Caught this scene late one night.
An elderly man was railing at the station control staff.
"You should have told me properly!"
"Like this bluff people!"
"This is not right"
"Now I got no money to get home"
The station guy tried to ignore him. The elderly man went on.
"What you expect me to do? Walk home to Sembawang?"
"I now have no money to go home"
"What you expect me to do?"
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I supposed this elderly man got into the station and missed the last train, so he blamed the station control. I find it amusing because...
1) It is his fault, regardless
2) What he expects the control guy to do? Pay for his cab fare?
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Are you disgusted ("mood_disgust") at the old man, or the station control guy?
ReplyDeleteIf said old man does not understand English, or the meaning shown on the "next train arriving" LED boards or LCD screens that's been plastered with advertisement, and sees that the station is still operational and therefore buys a ticket and enter, I see this as no fault of his. Besides, the control station guy can refund him the price of the ticket, or offer a complementary ride on SMRT's late night bus service if available, or a complementary ride on SMRT taxis?
Even if there are no "official" resolutions available by SMRT, said station worker has to get home somehow - if he drives, out of compassion surely he can offer a ride? Singapore's not that big to drive around especially at night. If the company provides transport, surely an arrangement can be made?
No, I fault the uncle.
ReplyDeleteWhy take it out on the station control guy? Why yell at him for his own mistake?
I don't like this SG mentality that when you yell out loud enough; you expect that someone will and should come to help you.
Example1:
Hey XXX Paper, I lost my job. I can't pay my bills. My kids need to be fed. What is the government going to do about it?
Example2:
Hey XXX School, my daugther can't type. What are you going to do about it?
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The uncle can, in army terms, beg, steal, or borrow to get money to get home. He could have got his family member out to pay his cab fare. He could have looked up his friends he just visited (he was in a residential area). Did he do any of that? No. He railed at the station guy like it was his fault.
Why?
If you take the train to some ulu country and you happened to miss it. Let's say that the train comes only 1/week. Are you going to shout and yell at the station manager?
Because it was beneath him to beg for a favour; It's easier to yell.