8/08/2013

A single swallow justification


Now that the Hair for Hope event in support of the Children’s Cancer Foundation that led to the punishment of 2 girl students by their principal is water under the bridge, I would like to revisit the thinking behind the incident that let to the fiasco and public outrage. I quote the Principal Marion Tan “Can you imagine if I were to say yes, I’d have everybody coming to school with a bald head. Sometimes it’s a fad, so they would take advantage of the situation.”

She has her point in that the girls did promise to put on wigs if they participated in the event. And if she was in the army, the girls would jolly well wear the wigs as promised. That is how the army works, regimentation, and an order is an order. In this case, the demand for such an undertaking by the principal is misplaced as it showed a lack of understanding and appreciation of the Hair for Hope event. It is all about empathy and compassion for those cancer patients that have to go through the painful chemotherapy and the undesirable consequence of a bald head.

Let me return to the quoted statement above. This is like the proverbial saying a swallow does not make a summer but many would insist otherwise. And this is the thinking of the people in authority. They cannot release the CPF savings to the people caused some DOM had squandered all their monies on mei meis, or some have gone to the casinos. So it is best that the money be all locked up. Imagine if the govt would to say yes, every retiree would take out their money and feed the mei meis and the casinos. Jiat lat, all would end up with no money the next day and crying to the govt for charity.

The same justification for not allowing people with higher income to use lower class hospital wards with higher subsidies. If one is allowed, all the rich people will opt for C class wards, maybe people living in the Istana would also do so. Think HDB too, if one is allowed to buy smaller flats, all would want to buy smaller flats.

What kind of mentality is that? Do the people making decisions up there really believe in this logic? The stupid ones do, I am sure. The smart ones are only using this flawed logic for their own convenience and to serve their agenda and whatever schemes they are brewing. They are too smart to think that this is logical thinking.

Don’t take a swallow and claim that it is summer. Don’t think that seeing an albino crow and conclude that all the crows are white. Can this episode be a lesson to the policymakers to fine tune their thinking? Fat hope, this is a golden rule to rule the people and take advantage of the people, for their ignorance and passiveness towards authority. The authority is always right and always logical in their reasoning. Tio boh?

I remember, if we were to give the people a drumstick they will demand for the whole chicken, or something like that. Where got exception one?

19 comments:

Ⓜatilah $ingapura⚠️ said...

You are trying to connect durians with mangoes, and end up with coconuts, but all you'll end up with is Thailand -- where there are lots of durians, mangoes and coconuts.

The folks who make policy using tax payers money have to ensure that they don't over spend. This has nothing to do with the 5 shaved heads incident -- which is SYMBOLIC ACT of solidarity and charity -- which turned into an unnecessary fiasco. I'll bet the foreigners are laughing at the stupidity and "rigidness" of Singaporeans.

Hopefully the influx of more "rational thinking" foreigners will slowly change the culture from insanely rigid to more laid-back, caring and relaxed.

>> This is like the proverbial saying a swallow does not make a summer but many would insist otherwise.

So-called proverbial statements are just clever words strung together. They don't actually mean anything in reality. As soon as you come out with one such statement, you can find another which contradicts it. It is better to just go with the cold, plain FACTS and EVIDENCE -- stuff which is testable, verifiable, and quantifiable. If you can't, then just admit that you are guessing, and therefore can be wrong.

>> They cannot release the CPF savings to the people

CPF is not "savings". It is a TAX. I don't know how many times I have to repeat this.

>> DOM had squandered all their monies on mei meis, or some have gone to the casinos.

There is plenty of SOLID EVIDENCE to support this. What do you expect DOM's to do? Buy their saggy wives sexy lingerie and fuck the old bags like they were 18? And then be "cautious" with the remaining money? Don't be ridiculous.

>> The same justification for not allowing people with higher income to use lower class hospital wards with higher subsidies.

If you can afford it, then you should pay, motherfucker. The subsidies are for the poor fucks who can't pay. If you are going to have subsidies, then you have to have MEANS TESTING or you will eventually go broke.

>> Think HDB too, if one is allowed to buy smaller flats, all would want to buy smaller flats.

Again, this is SUBSIDISED housing. You have to keep your costs low. Small money means smaller flats, and most importantly smaller mortgages. As you get richer from seizing the myriad opportunities for wealth creation in Singapore, you can always "upgrade" to private housing.

Providing "charity" does not mean providing "luxury". You seem to forget that.

agongkia said...


Even car park auntie can suka suka say you did not display coupon,displayed expired coupon and you have to LL pay the fine maybe just to meet their target.

Go URA to say you did displayed valid coupon and kenna wan ong and they will also think that if they waive your summon ,others will also come to ask for waiver giving excuses.

I only worry that if someone accuse me of molest one day and even one believe I dun, one will also think that releasing me will result in others starting to molest like nobody business .

Sinkies are now seen as disobedient,'kengful' and can no longer be trusted leow.


Anonymous said...

RB, you are not so naive as to actually believe those are the reasons for not releasing our CPF monies?

Chua Chin Leng蔡镇龍 aka redbean said...

You are trying to connect durians with mangoes, and end up with coconuts, but all you'll end up with is Thailand -- where there are lots of durians, mangoes and coconuts. The folks who make policy using tax payers money have to ensure that they don't over spend. This has nothing to do with the 5 shaved heads incident - Matilah

Now who is connecting durians, mangoes and coconuts?

The hair raising experience was never about money or civil servants over spending money. Do you understand what everyone is talking about?

When I quote the one swallow mentality, do you know what I am talking about? From your comments, you obviously not.

oldhorse42 said...

In support of RB, I want to quote another decision of a wise old man who is now nearing 90 years and dress and behave like a Chinese Mandarin. He said that if we offer free rides at all times in our buses and trains, every retiree who has nothing to do would be enjoying free rides causing congestion and inconvenience to other riders!

Ⓜatilah $ingapura⚠️ said...

redbean:

Actually it is ==> Y O U <== who have missed the point completely (so what's new? You wouldn't recognise the truth if it spat in your face and kicked you in the balls)

Your FAILED ASSUMPTION is all about "authority" -- about assuming that "authority" word is the gold standard, then you go and criticise authority when they say stupid things.

WTF? Why not just cancel the "legitimacy" of authority altogether and treat what they say no different from any other "input" of data.

When a system receives information, it wants to "know" if the source is trusted or not. Then the system has to check the integrity of the data as well as the integrity of the content.

The "authority" we are discussing here all get their "legitimacy" BY FIAT -- i.e. by appointment. The girls didn't "choose" their principle. The CPF members didn't "choose" the people running CPF board nor did HDB'ers "choose" the minister. Voters choose the govt, and the govt appoints all authority BY FIAT. This is one of the flaws of democracy. Sooner or later you have no more choice -- the govt steps in and makes a decision.

Sometimes one swallow does indeed indicate the onset of summer. Sometimes 10 swallows are just random events and signal nothing, but people will still take it as a sign that "summer is here because there are 10 swallows, not 1". This is called Type I error or "false positive" -- i.e. you conclude that a certain relationship is present when actually there is nothing there.

Type II errors are "false negatives" -- e.g. you test for cancer, results of test are "negative" but actually there is cancer. Or to use the swallow example (assuming that the presence of swallows indicates "summer") -- you never detect any swallows, but summer has arrived. Detection of swallow(s): negative, so you assume "no summer", and you've made a Type II error. (Please dun take my word. For fucks sake do your own research)

If you don't have any means to test the data -- by a variety of methods and skilled people -- then the probability of you making an error increases significantly.

If you do not have a basic understanding of stats and probability, I suggest taking a math course (plenty to choose online). You'll need to know about hypothesis formation, testing a hypothesis, what is a null hypothesis, regression to the mean, signal vs noise etc. Without this understanding it is difficult to evaluate and critique edicts from "authority" especially the ones created by government fiat. Sadly, most people hate math. :-((

Sheeple, you have homework to do :-)

Anonymous said...

Empathy and compassion? In this meritocracy of ours, we do not believe in welfare, if citizens fall by the way side, it is their own fault. So we've been told ad nauseam.
Empathy and compassion - not in their dictionary.

Ⓜatilah $ingapura⚠️ said...

>> Empathy and compassion

It should NOT be in their dictionary. The govt has no business being empathetic and compassionate---that is solely the province of individuals and their free choices.

The govts role is LAW and applying necessary force to ensure the rule of law prevails.

Ⓜatilah $ingapura⚠️ said...

If you're living in a shit bowl cuntree like Somalia, you might have a valid excuse for ”falling by the wayside and needing govt ”help”.

However, I doubt if you can make a valid case if you're living in Singapore where you have abundant resources and accessibility to those resources to help you help yourself.

So enough already with this "victim hood mentality"--- there are simply NO EXCUSES for not being able to survive if not thrive in Singapore.

b said...

I agree with RB. Because of the people sheepiness, the gov think that they do not need to give people choices. They control the people like they are their slaves/ sheeps/ serfs. People should have a choice to withdraw their entire cpf and live in a cheaper country, spend on mei mei, sports care or holidays. If I have only one year left, I wanna withdraw all the monies now. At the end of the day, cpf is our hardearned monies set aside for our use not gov use.

Anonymous said...

'CPF is not "savings". It is a TAX.'

- what kind of bullshit is that? is that another propaganda from G again? just because they put in some barriers to prevent us from withdrawing the cpf because they lost some monies, does not mean that they can own the cpf. the world is so full of bullshits.

Anonymous said...

I think our society is moving toooooooooooooooooooo fast. Everyone busy, doing something, very often for nothing!

Can we slow down slow down slow down! That is my national day wish for the ears of the policymakers..........

Anonymous said...

On the internet no one knows if you're a dog. A regular poser (not poster) big noting with tough talk just proves the point. Little dog big bark.

Anonymous said...

Stop all your shit talk Matilah . You think you know every subject you seems to commented on .You are a "happy quitter" treating Singapore as "HOTEL" to come and go as you please ; as you have previously claimed . So I presume you are already a PR in some country , now sitting on the side-line and talk with your big-mouth ...风凉话. Nothing whatsoever implemented by the authority affects you anymore , so your nonsensical remarks don't mean anything no more ....all the policy , CPF tax or no tax , foreigners , the 5 shaved heads , HDB prices ,high cost of living etc; etc . Outsider smoke cigar please .

Anonymous said...

The government's role is more than just LAW and to ensure the rule of the law prevails . The government is obligate to it's citizen to serve the larger good of Singapore .
To quote what our PM had said at the Young PAP's 25th anniversary celebration on April, 17 , 2011 , " I'd like to remind all party members , whether old or new ones , that we're here to serve Singaporeans . We need to look over the horizon , anticipate and prepare for problems and build for the future , but we must also be in touch with the people's sentiments and worries and address their day-to-day bread-and-butter concerns . Never forget we're servants of the people , not their masters . Always maintain a sense of humility and service . Never lord it over the people we're looking after and serving , he said .
So , how many of these promises been followed . I leave it to the readers .

patriot said...

Haha.........

It is damn good to hear the preachings
of the Rulers.
Problem is; like most preachers, they do not practise their own preachings.
As for the Prime Minister Of Sin himself, with his (不可一世的外表)full of air exterior; no other Ruler, not even his Father, the First Prime Minister Of Sin, ever looked as regal(imperial).
Can subjects expect to be served by Royalties or those that behave with air of superiority and authority?
They can be sweet in their words, this I will have no doubt.
But, in deeds? Maybe some people who got served by our Rulers may like to tell me about their experiece. However, be reminded that a stand alone case will not prove much about the humility and caring nature of our Rulers. They(Rulers) can treat their bootlickers and supporters well, this is beside the Point.

Me am very law abiding and patriotic and me can also be straight forward and blunt.

Have a Happy National Day.

patriot

Anonymous said...

The Istana cannot be used as a retirement home.
Otherwise, every old Singaporean will want to use the Istana as their own private retirement home.

Ⓜatilah $ingapura⚠️ said...

@1048:

>> Stop all your shit talk Matilah

Can't. I have no control. Anyway, you dun like, then don't read. Duh. So simple. Why you so kayu? 傻子!!

>> You think you know every subject you seems to commented on

Absolute nonsense. I told you time after time -- NEVER take my word for ANYTHING. Find out for yourself. 哑的阴户!!

>> now sitting on the side-line and talk with your big-mouth ...风凉话. Nothing whatsoever implemented by the authority affects you anymore

Wah uncle, you so jealous ah? Careful uncle, dun get so angry, wait kena stroke or heart attacks. Dun like sarcasm? Then dun read lah! 狒狒的屁眼!

>> Outsider smoke cigar please .

Actually Singapore has some of the most awesome cigar bars in the world. What's even more spectacular, is that govt close one eye and never kacau cigar bars. My all time favourite is Olde Cuban in Chinatown. They have the best looking sexy chicks working there -- from China and Pinoy Land. 我抽烟雪茄 女孩吸我的公鸡. Whew! Too good, too good... Plus downstairs got happening seafood.

I dun know what your problem is, but you should enjoy more in Singapore, since you live there. Got so many happenings...why you no play? 流口水的婊子和猴子的笨兒子!!

@1154:

>> The government's role is more than just LAW and to ensure the rule of the law prevails .

Good luck to you if you really believe that to be true --especially if you can't fucking PROVE IT :-)

妄想 ^_^

Anonymous said...

On the internet no one knows if you're a dog. Little dog big bark. Go get a life.