speaker corner effect on the younger generation in thisforum

Fireindahouse SG · 2008-01-16T14:23:14+00:00

Was and now, is still is.... Lol, what a long time to grow up, USA.

Fireindahouse SG

as a ignorant teen i never had any idea about politics of singapore but after reading so much thread in speaker's corner it constantly give me a drill of impression of ineffective our highly paid ministers are and how ppl of foreign country's with equivalent gdp per capita are enjoying their life with more spending power while our fellow singaporeans have to suffer under wad ppl in the forum brand as the PAP regime with influx of foreign talents and prc. True enough wad they said reflects exactly wad i see everyday.. its like this forum holds alot of negative viewside of system of singapore and as a part of the younger generation after surfing this forum for some time felt that i really ought to migrate for the better...
with some many kids in sgforum wouldnt they grow up in sg holding such negative viewpoints throughout their childhood and finally cause a great out flux if emigration of locals and attracting them to the greener side of the world when they reach adulthood provided they are qualified for emigration to their ideal homeland??
ok 2cents..

Spartans SG

Well, you have to discern and analyze the threads/posts in SC forum yourself. Be subjective and see for yourself.

However, I certainly wont blame any future exodus of Singaporeans on SC forum. Very Happy

hloc SG

Its a free world......

Stay if you want.......

Go if you want.......

a-Lost-9uY SG

e choice is in ur hands Wink

phil30k SG

I believe that maturity and life experience play a large part in our interest in politics.

Other then in times of trouble, people with sufficient life experience starts them questioning what sort of legacy they are leaving to their children. This invariably lead to politics.

The baby boomers of Singapore are coming of age and they are full of questions.

What I find sad is when the Government tries to communicate with the baby boomers, more often then not, they go back to the old formula of "trust us".

The citizens who believed in them and voted them into power are becoming the minority through the attrition of old age and death.

eagle SG

Some uni students are already questioning certain govt policies, although most still very hum or not interested when talking about it.

That said, some people in this forum do only list out the negatives, while some people list only the positive. It is important for us to practice ojectivity and discernment, and not be swayed by posts that come from only one camp.

phil30k SG

Dear Fire,

Sorry, accidentally deleted my post.

I use a family analogy because it seems to fit best at this point in Singapore's history.

It's like a dad seeing his kids are growing up. So he starts sharing his life experience, his mistakes in the past etc. with them.

Subsequently the kids bring up dad's mistakes whenever there is a discussion or argument.

Dad gets mad and clamps down on all of them.

If you have a point of view on this, it's probably going to be similar to your general political view.

Smile

Pitot SG

I think more of them are getting turned off by how people behave in this forum.

Wrong way of introducing them to a different viewpoint.

eagle SG

You should also refer to those who wants to win their argument by telling the younger generation off that they are just students.

CX SG

This forum is probably not the ideal place for a political education lah... But its a step in the right direction for giving pple space to make a lot of noise whether its sensible noise or nonsense.

Anyway, I have some confidence in our youth's internet skills... I'm sure they're not getting their daily dose of news and views from sgforums alone.

kramnave SG

X 2.

Remember someone calling me a kid just because i own a NDS Laughing

phil30k SG

I apologize to all the younger posters in advance but when I see a young person with strong views on politics, I assume he has been brainwashed.

I have a prejudice that young people don't have the life experience to properly appreciate politics. Some adults, with limited exposure to the "real" world, are the same. I'd even go so far to say I may not appreciate it properly either.

However, the idea of getting the youth of Singapore involved in Singapore politics brings to mind historical examples when "youth" were "involved" in politics (Hitler's war and China's revolution comes to mind).

I don't mean to denigrade our young adults but what we need are informed, mature adults getting involved in politics and to stop pushing the responsibilty onto others (including onto the youth of today).

As a citizen, I find the predominant sense of resignation, helplessness and anger on these boards worrying.

I hope we come up with a solution.

Poh Ah Pak SG

I don't mean to denigrade our young adults but what we need are informed, mature adults getting involved in politics and to stop pushing the responsibilty onto others (including onto the youth of today).

That is not easy with our hostile political climate.

Singapore society has been de-politicised after almost 50 years of one party PAP rule.

The intellectual climate also has been crippled.

Mainstream media is completely worthless as a source for political discussion, debate and information.

Ferret SG

"Give me a man or woman who has read a thousand books, and you give me an interesting companion.
Give me a man or woman who has read perhaps three, and you give me a dangerous enemy indeed."

phil30k SG

Dear Poh,

I hear what you're saying but I believe that the status quo is changing.

I believe it is changing due to the contant exposure of our citizens to information. Not just propoganda but information. Yes, some of the changes has been an increase in dissatisfaction because our eyes have been opened.

I believe this dissatisfaction is a phase in any developing country. The only question in my mind is what comes next?

Will the dissatisfaction end in riots and strikes? Investors pulling out? Our economy collapsing? A foreign power stepping in to "bail" us out and "restore" order?and Singapore ending up as a puppet?

Will there be a revolution? Each electoral district splitting off and creating our own brand new constitution?

Will our apathy be so great it destroys our spirit and we end up being absorbed back into Malaysia?

Will the citizens all migrate and Singapore starts all over again with a whole new citizenry comprising immigrants?

Will we revolt causing the ruling leaders transfer all the money into foreign accounts and run off to China?

Will the ruling party grow into a world player that takes over the whole world through masterful politicking, with Singapore citizens as the first class citizens of the world?

Many people look at America as the leading Democratic model but I think many people have forgotten that Singapore also started off as a grand experiment.

We, the citizens, of Singapore, have we all already given up?

Herzog_Zwei SG

We also forgot USA was also another grand experiment.

phil30k SG

We are witnessing a test of democracy in America right now. There is widespread concern in America about vote rigging in the 2008 presidential elections.

No news in our papers (I think our government is being respectful) but a lot on the internet. Just do a search for "election fraud" on google videos if you're interested.

Smile

deathbait SG

Remember that you must always take both sides of an argument.

Rarely is there only one correct side to take. If all you've been reading is anti-PAP stuff, you are being the subject of propoganda. Take a bit of time to look from both sides. There are tons of bs on both. KNOWING that the party you eventually support has no qualms of using bs to win your vote is about the most important thing you ever need to learn in politics.

There are no good politic parties. It's just a matter of who fights dirtiest.

tIfosI SG

I agree completely that political discussion has been quashed so flat in Singapore that it is quite difficult to raise a new generation of independant minded leaders.

All too often when us of the younger generation complains about the lack of freedom etc., the elders retort with "You're lucky to be born here, not [insert 3rd World Country]". Sure, we can count our blessings that we have a free market economy, fantastic education, law and order and generally all the material trappings that half the world would give a limb for but sometimes, the quality of live have to be measured through intangible and qualitative means. I fear that we are becoming a nation of automatons, bred for maximum efficiency and wrung dry of our energy to be the batteries to power Singapore to be a regional powerhouse, the hubs of all hubs (I must digress here. Does anyone not think the the word hub have been so shamelessly overused by the state media and government agencies its becoming something of a joke? Play spot the "hub" on tomorrow's papers, I bet it will hit double digits.) The concept of nationhood is to unite the people and pool our resources together to better our lives, yet it seems like Singapore pools its people resource to better her own interests (money, fame, survivor...) Thus, Singaporeans do not have much space to develop as individuals, all around us are voices telling us what to study, how to behave, which jobs to choose, where to live, when to marry/have children etc. in the name of national interest. I believe this is what my generation means when we say we have no freedom. It is not a bone-gnashing struggle between life and death ala Myanmmar, but it is just as precious. It is a struggle for hope.

unclebutcher SG

well i used some arguments and some explanations from here, and gp teacher say excellent Mr. Green