Comments on: Singapore – where whatever we do, is never good enough http://www.motochan.com/2009/09/24/singapore-the-city-where-whatever-we-do-is-never-good-enough/ Photography, Venture Capital and Myself Fri, 30 Dec 2011 19:50:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: joshNair http://www.motochan.com/2009/09/24/singapore-the-city-where-whatever-we-do-is-never-good-enough/comment-page-1/#comment-3027 joshNair Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:10:39 +0000 http://www.motochan.com/?p=2607#comment-3027 I'd argue this has strong historical roots. Fear and insecurity was a medium of control for Singapore in the 1980s. Essentially, the idea behind it is to de-stabilize identity. I am a chinese working class singaporean.... (oh no you're not... *stuffs* your children into English speaking school...) I'm a good singapore JC kid... (oh no you're not... who told you you're good? when you get married and your kids excel in school that's when you're good... *slaps*) We then keep on trying to do it better, and then we reach the state Meng Weng says: “I don’t know how we got this far, but we can’t afford to screw up now.” Our success builds our insecurity. Because of the preciousness and need to preserve it that is continually emphasized (National Education, National Day Parade). Unfortunately, you can't climb a hill with both hands covering your ass. Its a cliche to say its the government's fault, honestly i think they forgot they put this implicit "policy" into motion in the 1980s. And as with most things, unintended consequences take effect. An analysis of how the domination and creation of fear and destabilized identity in the past can be found in an unpublished working paper in the Central National Library top floor (request for it from the librarian). Written in 1984 by George Benjamin, an NUS sociologist. I’d argue this has strong historical roots.
Fear and insecurity was a medium of control for Singapore in the 1980s. Essentially, the idea behind it is to de-stabilize identity. I am a chinese working class singaporean…. (oh no you’re not… *stuffs* your children into English speaking school…)
I’m a good singapore JC kid… (oh no you’re not… who told you you’re good? when you get married and your kids excel in school that’s when you’re good… *slaps*)
We then keep on trying to do it better, and then we reach the state Meng Weng says: “I don’t know how we got this far, but we can’t afford to screw up now.” Our success builds our insecurity. Because of the preciousness and need to preserve it that is continually emphasized (National Education, National Day Parade). Unfortunately, you can’t climb a hill with both hands covering your ass.
Its a cliche to say its the government’s fault, honestly i think they forgot they put this implicit “policy” into motion in the 1980s. And as with most things, unintended consequences take effect.
An analysis of how the domination and creation of fear and destabilized identity in the past can be found in an unpublished working paper in the Central National Library top floor (request for it from the librarian). Written in 1984 by George Benjamin, an NUS sociologist.

]]> By: Leonard http://www.motochan.com/2009/09/24/singapore-the-city-where-whatever-we-do-is-never-good-enough/comment-page-1/#comment-3019 Leonard Tue, 29 Sep 2009 06:56:03 +0000 http://www.motochan.com/?p=2607#comment-3019 We'll eventually forget that we're Singaporean. Problem solved. We’ll eventually forget that we’re Singaporean. Problem solved.

]]> By: James Chan http://www.motochan.com/2009/09/24/singapore-the-city-where-whatever-we-do-is-never-good-enough/comment-page-1/#comment-2959 James Chan Fri, 25 Sep 2009 14:19:15 +0000 http://www.motochan.com/?p=2607#comment-2959 I don't think the emigration rate is really of major concern. We'd just keep importing highly-skilled foreign talent, encourage them to take up permanent residency, and convert them to citizens. Who cares where you're born as long as your entry into Singapore can raise the national average? I don’t think the emigration rate is really of major concern. We’d just keep importing highly-skilled foreign talent, encourage them to take up permanent residency, and convert them to citizens. Who cares where you’re born as long as your entry into Singapore can raise the national average?

]]> By: twasher http://www.motochan.com/2009/09/24/singapore-the-city-where-whatever-we-do-is-never-good-enough/comment-page-1/#comment-2947 twasher Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:38:51 +0000 http://www.motochan.com/?p=2607#comment-2947 Some stat boards and local universities have discriminatory policies where Singaporeans are paid less than expatriates <em>for the same job</em>. (I'm compiling a list of such discriminatory jobs ads.) This isn't even about privileging Singaporeans. It's about treating people equally according to their abilities. We may need foreigners for low value-added jobs, but there are many, many talented Singaporeans who will not work in Singapore because they can reap a lot more with their talent in countries that value them more. If the government is <em>genuinely</em> concerned about the emigration rate, they should put their money where their mouth is. Some stat boards and local universities have discriminatory policies where Singaporeans are paid less than expatriates for the same job. (I’m compiling a list of such discriminatory jobs ads.) This isn’t even about privileging Singaporeans. It’s about treating people equally according to their abilities. We may need foreigners for low value-added jobs, but there are many, many talented Singaporeans who will not work in Singapore because they can reap a lot more with their talent in countries that value them more. If the government is genuinely concerned about the emigration rate, they should put their money where their mouth is.

]]> By: Meng Weng Wong http://www.motochan.com/2009/09/24/singapore-the-city-where-whatever-we-do-is-never-good-enough/comment-page-1/#comment-2935 Meng Weng Wong Thu, 24 Sep 2009 03:02:38 +0000 http://www.motochan.com/?p=2607#comment-2935 It might be worth distinguishing between competitiveness and ambition. Startups in the East are competitive: they want to win at the same game everybody else is playing. Startups in the West are ambitious: they want to win at a game other people aren't even playing yet. In the West, a firm would be considered crazy if it tried to enter a competitive, mature industry. In a East, a firm would be considered crazy if it didn't. In Singapore I see a lot of startups whose basic idea is "we'll succeed because we'll do it cheaper by working harder, hiring younger, and sleeping less". That's the way grandpa got rich, and by gum, if it worked for his curry puff factory four decades ago, it'll work for our dot-com today. It might be worth distinguishing between competitiveness and ambition. Startups in the East are competitive: they want to win at the same game everybody else is playing. Startups in the West are ambitious: they want to win at a game other people aren’t even playing yet.

In the West, a firm would be considered crazy if it tried to enter a competitive, mature industry.

In a East, a firm would be considered crazy if it didn’t.

In Singapore I see a lot of startups whose basic idea is “we’ll succeed because we’ll do it cheaper by working harder, hiring younger, and sleeping less”. That’s the way grandpa got rich, and by gum, if it worked for his curry puff factory four decades ago, it’ll work for our dot-com today.

]]> By: Bjorn http://www.motochan.com/2009/09/24/singapore-the-city-where-whatever-we-do-is-never-good-enough/comment-page-1/#comment-2934 Bjorn Thu, 24 Sep 2009 01:45:51 +0000 http://www.motochan.com/?p=2607#comment-2934 Succinct n true. Stigmatization of failure is too ingrained in our culture. Our focus on excellence is too overbearing and needs a much-understated soft approach that encourages the fallen to try again. Succinct n true. Stigmatization of failure is too ingrained in our culture. Our focus on excellence is too overbearing and needs a much-understated soft approach that encourages the fallen to try again.

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