Life’s like that.

My favourite section of The New Paper happens to be the Speakup column. Why? Because I get to read about the latest complaints about life in Singapore.

On 2 Aug, the issue of tissue pack reservation has been brought up again. This time by a Singaporean who has been away for 6 years. It must have been a big culture shock for him to realize that to secure a seat during lunchtime, you have to carry a packet of tissue, umbrella or even a screwdriver (this is definitely new to me). I used to work in the CBD area so I know what it is like as well, especially when you do not follow the practice. I mean, how difficult is it to get one of your colleagues to “chope” the seats while the rest go and buy their food?

I have on many occasions spotted empty tables only to rush there and realize that it was reserved with tissue packs. Yea, I do feel kind of silly but I usually just move on and look for diners (is there a word to describe people having lunch?? lunchers??) that have almost finished their food and park myself beside their table. In order not to pressure them into finishing their lunch quickly, I do not look at them directly but instead pretend to look far away or pretend to send sms on my mobile. All this while, keeping a close watch on their progress through the corner of my eye. If any ‘competition’ tries to linger around for the same table, I’ll give them a “I was here first” kind of look. Talking about this, there was a reply to the tissue pack article by a Ms Carson on 4 Aug.

She agreed with Mr Chan’s views on the tissue packs and went on about inconsiderate people who won’t leave their seats and “lurking vultures” who are “inconsiderate while waiting for the tables, especially when you are halfway through your food”.

People who won’t leave their seats I understand but I am trying to imagine how to be inconsiderate while waiting for tables. (was he staring at you? standing too close? digging his nose?) I guess if you are not done with your food, someone has got to wait. And where else to wait but beside the tables… You can choose to gulp down your food if you pity the person waiting or you can eat at your own pace and let him wait (which by the way is the norm in Singapore).

While both Mr Chan and Ms Carson questioned Singaporeans’ ability of being a gracious society, Mr Chan did offer suggestions for Singaporeans to improve the tissue paper and seat hogging situation. Ms Carson merely urged Singaporeans to have a “sense of social duty”. And proceeds to lambast Singaporeans for being rude, inconsiderate and being expectant of the Government to address “this problem” (was she referring to being gracious, the tissue pack or the lurking vulture syndrome? hmm…),

All this over her one visit to the Lau Pa Sat for lunch, one year ago…