Hi SMLJ,

Thanks for sharing with us your experience with such unreasonable people.

For most JCs the promotional exams have just passed and I hope all of you readers have done terrific for your exams!

At the same time, I am also sure that many of you would agree with me that you have spent most of your mugging time in conducive places such as the library or the fast food restaurants, which are popular mugging points for students this generation. A simple search on Facebook for the group "I study in McDonald's at KAP" will show that at least 218 people are frequent muggers in King Albert Park McDonald's alone, a big number considering the fact that there are only a few schools within the region of Upper Bukit Timah where KAP McDonald's is located.

Youth.SG covered an article, "Study in peace outdoors" , on 23 September 2009, giving advice on potential mugging venues for the students in the exam fever.

However, discussion has been ongoing on the Straits Times forum after reader Ms. Yvonne Chen expressed her unhappiness here towards students studying in public places.

Previously in 2008, The Straits Times has also covered an article with regards to students studying in Changi Airport.

(Picture courtesy of The Straits Times)

In fact, STOMPers have already raised this issue back in 2006, when a STOMPer commented that Changi Airport T2's McDonald's was "over-run with students".

(Picture courtesy of STOMPer Jeffy)

Some people might argue that the restaurant management can chase the hogging students out of the restaurant. However, debate arose earlier this year on this forum when a forumer expressed her disbelief towards being chased out by McDonald's.

Personally I have also witnessed some ungracious acts of students when I mug at my neighbourhood McDonald's... But unfortunately I wasn't able to take some photos to show it here.

I think as much as we want a conducive place to prepare for our exams, similarly the general public will also need a conducive eating venue for their bodily nourishments as well. The place is called a fast-food restaurant anyway! I'm not saying that we should be abolished from mugging at McDonald's, but I guess it is basic courtesy for us to occupy as little space as possible so that other members of the public will be able to have a seat as well.

As members of the society, we need to remember that we all share the same role in ensuring that we are able to live harmoniously together, and to do so, the first step is to ensure that welfare is maximised for every individual without compromising too much on anyone else. I'm sure putting your school bag on the floor so that the poor granny can sit down shouldn't be too much of a difficulty, right? =)

(I will try and source for some pictures to upload here... please be patient! =D)

Labels: Commentaries