Translate

05 January 2006

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

It all started off as an innocent can of foam spray. Little would anyone expect the modest little can of party prop would stir up such a big hoo-hah this time round.

Think About It I
I mean who is the idiot who came up with the idea to bring that out to the streets and use that to spray people??! Ok lah... from a certain perspective, it looks like quite fun lah but I see some folks actually make it a point to spray right into the face. Granted that the chemicals aren't really that harmful, but do you really have to spray people in the eye?? Some people say that the spray can cause cancer but I think that is just being a little bit on the paranoid side lah. I think the amount the average person actually get into contact will not be fatal lah. No?

Just like how they say aspartame (sugar substitute) is harmful to the body but fail to further elaborate that you need to consume like 27 packets of that in one day, in order to get really sick.

Anyway, HaroSingapore has got a really good pictorial blog on this and a video clip to boot! (Click here instead if you have sucky bandwidth).

Think About It II
Sure there are people who complain about the nuisance that the sprayers caused. Sure some unfortunate girl got groped in the midst of the crossfire confusion.

You mean these situation won't occur anywhere else under different circumstances? Please lah. It will be the same every time and everywhere one lah. Anyone remember Swing Singapore? Now tell me if there weren't any fights nor any girl kena grabbed back then? This is not an exclusively Singapore thing if I may add. This type of thing happen everyone where one lah. Crowded and sardine-pack trains like those in Japan and Taiwan are your regular hotspots, just to name a couple. Trust me, these things happen EVERYWHERE.

My point here is that some people call for a ban in the spray cans for future parties but I say this is more of a knee-jerk reaction than anything, if at all. You ban foam spray today, some joker will think of a new thing to bring to the next party and we will go full circle of complains and knee-jerk reactions again. What's the point?

Think About It III
HaroSingapore's pictorial did place an emphasis on the aftermath of the revelry. 6 tonnes of garbage to be exact. Again, I think there is nothing to be alarmed here. If you have a big party/gathering, garbage is part and parcel of it. Ever seen what the National Stadium look like after say, National Day Parade or a football game? Again, this is common everywhere all over the world. Pre-Katrina Bourbon Street in New Orleans on a Sunday morning is many times worse.

Perhaps someone would lament how all the years of effort, trying to cultivate a generation of litter-free citizens have all gone down the sewers in just one night. I beg to differ. Given the circumstances, with the overwhelming number of people out on the streets, litter bin are not only insufficient but probably inaccessible as well. Aiyah, it is just one night of craziness only lah. I am sure the next day everybody will change back to become law-abiding citizens once again.

Think About It IV
Speaking of litter, perhaps there is this group of people that we have overlooked, when instead, we should be singling them out for a pat on the back. These are the street cleaners that mingle among the partying people, cleaning up the mess as the celebrations wore on. Out on a night when everybody is out being merry, these folks kept their heads down doing their jobs. Job, a dirty three-letter word that ensures your survival in this world. You really think that these folks want to pick up people's rubbish at a time when the latter are having a blast of a time? All these folks want is money at the end of the day. Money that they can bring home to feed, clothe and shelter their family and/or themselves. To them, I tip my hat.

Think About It V
There is also another group of people that we overlook. The street hawkers selling those cans of foam spray like there is no tomorrow (actually there is no tomorrow since the party would be over by then). Before anybody curse and swear at them for selling Weapons of Mass Nuisance, just want to point out that they are just there to make money out of a rare window of business opportunity.

I glad there is still hope for Singapore. Entrepreneurship is still alive albeit barely.

Think About It VI
In all, the big picture is that everybody had a great party and nobody got hurt at the end of the day, sans the odd palm print on the boob/ass or two.

Granted that there were complains here and there, I doubt if it is enough to mar the whole event.

To the idiots who cast the proverbial "first stone" at the foreigners for ruining the party, I shake my head in pity.

To the idiots who suddenly become xenophobic and insist on a Singaporean-only party with NRIC checks and all, I shake my head in pity and will poke the idiot's eye if I have the chance. No foam spray in the eye. Promise.

To the rest who felt that they have a horrid time out there, may I offer my advice to just stay indoors during the next big bash. If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen. Nobody force you to be there. New Year celebrations can just be as fun indoors one you know?

- Voxero

1. kIm left...
Thursday, 5 January 2006 3:55 pm
Great post! Yeah hey! I celebrate my xmas/new year parties at my Ah Ma house. Sounds so guai I know. But it was damn fun. And I didnt get groped. (If wanna grope, also I grope people. Not people grope me. Haha) Who says one gotta go to those huge parties to have fun? Ah Ma house parties rocks my socks. :D


2. JayWalk left...
Thursday, 5 January 2006 4:21 pm :: 
kIm: I guess it's a balance of things where you should have both parties and family gatherings lor.
You grope people? All those lucky b*stards!!! :P


3. Jaschocolate left...
Thursday, 5 January 2006 6:51 pm
Opps, i'm one of those who signed the petition.. Cos i feel that females are always at the losing ends of this issues.. Meeting such "perverts" are just not our luck..


4. JayWalk left...
Thursday, 5 January 2006 10:31 pm ::
Jaschocolate: There is nothing wrong with signing the petition.
However, I would like to ask you to think about this. Does banning the use of foam spray at big parties solve anything?
Perhaps you should be petitioning for more security to ensure the safety of the ladies instead?


5. Jaslyn left...
Friday, 6 January 2006 12:22 am :: http://precious-jas.blogspot.com
I signed the petition as well. Same thinking as Jaschocolate, ladies always at the losing end. But Papa's right too. Banning the use of foam spray wont solve that problem but at least it can lessen females being molest at big parties?
Sometimes cant blame the guys also. Nowadays gals are so much more daring than before. Imagine my friend working at Mount Faber telling me that he saw tons of used tissues with sperms at different corners and even tissues with blood on it!!! Such a big public place also can do there, wats touching and squeezing strangers?


6. Lynne left...
Friday, 6 January 2006 12:38 am
Wah, a lot to think about ... hmm ...


7. Zhe Bin left...
Friday, 6 January 2006 7:55 am
I believe this is the act of opportunists lah. I mean if the girls were groped by Singaporeans instead, and Bangladeshi were helping them take revenge, what would they say? It just happens that one group is up to mischief, a protective group will emerge. Only this time round, it's Bangladeshi the 'black sheep' and Ah Bengs the 'heroes'. I've heard about Bangladeshi catching their own people too. So yeah. Just aim molesters lah. We have molesters in our backyard too what.


8. JayWalk left...
Friday, 6 January 2006 9:10 am :: 
Jaslyn: I disagree. Banning of foam spray will not lessen the number of molest cases. It will just take on another form. At the end of the day, the poor girl is still going to get groped.
Perhaps you should be looking at other initiatives like stepping up security, traveling as a group, wear clothes that are less "come get me", etc

Lynne: Take your time, the blog isn't going anywhere. I do however, want to know what you think, given than you have seen more of the world than the average Singaporean.

ZheBin: Well said. Funny how we always point finger at other people but never at ourselves.
To the idiot who said to have a Pink-NRIC-only party, I am willing to bet that some unfortunately girl will still get molested if she is not careful. Then how? Ban all street parties ah?
I am not saying that all girls are put on Earth to be groped by men (at least not voluntarily :P). What I am saying is that as long as the girl presents herself as an open-invitation opportunity, someone is bound to take advantage of it.


9. aloe left...
Friday, 6 January 2006 10:31 am
I do agree. It's not right to point finger at a certain group when in fact, there are black sheeps in every nationality. It also doesn't matter whether you are careful or not at crowded venues as such lurkers will make use of this opportunity to grope. But on another note, I think there would definitely be guys who are groped too just that gals are more vocal at such issues. haaaaa!!


10. akk left...
Friday, 6 January 2006 3:10 pm
Hmm...i agree that the issue is not about banning the spray cans, its about molesters running amok in a seething mass of humanity. Granted in such events, there will always be such ppl around to mar the festivities, perhaps the best would be to have a few more police posts and more blue men. Should a gal get molested/harassed and actually decides to report it rather than forget about it during the fun, then lament and complain only after everything's over (ie the next day), she will not be lacking in seeking help and possibly justice. but then...poor blue men.


11. byzantin3 left...
Friday, 6 January 2006 5:10 pm
good thinking.


12. jaschocolate left...
Friday, 6 January 2006 6:37 pm
I agree it is not going to help much but like all typical Singaporeans (i think), just itching to do something for the issue..
At least govt will pay some attention to this matter also liao..


13. JayWalk left...
Friday, 6 January 2006 9:23 pm :: 
Anna: ...And speaking of guys getting groped...
.... How come no girl grope me one??!! *sulk*

Akk: One of the things that I can think of is to install CCTV along the streets like what London has done.
Granted some folks will complain about invasion of privacy (big brother is watching) but I think it will be for the better since the streets will be safer for everyone.
Perhaps this is the perfect example of an unpopular decision turning out to be a good one at the end of the day, like what we discussed in my earlier blog entry.

byzantin3: Thank you for your compliment. I noticed you are new here. Welcome! Welcome! Don't be a stranger ok? :)

Jaschocolate: Want to find something to do, also must find not so lame, can? Very lao kwee one leh!
The banning of the foam spray merely resolve the problem at the surface but not the root of the problem which lies deeper.
Bandung Vader's initiation of such a petition sums her up perfectly.
One word to describe her.
Shallow


14. jaschocolate left...
Friday, 6 January 2006 9:42 pm
Okay loh.. think u are planning to post more about this matter, is it?
And i think no one want to grope cos got nothing to "grope".. wahaha


15. JayWalk left...
Friday, 6 January 2006 9:49 pm ::
Jaschocolate: Nothing to grope??!!
Touché.
Ouch. :(


16. An left...
Sunday, 8 January 2006 12:04 am
er... no one to grope u?? then ur *urm* wife never?? Then how to get kids... hehehheh!


17. JayWalk left...
Sunday, 8 January 2006 8:40 am ::
An: Hmm... grope can get babies!!??
Either you are damn innocent or your damn blur.
Lai lai... Jaywalk will teach you when I am back. *evurl*


18. Jaschocolate left...
Sunday, 8 January 2006 5:57 pm
Ahems.. i think u need another slap on the head liao..


19. An left...
Sunday, 8 January 2006 8:41 pm
In the process of making babies, sure got 'grope' here and there one mah!!! *ah bish* u instead...


20. JayWalk left...
Sunday, 8 January 2006 8:49 pm ::
Jaschocolate: Alamak, slap me for what? I kachow other people you also want to slap. Why? Jealous har? :P

An: Next time say properly, can? *ah bish* some more... You also another violent one....


21. Jaschocolate left...
Tuesday, 10 January 2006 1:05 am
An, hi 5.. hahha.. that will teach Jay not to think crookly..


22. JayWalk left...
Tuesday, 10 January 2006 9:01 am :: 
Jaschocolate: Eh. If you read the comments properly hor, you will realised that it is An who is the one that is thinking crookedly hor.
Dounch anyhow say me hor.....


23. aloe left...
Wednesday, 11 January 2006 3:20 pm
But u were the one who 'sulked' cos no one wanted to grope you wor.... =P


24. JayWalk left...
Wednesday, 11 January 2006 3:47 pm :: 
Anna: Alamak.... joking only lah.....
If I want girl to grope me, I scared dun have meh?
Wah.... somebody si beh hao lian.... who ah? who? :P


25. aloe left...
Thursday, 12 January 2006 2:05 pm
wah liao.... -_-'''


26. JayWalk left...
Thursday, 12 January 2006 2:12 pm ::
Anna: Wahahahahaha...... regret coming to my blog right?? hur hur hur...... :P

No comments: