Comments, opinions and an occasional ramble
Funny things about Singaporean men
There are two things about Singaporean men that I find funny (ok, I might be over-generalising, but nonetheless, I still find the behaviour funny). One, they like to put flowers that they buy for their other half inside paper bags. Two, they always form a nice cosy group outside lingerie stores or departments.
I’m not sure why Singaporean men (at least a fair number of them) don’t dare to carry a bouquet of flowers around in public. I remember being rather amused when the florist I regularly visit asked me if I needed a paper bag for the flowers, even when both hands were empty. It seems to me that by default, most guys would need a paper bag, so she asked first. Well, unless both of my hands are really full, I rather carry the bouquet in my hand. I don’t think it’s embarrassing to do so, and besides, putting it in a paper bag might squash the flowers. In any case, I never recommend putting flowers in a paper bag, especially if you are going to give it to a prospective girlfriend. I doubt the girl would be impressed by the lack of courage to carry a bouquet, unless you can somehow convince her that it was meant to be a surprise (which might work the first time but not subsequently).
I must say the second funny thing about Singaporean men amuses me more. I always want to laugh when I pass by the lingerie department or store and see an army of men standing outside, all not speaking to each other and looking in any direction but into the department or store while their girlfriends/wives are shopping inside. Is a lingerie store or department that scary? It’s just a piece of garment. What embarrassment is there?
I can understand the “fear” if the guy goes in without another lady because of concerns that he might be viewed as a pervert. Even though I have no qualms about walking into any lingerie store or department with my fiancee and picking lingerie, I might get cold feet if I walk in there alone to buy a piece of lingerie. If a lady partner is with the man, I’m sure nobody will think the man is a pervert. However, it appears to me that Singaporean men in general avoid lingerie stores like the plague even with their other halves around. Come on guys, there’s nothing scary about a lingerie store. 
| Print article | This entry was posted by Aaron Ng on 16/06/2007 at 9:30 am, and is filed under Ramblings. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site. |
about 4 years ago
However, it appears to me that Singaporean men in general avoid lingerie stores like the plague even with their other halves around.
That’s what happens if society is so conservative and considers anything sexual “taboo”.
about 4 years ago
This is a very typical social science question, but I will still ask it anyway. What exactly does it mean to be “taboo”, and why is it some things are considered “taboo” while others are not? Also, is there any logical basis for deeming something to be “taboo”? There’s probably no correct answer, but it’s something to think about.
about 4 years ago
What exactly does it mean to be “taboo”
“Taboo” is very subjective and varies across different societies- for example, many Singaporeans found Joseph Ng’s 1994 public performance involving snipping pubic hair off, but other societies do not find such art offensive. On the other hand, other people in countries like Saudi Arabia would find women choosing not to wear a religious headdress offensive, a common practice in Singapore.
Wikipedia gives a good technical definition of the word “taboo”.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taboo
why is it some things are considered “taboo” while others are not?
Religion is a major factor. For example, many people are homophobic because their religion condemns homosexuals, and therefore homosexuality is taboo and abhorrent to them.
“Also, is there any logical basis for deeming something to be “taboo”?”
Yes, but only to a small extent. In some social functions, it is common courtesy not to discuss topics such as personal issues, personal finances, et cetera. You may have heard that it is not advisable to discuss politics and religion with new acquaintances- this is because conflicting opinions over these topics could harm relationships. Therefore, I would say that some topics can be classified as taboo when it is not advisable to discuss them with new acquaintances at some social functions. However, these topics cease to be taboo when they are discussed in debate session, online or off.
Other than that, I feel that the reasons behind making certain topics taboo are illogical. For example, what’s wrong with Joseph Ng’s artistic performance involving snipping his pubic hair? It was done in the name of art, after all. How is a body part abhorrent? But this brings up another complex question: is there a logical basis to judge what is decent and what is indecent?
about 4 years ago
ah-HAH! You got it right there Aaron. Unfortunately I’m one of those shameless, embarrassing guys with skin thick enough that I’ve held two bouquets walking down Orchard Road, and have brazenly stepped into lingerie shops with my girlfriend and actually gave her my recommendations and appraisals (about the lingerie of course). Call me unabashedly liberal, but I just don’t get what the big deal is.
You’re with your girlfriends, guys. If you’re afraid that female salesgirls are gonna think you’re a pervert, just know that you’re wrong and that they’d probably be wishing that their boyfriends did the same.
about 4 years ago
Two bouquets! That must have cost a bomb!!!
Yeah, I think the salesgirls are probably wishing their other halves at least half as “brave”. And, if a guy are willing to walk into a lingerie store and give your recommendations, I think he might score an extra few brownie points.
about 4 years ago
Hi Aaron,
I’m a Singaporean girl who’s met neither of these two Singaporean men, unfortunately. I think it’s possibly because:
1) I don’t like cut flowers. I think they’re impractical and they die too fast. So I never demand them. And nor do I think, does the B buy them for me either coz he probably thinks the same way.
2) I buy my own lingerie. No one knows a girl better than a girl does herself, and it’s more fun to be able to wow your bf than have him buy something for you to wow him with. =P
I suppose I will never meet either of these guys, then. =(
Cheers.
about 4 years ago
Lol Izzy,
I shall go educate B on the importance of flowers.
Sure they are impractical, but the happiness one gets from receiving them cannot be measured in monetary terms la. And besides, flowers need not be expensive. You just need to know where to get them and be a little more hardworking and wrap them yourself. If you are lazy to learn, then you got no choice but to pay more $$$.
It’s true that it’s better to wow your bf than to have him buy something for you to wow him with, but you don’t need to do that all the time, right? By the way, do you happen to go pick undergarments for B? I wonder if ladies feel embarrassed buying undergarments for men.
about 4 years ago
Hi Aaron,
Haahaa. Maybe there is tt. But anyway I was thinking, one way for men to avoid the embarassment of having to carry flowers around Orchard Road, is to order them online. Singapore has a handful of not-too-expensive online flower delivery services. You can just click, choose and pay. And the flowers can be delivered directly to your other half, either at home or at the workplace, or wherever he/she might be at the time. It’s a good way to surprise him/her without feeling the personal embarassment I suppose.
Just tt it’s probably not as cheap as wrapping them yourself. =P
As for lingerie, actually, I think tt guys should either get their gf’s sizes and go online to sites like Victoria’s Secrets and have them shipped over, or go to speciality shops like La Senza’s. Not only are such brands more exclusive, but considering the fact tt I know of no girl who will not like anything from either VS or LS, it probably shows tt you have impeccable taste too. Lol. And you beat the crowds of men gathering outside the lingerie department. =P
BTW, now with the GSS, La Senza lingerie’s going at 50% off. So it’s a really good time to go get stuff for your respective gfs. =P Esp coz they have a nice lacy range as well.
Oh, as for me buying underwear for the B, nah. I think it’s easy to be a girl. Flash tt cheeky smile and everyone just nods and smiles back. Hee hee. I always thought getting about those mini/thong type undies just for the shock value, too. Maybe his next birthday lah.
about 4 years ago
Thks for a fun read, Aaron.
I’m a guy. Did both the things U felt Sengkapolians don’t do.
And I’m Sengkapolian.
Sengkapolians Not Stupid. Guys too.
about 4 years ago
I think it’s a good thing that Singaporean men tend not to hang around lingerie stores/departments, whether they’re with somebody or not. Some women feel uncomfortable shopping for lingerie when there are men standing around. Just sayin’.
about 4 years ago
One of my male friends popped by a lingerie shop just to look around, and received dirty looks from other people there (presumably ladies). He didn’t think there was anything immoral about it, but it seems other people do.
about 4 years ago
Wow,it’s really funny. I’ve never heard of that before.
I think the first phenomenon you mentioned is not often seen here in China. When we see a man carrying a bouquet of flowers (esp. roses) we may always say his GF is a lucky dog. On Valentine’s Day,boys and men go to buy roses but they don’t need any paper bag to hide the flowers.
However it happens to be the same here that most men are not willing to get into lingerie stores even with their GFs or wives.This often exists among men aged around or above 30 I guess(I didn’t do a research though) but not among the youngs . I think probably it is because the the former are greatly influenced by Chinese traditional Confucian culture and they tend to be more conservative.
I also find that we seldom see males holding an umbrella when walking in the street to block the sunshine in summer.Don’t they need protection? Or they just use some sunblock to care their skin?
about 4 years ago
I was just searching stuff and this website came up. I think its funny about the group of men stnading outside the lingerie store. Its like its a coincidence they happen to be there and not elsewhere. great stuff. Bye
about 2 days ago
You are right with this comment against Bismarck: Go ahead and play supremacist like a kike and pretend HUMANS can’t unite to fight off the jew. Because Bismarck is talking like this ratfaced-jew, and is not telling his audience who is behind all that only for the jewishtribe profitable goyim mongering goyish carnage Why is this soldiar not informed about the criminals behimd 9/11 and what caused the reason why the world is now fighting this wars for the sake of that nazionistic criminal state (Piss/Shit-raël) there in the middele east? Now Hufschmid is also learning us that Quote: We might also discover that the Jews who are the most troublesome have little or no genetic connection to the original Jews of Palestine from 2000 years ago. The original Jews may have interbred with dozens of different races, but the disgusting qualities of the Ashkenazi Jews may be coming from their Khazar ancestors, or from the Huns, or from the Neanderthals, rather than from those original Jews. The Ashkenazi Jews may have given Jews a bad image.(!) What the fuck is this? Are their greatest stealth operating shills with this crap losing their desceptive jewifighting credibility? He is stating that the reputation of all semitic jews is damaged by their own ashkeNAZI children!? This is the same insane and dirty game they are trying to play (goy-mongering) with us in the clip of your article Adam Sorry about my terrible grammatical English but my mother tongue is Spanish/Dutch. My English is fine but only outspoken. Your information against this deadly cancer of all humankind will be good promoted here in Europe!!!