Stereotypes of another form...

This is an excerpt from an essay I was writing for my sociology subject that I think may be of some interest to few of you. Feel free to comment and critique.

"....Stereotypes on race, class and gender are ubiquitous. However, not all stereotypes are bad and malignant. Neither are they all good and benign to the people in question. A harmless stereotype, I feel, on race may be one that I experienced in France a few years ago. In Singapore, we Chinese are very accustomed to calling ourselves Chinese and not Singaporean-Chinese or Singaporean. So when I was being asked what race I belonged to when I was taking the Metro train, the answer that I gave the colored man was that I was “Chinese”. Almost immediately, he thought I was from China. Not knowing, of course, that I’m Singaporean-Chinese not mainland. But he also explained to me that before I told him I was Chinese and eventually Singaporean-Chinese, he also told me that he thought I was Japanese because of my skin-color. Evidently, that was a harmless form of stereotyping probably present not only in Paris but also in other countries.

In another country though, I received some racist treatment simply because of my skin color. It was this group of men who just drove past and start hurling verbal abuses at my friends and me simply because of our skin color. They did not know what kind of people we were or where we came from or whether we could actually get along if both parties actually bothered trying. I reckon that they perceived our personalities, mentalities and capabilities to be limited by our skin color, which was probably why they resented and detested the sight of us in the first place. Such limitations succumbed to the temptations of stereotyping largely attributes to the reason why genocides, war and cross-border strife are ever so prevalent. This is so even in a modern world as ours regardless of how hard many people and governments are trying to suppress them.

In reference to the second incident, it is evident that this had already been tolerated by many since we were forewarned that we should just ignore the people who would try to intimidate us. I feel that this is similar to what Gloria Yamato mentioned about “blaming out of habit”. We simply had to, with the advice of others alike, accept these insults and degradation out of habit and fear that any further trouble may come our way. "


"The same Lord is Lord of all and is generous of all who call on him."
Romans 10:12

Meiting, the girl in the centre, is my cousin in Malacca. That girl on the right is a Japanese Exchange student putting up at my cousin's place. She'll be there till December if you're wondering. Contrary to what someone thought, those fingers on the right side of the picture do not belong to my hand. My aunty would not have liked it very much if it had been mine...

I was in Malacca recently and my parents and I went to this Lion Dancing competition. By the time we got there, the participants were leaving. We were only able to catch the synchronised swordplay in the end. We spent 20 minutes looking for a place to park but when we finally got there we left after 10 minutes.This is my cousin, Meiting.

A lunch meeting with some old friends from camp. I am so glad I don't have to wear that uniform everyday now.

Hansern's surprise birthday party at LittleBali.It was a good night where good old friends got together to celebrate the day a good friend "got spanked"for the first time in his life. Everyone loved the place. Nice to see everyone again and did we have loads to catch up or what! More than half the people in here are Ivy Leaguers. I am not one of them...

In one of our conversations, we were wondering if everyone stayed as long as and spent as little as us that night then Coffee Club would have quite a problem running profitably...

Chillin' out at the Coffee Club in front of Orchard Building. Yes, the one that totally obscures the view of those seated at Starbucks. Open 24hrs. Someone amongst us that night actually asked, I quote, "24hrs means from what time to what time ah?".

Volkswagen Beetle.

I was walking back home when I received a surprise call from a customer service officer working in Citibank telling me that I’ve won a Volkswagen Beetle. I was incredulous at first because regardless of how hard I was trying to jog my memory, I just could not recall any inkling of an instance whatsoever of me entering into a lucky draw like this before. In fact, I don’t even have a Citibank credit or debit card. Nevertheless, while I was still semi-dumdstruck by this stroke of good luck I was thinking God might have just shown pity on me and so He decided to reward me with this car (Then my good friend and I will be driving the same car out). Then the customer service officer asked for my I/C No. and verified my particulars. After which he informed me that the COE is not included (No biggie, that’s affordable). At this point I was thinking, “Who needs a job now when I just won a car!” Elated, floating on cloud nine and already fantasizing about what I’m going to do with this sudden rush of fortune, I asked the man, “So what do I have to buy or pay to get this car that I’ve just won?” Then he said, “You have to come down to Sentosa this Saturday, HAHAHA!” My heart sank. Those imaginary bubbles of how I am going to brag to everybody I know about my new car, how I am gonna ferry chicks around in it and how I am going to be the envy of my friends seemed to pop in mid-air instantaneously with mortifying effects. I think my face flushed. Then the guy over the phone said, “This is Weishun, LAH!” It was an old friend I had not met for a long time (Long for an apparently good reason) and at that very moment I wanted to just immediately reply with a, “No, I’m not free this Saturday you dickhead.” But I kept my composure and pretended that I knew this was a prank in the very first place and said calmly, “Aiyah, I KNEW IT!” I swear I would have given him the tightest arm lock around his neck if he were to suddenly appear beside me and stop his breathing for a minute or two, maybe three, then again four would be good.

Bruised, Beaten, Battered with some Blisters to Boot But trying Best to Bring out a smile. 

Stop laughing, the bag on my left does not belong to me...

At Sentosa, after the Biathlon and Waikiki funfair while we were trying to get back to the car on the Sentosa bus. I have no idea how those two girls got into the picture. Haha, ok that's Rulin and Brenda; all sun-burnt. Who were not angry despite the fact that I made them miss our bus stop.

I detached the cable connecting my computer to my router for some cleaning but found that I could not use the router after attaching it back. As a result, my brother cannot access the Internet so in the meantime he has to use my computer to download songs. Being the untidy person that he is, he left all his songs all over my desktop which, needless to say, pissed me off. I don't like clutter so I helped to put everything into a folder named, "Hi, I'm Denny. I'm Gay" knowing that he would see it.

 

I came back and found this (click and look closer).

My friend said I look terrible in this picture coz' I took it from the bottom. Why can't it be the camera?? 

On our way to what turned out to be a really boring night at Zouk. What do you think of Pam's new hairdo? I can get her number... 

Sometimes meaningless discourse can be quite.... meaningless.

Brenda's Disclaimer:
"the subject was surviving on one hr of sleep and hence, her brain was not functioning properly"

AbsolutelyDennis says:
i think poignant is a confusing word
brenda. says:
becuz
AbsolutelyDennis says:
it means distressing to the mind or feelings
brenda. says:
but it also means
brenda. says:
touching?
AbsolutelyDennis says:
but it also means skillful, neat, astute and pertinent
brenda. says:
so how like that?
AbsolutelyDennis says:
and agreeably intense and stimulating
brenda. says:
wanna complain or not?
AbsolutelyDennis says:
let's say we use the word to desribe illustrations
AbsolutelyDennis says:
we say poignant illustrations
AbsolutelyDennis says:
actually i mean neat skillful and to the point
AbsolutelyDennis says:
but
AbsolutelyDennis says:
people might think that it means keenly distressing to the mind or feelings
brenda. says:
then perhaps after you've made your point
brenda. says:
you should elaborate on it
brenda. says:
or perhaps
brenda. says:
knowing the ambiguity of the word, you should just say
brenda. says:
that the illustrations are neat and concise
brenda. says:
instead of saying it's poignant
brenda. says:
so that u can prevent confusion
AbsolutelyDennis says:
well we're discussing this with the intention of using the word
AbsolutelyDennis says:
not avoiding it altogether
brenda. says:
why use it when you know it confuses ppl
AbsolutelyDennis says:
obviously avoiding the use of this word will sweep everything under the carpet
AbsolutelyDennis says:
but i prefer to find a better solution
AbsolutelyDennis says:
it's quite a used word u know
brenda. says:
may i know why
brenda. says:
this is troubling u to such an extent?
brenda. says:
so would the better solution be to explain what u mean by poignant then
AbsolutelyDennis says:
no it's not troubling me
AbsolutelyDennis says:
im just saying that's all
AbsolutelyDennis says:
u choose to just keep quiet if it bothers u
AbsolutelyDennis says:
i think i know
AbsolutelyDennis says:
judging from the definitions
AbsolutelyDennis says:
poignant is only used as distressing to the mind and body
AbsolutelyDennis says:
if it is used to describe a feeling
brenda. says:
it doesnt bother me
brenda. says:
i was just wondering
AbsolutelyDennis says:
but neat and skillful if it is used to describe an item
brenda. says:
but if u say the illustrations are poignant
brenda. says:
u could be like describing the feelings it evokes in u?
AbsolutelyDennis says:
yes the feelings that evokes in me because of my perception of the illustration
brenda. says:
so what u said above doesnt really stand alrdy what
AbsolutelyDennis says:
my perceptions are used to describe an item
AbsolutelyDennis says:
isnt it
AbsolutelyDennis says:
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=poignant
brenda. says:
u said if its used to describe a feeling
brenda. says:
it will mean distressing and such
brenda. says:
but if its used to describe an item
brenda. says:
it'll mean neat n yada yada
brenda. says:
but if u say the illustrations are poignant
brenda. says:
it could still be a double meaning
brenda. says:
becuz u could be describing the illustrations
brenda. says:
or u could be describing what they evoked in u
brenda. says:
am i not making sense??
AbsolutelyDennis says:
if ii was describing my feelings that i could say that the illustrations fills me with poignant anxiety
AbsolutelyDennis says:
then that is feeling?
AbsolutelyDennis says:
but if u read the definitions properly
brenda. says:
u must be like plannin to bring some chic to an art exhibition
brenda. says:
and ure like lookin up on cheem words
brenda. says:
to impress her is it
AbsolutelyDennis says:
it seems more like it is accentuating the word the comes after it
AbsolutelyDennis says:
no lah
AbsolutelyDennis says:
i dont do that
brenda. says:
ya ure right.
AbsolutelyDennis says:
but then again all preceding adjectives do just that
AbsolutelyDennis says:
they accentuate the word that comes afte
brenda. says:
its just an adjective
brenda. says:
that must be followed by a noun
brenda. says:
hahah
brenda. says:
shuddup brenda
brenda. says:
all adjectives precedes nouns la
AbsolutelyDennis says:
weird don't u think
AbsolutelyDennis says:
i could be alone here
AbsolutelyDennis says:
but i think it's weird
brenda. says:
whats weird?
brenda. says:
that adj precedes noun?
brenda. says:
u should like go crash a linguistics study lecture
brenda. says:
i think u can be my lecturer's good friend.
AbsolutelyDennis says:
adj always precedes noun lah
AbsolutelyDennis says:
but im looking at my dictionary now
brenda. says:
why should it be weird
brenda. says:
an adj is used to describe the noun
AbsolutelyDennis says:
and it's synonyms
brenda. says:
obviously it gotta precede it
AbsolutelyDennis says:
are agonizing
AbsolutelyDennis says:
excruciating
AbsolutelyDennis says:
piercing
AbsolutelyDennis says:
and sharp
AbsolutelyDennis says:
which is so much better
AbsolutelyDennis says:
dictionary.com is wrong
AbsolutelyDennis says:
that's my conclusion
AbsolutelyDennis says:
it did not state neat and skillful
AbsolutelyDennis says:
or astute and pertinent
AbsolutelyDennis says:
i guess someone else thought the same thing as i did
brenda. says:
hahahah

Carpark Attendant Alert

Just today I was at Siglap to return some VCDs for my buddy Nic who returned to Australia last week. For those who know the area well enough, I illegally parked at The Domain opposite Coffee Club. I took the VCDs, got out of the car and walked towards the road I was about to cross to Video Ezy. I crossed but stopped at the divider, made a u-turn and walked back to my car. Guess why? No, the people at the shop didn’t close because they saw me coming. Neither was it because I left my VCDs in the car nor did I forget to lock it. Actually, I saw the carpark attendant on his scooter ride into the same road where I had just parked my car. I walked back to my car only to find him ready to get off and book me. Thankfully, I got back in time and after smiling at him, I drove off. I'd say that that was a close one. It could have been 50 bucks and a few demerit points. But I didn’t learn from that coz’ I parked my car illegally somewhere else and rented Mr 3000, Taxi and Maria Full of Grace from Video Ezy.

The verdict.

I just went to the Subordinate Courts today to accompany my 81 year old grandfather who got a speeding ticket. And because he was traveling at more than 30km/h above the speed limit, he had to appear in court to take his orders. The verdict? $600 fine and 12 demerit points. Well, it was a slap on the wrist if you ask me. Nevertheless, it was a small price to pay since it was a mistake not only my grandfather but everyone else in the family could learn from. You have no idea how often I look at my speedometer these days.

The next court case I presume will be with the doctor. Am I looking forward to that or what.

"For I will restore health to you, and your wounds will heal."
Jeremiah 30:17

Dinner treat by the Leong Poh Kee watch group with my grandparents and my cousin, Shaun. 

And that's Jiayi. That puney little drop of struddle she's holding in her hand was probably the largest piece she pinched out of the whole plate we had.  

And there's Winkie and myself. Believe me when I say that it was hard to pull a smile like that towards the end of the meal.

We had fish and chips, banana split and apple struddle. The resulting aftermath was tummy aches and the enormous need for a long walk. We started off at T2. This picture was taken at T1, Swenson's.  

Not only incompetent, you have no integrity.

My father's return trip from Malacca brought with it some disappointing yet not unexpected news. The doctor once again denied that he did any wrong. This entirely contradicted the reason why he apologised to all my relatives in the first place. This leaves us with no choice but to sue him. Financially, it will bound to hurt him much more than it'll hurt us. Regardless of that fact, the necessity to resort to this does not lie in the amount of financial damage we can do to this fella but more of the justice we should do to our grandfather. Incompetence and integrity...both of which he does not have. I only hope the ignominy will help him to change his ways.

Recently my auntie, who stays just several floors above my grandfather (my mum's dad), received a letter for speeding on her secondary car. She has been trying to find out who drove the car that led to the fine but to no avail. This is because her parents-in-law as well as my grandfather drives the car and they tend to forget sometimes. This goes to show how strict the police is nowadays. Word has it that the new police chief is a lady (hmmm....). Enough said. Just make sure you don't speed. Remember, if there aren't any speed limit signs, it means that the speed limit is 50 km/h, ok? I hope I don't have a letter coming my way anytime soon.

"The difference between greatness and mediocrity is often how an individual views a mistake."
Nelson Boswell

And then there was the sumptuous supper... 

While everyone else will be having their reunion dinner, my friends and I were having our own reunion at LittleBali. As the name suggests, LittleBali is a chillout place that resembles the islandy feel and serenity of its namesake. A must go. Can be found at Malan Road, close to Depot Road.
 

Is that my prata....? 

Surprisingly refreshed after what was supposed to be a clubbing nightout at Gotham Penthouse. We resorted to the more popular and "expatriatic" Attica in the end. This picture was taken at 4am in the morning abt two weeks ago. 

Don't Speed.

My grandfather (Mum's dad, not the one who got hospitalised) just got caught for speeding on a main road with no speed limit signs. Little did he know or remember that if there are no signs, it means the speed limit is 50km/h. He only found out that he was travelling at 91km/h when he received a letter one week later ordering him to appear in court some time after Chinese New Year. Apparently, you need to appear in court if you violate the speed limit by more than 30km/h. He's depressed and he might lose his license. At least there's a lesson to learn here and that is we should all stop speeding on roads. Not only because we don't want to be spotted by those mobile speed traps but also because we don't want to endanger the lives of fellow road users any more than we want to endanger our own.

Drive safely.