WE SHARE Ms Kimberly Spykerman's viewpoint on Singapore as a First World nation still lacking one of the basic attitudes of a modern civilisation. When it comes to litter-free public areas, we are no better than any underdeveloped nation. And this will not change, even if we employ twice as many cleaners. It will not change, even if our universities are ranked among the best in the world. The seeds for change must be planted in everyone's home, in each family.

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'you can't teach an old dog new tricks' .. . u mean S'poerans are like dogs , can't teach them new attitudes . . ?

Look, you guys are basically substantiating what the couple have just written: rich nation with a third-world attitude, if not worse. In Mandarin, it's called buda zizhao, or cidi wuyin sanbailiang (buda zizhao).

While I agree that we're quite terrible at social graces, the second para is is a classic example of someone who adopts a holier-than-thou (and useless) attitude. I don't know if the writers actually do all those things they said they did, but a more productive way of engaging the issue is to positively influence and impact the society they're in through role-modeling and education, for eg. It's no good praising yourselves/your behavior sky-high at the expense of your hosts if that's all you can do. It just speaks so poorly of your own upbringing in the final analysis.

I guess the saying "you can't teach an old dog new tricks!" is true indeed. with that kind of holier-than-thou attitude, is it any wonder you can't command the respect/attention of any s'porean who might at least be moved to take your behavior as a good one for role-modeling purposes? so it takes two to tango, doesn't it?

There are folks peeing at the bus stop ....... in San Francisco. Perhaps some expats have lived long enough in Singapore and high expectation of cleaniest in public area. The liter at our beach could be from the boats or neighbouring islands that are washed ashore from outside Singapore's jurisdiction. Perhaps it's time for 'unclean' expats to seek a cleaner place?

"As the saying goes, 'you can't teach an old dog new tricks'. "

Remember the signboard in the park: "Chinese and Dogs not allowed in".

Remember: "Sick man of the East"?

Unless humans have GP and AP values ingrained in them from young from age 6 both at homes and in schools, mankind will continue to suffer endlessly due to many spoilt brats and social misfits bringing more unhappiness than happiness when they grow up at homes, in society and in workplaces. Broken homes are due to lack of GP and AP values in humans. They hurt each other more instead.

Littering is one thing.

But has anyone lately picked up an untidy litter on the road or in the park and place it in the wastebin? If you do, you probably won't litter yourself for others to pick it up after you. If you don't, you do not really qualify to encourage others not to litter, isn't it?

Please train your kids from age 6 to pick up an untidy-eyesore rubbish in public and place it in the nearest dustbin.

Please train our kids in schools to do that too.

Please train our kids from young not to leave a dirty looking toilet bowl at home or in schools or in public places for others to clean it up for them.
If you don't do this for your kids, you do not qualify to encourage others to do this.

Please do this practice with your kids, if you don't wish to have your children [or grandchildrern] to grow up as spoilt brats and social misfits causing more unhappiness when they are adults.

For newcomers, please google the 'Glad Game' for GP.

lol typical singaporean attitude I guess ... not there yet, but already defiant and proud.

Good lor. Pay less UN fees, entitled to global subsidies and loans.

Why don't these foreigners just go back to whereever they come from and let us live our own life? To think they have the cheek to comment on our manners. Though our Asian hospitality forbid us to criticise the foreigners' disturbing behaviour, that does not mean these foreigners are any civic-minded.

I have seen a lot of behaviour among the foreigners which I can conclude as just bad upbringing as well. Pls go home if you don't like life here. You won't be missed.

Marco,

Don't try to fool Singaporeans. While I disapprove of littering, I have seen places in the West with dirtier streets and graffiti on the walls. You continue with your First World whining attitude, and we may just behave like nice youths in the West, as shown in the link.

http://edition.cnn.com/2007/US/12/12/subway.attack/