Will you stand up for what's right?

I'm tired of drawing and erasing and drawing and erasing my circuit diagrams. The paper is going to tear if I erase one more time. It's a sign to stop doing work and start blogging again.


I have been pondering over this question ever since I was in my adolescence. Singaporeans are often criticised for their lack of consideration and kiasuism. Examples of such behaviour are mostly seen when taking public transports - people jostling and shoving at the entrances trying to ensure that their butts end up on seats, and blocking the exits while they do so. Or refusing to move in after entering the bus or train. Everyone knows this is wrong, but no one does anything about it.

These are only the minor examples. Peijun once told me that when she was still in JC, she happened to be taking MRT with Huimin, and there was this group of ACJC students sitting down on the part of the train where the carriages are joined. Legs extended and all. Like they own the place. She said that they were contemplating to walk past them and step on their legs. I think they will be able to get the idea across better if they were much heavier.....but that's another issue. Of course they did not do anything in the end. It would not be wise for girls to do so anyway.

Chris also told me not too long ago, that one day while standing inside a fully occupied bus, he noticed that the old man (old enough to be a senior citizen) sitting down in front of him kept leaning to the girl seated beside him. The old man's eyes were closed but Chris thinks that the buaya was just feigning sleep and trying to get fresh. Naturally, Chris 'woke' the old faker up and told him politely that he was leaning onto the girl beside him. But that old man had the audacity to retort back loudly "What? I didn't do anything. Don't maglign me!" (in Mandarin). But he stopped his tricks.

Chris asked me a question after telling me his story, "What will you do when you see something like this happen?"

On my way home today, as I was on the bus, a couple of young punks (again, but this time they came with a skateboard each) cheerfully placed their skateboards down at the joint of the bendy bus (the super long TIBS bus) and sat on them. They didn't even have to stretch their legs to obstruct the passage. I came up with the following possibilities:

1. Get up from my seat and walk over their legs as per what Peijun said

2. Get up from my seat and tell them politely not to block the way

3. Stay on my seat and stare at them, hoping they would get the message

4. Do nothing

Normally, I don't have problems answering MCQs.

Ok. I considered for some time. The first three options would make me look as though I was trying to pick a fight (punks fight over the most stupid reasons as far as I know), though I was somewhat caught between options 3 and 4. I stared at one of them for a while, but he didn't seem to notice me. In the end, I option 3 was no longer an option.

Maybe I was too comfortably seated to bother about people who are not affecting me. Maybe I was just too cowardly to stand up for what's right. Maybe.....it's time I do something.....

Most people will say that a person of my build don't have to worry about others picking a fight with me, and I should stand up to these black sheeps of the society. Some of my friends have told me before that I am too nice. I do know that if these people get on my nerves, I won't hide what I feel.

But sometimes, I really don't know what I should do.....