Are Singaporeans just uncultured?
-
Originally posted by Kuali Baba:
Did you venture into the Alps?
Nah, that time it was an organised tour, we went to Paris, Beaune, Marseille, Lyon, Cannes and Monaco...i was like almost bored to death looking at the buildings...i mean see first time quite intrigued by the history behind it but after that it becomes broken record.... this one 18th century, that one 10th century, this one before war, after war during whose time whose time lah...what sia...boring haha.... but when i was like looking at the coast or even having coffee at the port of Marseille...i enjoy much more lah....
-
cultured refers to the behaviour and thinking of people, it is not solely based on how much we appreciate the arts and history, there are other cultured pursuits such as lit and music, and doing these does not mean we cannot have a penchant for shopping....
i wonder how cultured you are based on ur superficial definition and naive measure of being cultured. Please do not embarass yourself, at least go look up the definition of cultured first...
fyi, this was written based on my own understanding of what being cultured is, for the record, i do not go to art galleries or museums etc...
for your benefit...
cul⋅ture
the quality in a person or society that arises from a concern for what is regarded as excellent in arts, letters, manners, scholarly pursuits, etc.
the behaviors and beliefs characteristic of a particular social, ethnic, or age group
-
to boomslang:
everybody from any nationality goes shopping when they take a holiday !
you must be insane or simply laid back in life just to go there for sightseeing only. if u want sightseeing and no shopping then go surf the internet .......however i think going overseas on holidays nowadays is a waste of time..
you can buy more cheaper stuff over the internet and do sightseeing live over the internet as compared to a real life timewasting overseas holiday.
-
actually if you are singaporean, and u speak singlish thats ur culture
-
singaporeans have their own ways, ask any American on the street on how they think about their fellow Americans, they may give you the same derogatory remarks
-
US is Rojak land la.
-
Originally posted by eagle:
maybe it is more cultured to visit Amsterdam and their fish tanks, and go wow and ah and oo over it
Would you recommend visiting the fish tanks before or after sampling the joys of Amsterdam's freewheeling and mostly legal sex and drugs culture?
-
Originally posted by lemonspider:
a typical singaporean only comment negatively about a typical singaporean, this sux that sux....
wat a irony.
haha true indeed
-
Originally posted by Boomslang4829:
"I don't see how Oooing and Ahhhing over naked renaissance statues or having your picture taken in front of a leaning architectural mistake in pizza-land would imply a superior "cultural development" .... "
Great example. A statement like that underscores my point exactly.
I sense that the statement was lost on you .....
so let's try a more direct tack .....
do you think you're more cultured than the "Singaporeans in Singapore" ? ....
-
Originally posted by codexboy:
cultured refers to the behaviour and thinking of people, it is not solely based on how much we appreciate the arts and history, there are other cultured pursuits such as lit and music, and doing these does not mean we cannot have a penchant for shopping....
i wonder how cultured you are based on ur superficial definition and naive measure of being cultured. Please do not embarass yourself, at least go look up the definition of cultured first...
fyi, this was written based on my own understanding of what being cultured is, for the record, i do not go to art galleries or museums etc...
for your benefit...
cul⋅ture
the quality in a person or society that arises from a concern for what is regarded as excellent in arts, letters, manners, scholarly pursuits, etc.
the behaviors and beliefs characteristic of a particular social, ethnic, or age group
Expouding on Codexboy's definition, another definition would be development or improvement of the mind by education or training.
So my question to the threadsetter would be that, what is the rationale being this question? If it’s a question posed out of true curiosity, I would agree that Singaporeans are not very cultured. An overwhelming majority of the people I know would not think twice about blowing money on shopping or on mainstream entertainment as compared to just forking out a few bucks on museum entry in sg.
However, if the question is meant as a jibe.. I feel that we should just save our time instead of judging people on how they choose to spend their money.
But thinking of the reasons as to why sg-reans are ‘uncultured’, I feel that there are 3 reasons
- We are VERY practical people (Why spend 10bucks on museum entry and there’s nothing tangible to show for it?)
- Singaporeans have not had as much exposure to the fine arts since it has been an aspect that has only til recently, been neglected.
- Some people may just NOT appreciate the arts like how I wouldn’t appreciate the Jurong Bird Park very much
-
some people like fine art. some don't. don't like is don't like loh...
Just like some people are gay, some are not. Think the "cultured" bunch has more gay people too...
-
Originally posted by skythewood:
some people like fine art. some don't. don't like is don't like loh...
Just like some people are gay, some are not. Think the "cultured" bunch has more gay people too...
stfu and don't fucking talk shit ya hear me. the former is something about choice, the latter not quite so.
-
Originally posted by udontknowme:
stfu and don't fucking talk shit ya hear me. the former is something about choice, the latter not quite so.
you are full of shit if you think that you like fine arts because you choose to, not because you like it. People can also choose not to be gay even if they like it, just that they will not be happy.
Get your logic right, little girl.
-
I am shock at some of the reply of local forumer.
TS has raise a good point and many people think is not of a case?
Really unculture!
-
Originally posted by gasband:
Are Singaporeans just uncultured?
Yes
-
Originally posted by CannyOng:
I am shock at some of the reply of local forumer.
TS has raise a good point and many people think is not of a case?
Really unculture!
ok. for people who like museums, go for it. those who don't shouldn't. Who set the rules that people have to visit museums? spend the time you have doing things you like... you like shopping, go for it. you like concerts, go listen. you like museum, go visit. you like farms go and visit. visiting museums when you don't like it is just being childish.
-
"i wonder how cultured you are based on ur superficial definition and naive measure of being cultured. Please do not embarass yourself, at least go look up the definition of cultured first..."
My my, I must have touched a nerve in codexboy's subconsicous for you to want to inflict a personal insult. However, I see no need for me to stoop to that level.
"a typical singaporean only comment negatively about a typical singaporean, this sux that sux...."
Of course it takes a Singaporean to criticise Singaporean behaviour. It doesn't carry much weight for a person of another nationality to do so. Instead of taking an immediate defensive position to this thread, it might be more constructive to reflect on this.
In any case, opinions are just that, everybody has one. I'll be the first to admit that I am far from what I consider to be cultured, and in my past, I have been guilty of what I describe. The point is that I am aware of this now, and this has brought my attention to the disparity between the level of cultural development, on a broad sense, with people of other developed contries. When I travel to Japan, it is clearly evident that the level of cultural development in their general population far surpasses that of Singapore. Further examples of being cultured would be graciousness, civic mindedness, appreciation of the arts, to name a few. However, I do see small improvements in Singapore over the years, and this trend will only hopefully continue.
-
1. Sillyporeans are frogs-in-a-well who worship the venerable LKW on their little red dot. They invariably fail to see the bigger picture.
2. They mock at banglas and PRCs, cleaners, refuse collectors, etc who they strongly believe are of a lower class. What they do not realize is that when Sillyporeans themselves become the minority elsewhere, they are the shit-class.
3. They think they are sophisticated and way more advanced then their South East Asian counterparts, but fail miserably in appreciating the many things in life such as those mentioned in this thread. It is normally a painful experience trying to get Sillyporeans to do anything other than shopping due to their lack of competence, lack of knowledge, lack of physical fitness, fear of the unknown, and plain ignorance.
4. The somewhat more sophisticated Sillyporeans are either well-travelled, or SPGs.
5. Think they are a first-world people with many 'achievements' for a small nation, when in fact are tactless, uncivil, and lack etiquette.
-
"4. The somewhat more sophisticated Sillyporeans are either well-travelled, or SPGs."
Ha ha, I think that's a very funny way to put it...and I think you're the first poster who's not against the thread! :)
But to keep this thread in perspective, I'd have to admit that the tagline maybe should have read "Are Singaporeans just unappreciative of the Arts" instead.
In this respect, the personification of culmination of a society's cultural expression manifests itself in the Arts, be it music, sculture, architecture, sword smithing, etc.
If you asked Singaporeans who recenbtly returned from a trip overseas, and asked them to describe what they learned about the country, what are the odds that they learned much beyond the food and (usually cheap)shopping?
-
Originally posted by Boomslang4829:
Huhhh...it seems like most Singaporeans living in Singapore share a common trait.
I've had conversations with friends and family who go on vacations to great places in Europe and here in the US, and most of them spend the majority of their time shopping. One friend told me he "visited" Rome on a vacation, but actually spent the whole time at an outlet mall 4 hours outside the city. Can you believe it?
Ask any Singaporean about their vacations, in terms of museums they visited or sites they saw, and they will mostly tell you more about where you can find the best deals on shopping.
It's a pretty embarassing fact when you tell this to people of other nationalities (especially non-Asians). Maybe we've just developed so quickly economically that our cultural development hasn't had time to catch up.
I live about 45 minutes away from a pretty big outlet mall, and I joke to my wife that whenever we make our annual visit, we can hear the Singaporean before we see them because they're the ones going "cheap ah! cheap ah!".
To be fair, when foreigners come over to Singapore - they do their fair bit of shopping as well.
In addition, there's no harm in shopping overseas - who's to say that appreciating foreign fashions is any less cultural than visiting museums or piazzas. Frankly, having visited many European cities - honest to heart - I love classical cities, but sometimes I feel like the museums are just placed there just so tourists have something to do. Going shopping may actually allow you to mingle with the authentic local culture. You get a sense of what the locals eat, shop etc. That ain't so bad.
Plus, you assume that people on vacation should visit cities for their culture. But why should that be the case? You can visit cities for their culture, for their shopping, for whatever reason you want. Why should culture be a priori? Besides, this may not be their first trips to that city. For instance, when I next visit NYC, sure I will probably go to the Met again, but you can be certain I will cutting down a lot on the more touristy supposedly cultural stuff and heading to the outlet malls maybe, or just shopping down Fifth. Open your eyes to see and honestly its how you define culture - cos it's pretty much everywhere.
Too quick to judge perhaps?
-
Originally posted by Boomslang4829:
If you asked Singaporeans who recenbtly returned from a trip overseas, and asked them to describe what they learned about the country, what are the odds that they learned much beyond the food and (usually cheap)shopping?
The odds are low.
And they are proud of it. Or blissfully ignorant. You ask them simple facts or trivia about the city they've visited, and more than likely they'll give you a "what's so important about that? See, I managed to buy some cheap blah blah shit..."
Probably the only way to make S'poreans learn anything "cultured" is by making it examinable. So much for "National Education" and "Social Studies" in schools.
But I've seen many who make an effort to break out of this shell. Good for them. Sadly, I'm forced to meet too many frogs-in-a-well whenever I visit SG.
-
Originally posted by CUM ON MY FACE:
The odds are low.
And they are proud of it. Or blissfully ignorant. You ask them simple facts or trivia about the city they've visited, and more than likely they'll give you a "what's so important about that? See, I managed to buy some cheap blah blah shit..."
Probably the only way to make S'poreans learn anything "cultured" is by making it examinable. So much for "National Education" and "Social Studies" in schools.
But I've seen many who make an effort to break out of this shell. Good for them. Sadly, I'm forced to meet too many frogs-in-a-well whenever I visit SG.
somehow, I have a feeling that frogs in a well is a majority of most nations around the world...
Yes, there are people who visit museum and all that... but there is confirm bimbos in that country that don't know anything. same thing for singapore, you ask the bimbo that don't know stuff, why?
learning trivia of other countries? that don't sound very fun...
-
Originally posted by skythewood:
somehow, I have a feeling that frogs in a well is a majority of most nations around the world...
Yes, there are people who visit museum and all that... but there is confirm bimbos in that country that don't know anything. same thing for singapore, you ask the bimbo that don't know stuff, why?
learning trivia of other countries? that don't sound very fun...
You do have a point.
There are those I met, especially in large countries such as America, China or Australia, who have not (yet) lived outside of their countries simply because there are so many towns/cities they can move around in within their country. They tend to have rather inward-looking points of view.
However, too many S'poreans I met, despite their tiny nation, are blissfully unaware of things even within their country - the politics, the parks, the museums, the plays, the places of interest, the farms, the outdoors, the history, the 'rural' areas, what-have-you. As has been said previously, they normally perk up when you talk about food or shopping.
-
Originally posted by CUM ON MY FACE:
You do have a point.
There are those I met, especially in large countries such as America, China or Australia, who have not (yet) lived outside of their countries simply because there are so many towns/cities they can move around in within their country. They tend to have rather inward-looking points of view.
However, too many S'poreans I met, despite their tiny nation, are blissfully unaware of things even within their country - the politics, the parks, the museums, the plays, the places of interest, the farms, the outdoors, the history, the 'rural' areas, what-have-you. As has been said previously, they normally perk up when you talk about food or shopping.
why do you hang around bimbos who don't know anything?
Do you make them take a trivia test and see if they know stuff about museums and place of interest?
-
Ha ha just a note you won’t find Great master pcs in the Mall. Maybe auction houses Folks goes to the mall certainly not to appreciate the higher side of life.
i read thru the threads and seemed to me that this discussion has gone into 2 directions ....one is Singaporeans view and interaction with cultures and the other is Singaporean general behavior when travelling abroad....hope this observation is accurate.
A lot have been said I thought I add this:
I thought another aspect that shaped the way we viewed and interacted with cultures... I think a lot has to do either being in SEA or with our own ethnicity.... i've learned that characteristically Singaporean has not been very good at identifying details and sort out differences. Socially we like to generalize. Not sure if that is part of southern Chinese heritage or SEA. Even in our language we mixed up with Malay,English and dialect.
I personally don’t think sg are not exposed to arts or music or literature, it is probably true that there are less folks who have that “Passion”. My parent would have the passion on Teochew Opera as compared to Phantom of the Opera.
It will take a deeper connection with humanities to generates the passion. At this moment the current lifestyle in SG are still pursuing better tomorrow.
i thing it is very normal to shop and visit popular site when travel. At least we have to be honest with ourselved where our point of references are in life. That is a place to start to getting in touch with ourselved and explore new human sphere. (sorry if it sound like star trek)