Oops...! Another RJ "Elitist" did it again

Texcoco II SG

Saturday, October 21, 2006

L337

I am elitist. I believe those in the elite circles (no inverted commas) are better than those outside, not because they are naturally smarter, but generally because those who are there made it there on something, and they do deserve some recognition, more so than the general populace. So don't complain that the elite schools get more money etc. They actually deserve it.

Xinrui showed me an article about some guy called Derek Wee, who wrote something about how people become redundant to society once they reach 40, and was complaining about lack of incentive and blaming the govt etc. Apparently a senior of mine commented on her blog about him and basically called him an idiot. I agree with her. Link is HERE.

Basically that's the guy's article and her blog post. Won't bother summarising, but basically i'll add my point on it. Derek's argument that people become reduandant once they reach 40 is supported by evidence of taxi drivers. And erm, because he met a couple of taxi drivers who got retrenched and couldn't find jobs, says that everyone becomes obsolete at 40.

... I dunno about you guys, but i can easily name 10 people (not even related to the government!) that still hold good steady jobs over the age of 40. So please don't take your taxi drivers as case study for the whole populace.

So anyway my senior's article is now apparently being branded EXTREMELY ELITIST (EE lol) and erm... is getting alot of flaming. She's some MP's daughter too, which adds a nice ironic effect. Anyway she basically says (ok fine i have to summarise) that just because he feels that he's going to turn useless at 40, doesn't imply that everyone else is. The funny part was that there were acutally lots of people that agreed with Derek's article, even though it was never published in the ST. (Derek Fans say it's because the govt doesn't want his 'all-too-true views' getting out to public, my senior says it's probably because his english sucks.) No prizes for guessing who I agree with. In fact, i think any article not in proper english should be automatically dismissed from anybody's concern. Like that my one no need read liao la.

Ironically enough, i don't think elitism is something the upper class invented from themselves. Elitism in my opinion starts from the segregation of certain people, because of social stereotypes, and all that crap. I get really annoyed when people go "Wah you from RJ ah. Must be damn smart lor" etc. When in actual fact we're really no different from the rest of you people. Except maybe for the fact that we do use our brains for something more useful. It's the mentality however, that people have about us, which we eventually accept for ourselves. So don't blame us for being elitist.

His blog: http://shadowbamf.blogspot.com/

the Bear SG

in other countries, they get the crap beaten out of them...

here, they are institutionalised Laughing

dork3d SG

If me got my rifle loaded, how me wish me could shoot down all these RJ elites...

Damn small peanut brain to state something like that... Mad

kaister SG

He did make some valid points though about how not all 40 year olds are suffering from the same situation.

Not defending him, just in case the flaming starts. Laughing

the Bear SG

no you don't..

you live your life right..

else you prove their "point"

maybe you already have, dork...

kaister SG

Btw, I think he’s a coward to hit and run.

Hogzilla SG

Ok, what's new?

For this chap to make such a coment, something must be wrong with elitist path. Who knows, maybe the Miss Wee was regarded as a heroine in RJC now and maybe she didn't even went to a so-called counselling session (yeah, counsel her hurted, elite pride).

Maybe we should look at how things were taught in RJC now?

Frankly speaking, I don't want to put my right hand straight to my eye level and shout, "Hail, (whoever's name is here)"

dork3d SG

Me had... In my company, me have two so-called RJ elites working under me and they suck!

Two years ago, we were on the same grading... Two years later, me's their superior...

Gave them more work only complained too much pressure...

Bear in mind that me's not an elite but me believe in craving out my own future rather than thinking that the future will come their way...

the Bear SG

i know.. they are the lucky ones..

we have been inundated with this word to be used on us.. it's called "loyalty"

we are asked to be loyal to this, loyal to that... ad nauseum..

when a person job hops, he is "disloyal" to his company... yet when a person in a high place does that to advance his career, he is "making the most of his potential"

but that is the "elite"

the man in the ground, Mr Joe Average, married to Ms Jane Ordinary both work hard at their normal little job, they attend the little courses which crappy nonsense like Singapore Service Class, Singapore Quality Class, People Developer and whatever other nonsensical bullcrap their company wins, not because their employer cares for them, but because in order to win those useless awards, their employer has to "train the staff"

however, that kind of training is useless and does not add to the skill level of Joe and Jane.. they go to work and put in their hours, for their honest day's wage..

then whammo! the bean counters say that the company is "overstaffed" and guess who gets the kick? NTUC, APEU and whatever the hell Union doesn't care, not when they are part of the "Tripartite"... instead of those with seniority getting protected, those with seniority get the kick because their pay is the highest... (Strangely, management seems to be immune to such retrenching)

Joe and Jane suddenly get their retrenchment letters.. over 40 each, with a teenage or two at home, requiring education (which these days isn't about a pencil and books but a PC and Internet connection) how long can the family hold out with the meagre savings, and a lot of their own money locked up in the payments of the (leased, not owned) roof over their heads, the HDB flat and the CPF?

as lawful and regular people, they do their utmost, classified ads, pounding the pavement and looking at attending "Job Fairs".. as a few of us have seen on tv, none of these job fairs want to have anything to do with anyone over 40...

so, loyalty... some show loyalty to their company and get sodomised in the end by their company like Joe and Jane...

perhaps that "Tripartite" will need to ask the people they seem to be in bed with to show some loyalty to their staff...

if not, the "Tripartite" is just a "tripod" to Corporations.. oh... i forgot.. it already and always was... they know where their bread is buttered..

so, no, not all 40 year olds are suffering from the same situation.. but if you happen to be, it is cold comfort that others are not while your family looks at an empty larder.. perhaps it is apt that the taxi company is known as Comfort too huh?

BillyBong SG

I suppose Wee Shu Min will always have her detractors and fanatical supporters.

The fact that he started off with the line 'i'm an elitist', is actually providing a hidden meaning. As he unfolds his stand, his basic claim is that the term elitist was bestowed on the select 'cream of the crop' through stereotype and hype - this he clearly blames the people for psychologically creating such a segregation - they are actually no different from the 'average joe', and probably work just as hard.

I have been saying for ages that scholars/elitist/fast-movers are actually no different than us and any who think otherwise are indirectly perpetuating the urban myth.

If they have one common trait, is that they pick up fast, much faster than 'normal' people; alas, i agree they should not be faulted with this 'gift' as everyone should learn to have a quick sense of awareness - a learning mind shuns complacency.

Unfortunately, such mindsets are regretably almost always accompanied by arrogance; just because a person has 'bad written english' doesn't mean one should wave away his opinions, especially if they are valid. Addressing them earns respect, more so among the lower-income heartlanders who usually have greater difficulty in speaking and writing mainstream English.

One of our great 'hallmarks', admittedly a trademark of the ruling party, is their focus on paper qualification as a show of ability. In this aspect, the inability to speak fluently or write perfect English is frowned upon - a grim elitist viewpoint. Even after the Mah Bow Tan-is-a-president's-scholar backfire during Chiam's inaugural election victory did not deter them from walking down that path.

the Bear SG

you know something about cream rising to the top?

i guess the "elite" never did any work in the kitchen.. because they will also know from cooking that not only does cream rise to the top, scum does the same thing too Laughing

kaister SG

Laughing

PointBlue SG

I came from RI and lucky I didn't go RJC to become an elitist Twisted Evil

the Bear SG

sorry.. but.. did you watch the Talking Cock movie? Laughing

BillyBong SG

It's downright wrong to label RJC students as an 'elitist' breeding ground. Many of them are your average down-to-earth joes and janes.

Many of my friends are from RJC and i have to admit that their awareness and general knowledge rank right up there, without having the need to be arrogant. They tend to be more mature, more open and willing to debate issues, even if there are disagreements. Even robustly if necessary.

But none i know will cross the line at being utterly hostile.

For every hectare of grass, there's always a patch of dirt.

PointBlue SG

Sorry no, no time to watch movies due to exams. What's it about? Laughing

the Bear SG

it was a short skit in the beginning about Sir Stamford Raffles trying to institutionalise some people.. the place would be named after him for founding it.. Raffles Institution! Laughing

Hellraiza SG

RJ gonna become another Columbine High if their students continue to use their piehole claptraps in such an insensitive manner.

PointBlue SG

Don't say that la, very few pple in RJ/RI are like that one.

dork3d SG

There's always some bad eggs around, thinking that they are smarter than the normal plain joe and jane...

Because of such mindset they created themselves, they became snobs and began to look down on those who couldn't be of the same intellectual level with them...

What's the cause in the making them think such elitist manner? Some could be their egos, but mostly it's due to the social factor...