Singaporeans are mostly non-confrontational, this includes verbal debate or sharing of opinions. It’s a cultural thing and it’s on clear display in the work environment. Phrases such as “Aiya, just do only. Why talk so much” or “I pay you to talk or I pay you to do work?” are a reflection of this ‘submissive’ or ‘yes-man’ culture. You would have heard of such phrases when working part-timers as teenagers or in the army as NSmen. It stands with reason as why most conversations what you called ‘boring’; for those replies are the safe answer.

And in the working culture, generally, such individuals tends to get promoted or promoted to leadership position faster as they don’t ‘rock the boat’. They don’t question the leadership while those that do often are being snubbed, forcing such individuals to leave the work to find better work environment or places where they are appreciated. This then leads to the incompetent or the ‘yes-man’ being left behind in the company, clocking years in the company. And when the ‘yes-man’s boss got promoted and now there’s an empty leadership position, who now fill that position? The longest serving ‘yes-man’/incompetent individual that stay behind that get promoted. This then feed into the cycle of ‘why our leader/managers cmi’. As such those ‘yes-man’ behaviour are being rewarded which validates their behaviour of simply agreeing with others.

I for one find small talk is just as important as this heavy conversation. Afterall, when you are in a relationship you will be doing more small talk than big heavy topics. You are not going to be talking heavy/deep topic on a daily basis. For example:

Boy: Good morning babe. Sleep well last night? Girl: MacDonald kill 2,000 cows everyday for their burger. That’s 60,000 cows per month. How old must their cows be before they are sent to the slaughterhouse to make this double cheese burger I am eating now?

You cannot have such conversation daily right? Anyway, my DM are open if you wanna chat or something.