MY RECENT trip to Hong Kong reinforced my belief that Singaporean society is far from being gracious.

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This issue of our graciousness has been one of the most debated topics on this DB.

If nobody does anything about it, the situation is unlikely to change for the better. My bet is that it will become worse as these young citizens will become parents one day and they would most likely pass the same values down to their children.

There have been proponents who said that it is the parents should play that role. (Could it also have been that often the maid was made to assume that role). Whatever the case may be, the parents (evidently I ‘m not accusing all of them) have not been able to play that role. Hence the results we see today.

Surely our miw must have followed the debates.

They don’t seem to be capable of coming up with a solution or knowing where to focus (at least I’ve not come to read about it) despite supposedly being the most able team.

They have taken a number of stop-gap measures (campaigns, fines, admonitions, etc.) over these years.

What RESULTS do we see today? If you are capable, you would make it happen.

It’s interesting that this writer compares us to HK because there are many similarities between our two societies. Where did our go astray? Is the mobile phone trend to be blamed? Surely young HonKongers use mobile phones too. Could we blame the (wrong) values (or priorities) emphasized by our government? Perhaps someone could come out with an explanation.

I’ve written a post on the thread of Good English the Way to Go suggesting that we invest in shaping the future generations. I don’t insist that that is the only or even right solution. However, my suggestion ought to be challenged so that we can come up with one where we will ACTUALLY SEE IT HAPPEN.

I find Hong Kong people's behaviour to have improved quite a lot, last time I was there they appeared more friendly.
I feel this happened after they were given back to China.

Any conclusion about Singapore's social status need indepth and scientific study by social science researchers and not by a superficial visit to any country. To make conclusion about Hong Kong and Singapore based on a transcient trip is perfunctory and without factual basis. It is a personal gut feel which would not stand up to closer scrutiny.

Betterment, anecdotal evidence suggests that all is not well with the graciousness barometer in SG, even the MM himself has acknowledged that. Instead of waiting for the "scientific" evidence to prove to us what we already know, what are we doing about it even as a stop-gap measure?

And Boixosnois, why wait for the MIW to do anything about something they can't do much about, what with the relentless pursuit of mammon? When your parents were disciplining you - assuming they did - did they ask or have to wait for the govt to tell them what to do?

In New Zealand, students actually have to give up their seats to an adult etc on the trains and buses. This is the rules as the student fare is by far cheaper, but on the condition that seats are given up.

This though would be a little harder to enforce on the MRT as we don't have any Conductors on trains.... That could be an idea though.

unewolke

The fact that HK and S’pore are culturally similar and we have diverged, won’t you think something went astray along the way. Couldn’t we not have prevented that or to do something to retract (change) it now?

I didn’t say we (or our parents) need the govt. to tell us what to do. I was saying that with the RESULTS we see today, evidently many parents have failed in their role. (I’ve repeated that umpteenth times in previous threads).

So what should we do? If we leave things as they are, won’t you think we will continue to see such behavior? Won’t you think something ought to be done? If you don’t agree that it should be the government, who then should it/they be? Please, don’t mention parents, AGAIN! Unless you can come up with an idea about how to make parents gracious themselves first, or ensuring that they be able to do the job (I mean play the role) of passing down the right values to their children. Don't forget, it's the RESULTS that count. If we don't see the results, everything else is just, talk! Is this creature that elusive?

I suggested the government (or whoever can right the situation) to play a more proactive role. I’ve suggested we start at Preschool. Has anyone another better idea? If it could happen in HK (they being gracious), why couldn’t we do the same in Singapore?

unewolke, this message is not meant for you specifically but rather the general reader, although I used a rebuttal to you to do deliver it.

Hi Goh JH, how was your trip to HK. Beside the grace subject.

It is painful to see social graciousness eroding away while society becomes more involved in amassing wealth. We are unlikely to turn this tide around until we realise that social graciousness is as important as economic affluence.

Well, you can always join us to help our children grow healthy in the mind firat and then it is easier to be gracious to all at http://theinnozablog.blogspot.com
Bye Goh, see you soon or later at usual place.

I would like to share my views as a Singaporean currently living in Hong Kong (although I am back on holiday at this moment). With all due respect, a short trip to another place is not such good basis for comparison, unless you stayed there long enough.

To me, Hong Kong is far ahead of us in the public transport network; anyone who has been there would know how crowded and fast-paced the city is, but yet the railways, buses and minibuses are so convenient, quick and efficient (most importantly, more or less regular intervals compared) that there is no real need to drive or take a taxi. In terms of service, it has improved by leaps and bounds from the British colonial days when people in the service industry were notoriously rude, giving HK a bad name. Today, friendly and efficient service is common enough. And having recently bought a car and driving, due to the fact that I live quite far out and often travel in rural areas, I was surprised at how accomodating and gracious many drivers have been. Looking at Hong Kong's congested, jammed roads, one might be put off from driving, yet you will find method in madness, while I would describe driving in Singapore as chaos in neatness.

But I wouldn't say that Hongkongers are ahead in all aspects of social graces. In commuting by public transport daily (I still take public transport when the place I am heading for is not worth driving to), I can say that all the ugly commuter habits attributed to Singaporeans can be found in HK, and are as bad if not worse. Young people giving up seats to elderly? You were lucky to witness this as it is rare, indeed so rare that when I (I'm in my 20s, not teens, but to them should still be considered young) give up my seat to elderly I get weird looks. Teens blasting music from mobile devices is common, as is seat-snatching, and a pregnant woman or elderly person is like an instant remedy to imsomnia! And while I have witnessed rowdy, mischievous teens in Singapore's trains and buses (nothing new actually), I can tell you that teens in HK's trains can be ten times as rowdy, mischievous and atrocious. Of course, every country has its good and bad points. HK and Singapore are in some ways similar, in others different. I suppose ugly behaviour like this is part and parcel of life in many modern cities, although it may be less common in places where grace and manners are part of that region's local culture. Still, I agree wholeheartedly that people in both HK and SIngapore need to polish up on social graces a little.

The reason why our youngsters have no manners are because they watch too much English and western shows, TV programs, etc. They all have been influenced by the evils of Hollywood and the corrupted western empire.
It is a very very great shame and disgrace that our youths and children and even many immature adults have already been brainwash by the negative western cultures. It is most important that we teach all our youths and children Confucianism from young, say from Kindergarden level. Then they will learn respect, filial pity, manners and social graces towards their elders, leaders and teachers. This is the only way that Singapore can strive to be a graceful society. The downfall of the decadent Western empires and all theirs evils and corruptions will be coming soon. China can save the world from the evil, debased and corrupting influences of the west.