I REFER to recent discussions on returning trays after meals in foodcourts. It was repeatedly brought up that patrons 'make excuses' not to do so, but I beg to differ. I am sure no one will dispute that returning trays is a welcome civic-minded act. But to sweepingly dismiss 'excuses' that doing so forces cleaners out of a job demonstrates a gulf between an ideal state of affairs and reality.

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My point too, help us to help you. I suspect that the stallholders do not really want the patrons to return their own food trays. The cleaners help to turn the crowd around faster by clearing away empty plates promptly, thus "chasing" away those who want to hog seats to spin yarns.

Aiya another money making idea from NEA is coming up. Fine $1000 for not returning your food tray.

Simple, be a good role model to others. Do it.

Don't be a social misfit, spoilt brat, street thug, liew mung, bully, social pai-lei, etc.

Aiyo, for once, please do not do follow up just because the PM said so in his ND Speech. I thought he should have used his time more wisely. He should have mentioned something about the aged population instead of such trivial stuff. Leave it to the different sectors of people to do what they like. Yet it seems this is a topic for debate too.

To me, clearing trays is not an important aspect of human behaviour. When I'm in MacDonald's or Kentucky, I'll clear my trays naturally. I've been doing so all the while, even before the PM's speech. But, when I'm in a food court or a hawker centre, I will always walk away after the meal, without even realising. I suppose the environment plays a part in the action of customers.I think the PM might be referring to the 'fast-food restaurants' when he used the word 'foodcourt', unless he has not been to a food court before. If I'm not wrong, the 'clearing of trays' started with someone commenting abt it at MacDonald's some time back.

If one goes to food courts in Malaysia, one will not see customers clearing trays too. But no fuss is made about it. There are more important aspects of life to look into.

I hope we can bring this issue to a close. The ST should also not dealt in it any further, before we become a laughing stock to non Singaporeans.

suakusuaku (#5)

Yes, clearing trays is a trivial matter BUT I do not agree with u that it is not an important aspect of human behaviour.

Just because it falls on Singaporean's obligation it would be then classified as unimportant ? what about the tonnes of illed remarks our brothers and sisters put upon foreign workers's behaviour lately on this DB ? Are those unimportant too ? Then why grummble ?

It is in my believed that the writer try to remind us (Singaporeans) about our conciousness of "cilvilisation", perhaps due to too much of influences (getting stronger and stronger) from "Silver-MEDALisation". they sound quite similar anyway.

The auto gesture from each Sporen diner reflects the genuine civil responsibilities to society by living in this world. If we can't maintain a minimum standard, why shout and what right do we have to comment and to reject the behaviour of THIRD WORLD PEOPLE ?

There many more small and seemed unimportant moves that carry big meaning for our next step forward. We must live and live righteously (tang tang zheng zheng, hao hao ran ran 堂堂正正,浩浩然然).

Then the respect from world for SINGAPOREAN would come naturally. U may or may not have to agree with me, this is only my own lao qi chang tan.

I agree with what suakusuaku said. We should put a stop to these talks about clearing of trays at foodcourts. It's really a small matter. By clearing trays at FCs don really reflect whether one is gracious or not for there are many aspects in our life where graciousness can be reflected. Just because PM brought up the subject, ST Forum seems to keep on publishing letters of such topic. Is like sucking up to to one in higher authority.

Some 20 or 25 years ago, as a small girl, I had to helped my Mum at her hawker stalls and I had to carry food to households and shops in HDB blocks and cleared the bowls after they had eaten. I also had to serve food to customers who patronized my Mum's stall and washed all the dirty crockery. And mind you, there was NO SELF SERVICE at all at that time.

So, now FCs got cleaners to do just the cleaning and clearing of tables job only. Cleaners do not need to deliver food to HDB units and shop, what's the big deal, keep on harping on this subject. It's really sickening.

Hope Forum Page will devote precious space and publish letters which are of more pressing and worthy issues.

A very simple device: have a return tray counter and for each tray returned give a refund of 50 cents.

#6

I agree with you that the world will respect us if we are so civilised that we even clear food trays in food courts. But only if this is done naturally. Not by persuading or by force. I won't be surprised that a campaign will be coming up soon on this aspect, followed by a fine. The taxpayers' money can be put to better use.

commentator_sc: you are spot on in your suggestion.