Good Government, Bad Papers

Firstly, I would like to applaud the Singapore government on doing such a good job on taking care of our country. All around the world, I see countries going into trouble but Singapore is still going strong and growing.

However, it has come into my notice that though we have a good government, our laws and policies of media are still of doubt. Look at our newspapers. I can see so many loopholes and flaws in them that nobody bothers to point out.

I think the best newspaper in Singapore would have to be The Straits Times and Lianhe Zaobao. Those two newspapers are very rich in information and they abide by international standards. I never fail to find information in there relevant to my learning in school and they are pretty useful for projects as well.

However, I think poorly of The New Paper and Lianhe Wanbao. Particularly I personally dislike the sections of CLICK! and STOMP! the most in the newspapers.

Those two sections started off with "good intentions" for Singaporeans to display interesting pictures and videos. However, now it has turned so ugly that I don't even want to look at it. When I flip to the sections of CLICK! or STOMP!, i never fail to see snapshots of people who don't even know their pictures were secretly taken by someone.

Yes, some of the pictures are interesting and some really provoke alot of thought. Pictures of teens in school uniform holding hands, pictures of people sleeping on each other's laps in public transport and pictures of teen behaving intimately never fail to make it into the local tabloids. But have you ever thought that by taking other's pictures, you are actually invading into their privacy?

I tell you some Singaporeans can be such pussys. A good example would be my friend's aunty. She would watch korean dramas everyday and cry over them.

"Oh so romantic!"

"Oh my they are gonna kiss!"

"Oh brother and sister love relationship. Why don't they just let them be?"

It's ok to see two korean stars acting as teenagers kissing by the riverside. But if my friend's aunty would to see our local teens kissing by the riverside, she would probably go: "Teens these days! So intimate in public! Phuey! So young hold hands liao... Mother, father never teach!"

Hello?! You were going high over the same situation on TV just now.

Let it be. Give people space and privacy. Be it if they are commiting acts that are in the doubt of your "societal values". Give us some space.

Cos if you don't. People are gonna start going crazy. Everyone has a camera phone these days. Taking a picture is so darn easy. Soon, there will be a flood of pictures and who knows you will be the next victim of having your picture taken without your permission.

Some people already don't know their limits. One of my friends was working in one of the Community Clubs and one day this guy called in.

My friend: "Good afternoon sir. How may I assist you?"

Man (with feminine voice): "I want to lodge complain! I observe my neighbour very long liao. She never cover her bamboo pole holders with caps. Wait got Aedes mosquito breed. Faster come her house now!"

My friend: "Sorry sir. We do not entertain such complains. You should try calling the town council."

Man (agitated still with feminine voice, almost screeching already): "I tell you I really watching her now! I watch her for 2 hours already."

My friend: "I'm sorry sir I can't help you in anyway. You should contact the Town council for further assistance."

Seriously, Singaporeans are just too quick to jump at stuff. We just call, take pictures without taking any action before that like informing our neighbours about putting caps on bamboo pole holders. Spying on other people is also invasion of privacy.

Spread the word, stop the act. Stop invading into other's privacy!

A society which cares
Is not a world without privacy
Invade into my private life
And I make sure you never get out of it