Gesture of Goodwill = Obligation?

Seriously, I am pissed. 

Very, very pissed.

Yes - with SOME elderly/senior citizens/old people, or whatever you call them.

Before you start pointing your finger and making accusations that I am one ignorant youngster, please do read on what I have to say.

I never thought I would be blogging about this, but I guess it's the final straw when I experienced for myself how SOME senior citizens are taking KINDNESS for granted.

It all began when I was taking my usual train to work this morning; but I was quite desperate for a seat this time as I was feeling sick (I believe my pale face could definitely tell).

All I had hoped for was to take a short nap during my 20 minutes train journey - but it was not until I got signaled out by an auntie (she isn't reeealllly that old).

Showing me her senior citizen ez-link card as though it was some emperor card (*rolls eyes*), she went (in mandarin) "Young girl, can I have the seat because elderly like me will experience leg pain?" ( NOTE: SHE SOUNDED MUCH MORE RUDE THAN THIS IN REALITY)

Yes, I appreciate that she has at least the courtesy to ask. But seriously, she sounded like I was OBLIGATED to give up my seat to her.

Well, I did - despite the fact that I was not feeling well. I immediately stood up and she shamelessly took the seat - BUT THAT WAS NOT THE END.

When it was her stop to alight, she suddenly tapped me on my shoulder and told me to have the seat back with a REALLY black face. I smiled in return and said it was alright since I was alighting as well.  

**IT WAS THEN THAT I OVERHEARD HER TELLING ANOTHER PASSENGER TO SIT BECAUSE THEY ARE SENIOR CITIZENS, etc etc.** (It was like she was hinting to everyone that the Priority seats are MEANT for senior citizens like her. Apparently, she said it loud enough for surrounding passengers to hear and was indirectly targeting me)

Hello - let's make this clear. Being a senior citizen does not mean that you are DESERVING of the Priority seat. 

A Priority seat, basically, is a seat that is offered out of goodwill or for people whom one may think need it more. 

Gone were the days when people are giving up their seats out of PURE goodwill and sincerity.

Truth to be told, ALL of us are paying for the same amount of transport fares. It doesn't mean that I HAVE, I MUST, I SHOULD give up my seat to you just because I think that you are a "senior citizen".

So what if you are older than me? Do you bother to earn your respect? Does being a senior citizen mean that you are some special mortal that has higher powers above all?

I would say that many senior citizens/elderly/old people are pretty much SPOILT.

Probably they were given in so much that they now think that they are of "higher authority" - and have the rights to throw a tantrum should they not be offered what they THINK they deserve.

Please. Don't TAKE the kindness of others for granted.

If you are being offered something out of goodwill, be APPRECIATIVE of the privilege - and not to think that you DESERVE it. 

Of course, I always respect the elderly. I would still give up my seat if I THINK you are worthy of it.

BUT NOT ALL.

Earn your respect FIRST. Period.

[SMRT] Priority Seats = An obligation to give it up?

Don't you just hate it when a stranger tells you what to do?

I do. And I hate it.

A guy, whom apparently thinks he is a kind ambassador, tapped me on my shoulder and pointed to a guy who wasn't even standing near me - indicating that I should give up my seat to him.
(No, I wasn't sitting on the priority seat)

Stunned, I got up from my seat (and almost tripped over someone's feet (*#$# ) and he was already motioning the guy to come over and have my seat.
Fine, that guy looks like an uncle... But not exactly those in 70s or 80s look, you know?
I mean, I don't mind giving up seats...But why is that "kind ambassador" telling me what to do?
Is he trying to tell people "OH, I'm such an extinct good man who fights the evil and help the poor?"

NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS, GUY.

I hate the fact that giving up seats is no longer a form of goodwill like it used to be , but more of an obligation
That explains why there are many people nowadays who do not usually take priority seats.
For fear of being stomped?

Yes, probably.
When we sit on priority seats, we feel more stressed than anything else.
If you happen to be really tired and fall asleep, you might end up seeing your face on STOMP the very next day.
Granted that there are people who pretended to sleep so as to feign ignorance, but there are still people who really (and accidentally) fell asleep, you know?
Priority seats are meant for people who need it better than you do, so it doesn't necessarily meant the elderly.
There was once I felt such a major discomfort in the train, and I was sitting at the priority seat. But no, I did not give up the seat at all even though I spotted a pregnant lady right in front of me.
I probably needed it better than she did at that moment of time.

I don't suppose there is anything wrong with it. I was physically unwell, so don't I deserve the seat?
But I believe there were people who think that I was being inconsiderate (since all I did was just closing my eyes and tried to fight against the discomfort I felt.)

I don't freaking care if it's a priority seat. I will give it up if necessary.
People should stop with the STOMP thing, seriously.

A bad train journey a day, keeps my good mood at bay

This is probably not the first time that I'm complaining about crowded trains and buses.

And congrats, SMRT outdone itself again a few days ago while I was on my way to work in the morning:

(That explains my blog title, "A bad train journey a day, keeps my good mood at bay!!")

A fast pic that I captured using my phone - so don't expect superb quality in resolution. But you get the idea... Yeah.

According to the announcement, it seemed that there was a train issue again that resulted in the crowd.

(Shucks, I had to wait till the 4th or 5th train before I could finally get my butt in!)

I was more then half an hour late by the time I reached my office. (=_=)

Thanks, SMRT.

(Actually I was not the only person who took photos. There were 2 guys capturing shots non-stop before I decided to do so as well. Haha)

Anyway, my torture didn't end just THERE.

I am not trying to be racist here, but I was REALLY irritated by an indian guy who raised his freaking armpit - which unfortunately, fell at my nose level.

Okay, that armpit did not really smell bad - but it was enough to provide me a  great deal of discomfort throughout my train journey. 

To make matters worse, I suddenly smelled something bad. And no, it wasn't coming from that armpit... But it smelled like saliva + something weird that I couldn't really describe in words.

As I looked up, I finally knew the origin of the smell.

It was coming from a guy who was about 2 heads taller than me ...

 And he was breathing down on a poor me.

So the "smell" that I actually breathed in was his freaking carbon dioxide aka CO2.

Like, seriously...???!

Armpit + carbon dioxide?!

I was like, "GET ME OUT OF HERE PLEASE!!" 

(And I was secretly praying hard that I could survive till I reach my destination)

This is not the first time that I encountered such issues - and I often ended up with a grumpy/bad morning.

I know not everyone will encounter what I did cos I am short.

Hence, the average armpit level = my nose level.

Oh darn. WHY oh WHY...

*sighs and shakes head*

Ok, enough of my grumpy train journey. I'm gonna blog about other topics before I feel the urge to puke. (Can you believe that I actually, really PHYSICALLY puked after one of my train journeys to work? All thanks to a guy who had such a strong BAD-smelling perfume + odour)

Is anyone following SMRT Ltd (Feedback)'s Facebook page? 

(It is actually a page used for trolling innocent people)

They sure have got some guts there.

Just don't freaking believe what you read on the page. 

They are not associated with the original SMRT, but still an entertaining read at times as they have witty responses to different situations. 

(But I don't know why there are still people who took them for the real deal despite them making it so obvious that they are nothing but trolls.)

Oh well.

I just hate taking the MRT in the morning!

As what the subject title stated, YES, I JUST HATE TAKING THE MRT IN THE MORNING! (Come to think of it... Who doesn't?)

I have to go through the rush hour during the peak period every morning where bumping into people and being squashed to a pulp (despite my tiny  petite size) is a norm.



BUT DO YOU KNOW WHAT I DETEST THE MOST?


It's not about the squeezing.
It's not the bumping-into-people part.
.
.
.

It's having to SMELL people's freaking ARMPITS.

(Photo credits to Google images)

It always happens. 
Right there in the train when someone just raises his/her hand in an attempt to grab hold of the pole.

I am only 158 CM in height, hello!

AND THE ARMPITS WOULD OFTEN BE AT MY NOSE LEVEL.

Oh goodness, you have no idea how I was trying so hard to hold my breath and secretly wishing that I could stop breathing while maintaining being alive.

Just today, this indian guy (I am not being racist here) just raised his armpit at me and I could just smell the SWEAT flowing into my direction!

I didn't try to hide the fact that I was uncomfortable, of course. I turned my head the opposite side, away from the armpit attack. I could feel him looking at my direction every now and then, so I guess he did know I didn't really like his armpit.

(Photo credits to Google images)


Oh man, sometimes I wish I could be taller.
It's really a torture to travel to work every morning with a daily dosage of armpit attack.
But what can I do? The trains are always packed and I understand that humans need to grab hold of the poles for safety.


and.. Sometimes I wish that something can be done to reduce the crowd at Jurong East station. It gets so packed that it's unbelievable!
There would be lots of pushings and shovings, and having to witness the glares from people isn't always a good way to start the day.

Tsk. I guess one has to have alot of patience in order to be a train survivor.

Complain, complain and complain.

This is something I have always BEEN wanting to post, but didn't have the time to. It has been getting on my nerves (and I am sure many Singapore Poly students/lecturers alike will feel the same way too)

Here's the below photo (credits to Google images):

No, I am not going to complain about the breakdowns of SMRT trains.
But something else that has been affecting my daily traveling in the wee mornings.

YES, its the new platform that was newly opened by SMRT a few months ago at Jurong East Interchange. I just DON'T freaking get it how the new platform helps in reducing the amount of human traffic. In fact, it serves as a new problem for many students from East-West line.
I had to put in extra effort just to squeeze myself out of the damn crowd when I alight at Dover.
Just because of the new platform implementation, the doors open on both sides - and most passengers will rush in from the side which I have to alight later. Gaahh. Inconvenient much? The door which is opened to welcome the crowd is the very same door which Dover people have to alight at. And the train was already flooded before we even reach Dover! And some poor students like myself would be "pushed" into the inner side of the train, which makes it difficult for us to make their way out of the train when they reach their station.
I would have to lean against the glass pane, and feel thankful that my petite size comes in handy in situations like these.

OH. Not to mention that there are people who FART on the train during a crowded morning, too. I have nothing against them, because I did contribute to the farting as well. *sheepish look* Okay, I don't do this everytime!

I guess I'll have to bear with the crowded trains for now. Coming to think of it, Singapore's trains are a lot better than those in China and Japan.

Here's a video of Japan's train during the rush hour:




Now, I should feel blessed.