Opinions

A Redditporean (Singaporean redditor) made a reddit post regarding the elitist mindset of certain parents as well as how we should treat each other with respect. The thoughts came from her own point of view while working as a sales person. The post when viral with many redditors agreeing with her thoughts. You can read her full post below:

"For context, I'm a 16 year old student who has just completed my O's. I decided to spend my holiday working for a bit of extra pocket money.

The job is simple, we help to sell items for different schools. Having had experience from being a sales girl last year, this was no big deal for me and I cope with the job well.

I have always been in "名校" (what some consider good schools) since I was in primary school, and most parents of the children I knew in those schools were amiable, pleasant people, so I used to refute the stereotype that parents from more elite schools were arrogant.

My view changed in less than a week of work. I hate to admit it, but most of the difficult parents are those whose children are from the "good schools".

On my first day of work, I had a nasty parent who openly told her son "You have to wait, she's not smart you know." simply because I had to confirm that the sample size I gave them was correct with the full time workers at the counter.

Although I had been briefed, I just wanted to ensure that I provided the correct information and was doing my job properly. It doesn't mean that I'm stupid or dumb. (Besides, if I did something wrong instead of clarifying my doubts, wouldn't I be in even more trouble?)

For example, let's say Happyland is a really well known school. There's Happyland Primary, Happyland Girls School, Happyland High School and Happyland JC. The parents of Happyland have the tendency to go into the store and scoff "Happyland." when I ask them which school's items they are looking for. Upon asking them which Happyland School they are referring to, they would instantly look offended as if to say "Don't you know Happyland?"

The usual condescending tone is expected, but the attitude they give is rather unnecessary. I'm a sales girl and my job is to help you. It won't hurt to give me more details about your child's school so that I can serve you better.

Some parents would brag about their children to other parents who they know are parents of children who are going to neighbourhood secondary schools, instantly changing their tone and attitude the moment they come into contact with another parents whose child is attending the same school as theirs.

C'mon, they're just here to buy items for the new school year, not start a whole conversation about how your child is better because their T score is a 270+

The parents are nice to me (their tone actually does a 180) when they ask me which school I go to and find out that I've already accepted an offer from a "good" JC.

Are they implying that they're only nice to me the moment they find out that I'm going to a "better" school than their child?

Your child's brand of school doesn't make you any better than others.

Over the last 5 days, I realised that many of the parents who were nice to me in school were probably nice only because they know I'm at the same level and their child and would like their children to be treated with respect as well.

It is a common assumption that sales girls are people who have low levels of education and it isn't the highest of job titles, but it doesn't mean that they are subhuman trash. (this applies to everyone with a job people "look down" on)

I know many of you here on reddit would think I'm spoilt and can't take being treated rudely because I'm part of the "strawberry generation" and am just being easily offended and triggered by the slightest of things.

This post isn't about me. It's for the full time working "aunties" who have to deal with the attitudes of these people on a daily basis.

I'm starting to really empathise with those who have to deal with these elitists who think they're better than everyone else simply because of the school their child goes to. And honestly, even as a student from one of such schools, it really isn't that big a deal. You aren't superior.

I'm not trying to say "all schools are equal" and I understand that elite schools exist to separate children of different levels of intelligence so that they can learn better amongst peers that are similar to them.

I just hope that people treat others with more basic respect, there's no need to turn your child's education into some complex politics.

Please teach your children to be nice to people, and do it by setting a healthy example."

Which school you go to does not define you. We are all humans living on earth. Why should we treat each other so differently? Kudos to the redditor for being so mature and penning down her thoughts.

MOM statistics for 2018 showed that the median income for 2018 increased by 3.5% after adjustment for inflation. It now stands at $4,437. The median income last year was $4,232. 

$4,437 sounds like not a bad deal. When we were younger, many would have complained if people told you that you will get this income. 

However, reality sucks. This median salary just means that there are equal amount of people who earn beyond and below that amount. It is just the midpoint. It is better than an average which can be skewed by billionaire salaries but it still does not tell the whole story.

Firstly, this value is inclusive of our employer's CPF contribution. So the actual figure is lesser than that. Yes it's your money but if you cannot decide fully what you want to do with it, you can't say you have control over it.

Then there's the thing about expenditure. We know that things are just getting more and more expensive. The cost of living is increasing. Basic goods and needs already take up a huge chunk of your expenditure. 

The last Household Expenditure Survey carried out by the Department of Statistics (in 2012/13) found that the expenditure for an average Singaporean household was $4,724. This is not fake news or fake statistics. This is official findings by SingStat and they are in the midst of collating statistics for 2017/18. With inflation and rising costs, surely the household expenditure will be greater than that?

Households made up of PMETs may not be as well off but they are not all much better off. They work to earn but not live a life. 

For lower income households where the total household income may be less than $4,500, what happens to them? What if they have very young children still attending schools? S

Survival is a real issue for them. What's there to be happy about?

The writer, Kelvin, is not elite. He is not also not rich.

Singapore's  PAP's PM reserve Prime Minister-in-waiting, Keechiu Chan Chun Sing, has mouthed off again on the issue of class, social mobility and cohesion here in Singapore. In a recent dialogue, Chan impressed upon the participants on the need for Singapore to develop a new social compact to ensure that slower Singaporeans are not left behind by those who are moving faster on the socio-economic ladder. Chan opined that Singaporeans need to develop a sense of collective responsibility and be mindful of the needs of others, rather than be self-centred.

One wonders if he has said the same things to his fellow leaders in the PAP.

You talk about not leaving anyone behind, about having representation and diversity of voices. But when you look at the leadership of the PAP, you realise that they are very very homogenous and elitist.

Do not give the crap about the cream rising to the top. Hello Chan Chun Sing, if you haven't heard, meritocracy in Singapore is skewed and flawed because you are not helping people equitably. The rich should help themselves, to get richer. The government's job is to give the poor similar, if not the same opportunities. That's not the case here. The government helps the rich get even further ahead when those resources can be better used on those with limited resources.

This is not fake news. This is not a lie.

Take a look at the PAP's leadership. Alumnus of  Oxford, Harvard, Cambridge, NUS and come from elite schools like RI, RJ, Hwa Chong, National JC.  Where is the poly graduate? Where is the dropout who made it big? Where is the private university graduate? You want Singaporeans to mix and think about others but you are not leading and walking the talk. Chan really talks a good game.

Chan don't talk so much. Don't try to get Singaporeans to change as if everything that is wrong with Singaporeans are solely our fault. Singaporeans care about each other. There is enough news about Singaporeans helping their fellow Singaporeans and even foreigners in their times of need or even for their routine daily needs. 

It is the PAP and its elite class that needs to change. Singaporeans help out of goodwill but PAP and its elites help for a photo opportunity and to score political points. 

The writer, Kelvin, is not elite.

Channel NewsAsia recently released a video documenting how poverty affects the decision-making process of people in the lower-income group. Firstly, credit should be given when it's due. Their previous documentaries on class and inequalities were panned by some Singaporeans because they felt that they were making use of the students from the Normanl streams to push home the point that they were trying to make.

This one is different. This one really hits the nail on the head. It is far too easy for us, who are not poor, to push the blame squarely on the poor for repeatedly making bad decisions. However, we fail to appreciate that most of the times, their choices are limited by their lack of access to information, and their circumstances.

They are trapped. They have no other way out. The video highlighted how poor people cannot qualify for entry-level credit cards which may give them access to cash rebates and better discounts. This would make the products cheaper, especially if they buy in bulk. 

Then there are those who have very little financial literacy that they spend the money on the wrong things or, like the auntie in the video, buy too much carton drinks that she doesn't need. Many are also mentally and physically constrained as they are normally working punishing long hours in bad-breaking jobs or jobs that require them to stay out in the sun. Good decision-making, doesn't come easily when you are so shagged out. Don't laugh. Just think back when you in NS in the army and how many times the sergeants scolded you because you "shag cannot think!". You really can't think straight.

The government has the responsibility to help people like these to make better decisions. It is not enough to just depend on the voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs) or the NGOs to step in to bridge the gap. Such organisations are also constrained by their lack of resources.

Financial literacy is one key aspect of it. When you are poor, you cannot spend it frivolously and every cent counts. It is a good initiative to introduce such lessons in the ITE. However, they should start this in secondary school. It is a life skill that parents from the lower income group may be ill-equipped to impart to their children. So the cycle goes on and on. It is not just about repeatedly telling children that money is precious and they need to save. They need to know why, how and what they can do about it. At the secondary school level, most students are already managing their own pocket money. If they don't start young, they may never do.

Poorer families must be given better financial counselling such as on insurance etc. They need advise from professionals not a counsellor who may not be as well qualified to talk about money management as an accredited professional. Having the knowledge empowers them with options. When you don't have knowledge, your options appear more limited and the chances of you making the wrong decisions are higher. VWOs, NGOs and even the community centres should be given more resources to provide better quality financial literacy education.

On top of that, the Singapore government should also not dismiss the value of handouts. Yes, you don't want to create a handout-dependency mentality among your poor but it does not mean that you avoid giving handouts. Handouts are important because without the handouts to supplement their incomes, the families will struggle even worse because they cannot run away from inflation and the rising cost of living in Singapore. 

Singapore is moving forward quickly. The government needs to slow down and our fellow Singaporeans who are falling behind.

The writer, Faith, has faith in Singaporeans.

Dear Editor,

Till now there is no sound or sight from the multi-millionaire PAP minister Masagos after all these prominent food poisoning cases. Can the minister please explain? What is the NEA doing? Are they doing checks? How often? Why so many food establishments and kitchens are disregarding hygiene? What are the possible enforcement and punishment actions of NEA? Is the food consumed within the recommended time?

There are so many questions and yet the minister is keep quiet. If you take such a high salary you need to explain to the people. Today 131 people suffered from food poisoning including K2 children and their teachers when they went for a camp. The food was prepared by FoodTalks Caterer & Manufacturer, located at Shimei East Kitchen in Bedok. Is the caterer currently suspended from its operation? Must a child suffer dire consequences before the minister come clean with the public?

Last week, 190 people fell ill after eating food prepared by TungLok Catering at the Max Atria at Singapore Expo. Before that there were 81 cases of severe food poisoning after consuming food from Spize Restaurant at River Valley and a 38 year old man even died from it leaving behind young children. But only the River Valley branch is suspended. Spize two other outlets at Bedok and Rifle Range continue to operate. Is there nothing the government can do to punish these operators and make them wake up their idea?

On 1 April 2019, a new statutory board, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA), will be formed under MEWR to oversee food safety and security. So I guess it is one more fat salary for another general or a PAP yes man?? But why we have more government organisations and higher salaries for all of them that we the common men don't feel protected?

Abdullah 

Editors note: Do we actually think the minister will speak up? He will probably just hiding in his ivory tower and collect his salary. They refuse to come down to the ground and see the issues for themselves. 

The Singapore Cricket Club (SCC) has come under fire for sticking to its age old policy of having no domestic helpers or chauffeurs enter their premises while their employers dine there.

This issue recently resurfaced after a man, who was not a member of the club but was there as his family was, and they were having dinner there, was told that they could not bring their maid into the premises, as it was against the Club's laws. His father, who was a member, then said that he wanted to bring in the maid as his guest, but this was still not allowed, as the staff said that they still know the maid is a domestic helper.

The man, freelance actor Nicholas Bloodworth, indicated that this was an archaic rule. While he acknowledged that the rules had been there for a long, time, he still called on the club to be upfront about this rule, and place the "No Maid rule" clearly on their website. He insinuated that the club did not do this, as they were not prepared to face then backlash.

While the family did finish their dinner there, they also packed food for the maid, and Bloodworth indicated that he will never make another visit to the club as it discriminates.