"Excuse me."
You move aside quickly as you see a middle-aged woman, chin held high, dressed in a suit and pencil skirt. As she strides past you dragging her kid behind she says as if to herself but loud enough so that theres no way you and your friends can miss it in a derogatory tone dripping with acid and scorn.
"Don't know how to stand on the left of the escalator."
Ohohoh I was LIVID.
Firstly. Standing on the left of the escalator is an established convention only in western countries, though I know of it, not many Singaporeans actually do. So there.
Secondly and this is the good part I mean. What a bitch, my goodness what a bitch. The rudeness was just unbelievable. It was totally unnecessary even if the person did know to do that.
Thirdly and lastly now just think for a moment. What if you were a bunch of old people. Do you think she would have said that? No?
How about a bunch of huge massive folks with large chests and an average height of 1.8m no? Why not?
Why not a bunch of wiry youths with tattoos on their arms?
Obviously she chose a bunch of harmless looking teenagers. As harmless as I can look. Well pretty harmless when I want to. I suppose because we looked young.
Such cowardice, I can't stand it.
If she hadn't strode off quickly and if it hadn't been so unexpected I would have sorely given her a piece of my mind.
It would be totally unacceptable to lambast anyone like that. But unfortunately it seems in Singapore its okay to pick on students. Which is disgusting and a case of discrimination.
Its become the norm to see Forum letters in the straits times complaining about "students", "inconsiderate students" and even "inconsiderate male students".
Think about it, just replace it with, "middle-aged people", "inconsiderate middle-aged people" and "inconsiderate middle-aged females".
Even worse , how about considering student an occupation like the government does.
"Office workers", "female office workers".
This discrimination extends to ridiculousness, for example there was an irate letter from an anonymous poster to the straits times online forum berating "inconsiderate students" who were "pushing out of the train and not letting other commuters get on".
Clearly people on the train have the right to alight first. Secondly, why students? Was she saying that only students did that? And if so, so what?
It is obvious that it has been deemed okay for people to pick on students in our culture here in Singapore, if not for the fact that we're younger ,then for the fact that we seem more placid.
This is a clear form of discrimination and as loose a description as "student" is, I suppose we should stand up for our rights and not stand for such undue behaviour and scorn. Clearly if people have the gall to be rude to students we have the right to be rude back.
The next time I see that woman I will surely give her a piece of my mind. I will probably have a witty rejoinder. But of course just perhaps, I might decide to use the rejoinder my father offered up.
"Excuse me, could you please not be bitchy?"
And to hell with her if she replies.
Labels: hypocrisy, my weird opinion, rant
