$30 fine for eating sweet

[bobby]

The HUGE Picture[/B] Most worrying of all, most Singaporeans don't care about the symptoms of a greater social cultural problem in our country because we were brought up to look out for number one, and if it does not directly concern Numero Uno, then it certainly isn't worth the time and risk of 'getting in trouble'. Most Singaporeans have been conditioned into thinking that 'speaking up' is the same as 'rebelling', that questioning the logic of some laws is the same as going against patriotism. It is NOT! On the contrary, occasionally questioning the absurdity of some aspects of the law because it affects the citizens of a country shows MORE patriotism than simply accepting it as a God given fact of life.

An example of this is clearly shown by the Chinese woman who feebly tries to defend the lady chewing on the sweet, but briskly defends herself saying that she is not eating one herself, just so as to avoid 'getting in trouble'.

Do we REALLY think that setting up harsher and stricter laws is the ONLY way to create order and a sense of emotional belonging to one's country? Think again. For those who have travelled overseas, think of places like New Zealand - where the streets are cleaner than those of Singapore, with less cleaners being hired to clear up the mess. Think of places like Japan, where most people queue up in an orderly fashion when they wait for their trains. Through a greater sense of cultural belonging, grown from fruits of pride and labour, rather than seeds of fear and constraints, people become more socially aware that the environment of the place they live is in a result of their actions within it. It is from careful CHOICE rather than a chokehold of compliance. And those that illogically try to rebel against it for no rhyme or reason will NATURALLY be weeded out by the society that surrounds him / her and duly punished for his / her through appropriate measures deemed agreeabled by the majority of respectful citizens.

Only those who are able to look at the big picture of things will agree and comment on this. The rest will continue mucking about with the nuances of the sweet and the moustached SMRT officer. i.e. I expect biopromax to respond with something along the lines that are parallel to those of intellectual numbness.

 

[visa]

Most Singaporeans have been conditioned into thinking that 'speaking up' is the same as 'rebelling', that questioning the logic of some laws is the same as going against patriotism. It is NOT! On the contrary, occasionally questioning the absurdity of some aspects of the law because it affects the citizens of a country shows MORE patriotism than simply accepting it as a God given fact of life.

So true. +1

 

[van_halen]

PS: If you are guilty of inconveniencing other people, and regularly put yourself ahead at the expense of others, you have no right to complain about the $30 fine. It's people like you that have made our country the police state that it is today.

hey, where's your submission for "a little more competition"? don't inconvenience wormrot leh

 

[biopromax]

And also, be smart. Eat sweets, don't show people that you're having one. Close your mouth when chewing. Don't get caught. hehe.

Reminds me of Mr Bean.

 

[bobby]

And also, be smart. Eat sweets, don't show people that you're having one. Close your mouth when chewing. Don't get caught. hehe.

Reminds me of Mr Bean.

All I can say is: Trust a simpleton to think like a simpleton

 

[amnesiac]

There is also a law in the MRT that we can't carry flammable substances etc. That means all smokers/people who carry lighters will be fined?

 

[van_halen]

There is also a law in the MRT that we can't carry flammable substances etc. That means all smokers/people who carry lighters will be fined?

cannot carry match sticks also, cos flammable mah

 

[balloons]

They should fine $60 to people who hug in MRTs, Huggings should be fined especially for teenagers.

 

[van_halen]

They should fine $60 to people who hug in MRTs, Huggings should be fined especially for teenagers.

hey, i think hugging is fine (no pun intended).

 

[visa]

hey, where's your submission for "a little more competition"? don't inconvenience wormrot leh

I didn't complain about the fine now, did I?

 

[visa]

Through a greater sense of cultural belonging, grown from fruits of pride and labour, rather than seeds of fear and constraints, people become more socially aware that the environment of the place they live is in a result of their actions within it.

Agreed. The problem now though, is how do we inculcate this sense of cultural belonging and ownership towards the country? Clearly the current approach isn't working. My perspective is that it's up to the individuals of this generation to influence and bring up the next to be the ideal sort of citizens of the country that we would be proud to call our home.

But it seems a bit daunting to expect an entire generations of individuals to put in the effort to make a change, when there is no clear or immediate incentive to do so. Most people who can afford to, take the easier, hassle-free option of emigrating and moving to more favourable social conditions- and you can't fault them for it because it is a rational decision at an individual level. Unfortunately, that leaves behind weaker firepower for a cultural revolution in Singapore.

 

[DeathProphet]

lets go on strike brothers!

 

[faizal_rocks]

lets go on strike brothers!

Ok,u lead the way

 

[Ocean]

isnt this too extreme? i mean its just sweets right? It's not as if you're gonna spit it out or ur eating chewing gum. I dont think eating sweets will cause any harm to the other passengers. So don't think this is really necessary. If it's something larger like curry puff etc(those that you literally see them taking a bite), then i understand. But sweets...

 

[ira1133]

i think this is too harsh and i don't think it's appropriate!

 

[LadyInTears]

hey, where's your submission for "a little more competition"? don't inconvenience wormrot leh

this is uncalled for, why raise a topic which was put to rest?

 

[FITCH]

Guys, whatever you do, do it discreetly. If you keep on eating or drinking when you know the officers can see you, it's like your challenging their authority right?

I'm worried i'll be fine on day just because i'm good looking! LOL!!!

 

[fuzztremecho]

from my own POV...as i am involved in providing public transport line of work..

usually i frowned upon eating or drinking in my taxi, however if it's plain water i'm ok with it..

eating of food would usually attract ants/cockraches into your vehicle..furthermore,certain passengers would "forget" to dispose of the rubbish that they left behind...it's a F**ing chore to look behind from your driving seat,find a few wrappers here and there, go to a nearby car park,clean up your taxi seats, spray a lil air freshener and then get back to work...

so i believe that the SMRT officers did apply discretion on their part...plain water it's ok but as for sweets/nuts...where do you stop and apply the discretion for all type of foods ??...

certain sweets like fisherman's friend...comes in a packet and you just can pop one into your mouth...others like hack's are in wrapper form so the wrappers can be easily slide into the corners of the seats...usually done in my taxi..so where do you stop ??

SMRT to come out with guidelines on what sweets/foods are allowed to be consume ? i don't think so..

there is always two sides of a coin...one party might view that eating a sweet is ok in public transport...one might argue it's not ok..

i for one think it's not ok...why ? Pax A eat food in my taxi, alight ...i took Pax B, Pax B complained that my taxi is not clean..write in to authorities, authorities send me letter for explaination..waste my time waste my $...

 

[jskadiang]

will young children be fined for eating sweet, drinking milk, or sucking on pacifier in the mrt?

ITT: pacifiers are now food, and babies are persecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

 

[DeathProphet]

Ok,u lead the way

oh im feeling very sick right now.maybe next time?=)