Comments, opinions and an occasional ramble
The Wee Shu-min Cyber-drama
I followed the entire “drama” with interest because of the fact that Shu-min is probably a near perfect embodiment of a child from the elite strata of Singapore society.
I did not graduate from the Rafflesian lineage, but nonetheless, I attended institutions that are of comparative quality to Raffles. My observation is that Shu-min is more of an aberration, rather than the norm. To this day, I never cease to be amazed at how humble and un-stuckup (there’s no such word, it’s my invention) some of my peers were, even though they came from extremely wealthy and well-connected backgrounds. They treated everyone the same, regardless of their background.
If Shu-min had been my peer, I would most probably have been tossed into the trash can. My dad was a blue-collar worker, and my mum’s a housewife. By some stroke of miracle, I was granted access to good schools and received a good education. However, to her, she probably thinks that it is her right to enter a good school and receive top education. Her worldview is different because that’s the kind of world she knows.
Reading the various forums that had an active discussion on the issue, it appears that most of the blame has been placed on her. Granted that she’s 18 years of age and is no longer a juvenile (although I have doubts on whether she can be classified as an adult), I don’t think that bulk of the blame should be placed on her. I think that what should really be examined is what led her to develop such a high and mighty attitude.
As the chinese saying goes, 上æ¢ä¸æ£ä¸‹æ¢æª (translation: if the upper support column of a building is not straight, the lower column will be crooked. Means that if the person in charge or in power is substandard, the subordinate or underlings will similarly be substandard). I have seen for myself that some of those born with a silver spoon are nowhere like Shu-min in terms of mentality. In fact, they are polar opposites. My conclusion is that parental influence is probably the deciding factor.
I don’t think that there is much that can be done now that Shu-min already has such a stuck up attitude. The only path for her own salvation is to experience the life of the people she has so casually dismissed. She would do well to learn from the British judge who went to serve a ‘sentence’ so that he can understand how it feels like to be handed a sentence. Before one decides to be high and mighty, it would certain be good to understand the facts first.
Update (22nd October 2006): I’ve added a related post to this issue here.
Update (24 October 2006): Read what some smart-ass Canadians have to say here.
| Print article | This entry was posted by Aaron Ng on 21/10/2006 at 12:37 pm, 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 3 years ago
alright cool. that sounds reasonable enough.
about 3 years ago
Yeah, thanks for popping by. Cheers mate!
about 3 years ago
Only have 3 factual statements to make:
1) A person’s personality is determined by his or her genes, and also by the environment.
2) Small W and Big W share the same gene pool. (Father and Daughter)
3) Small W and Big W share the same physical environment. (Same house)
Does it not follow then, that Small W and Big W MIGHT have the same personality??
And the Chinese say:
4) Jiang Xiang Yi Gai, Ben Xing Nan Yi, which essentially means that one’s personality is hard to change.
Hence, this basically means….. Well, hopefully people living in Ang Mo Kio knows what this means…
about 3 years ago
Hi Yoyobarn,
I do hope that people in Ang Mo Kio will learn from this episode. Well, maybe the PAP might pre-empt things by getting WSK to resign. After all, if the suicide squad can manage a respectable result against the PM, imagine what can happen if the WSK affair gets played up in the next GE. Strategicially, I think the PAP will move WSK, at least out of Ang Mo Kio next GE.
about 3 years ago
Hi Aaron,
Many singaporean working in Shanghai, like me, are keeping track on the development of WSM and WSK saga.
Your blog provides a very good platform where we can see quite a number of interesting debates and insights.
The general comment from fellow singaporean here in Shanghai is that we are not “moving on”. The lame apology by WSK is just not sincere and not enough.
about 3 years ago
Hi all,
I have thought about the WSM issue, and discovered a seemingly inconsistent fact: Why do people like WSM, who think that they are so superior, even bother to put down and criticise people who are apparently no threat to their social status? Do lions bother to kill ants in their territory?
I think the answer is because, deep down in their hearts, people like WSM know that even though they are currently the elite, their status is not secure. And hence, they try their very best to secure their elite status, through objectionable means like “ranting” on their blog, for the case of WSM. For the case of WSK, I don’t know what goes on, and do not wish to know..
However, it is too easy to shift all the blame to WSK and WSM. As I mentioned earlier, a person’s personality is based on their genes and environment. When one lives in an elitist environment, the peer pressure forces one to be an elitist too. I believe that WSM, when she was in Primary One, wasnt half as elitist as she is now.
about 3 years ago
Hi Shanghai-hood,
I appreciate those who read my blog for posting insightful comments instead of trolling, and I too find the insights of those who read my blog interesting and varied. It too has helped me further my thoughts on the matter.
The apology by WSK looks to me like a PR attempt. The initial apology was not just lame, it was condescending. It showed a complete lack of empathy from, of all people, a Member of Parliament. I do believe WSK was made to apologise properly under pressure. I think the PAP feels that there’s a tracked shift in the mindset of the electorate, considering how progress packages and upgrading carrots have failed to bring more support to the PAP. I suppose they are working harder to win the minds of Singaporeans.
Of course, whether it is enough or not, that’s up to you to judge.
about 3 years ago
Hi Yoyobarn,
I think some people are just naturally sadistic. Animals don’t kill to eat all the time. People don’t do things for rational reasons all the time too. Perhaps WSM was just reveling the fun of tearing down the ego and pride of someone she thinks is beneath her status. It’s possible.
about 3 years ago
Please excuse me for my funny pseudonym..
I scared I get caught by secret PAP police..
Yep, I agree with you Aaron. People like WSM are too nonsensical to be understood
about 3 years ago
Aristotle defined hubris as follows:
Hubris consists in doing or saying things that cause shame to the victim,
not in order that anything may happen to you, nor because anything has
happened to you, but merely for your own gratification. Hubris is not the
requital of past injuries; this is revenge. As for the pleasure in hubris, its
cause is this: men think that by ill-treating others they make their own
superiority the greater.[1]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hubris
about 3 years ago
Hi Charles,
Thanks for the Artistotle definition. Could hubris be also associated with politicians who like to sue?
about 3 years ago
Hi, I have thought of a proof that Singapore is male, inspired by a trip to the hospital:
Statement 1) Women above the age of 40 are supposed to have pap smears frequently (to detect cervical cancer), but unfortunately not many do so.
Statement 2) Singapore, who is above the age of 40, is NOT supposed to have PAP smears so frequently, but unfortunately the WSK incident is just the latest one.
Hence, Singapore is the opposite of women. And hence, Singapore is male, and we should address it as our Fatherland, just like Germany,
Hope that you don’t find it too nonsensical…
about 3 years ago
In classical Athens times it was considered a crime.
I am not a lawyer, so in Singapore law. I don’t know
However if you read on in the wikipedia link -
There is this interesting concept of Nemesis as a result of Hubris. Note the parrells –
In its modern usage, hubris denotes overconfident pride and arrogance; it is often associated with a lack of knowledge, interest in, and exploration of history, combined with a lack of humility. An accusation of hubris often implies that suffering or punishment will follow, similar to the occasional pairing of hubris and Nemesis in the Greek world and the proverb “pride goes before a fall” is thought to sum up the modern definition of hubris.
humanites lesson!
about 3 years ago
Did some reading about Bullying.
2 The Inadequate Bully
This person is motivated by a feeling of not being good enough. They were hurt in the past, perhaps abused or neglected. Deep down they are fearful and defensive. It can take many forms, such as intellectual bullying (I am cleverer than you are). A hatred of a perceived weakness in others will trigger them into bullying. They may be petty, nasty and vengeful and will always respond negatively to any perceived weakness in others. They are hyper-sensitive to what others say about them and take offence easily, but brutally insensitive about what they have to say about others. They are generally over-controlled, because they are as soft as jelly inside.
TIP As long as you do not appear weak in their eyes, they have no interest in bullying you.
http://www.freedomtocare.org/page30.htm
about 3 years ago
Personally, I think that Derek Wee is quite a qualified person, being employed in an MNC and a university graduate. He could be qualified as one of the elites, even.
If WSM thinks that Derek Wee cannot spell, is lazy, unmotivated, etc. I wonder what she thinks about all the HDB heartlanders like us, who make up the majority of Singapore.
And, the job of an MP is to help the HDB heartlanders, and WSM obviously will not do so, if she is elected as MP in the future.
I hope that one day there will be a “Meat the MP session”, where we can make mincemeat out of people like WSM.
about 3 years ago
Well Charles,
The inadequate bully seems to be a fitting description of WSM!
In anycase, who is WSM to be so arrogant? I interacted with PM Lee’s daughter in JC (she was one year my senior in my students’ council) and she’s so unassuming that you will NEVER know she’s the PM’s daughter unless somebody told you so. I give PM Lee two thumbs up for his daughter’s upbringing.
Seriously, WSM ç®—è€å‡ ？(translated: where does she think she stands)
about 3 years ago
Well Yoyobarn, let’s hope that some of the alternative political parties will remember this episode and bring it up at the next GE. If WSK continues to stay in AMK GRC, I really wonder the extent of the drop of votes.
about 3 years ago
OMFG Wee Shu Min T-Shirts!!
http://suchvividjustice.blogspot.com/
about 3 years ago
hey yoyobarn
i happened to read some of your posts. well, they were so fucked up that i wished i wasnt born when i was reading them! haha. seriously, just shut the fuck up u aint got nothing better to say, aight. i mean, what abt the genes and environment thing? u think you make fucken sense. let me tell you, that’s pseudoscience at best(remember hitler?), and well, i cant even think of a suitable word, at worst. yeah and the puns on pap smear whatever aint funny at all. you may entertain your buddies during you coffeeshop talk, but please spare me that nonsense. think deeper, sonny, think deeper. now what’s his name? yes charleslim i think. please give more respect to your own name.you know, many great ppl have the name charles, but that’s besides my point. what about aristotle.goodness that man lived more than two thousand years ago, when ppl dont even say for christ’s sake(hypothetically, when they read your post). with all respect to that man, he is wise, period. but please, his words aint the mantra. dont just blindly follow – think for yourself. as if i derive any satisfaction and sense of superiority telling you assholes off. you know,i dont even know why i’m doing this,wasting my fucken precious time.it’s not as straightforward as those oversimplified, supposedly rational theories you ppl purport. no, it’s something less rational that pushes me to rant, perhaps that same something that pushed our famous gal to rant. it’ll make little sense to try to put something not in the rational realm(ie the heart) into the rational realm, much like how it makes no sense to describe the 3d world to entities in the 2d world, but for the sake of this post, and simpletons like you out there, i’ll try it. it’s perhaps got something to do with the conflict between their opposing versions of truth, their idea of reality. therein lies justice, corectness blah blah blah.and as humans, of course, we wanna impose our version of truth on others. this is my opinion. Correct me if i’m wrong.
PS: total respect for aaron ng for keeping this open and uncensored. big up yourself.
about 3 years ago
Hi pseudoessence,
It’s been a while since I last saw you post. Welcome back!
Well, my blog is the only place where I can practice freedom of speech (and writing). In Singapore, freedom of expression is guranteed with plenty of restrictions, and I don’t think that’s right. Ideologically, I believe that everyone is entitled to his or her say. Doesn’t matter to me whether they are right or wrong, because that’s for the public to decide. I just had some dealings with someone who insists that I make personal attacks when all I did was to write in a stronger language than usual. And that person ‘threatened’ to stalk my blog. Well, its part and parcel of free speech. Censorship is a sign of immaturity. I believe most Singaporeans are mature enough to handle any kind of speech.
about 3 years ago
I sense much anger in you, pseudoessence.
Speaking about essences, does anyone want to discuss about Chicken Essences?
Recently at least 2 new Chicken Essences competitors have emerged, to challenge the incumbent Brands.
My feeling that this is a lose-lose situation, as the Singapore market is not big enough to sustain all these 3 brands.
However, I think the biggest loser will be Brands, as it is very dependant on Chicken Essence sales. The other 2 brands have other products–eg. New Moon also sells Abalone, while Eu Yan Seng sells Chinese herbs.
about 3 years ago
oh when did our discussion become one about chicken essence? c’on sonny, address the issue. and yes, there’s much anger in me.i mean, how can i be feeling happy when i see that my human race is littered with idiots and imbeciles like you. it’s quite okay if you acknowledge that and just keep quiet,ie. know your role and shut your mouth. but really, a dim-wit giving sanctimonious remarks? give me a break. yeah so i expect a better response from you, yoyobarn, or not at all.
about 3 years ago
been reading up on a person – AYN RAND – which a friend of mine pointed out as possible influence – that basically
it’s immoral to help the poor – because if their poor they deserve to be poor.
and the only just system is the capitalist system (market forces)
about 3 years ago
yet there is no pure capitalist system which is not tinged with a hint of plutocracy. and you know, when you’re born poor, you often go down a slippery slope. no disrespect whatsoever, but that that idea purported by ayn rand is crap.
about 3 years ago
Rand smacks of elitism.
If one became poor by choice, such as excessive gambling and poor financial management, fine. Most people in my opinion are poor because they are trapped in the poverty cycle. This is not their own making. We should be helping them.
about 3 years ago
I quote from wikipedia: She (Rand) also encountered the philosophical ideas of Nietzsche, and loved his exaltation of the heroic and independent individual who embraced egoism and rejected altruism in Thus Spoke Zarathustra, but later rejected his philosophical center of “might is right” when she discovered more of his writings.
Well, at least she doesn’t approve of “might is right”.
Personally, I disapprove of most philosophy other than natural philosophy (ie physics), as they generally have no scientific or even logical basis.
about 3 years ago
well yoyobarn. no scientific, yes. no logical, hell no! logic is not found only in science. perhaps you’re one of those idiots who can only grapple with tangible stuff. im sorry if i sound harsh but im biased and already have a pre-conceived idea that you are a dimwit.haha. and natural philosophy, too, is questionable.it just depends on how much you probe. is special relativity crap? we dunno. and rand is not wrong. dont blame her. she’s just myopic, and thinks that the game of life is as simple as, well, the donkey game for example. but of course she’s not as stupid as yoyobarn here, who in my humble opinion, should really just spend his/her time more constructively by selling some chicken essence and making some extra money. peace out
about 3 years ago
I am afraid you have just committed the fallacy of ad hominem- attacking the person rather than comment constructively on the idea.
Furthermore, I suspect that you may be WSM!! Or at least a WSM supporter.
My evidence include:
1) Similar style of writing: no capital letters, and sparse paragraphing. Occasional use of bombastic words.
2) You seem to only comment on this WSM Cyber-drama thread, hence inadvertently revealing your interest in it.
about 3 years ago
“im biased and already have a pre-conceived idea that you are a dimwit”
make no mistake. i did not commit “the fallacy of ad hominem” because i’m carrying out a blatant attack on you(yoyobarn, a ridiculous sounding name by the way). it is not as if i’m lost in my cause of arguing with you that i turn to a personal attack. that would be ad hominem. get your fucking definition right.
well, of course i’ve a goddamned interest in the wsm issue. aint it fucking obvious given that i’ve posted numerous long posts? what i find ludicrous is your suspicion that i’m wsm based on this! and similar style of writing because of no capital letters? LOL. who uses capital letters on the fucking net? i didnt know mr aaron ng’s blog is the gcse paper. and for the record it aint sparse paragraph.it’s continuous free writing without paragraph.dude this guy’s an idiot no doubt. and really, i cant help if you cant understand fucking simple english. it’s about time yoyobarn helps himself/herself.
yoyobarn, stop making a joke of yourself.you may win aaron some hits, but the novelty of your fucking stupidity is wearing off. fuck off and stop posting. respect.
about 3 years ago
hey, I am quite interested in deconstructing this ayn rand ‘thing’. Perhaps if we can understand and be critical of this strand of thinking.
Right now it still sounds scary.
about 3 years ago
i am curous to how is ethics dealt with in objectivism (ayn rand)
about 3 years ago
(Ignoring Eu Yan Seng’s Pseudo Essence)
Philosophy is one of the most debated subjects nowadays, and generates the most controversy. Also, not many people can earn a living being a philosopher in this modern age.
Even Ayn Rand had to “moonlight” as a novelist, quoting Wikipedia: “Ayn Rand was a Russian-born American novelist and philosopher.”
As philosophy is subjective, it is impossible for everyone to agree on it.
Let’s take Friedrich Nietzsche for example. Quoting wikipedia:” Certain Nazis employed a highly selective reading of Nietzsche’s work to advance their ideology, notably Alfred Baeumler in his reading of The Will to Power.”
This shows that philosophy can be interpreted in many ways. In one way, Ayn Rand’s philosophy may sound extreme, but look at it from another perspective and you may see that it is logical.
However, personally I think that anything regarding the support of elitism, and “survival of the fittest” is NOT logical, or moral.
This shows that they
about 3 years ago
Sorry, please cancel out the “This shows that they ” in the previous post. Typo error.
about 3 years ago
yo yoyobarn.
maybe u should spend ur free time on these.
http://www.free6.com
http://www.nurglesnymphs.com
about 3 years ago
heya!
Personally, i don’t agree with you.
what exactly defines an elite class? I think it’s not a static theory. You choose to be who you want to be. Life’s a bitch and competition is tough. Why should the bums get anything at all when others are working hard at it. Don’t tell me you got to where you are today without hard work. Would you like to share everything equally with all Singaporeans given your huge compassionate heart.
I really am not trying to be rude here. But honestly, i hate whiners. If you had e time to whine…couldn’t you put it to better use? You talk about e failure of the Singapore’s education…well…i can’t dispute you on that because you are a clear reflection of it.
ps: U sound pretty smart. Maybe you should spend your time doing things that reallly matter. CIP for starters. ciao
about 3 years ago
Hi Caroline,
Good point that what constitutes elitism is not static. More often than not, it is a social construct. I classify Ms Wee as an elite based on my own understanding of Singaporean society, where material ownership and academic excellence are prized.
It does take a fair amount of work to get anywhere. I do not dispute that. However, I think there is a huge difference between compassion and humility. Who is WSM to self declare herself as an elite? The whole affair about WSM is not because she was not compassionate. It was more because of her lack of humility and knowledge of the lives of other Singaporeans outside of her comfort zone.
I am pretty amused at your comment linking me as a failure of the Singapore education system. Did you even read what it was about? It was talking about the lack of financial literacy because we are so focused on other aspects. Pray tell, where’s the link to this issue?
Lastly, I do not whine. What you read are just expressions of my thoughts. You can choose to imagine me writing them seriously, or you can choose to imagine me whining as I type. In printed communication, there is a huge lack of other cues that indicate the type of communication, such as verbal and facial cues. I find it very interesting that you can come to a conclusion that I whine on the basis of text that is devoid of other cues. I can only summarise that you have some preconceived notions and you construct my words to fit into your worldview. Therefore, despite your disclaimer that you are not trying to be rude, I find it hard to believe otherwise.
In anycase, before you tell me to do something, perhaps you show how you’re doing better. There’s nothing better than leading by example.
Ciao.
about 3 years ago
Cause sometimes life is not fair – some people have the potential, but are trapped in poverty. Also there are other elements like racism, ilness, disabilty.
about 3 years ago
Caroline, I don’t want to be sexist, but you sound like those girls who value money and status over everything else
about 3 years ago
hi caroline.
finally i dont always have to talk to a nutcase called yoyobarn…well, i cant really be bothered about your ideas not because they suck or anything, but because that really is not the point here. caroline oh caroline. sweet name.just wondering if you’re hot? you know, instead of indulging in these coffeeshop talk, we’d be better off dating and making out. because really, it’s time we responded to our bodies inherent need to fuck
about 3 years ago
Lol.. You two make a great match. That is the problem with elitism. The elites marry elites, and start a vicious cycle of elitism. Fortunately elites don’t like to have many children (to appear more high-class), otherwise Singapore would be flooded with elites, and kopitiam owners would be out of business.
about 3 years ago
I was not from an elite school. I did not even make it to the express stream because I kept failing my second language. I worked in a departmental store for my pocket money since I was in Sec 3. The big change now : I hold a postgraduate degree and I am working overseas with the mobility to go anywhere in the world.
Why? Because of people like Wee Shu Min . She may insult the lower classes but it is all in pure honesty that the world is unfair. She was like just many of those people who pointed at me to their kids when I was just working part time as a salesgirl and told their children with hushed words :” Don’t be like this girl, she is stupid so she has to be a salesgirl” . That spurred me to do better than I ever thought I would. I would let Wee Shu Min say what she likes – you never know she could inspire another person like the younger me to prove her wrong.
about 3 years ago
acanthophis, you are a really remarkable person who has overcome your difficulties. You are like the Australian snake who can thrive in all conditions. (
you should know what i mean)
But for every acanthophis, there may be 9 more others who were seriously discouraged by people like Wee SM.
Or even worse, disillusioned by a Humanities Scholar who has no trace of Humanity in her.
about 3 years ago
In light of this matter, i would like to bring your attention to the fact that i am wanking now. Those in opposition could either masturbate vigorously or commence self mutilation using, but not exclusive to, letter openers. amen. and to be fair. awomen.
about 3 years ago
o.O i read the first half of this page then skipped to the end… looks weird. anyway… this sux… that girl shudnt have to make those comments cuz now our teachers are giving us chinese compos based on the event… fubar
about 3 years ago
damn.. i realized i ressed an old topic!!! AHHHHHHHHHH SAY NO TO FORUM NECROMANCY!!!!
about 3 years ago
Well, this is an important topic, and I am glad you rezzed it.
We have to nip the bud, and stop the small Wees before they grow into the big Wee.
After they grow into the big Wee, I suppose it is nearly unstoppable. I really hope that this topic will not be forgotten 3 years later during the General Election.
about 3 years ago
You said “I did not graduate from the Rafflesian lineage, but nonetheless, I attended institutions that are of comparative quality to Raffles”
Dude, Hwa Chong is waaaaay better than Raffles Institution or Raffles Junior College. The only good Raffles is Raffles Beer… it disappears quickly and leaves no impression.
about 2 years ago
What nonsense.
I don’t know about RGS, but RI beats Hwa Chong hands down.
Hwa Chong spoonfeeds the students to an incredible extent. Who wants to join Hwa Chong?
Yucks.
about 2 years ago
Hi, would like to ask you some question that has nothing to do with the wee shu min webblog issue.
I do not have an Honours degree and my basic degree is only a pass grade degree. IS there anyway I can do a master?
Thanks
about 2 years ago
MP Wee said that his daughter’s privacy has been invaded”
well…does anyone in Singapore know that an ex A-Star scholar in US was sued by Singapore A-star because of mere criticism against the system and its selection criteria? He was nearly forced to quit his university education, made a bankrupt (due to the amount Singapore claimed in damage) and forced to NOT return to Singapore for that reason. The Americans (coz he was studying there) were the one who helped to fight his lawsuit FREE of CHARGE.
At the point in time, PAP said there there is no such thing as privacy and free speech without social responsibility in blogging! He was forced to make public apologies and made $ compensation.
Now why didn’t I see the same set of consequences for “social responsibilities” happening to the Wees? We are worse than the communist in China.
The fact that she “won” a Humanities scholarship disgusted me even more.