Archive for the ‘ Sociology ’ Category

Giving Up My Seat

I take a train home from work every workday, from HarbourFront to Kovan. Taking the train from HarbourFront, being the final stop on the NEL (North-East Line), I am almost guaranteed a seat. You’d think this was a good thing; I know I did. But lately I’ve been questioning the value that sitting gave me. The [ READ MORE ]

Heaven as a Moral Hazard

I StumbledUpon this image of a man unicycling across two cliffs at Wellingtongrey.net and it reminded me of my insurance exams. As some of you may know, I’ve been taking insurance exams conducted by the SCI (Singapore College of Insurance) in order to hold the qualifications to be a licensed financial adviser representative; and, as some [ READ MORE ]

The Rise of Immigration

The rise of immigrants in Singapore has provoked many Singaporeans into thinking we’re being “invaded”. The same may be said about many developed countries that feel that they’re somehow superior, and that immigrants steal resources from their homeland. However, immigrants are not the only beneficiaries of their immigration: the host country itself stands to benefit. [ READ MORE ]

Long Faces

Though he looked Chinese and spoke somewhat like a Singaporean, he wasn’t from around here. He had been, in fact, living in Australia most his life. “You know,” he told me, “I realised that the people here on the MRT all look so glum. I mean, that’s their problem? What I don’t understand, is why the [ READ MORE ]

Friends in PHP

// Can I can be your friend too? Class Friend { if ($joke) laugh(“Jeez, you’re funny!”); elseif ($laugh) smile(“I’m glad you enjoyed it”); elseif ($cry) comfort(“Things will get better”); elseif ($lonely) hang_out(“You wanna go anywhere today?”); elseif ($angry) calm(); else offer_chocolate(“Want some chocolate?”); } // And so I guess we’re friends now? Real_Friend extends Friend { // There are no functions that you can see in this class. // There are only hidden [ READ MORE ]

The Friend Bell Curve

A friend of mine wrote: So the issue comes up again. After a few months, the people in [Currie Hall] have all drifted into cliques. Typical of [S]ingaporeans. But I have to disagree with him. I think he’s being a little too harsh on Singaporeans. People all over the world drift into cliques; it’s simply part and parcel [ READ MORE ]

One Man, Two Voices

“Wait for it, wait for it,” I thought, as I waited for the man, a Caucasian, to stop talking and for my friend to start. The man eventually stopped, and my friend started. I smiled to myself as my friend started to talk in a hodgepodge of an accent. I probably really should have been listening [ READ MORE ]

Personality Test Update (ENFJ?)

I always take personality tests every once in a while, just to know if and when my personality does change. The test that I have always believed has been the Myer-Briggs Type Indicator or MBTI test. It has consistently provided me the most accurate assessment of my personality, and has directed me toward the resolution [ READ MORE ]

Exactitudes

I found this very interesting website called Exactitudes by chance while browsing through a book called Web Design: Portfolios (Icons S.). From the book: Visualises the complex relationship between the individuality and the collectivity: the apparent contradiction of wanting to stand out from the others and be unique by assuming a group identity. Images from Exactitudes A love for [ READ MORE ]