On saturday when I was out at Bugis going for tuition, I stopped by Tori-Q to grab some of their yakitori sticks when I saw a mother and her son along with his grandmother standing infront of the display pointing and speaking in a voice that ensured everyone in the 5m radius was aware of their conversation. After discussing whether they should buy anything, the mother suddenly exclaimed really loudly "oi boy, you better study hard, if not you come and word here" before crossing her arms and walking off.

I think I was as stunned as the guy over the counter who practically paused with the yakitori stick mid-air dripping sauce over the unopened plastic pouch for the next order. Just made me think alot about the society we're in today. I don't really think it was so much of the kiasu kiasi ("scared of death" in Hokkien) mentality that we as Singaporeans have long established to be our trademark, but the very fact of politeness or even thoughtfulness before such words come out of our mouths.

I'm not even going to bother disproving the fact that that statement was utter rubbish (since when does service industry=people who can't study?) but instead just. Wondering what the child must be thinking when his mother told him that. I suppose yes, we've all gotten those don't-study-and-you-become-a-road-sweeper jokes from our parents but the sheer seriousness which that mother lectured her kid was just. Odd, to say the least.

Parents want the best for their children, and as part of this society of which the amount of As on your academic certificate seem to be proportionate to your self-value, the pressure is paramount already. But by setting such an example for children with this mindset, this behaviour and this attitude is definitely not going to develop them positively in either way.

What's wrong with being a Tori-Q guy (even though he looked kindof kiampa)?


And on a more positive tone,
BALLACK JUST SCORED A GOAL!
:D 3-1 to Germany!

Labels: Ramblings, Sports