. But it’s a no—no for nine in 10 Singaporeans, according to a survey by Microsoft Windows Mobile.

However, when it comes to break—ups one in 10 thinks it’s okay to do it via phone messaging.

The survey also found that most people use their phones everywhere. 65 per cent of Singaporeans use it even when they’re in the toilet. Meanwhile, nine in 10 will answer calls when having a meal with someone.

But one instance where Singaporeans prefer not to be disturbed is in bed during intimate moments. 93 per cent will not take that call. That’s the highest across six Asian cities. For example, one in five Taiwanese will answer the phonecall.

One in 10 respondents has also shot a voyeuristic picture or video with their phones.

The survey also found that about half of all respondents used their phones to flirt with someone who is not their partner nor their spouse. That’s the highest percentage compared to similar surveys done in India, China, Japan, Taiwan, and Australia. —CNA/vm

From Yahoo! News; see the source article here.