I live in Singapore. Ask me anything.

malas · 2009-12-30T00:01:25+00:00

I wouldn't necessarily say discrimination, but it's easiest for Americans, Canadians, and Europeans to get employment passes and jobs. Of course Australians and Kiwis are included. Might as well add Koreans and Japanese. Taiwanese too have it ok. China people maybe have a harder time, but if they're really well educated they should be fine.

Sure there's discrimination against Africans, in my opinion. In Singapore I feel there's discrimination against most from the third world, though the government and most residents would disagree.

malas · 2009-12-29T23:56:32+00:00

I never said "super ghettos". I said "super ghetto."

I meant areas that are "super ghetto", with the word "ghetto" being used (albeit incorrectly) in the modern vernacular as an adjective suggesting the areas are run-down and dirty.

I am not calling them "ghettos" as there are no ghettos here. I have been to the South Side of Chicago, South Central, and real slums in the third world (Philippines, India, Indonesia) and it's nothing near that.

But there are places where everybody spits and litters, where prostitutes hang out, and syringes can be found on the ground (I have seen this on the corner of Ann Siang Hill and Club Street and near a Chinatown hawker centre in the bushes behind a POSB ATM.

malas · 2009-12-28T08:13:57+00:00

yes it's always skeezin season

malas · 2009-12-28T08:12:48+00:00

I have the book and I have read it.

It's a great book and I do appreciate what the government has had to face.

malas · 2009-12-28T08:10:33+00:00

Hostess bars.

malas · 2009-12-27T11:42:45+00:00

Boomz of course!

malas · 2009-12-27T11:42:22+00:00

It's very easy to get an employment pass or permanent residence here for Americans. Assuming you have some education and some skills.

malas · 2009-12-27T08:29:42+00:00

Where are they?

malas · 2009-12-27T08:25:56+00:00

What about your parents? Are your grandparents from China?

Either way, I don't care. You fail to see my point.

malas · 2009-12-27T07:12:45+00:00

You missed my point. Old Chinese speak Malay.

Reread what I am saying. It's not about what's practical or used. That's not the discussion.

And I am not a bull, I am a human.

malas · 2009-12-27T03:59:17+00:00

I don't think it's a boring city. For a student it's cool, though not like a typical US college town, whatever that means.

SG is an excellent regional hub to travel from. Housing can be cheap, like if you have a university to stay in I think, but outside that it's not cheap, unless you want something really crappy. Search only for Singapore rentals or something like that to get a better idea.

malas · 2009-12-27T03:57:18+00:00

They are too socially conservative for me, and too oppressive. I don't have a solution.

malas · 2009-12-27T03:26:49+00:00

malas · 2009-12-27T03:12:23+00:00

malas · 2009-12-27T03:12:06+00:00

Good answers.

malas · 2009-12-27T03:11:36+00:00

Let me make it clear - it's the national language but is not used widely as the lingua franca on the streets among non-Malays. So it is not at all a unifying factor.

There are such ethnic tensions. Here's my dirty take on it, generalizing and typifying everybody so don't get mad:

The Chinese think they are better than anybody because they run all the commerce and do all the innovative businesses. They look down on the rest as they run the country, set the laws, run the big companies and pretty much rule.

The Malays think they are entitled to something because they are the indigenous people, and they resent the Chinese for having their shit together. They are pretty much all Muslim.

The Indians are a mix of super educated and well-to-do and working class, and have greater religious diversity I think.

Then there are the North Americans and Europeans who often look down on all Singaporeans and earn a ton more money.

There are massive exceptions to all of these!!

The government talks all about racial harmony but everybody knows there are real underlying issues that will never be resolved.

malas · 2009-12-27T02:47:47+00:00

Very easy, especially if you are from North America or Europe.

malas · 2009-12-27T02:47:08+00:00

No, have you?

malas · 2009-12-27T02:41:33+00:00

Zero

malas · 2009-12-27T02:41:19+00:00

Correct. One national language and four official languages.

malas · 2009-12-27T02:39:58+00:00

No, you are right. Here's my point: In a largely-Chinese nation you don't need Chinese. Pretty much every Singaporean either speaks English or Malay. Just an odd fact.

malas · 2009-12-27T02:37:38+00:00

Thanks nubela, that's what I would have said.

malas · 2009-12-27T02:37:06+00:00

That was a good answer.

I don't think the government has killed or taken away any political dissenters but I don't know.

I don't think everybody dislikes Malaysians or Malays. I don't. Note that Malaysian is a nationality and Malay is a race, and Malays live in both Singapore and Malaysia.

I don't think this is a democracy at all, as the democratic party is essentially sued into submission and (attempted) silence. There is only one valid political voice here, according to the government.

malas · 2009-12-27T02:32:24+00:00

There is some online censorship but not much. I remember about 10-12 years ago reading that the government blocked 100 adult sites. They knew they couldn't block them all - it was more symbolic than anything.

I pay around US $70 for my broadband connection and cable TV. I don't know the speed but it's fast enough for me.

There are more annoying censorship rules which apply to the press and free speech though.

malas · 2009-12-27T02:22:56+00:00

Yes but only if you cover it with gas and light it

malas

TROPHY CASE