zhui xing forum- are singaporeans courteous?

Is Singaporean Courteous?

Are Singaporeans courteous? In my opinion, I feel that Singaporeans are generally courteous. However, we could not really gauge the level of courteous we are at unless we compare Singapore with other countries. Yet, which countries are we going to compare Singaporeans with?

Another question that I feel that we should look at is the difference between “courteous” and “considerate”. Are these two the same? Or are they different? Will being courteous means that one is being considerate?

I agreed with Xianhao that Singaporeans had come a long way since the 80s in terms of the level of courteous we are now at. No more spitting and fewer litterbugs. However, though a lot of effort had been put in to make sure that people would move and let passengers alight first. For example, the drawing of yellow lines. However, I feared that more work are still needed.

Currently, people are still rushing in without waiting. this is especially so during peak hours. The reasons might be the need to get onto that train and the want to get a seat. People are rushing to work and being unable to get into the train would mean having to wait an extra 5 min or so. For people who need to take long journeys, they want to get a seat. These result in the rush to get into the train instead of waiting for passengers to alight first. However, I think that with increase number of trains and the decrease in waiting times, these situations might improve.

However, is this courteous? Waiting for people to alight first before rushing in? I think that it will be more on “considerate” than “courteous”. When we said “thanks” to someone who had helped you, then that is “courteous”. It might not be considerate to people. For example, if someone help you to get up after you fall, you say “thanks”. It is not because you are considerate but because it is basic courteous. Another example is that you smile at someone you know. It is not because you are considerate but because you are being courteous. People seldom glare at others when people smile at you. Hence, I feel that using MRT trains as a gauge to Singaporeans’ level of courteous is not appropriate.

Another issue that Xianhao talked about is kiasuism. Is Kiasuism a show of our lack of courteous? To me, I think that kiasuism is more of considerate instead of courteous. Though considerate and courteous are difficult to distinguish one from another, I feel that kiasuism is more on considerate. For example, you can always queue up politely for used textbooks as early as you like, if you smiled at others and did not push anyone around, are you being kiasu? Are you being courteous? I think that you are being kiasu but not rude.

In my opinion, I feel that you can be considerate and courteous at the same time but there are always times where you are considerate but most definitely not courteous. An example would be when you see an old lady in the bus and there is this young person there and not giving up his or her seat. You might be angry and demand he or she to let the old lady sit. You are most definitely not courteous but you are considerate. However, I must say that such actions are rare in Singapore.

However, the line between courteous and considerate are often blurred. In school, we learn that when you see a teacher, you greet her or him. that’s courtesy. But we also learn that you give up your seats to someone who needs it more than you. You see someone drop his or her things, you help to pick it up. That’s considerate.

In my opinion, I think that using the service sector as a gauge to how courtesy Singaporeans are might be suitable. Though people in the service sector are often trained and polite, I must say I still do see rude behaviour when receiving service at times. There are people who are really polite. Yet, they are people who are very rude. If people who are trained and are providing service are so rude, what can we say about others?

From my personal experience, I waited for a plate of food for half hour at 2 different places. The service at one place was very good and I am really happy with the service since the staff was very courteous. Not only did the waiter apologise for the long wait due to peak hours, the manager also came to our table to apologise. And it was at a fast food restaurant. However, at another place, I waited for nearly 40min for two plates of food I ordered. What’s worse was that the man just put the plates on the tables and demanded my money. What kind of service is that? even if it was a coffeeshop, but it was those more of a food court type of coffeeshop. The service was so bad. Even at k-box, different places had their own good and bad services. This situation, I really hope will improve over time. Service sector is a very important part of our economy and I hope it will improve.

I think that another gauge we can use will be how we treat our neighbours. As compared to the past, the way we greet our neighbours whenever we see them had changed dramatically. in the past neighbours were very close. But now people hardly recognize their neighbours. there are still some people who would greet their neighbours "good morning" or "good evening" whenever they see them. So how courteous Singaporeans are? I feel that, in this respect, Singaporeans are courteous to only a limited extent.

Another gauge we can use will be how we answer the phone. Few people will say "good morning" or "good afternoon" depending the time unless you are trained. And few people will wish another "have a good day" or simply a "happy chinese new year" when chinese new year are close when calling someone you are not close to. Even then there are people who make and answer their calls rudely.

Hence, are Singaporeans courteous? I feel that courteous and considerate though often blurred, are two different things. Singaporeans are courteous but only to an extent.

ok... i retype this at least 3 times after restarting my com at least 6 times. a few of my points were lost as a result of my com hanging for so many times!!! haiz...
took mi more than an hour to type this due to the waste of times to retype....
haiz... aniway... i did reply forum le!!! :p

***iynix***