Will you look down me? Class Conscious? Haves & Have nots
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Hi all forumites
This must not be confused with my post in Marketplace for prices on a 4-room HDB flat... and yes i can only afford a 4-room and am very sure still must take loan some more. sigh!
I was reading something sometime back on ST on Singaporeans being class conscious... So are our forumites class conscious?
"I will be living in a 4-room flat, no car, no house, no club membership, no cash, got only some stupid credit card, no class.... sob. Will you look down on me?"
This is a rhetoric question posted on behalf of the HAVE NOTS to the HAVES.
Let me hear your views! -
Look, having owned a HDB unit is consider to be quite of a class by itself. What more is your unit is a 4 room, what about those in 3 room or those who can't even own one?
Seriously why bother by what others see in you, if yourself is not conscious about the class systems. Would you be bothered by it? That's the question you should be answering.
Now having to reaffirm your believe in class system, resulting yourself to post such question in a forum here, goes to say you too are bind by the system. Am I right to say that?
It is not what other see in you that matters but it is what you see in yourself, that count. Class system is a system where it is set by those who are insecure and vulnerable ones. Resulting them to constantly seeking for others approval of their worth... this is sad!
The class system was set up to have an ease of administration more than to differentiate their worth... that's my point of view. -
There are at least three reasons for the upper-class not to look down on the lower class, viz:-
(1) The upper class has the most to lose - expensive homes and assets by all who do national service and continue to protect their ultimate wellbeing at lower rewards.
(2) Their powers of upper class are crucially supported by vote of nearly 90 % of population in the lower class.
(3) If middle or lower class do not see the whole game plan, or the rosy picture as the current beneficiaries under the present system see it then upper class may just see no future as well and will suffer a reversal of fortune or demise in no time.
I do not think anyone can look down on you or anyone else. Guises of meritocracy and presentations have got to be unmasked as soon as possible to benefit all.
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it may sound rather sad but well... this is the way society works.
ever since from young...hasn't this always been the case?
when we were young, our parents used to compare us to our cousins etc to see who was smarter...who studied in a better sch... needless to say, the one who proved himself a better student was lavished with praises and showered with attention.
now that we are older... our worth is measured by our material possessions ...esp so in a society where a culture of materialism prevails. Women prefer rich guys to poor suitors... its been the ultimate dream of many singaporeans to drive fast cars and own houses in e district ten area...
i guess that we all have to accept it. -
I guess most of us tend to mix around with people of the same background/ class. It is a natural thing cos have more in common. Also when u are poor, u feel inferior cos u cannot afford the things the well-to-do have.
People are materialistic & will want to marry up. That is why there are so many single uneducated guys who have to resort to getting a wife from overseas -
no la, i dun like this class thingie, bt maybe dats y i appear so eccentric to my peers. got ppl look up, got ppl look down de, y bother, look front can liao.
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Classes exists, only because we allow it to, and joins it. I think if you classify your self as such, hence you are classed by choice.
I don't live by these sort of mentality, although some or the society at large may do so.
I ignore this "haves" and "have nots", rather believe one should live within one's own comfortable means. Not try to emulate the affluent others, or simply trying to wear a hat too large for one's head.
I also do not believe in envy, as I believe we all leave this sorry world - empty handed anyway.
Wealth to me should be felt within our hearts, not pocket. To me, wealth is PEACE, LOVE, and HEALTH. these are worth more than any man-made legal tender bank note. In fact, PRICELESS. -
sorry my friend,
this is how singaporean behave. class conscious.
1.since young we study already have express and normal.
latter normally associate with beng, poor behaviour and less intelligent.
is it true?
2.when they go JC, they are separte by JC ranking.
top JC dont normally mix or look down in those jurong JC or JC with lower entry requirement.
3. when we work, they look at your class of degree to award your starting pay in govt sector.
4. scholar road of advancement is faster than farmers. but both university grade.
5. maid also need 8 year formal education before can come singapore.
6. parents queue to enrol their child into top pri sch. for their child sake? maybe but save their face also.
basically singapore society are singaporean are class conscious. i feel the same way as u, helpless, so just console yourself, happy can liao!!!
singapore i give up liao. just live a decent live pals. -
Face and class are the root of many troubles.
With class, people judge one another.
With face, people easily feel affronted by actions of others,
That fail to accord due regard or respect for their face or position.
Superiors are haughty towards subordinates,
Bosses cannot take any disrespect for their position,
The same happens in politics too,
Politicians need to save face every day and every second,
The higher they are, the more they demand respect of face,
This explains everything happening around us,
Face is the most fought after possession above wealth.
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No Peace, No Love, No Health, what worth is wealth? -
Ego kills a man. As much as China's face-saving habit gave us all SARS.
What good is FACE without HEALTH? -
Muse,Originally posted by taipeiy:Seriously why bother by what others see in you, if yourself is not conscious about the class systems. Would you be bothered by it? That's the question you should be answering.
Now having to reaffirm your believe in class system, resulting yourself to post such question in a forum here, goes to say you too are bind by the system. Am I right to say that?
It is not what other see in you that matters but it is what you see in yourself, that count. Class system is a system where it is set by those who are insecure and vulnerable ones. Resulting them to constantly seeking for others approval of their worth... this is sad!
The class system was set up to have an ease of administration more than to differentiate their worth... that's my point of view.
what taipeiy says is absolutely true. It is inevitable that class system exists in real life, and is everywhere, even in america, but if you ask if forumites here look down on you, then it is you who are conscious of your perceived lower class.
On the forum, nobody knows who the others are except the pseudo names used here. What is important here is what you write and post here. We deduce from your postings here the kind of people you are, that's all. Who cares whether you live in a hut of a bungalow.
You have to have confidence in yourself. If you don't, you can live in a big bungalow and drive several cars, you are still nothing. -
The invisible 'class' boundary, unfortunately, can never be done away anywhere in this world.
Here in SG where we practice Meritocracy, Elitism - a natural by product will all the more behere to stay.
Nonetheless in reply to the question, no, I will never look down on the honest and morally upright irregardless of whether they are engineers or waiters, whether they have educational training up to either primary or PhD level, whether the live in a 3 storey 999 year lease private property or a rented one room flats.
But I will definately look down and depise scums and garbage who waste valuable oxygen by generating nothing but social and legal problems and unrest, and arrogant idiots who by virtue of either parental or personal success - fluant their wealth/authority/knowledge and look down on others.
There is a vocabulary in sgforums for use against such individuals, and that word is 'pui~'. -
Class is nothing to me, what is important to me is ability.If you can get things done and are reliable and capable, I respect you.That's all.
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Reliability is a good virtue. If your capability does not benefit yourself only but also others, and you are not arrogant due to your capability, my respect for you will be higher.Originally posted by LazerLordz:Class is nothing to me, what is important to me is ability.If you can get things done and are reliable and capable, I respect you.That's all. -
There appears to be a challenge of opinions, concerning a topic regarding the value of FACE, and CLASS.
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too bad most of us that anti class discrimination arent elite in life. that why we cant do anything to change it.
elitism is everywhere in singapore. just look at the way scholars speaks.
sad singapore -
Well, for those who are elite and anti class discrimination won't be as vocal as those scholar that appears in the public. As they deem pointless in doing so.Originally posted by reyes:too bad most of us that anti class discrimination arent elite in life. that why we cant do anything to change it.
elitism is everywhere in singapore. just look at the way scholars speaks.
sad singapore -
Hahaha! This is a funny question. Despite all politically correct (or even heartfelt/earnest) statements to the contrary, class will *always* exist in societies- even communist ones where everyone is theoretically equal.
Singapore is no exception, even though the majority belong to the middle class. Such is the reality of competition. The rat race ensures there will always be a distinction between the rich/poor, academically superior/inferior, the private property owners/HDB heartlanders...you get the idea.
In other countries, it's even more pronounced and formally/socially delineated.
Think of the House of Lords in the UK and the passing down of hereditary titles. Or those who are knighted/mentioned in the Queen's Honours list with their OBEs and MBEs and CBEs.
Or in India with the brahmans and untouchables, or in Japan and South Korea with rigid social hierarchies, or countries with monarchies. Closer to home, Malaysia has its sultans and King, its datohs and datins, while ordinary Thais are not supposed to look at the Thai King directly. Human beings are NOT created equal (or maybe I should say some are more equal than others hehe)....some are born with a silver sppon, and some naturally achieve more than others in their lifetimes.
Generally, Singaporeans have an easier time in my opinion. Class distinction here is a question of mindset, and decided over material things in most cases. Perhaps education, humility, and a greater compassion for those less fortunate can lessen this *growing* phenomenon in the future.
Rich or poor, everyone deserves respect and dignity- but people should not be under the illusion that class distinction can be erased. To end on a positive note however, people who flaunt their superiority (wealth, intelligence, material posessions) blatantly demonstrate very little 'class' even if they think they are in a class of their own. HEHE! -
why care what we think? all that matters is what your girlfriend thinksOriginally posted by Muse:Hi all forumites
This must not be confused with my post in Marketplace for prices on a 4-room HDB flat... and yes i can only afford a 4-room and am very sure still must take loan some more. sigh!
I was reading something sometime back on ST on Singaporeans being class conscious... So are our forumites class conscious?
"I will be living in a 4-room flat, no car, no house, no club membership, no cash, got only some stupid credit card, no class.... sob. Will you look down on me?"
This is a rhetoric question posted on behalf of the HAVE NOTS to the HAVES.
Let me hear your views! -
Well, If you care what your girlfriend think. Then one thing lead to another, eventually you will care what others think.Originally posted by boy in blues:why care what we think? all that matters is what your girlfriend thinks -
Got money ,then no one will look down on you.
Got no money , everyone step on you.
That is what dad taught me. Hard and fast facts of life -
Who cares!!!
As long as u don't look down on yrself, that's all that matters. -
it's just a physcological belief
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Nothing wrong what. Some ppl can afford big houses also never buy. Also if the family is small a smaller house is actually easier to maintain.Originally posted by Muse:Hi all forumites
This must not be confused with my post in Marketplace for prices on a 4-room HDB flat... and yes i can only afford a 4-room and am very sure still must take loan some more. sigh!
I was reading something sometime back on ST on Singaporeans being class conscious... So are our forumites class conscious?
"I will be living in a 4-room flat, no car, no house, no club membership, no cash, got only some stupid credit card, no class.... sob. Will you look down on me?"
This is a rhetoric question posted on behalf of the HAVE NOTS to the HAVES.
Let me hear your views!
A lot of ppl who drive big cars with club membership also live in HDB flats. Honestly, I think its smarter that way. Why do you want to pay over 1k for monthly maintanence in those high class condo. Don't make sense to me. Turns you into a slave to the house.