More on "6 Things I Hate About Singapore"
Usually, posts on this blog generate maybe five comments, tops, within the week or so they’re posted. Then we never hear about them again. This is why it’s so surprising that this post, from back in April 2007, keeps right on going: we’re up to 19 comments so far - not counting a few unprintable anonymous ones we’ve deleted.
A recent comment finally provided the explanation for such popularity: apparently, if you type “hate Singapore” into Google, our little posting is the very first site on the list. (Don’t all go and test it out, now; you’ll only keep it at the top!)
Why this post “hates Singapore” more than any other website, I can’t imagine. The six reasons listed are simple difficulties we had in making the transition to life in Singapore. And anyone who bothered to read the rest of the blog would find it obvious, I think, that we’re fascinated (in a positive way) with the place we now live as expats. In fact, one reason I chose to write the post in the first place was that I feared the blog was becoming a little rose-tinted in its lush descriptions of the cultural and tropical wonders we saw around us every day.
Joey and I can only hope that people who drop by any entry on the blog will read a few more, for context. No single post could explain the complex, baffling, fun, and fascinating experience of trying Singapore.
4 comments:
Haha, I have the same "issue" with one of my posts, i keep on getting visitors from google by people searching for stuff like "Sex In Car In Singapore"... its because i made a post once about the general birth-rate problems and how the government tries to rebounce it through funny campaigns...
Hi Jenn. In a way, you've done a service. Through your innocent attempt to balance your love of Singapore with a few fun and serious criticisms, you've given others a chance to vent their feelings.
For example, it's refreshing for me to read comments from people who recognize racism is everywhere - no place is immune. Or read how many people define rudeness as selfish behavior. I agree with that.
Those who tell you to "get over it" about something like your milk comment, they just don't get your humor! We all have things we miss when far away from home. We're allowed to express our homesickness, even while we love our new land.
All the best with the next 19 comments!
First, I have no idea how I came across your post, but it was not because I searched "things I hate about Singapore" - but, I gotta tell you I did google it after you told me not to... You are right. lol...
There are things I hate about Singapore - yes, milk being a huge issue. I DID find one close though - when I get BACK to Singapore next week, I will let you know which one.
That having been said, in all fairness, there are things I hate about every city, state and now country I have been to. And I have been frustrated to no end about some of those things - even to the point of hating.
I am glad other people see some of the same frustrating things in Singapore that I do. I live near the indoor stadium, and it is far out of the way. I am ok with that. I see young men (and women) pop in a seat on the subway when an elder is there NEEDING the seat. THAT is rude. I see people mistreating or ordering the laborers and showing no respect for them. They are people - give 'em a break. I see 'maid's quarters', come on folks... bathrooms are larger than that.
All in all though, I could be in a lot worse places. Singapore has its beauty, its frustrations, and its hangups, but don't we all?
I find it funny that someone would even think to google 'hate Singapore'. Gonna mark your blog - I do like it. I promise not to google it to find you though ;-)
Good luck with getting people to read enough to get the gist of it. Isn't snap judgment what the world (and especially the blogging community) is all about these days?
I finally turned off the ability to leave comments on our Singapore blog. Still tons of hate mail - it's been two years! Get over it!
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