Good Gracious Me !

2009-10-13T00:40:00.007+08:00

[COMMENTARIES] Mugging in Public Places

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)

[CAMPAIGNS] A Happy Journey Start Like That

2009-09-25T10:34:00.002+08:00

[CAMPAIGNS] A Happy Journey Start Like That

Hey Syafiqah,

Yeah, I get what you mean. Isn't it simply depressing when your festive mood just had to be destroyed because of one or two inconsiderate individuals?

Fortunately, 31 enthusiastic and talented Singaporeans have embarked on a journey to make our Public Transports a much more pleasant environment! These young men and women are currently involved in a Multimedia Project which is part of the Public Transport Council's drive to spread the courtesy message to commuters, with the recent Phua Chu Kang jingle that we're all so familliar with =)

Do take a look at their entries at the link below:
"A Happy Journey Starts Like That": Multimedia Contest

Hope the videos will be an inspiration for you and all other Singaporeans to be even mroe gracious and responsible commuters in the future.

Stay tuned for an upcoming review on the entries!

[MUSIC] Bring On A Smile

2009-09-23T20:20:00.001+08:00

[MUSIC] Bring On A Smile

Found PCK's rap on the mrt too jarring or simply did not like how it was phrased?
Listen to Dick Lee's latest rendition of social graciousness!
Nah, no more raps and kicks in the butt, just a sweet and soothing ballad on how a simple smile can get the kindness started and going.

So come on, smile! Bring out your best and make people happy (:
That certianly includes yourself too!
Click here to listen, with a smile of course (:

BRING ON A SMILE
music and lyrics by Dick Lee copyright 2009

Once every now and then you pause
Look at the state of things because
Life isn’t bright as it could be
Let’s see
What can be done to make things right?
How can we make the future bright?
Consideration’s all we need
To be free

CHORUS
Bring on a smile and touch a heart
One little smile sets you apart
Bring on a smile and then
You can let kindness start

Bring on a smile and nothing less
A little smile brings out your best
Bring on a smile and find
That kindness does the rest.

It’s really easy to be kind
Goodness is not that hard to find
All that it take’s a little care
You share.
Thinking of others now and then
Makes people happy, makes you friends
Love is a message to declare
Everywhere

CHORUS
Bring on a smile and touch a heart
One little smile sets you apart
Bring on a smile and then
You can let kindness start

Bring on a smile and nothing less
A little smile brings out your best
Bring on a smile and find
That kindness does the rest.

REPEAT CHORUS

*Dick Lee is a renowned Singaporean pop singer, composer, songwriter, and playwright.
Song and Lyrics are taken from http://kindness.sg/

2009-09-14T09:39:00.000+08:00

YOU can take the first step for Singapore to become a socially gracious city! (:

[SHOW] Gracious Planet

2009-08-07T11:39:00.001+08:00

[SHOW] Gracious Planet

Have you seen people who are physically perfect occupying the handicap parking lot?
Have you ever experience problem going home due to the stuffs stacked up by your neighbours at the corridor or staircase?
Have you seen people giving their seat to the needy in public transport? Singaporean strives for number one in every aspect, but how should we rank our civilization and social consciousness? As a developed country, why does Singapore possess undeveloped, uncivilized citizen?

Synopsis:
Hosted by Mark Lee, with a total of ten episodes, there will be a local from each country in each episode to act as a guide. The hosts will stay in his/her family in order to personally experience the citizen’s civilization reflected on environmental protection; treatments towards others especially seniority; courtesy; disciplinary etc, and to find out how the country’s outstanding civilization is cultivated into the people’s daily life (eg. How younger generation is educated, how the government implements campaigns; how civilization affects the country; what is the civilization that is lack in local and so on). This program will start off from Singapore and bring you around the world to discover how civilized humans can be and how we can contribute towards environmental protection and how we can invent a better tomorrow for our younger generation.
credits

Interviewing a passer-by

Review:
Much like travel programmes, the show features popular trip destinations like Japan and Taiwan. However, not only can we get to see the scenery like what normal travel tv programmes show, Mark brings the audience deeper into the culture of the country through home visits and street interviews. We get to find out why socially gracious acts are so prevalent overseas and well, that's a chance for us to reflect on Singaporeans' awareness of graciousness. Besides getting awed by the grace of foreigners, it's time for us to learn and change, ain't it?
A good breather from the angst of a bad day (especially when you had been the victim of ungracious acts)!

Gracious Planet is broadcasted on Channel 8 every Wednesday at 8.30pm, starting from 5th August.

[VID] Ugly Singaporeans

2009-06-18T13:24:00.002+08:00

[VID] Ugly Singaporeans

Found a spoof video on "Ugly Singaporeans". A bit exaggerated, but funny and a pretty true reflection of how ungracious some Singaporeans can be!

Courtesy of "2PointOneProduction" of Temasek Polytechnic School of Communications & Media Management.

[VID/PIC] A Happy Journey Starts Like That!

2009-05-30T07:17:00.002+08:00

[VID/PIC] A Happy Journey Starts Like That!

Have you heard/seen the newest music video on LCD display panels on the MRT platforms?
Phua Chu Kang, best in Singapore and JB and some say Batam, raps on being gracious in Singapore! Join him and let's be gracious to each other!

As part of a new campaign by the Singapore Kindness Movement (SKM) and the public transport authorities, Phua Chu Kang (affectionately known as PCK) and his wife Rosie [from PCK Pte Ltd, a Singaporean sitcom], make their appearances on public transport!

Posters reminding passengers to give up their seats and make way for the others, have you been heeding them? Hmm..or even seen them in the first place?

On the MRT platform:
DON'T PLAY, PLAY. LET ME COME OUT FIRST!
is one of the new slogans for absent-minded Singaporeans.

In the bus:
A reminder for Singaporeans to be socially gracious
through some really simple acts (:

Indeed, a happy journey starts like that.
When each and every one of us make graciousness part of our daily lives, not only will rides on public transport be more joyful, life in Singapore will be a delight in itself too :D!
"Be gracious, thank you ah~"

[SHOW] Paris & Milan

2009-04-04T17:48:00.001+08:00

[SHOW] Paris & Milan

Synopsis:
Played by Patricia Mok and Michelle Tay, Paris and Milan (coincidentally the title of the show) expose the ungracious acts of Singaporeans in this 13 episodes variety series. Broadcasted on Channel 8 every Thursday at 8pm, it features a half hour highlight of social issue, current affairs and entertainment news. Done in comedy style, highlights will be done by skits, spoofs, cheeky interviews with people on the streets and hidden camera situational tests.
credits

Paris (left) and Milan (right)

Review:
The content of the show is rich as it captures the ungracious acts that are happening in Singapore and also, educate through these negative examples, the gracious way to go about in our daily lives. Locations of filming are also extremely close to heart, like on the MRT, in supermarkets or any heartland areas.
It injects a huge portion of humour by providing hilarious commentaries from distinctive actor-played pedestrains. One great example will be Auntie Lucy, played by Zhou Chong Qing, who is noted for ~~his~~ her more than frequent swing of the head and exclaims of "So embarrassing~". Don't underestimate her popularity and influence! This DJ-turned-Auntie currently has a running fanclub; Auntie Lucy has even been roped in as the main cast for an upcoming movie.
'Paris and Milan' aims to make fun and see the lighter side of the issues (i.e. Singaporeans' ungracious acts in public). Well, definitely a good watch for some laughs and of course, realization. This is certainly a good time for us to change for the better, or hmm you can stay tuned to find out if you'll be one of the LUCKY ones caught on screen - unfortunately and ungraciously!

Starting from 2 April, every Thursday 8pm on Channel 8 :D
If you've missed out on previous episodes, no worries!
Catch them here.