We have all seen couples getting all touchy on public transportation at least once..

But who knew that they could be fined for $500?!

Someone (SMRT) should have plastered signs all over the carriage since long time ago, and save us innocent under-aged (then) passengers from all these visual diarrhea ..

I guess it is pretty much "normal" for these human behavior, but i find that it is extremely unacceptable for these to be displayed in the full view of the general public (which includes the old and the young).

Singapore is a typical asian country..

Which might contribute to why these behavior are deemed as unacceptable, and by-standers would take pictures and/or videos and post them on citizen websites like stomp.

It is extremely embarrassing to appear on stomp!

Sometimes the comments that readers post.. are plain nasty and disgusting.

Shouldn't the couple be sensitive enough that on a place like the train, they should literally keep their hands to themselves?

Okay, but then again.

Teenagers do the same thing too!

On stomp, there are several articles about teenagers displaying their affection in the public.

Some, are in school uniform.

As proven on smoking advertisements - Children see, Children do.

Likewise for this issue. Teenagers will feel that "it is okay" to behave like this in the public.

Soon, it will become a common sight.

And in time to come, nobody is going to take public transportation because it will be filled with people displaying their affection.

If I could do a shout out to these, please get a room and save our innocent eyes! :-)

Cassie Goh 101531Z

Acting intimately in public. Wrong, or not?

A fine of S$500 was being imposed on the couple having behave intimately in the public. In my opinion, it is inappropriate for them to behave so intimately especially in places like the train, where there is great flow of human traffic. However, it doesn't mean that it is wrong of someone to behave intimately in public. Especially for couples, kissing, cuddling, hugging is a common sight. In a certain extent, all these actions were considered immoral and obseen when people overdo them.

I have a notion that the guy, being a caucasian, might be more open-minded. This type of behaviour is probably a common sight in their country and so, he did not feel uncomfortable or even think that it was wrong for him to behave that way with his partner. However, behaving too intimately might bring discomfort to people's eyes.

Let us imagine that the people sitting in the train opposite the couple were all young children. Would they get the wrong moral education? Would they think that this kind of behaviour is normal and common in the public? As from what we all know, children learn from what they see and they would not know if behaving in a certain way is right unless they ask. So, one should not behave too intimately in public for fear of influencing our younger generation, misleading them into wrong moral education.

Imagine again. If everyone in Singapore behaves in this way, how would our society appear to be? I wouldn't even dare to visualize the scenes. How would people from other countries view us as? Probably we wouldn't be labelled extremely awful names, but it wouldn't be nice either.

So, everyone should beware of their etiquette and behaviour in the public. If you wants to behave in a very intimate way, i think its still better to do it behind closed doors.

Gazyle

106338Z

In reference to the article, Spend more time with us, dad: Singapore Kids, I strongly agree that family time is extremely important.
Since I was a child, my father has always cultivated this environment where by everybody will have to come home on time, and we would spend about an hour to two hours, sitting by the dining table, talking about our day while having our family dinner.

To him, this was an extremely vital part of building a positive family relationship.

He believes that communication is the key to building and maintaining a good relationship.

Just like any other, children were most unhappy when their fathers scold them. Given a father who spends a lot of time with his children, if he were to reprimand them for a mistake they have done, the children are more likely to listen and behave more appropriately in the future.

As compared to a father who is absent most of the time. When he scolds his children, they are more likely to feel angry towards him.

If I were the child, I would have a tiny voice in my head screaming out "Who does this man think he is? He is invisible in my life. The only time he talks to me is when he scolds me! *And insert more angry words*"

I strongly believe communication is two-way. It would always take two hands to clap. :-)

Cassie Goh 101531Z

After reading the article, i too do feel that spending time with your family is very important as they are one of the closest ones to you. Since you have to live with your family, it would be best if you have a good relationship with them instead of a strained relationship like some other families.

Also, if you do not start spending more time with them. You might come to regret it when something terrible happened to them and they passed away or something so it is always good to cherish your loved ones and keep them close to our hearts.

Keith Teo
104052P

Spend more time with dad

With regards to the article on fathers spending more time with their children, Spend more time with us, dad: Singapore kids ,I feel that it is true and important for children to have a good relationship with their family members, not only to their fathers. This is so as family bonding brings a happy family! And a happy family brings a happy life! Don't you agree with me? Family members are the ones who love us most and they will be on our side no matter what happen. They are also the closest to us.

In the article, a survey was done and it showed that children are unhappy when their fathers were absent or did not spend enough time with them. Hence, fathers have to take out some of their time from their busy work schedules to spend time with their children.

On the other hand, children have to do the same thing too. Children, especially during secondary school and polytechnic, have busy timetables to follow and exams and test to catch up. Plus CCAs if they have one.

Based on my personal experience, I have CCA and it usually ends late, and when I reach home, it is already time for bed. Next morning, I leave for school and as usual, end late and reach home just to sleep. My home has become something like a hotel, where it was a place for me to sleep only. Hence, this resulted me to miss the times where I could sit down with my parents and have a nice talk or doing simple things together like watching the television or eating dinner together. Therefore, when I have the time, for example, if my lessons were released early, I would try to go home to have dinner before leaving home for my CCA. At least I could spend some time at home.

To me, my home is the best place, and no other place can replace my home. It is the place where I feel the least bit of stress and a place where I can just relax myself and tempory put my worries and stress life aside. Most importantly, I am blessed to have my parents around and I do treasure them and the time spend with them.

By Gladys 101897S :)

Spend more time with us, dad: Singapore kids

After reading this article, i agree that we should all spend some time with our family.

Although we may be busy with work, we should all take out some time to have a meal together, do some activities (eg cycling, picnic, shopping) as a family. This would help to bring everyone closer and strengthen the bond in the family.

Every Sunday is reserved for a family day. My family members and i would go to east coast park to cycle, or make some sushi at home and bring it out for a picnic.

I'm glad that we have a family day every week, because the weekdays are usually packed with school and work, and we barely eat together as a family during breakfast, lunch and dinner.

It is important to build a good relationship with your family members. Sometimes we may quibble over little things, but this helps to build our family ties. It is nice to know that there will be a group of people who will be there for you through thick and thin- your family.

Seah Hui Ying

103596T

BIG IS BEAUTIFUL.

I certainly agree with that.

Obesity affects people of all ages.

Most of the time, these obese people become victims of verbal bullying.

In extreme cases, obesity has pushed girls to suffer from mental disorders such as bulimia and anorexia.

It's about time that somebody had start a movement, that big girls, are indeed beautiful.

I believe that every girl should not feel negative about themselves, even though it happens that we will all feel inferior and dislike a certain part of ourselves..

If we could all point a finger at something to blame, It would have to be the mass media and mannequins.

Clothes that are on display, are donned on by these flawless mannequins.

These makes us girls feel that you have to be as perfect as those plastic dolls to look good in those clothes.

That is entirely not true.

This movement is not trying to promote obesity, but actually is trying to make "big-sized" girls feel that they are beautiful.

I feel that all girls should feel comfortable in their own skin, and be happy about themselves.

Because girls are their prettiest when they genuinely smile. :-)

Cassie Goh

101531Z

Spend more time with us, dad: Singapore kids

In modern time, society moves in the speed of a flying bullet. In a country like Singapore, where standard of living is high, factors like time and money became even more prominent and significant to us. We live in a busy society, hastening our pace so that we could catch up with times. We aimed to earn tons of money so that we have no worries- with bills paid, food to eat, money to support our family,satisfying our desires of wants and many more. In the midst of earning money to make our life more comfortable, we have neglected the most valuable thing in life- relationship with our family members.

Even as a student, i have to juggle between work and studies. Living a life is tremendously tiring, when sometimes i wished that one day makes up of more than 24-hours. Everyone in my family works, with work ending at different time. Time is never enough when it comes to doing my stuffs, not to mention spending sufficient time with my family members. And definitely, with all the different time schedule everyone has, it makes it even harder for everyone to spend quality time frequently.

In this article, they emphasized the importance of spending time with the kids at home so that they will not miss the basic concept of family values. Personally, i think that spending time with their kids is important as this nurtures the relationship between them. Especially when the society is changing so fast, parents need to foster their relationsip well with their kids so their relationship would not turn astray.

In my opinion, no matter how busy you are, one should make some time out of the busy schedule so that quality time can be spent. No one will choose to miss the precious moments spent with their kids as at the end of the day, money is nothing significant to the relationship with your loved ones.


Gazyle Lim Tee
106338Z

Beauty in all

'Obesity is stereotyped in a highly negative manner in Western countries. Many studies have shown that adults characterize obese people by negative attributes such as lazy, unattractive, unhappy, unpopular and sloppy.'

(taken from: http://her.oxfordjournals.org/content/15/2/145.full)

After reading the article 'Learning Curves',i appreciate what Miss Erica Sim is doing- giving plus-sized women confidence.

Some people are still obese even after going on a diet, or carrying out their regular exercise routine.

I think the media/ some commercialized clothing brands contribute to the stereotype against obesity. There are always pictures of gorgeous and really skinny models everywhere, and they emphasize that being skinny is beautiful.

Everyone deserves a chance to feel good about themselves (even if they are not as skinny as those models). Sometimes, it is difficult to find clothings in really large sizes. So, i'm glad to know that there is 'Big n Beautiful (B.A.B) online shop that sells accessories and clothes ranging from size XL to 6XL,' this would be helpful for our larger sized friends.

In conclusion, I would like to say that everyone is equal. No one should feel ashamed just because they can't fit in. We are all unique individuals.

Seah Hui Ying
103596T

After reading the article about obesity, i felt that it is not alright for obese people to stay obese. Being obese causes a lot of problems both psychologically and to your physical health as well.

The psychological problem to being obese is that you would feel low self-esteem, which might cause you to be depress which in turn would lead to maybe a food eating binge to make yourself feel better which would only worsen the problem of obesity.
As many people know, the physical problems to being obese are many. Examples include higher risk of cardiac arrest or heart attack in simpler terms, higher chance of suffering from a stroke and so on.

In order to prevent such things from happening, i feel that family members of these obese people should help them start to slim down for their own good

Keith Teo (104052P)

Big is beautiful?

Obesity is a problem which is rapidly growing all over the world. It can cause great risk to your health with illness like high cholestrol,thus increasing risk like heart disease and stroke. Obesity is something which people would consistently try to hide, and majority felt inferior and less confident to others. Words like "fat", "obese" and "chubby" is definite a taboo for everyone, especially women. They are highly sensitive to the word "fat" and in fact, the number of people who seek to slim down is shooting up in a bullet speed.

However in this article, the women were doing the opposite. They stood with full confidence, flaunting their chubby body. Folds of flesh, thick arms and thighs, cellulite- even with all these, they confidently showcase their body with the effort to convey that "Big is Beautiful". However, it does not mean that being obese is fine. The models who took part in shooting the pictures for the calendar were well aware that obesity post danger to their lives and it should not be taken lightly.

Although it is good to feel confident of what you are and how you look like, obesity is a health problem whichshould not be neglected. Negligence of dealing with obesity would in turn affect your live, or worst, lose your precious life. I hope that instead of the increasing percentage of obesity in Singapore (6.9 in 2004, 10.8 in 2010), people would start to shake of the fats and cellulite on them in hope of leading a healthier lifestyle.

Gazyle
106338Z

Is obesity a problem?

What is your first reaction when you see someone with obesity problem? Do you boycott them? Do you criticise them for their size? Do you have negative feelings against them? Do you become biased against them? Do you talk back about them just because they are bigger size than us or they do not look nice or good? If your answers are mostly YES, let me tell you, you are not a fair person and you are actually worse than them! Not base looks or size, but by your character and personality. How you treat a person will reflects on your character.

Hence, with reference with the article on www.divaasia.com/article/11470, I feel that we should not look down on them. Instead we should help them bring up their self-esteem, and the way they did about the B.A.B (Big And Beautiful) thing, I think that it was not a bad idea after all. As seen from the comments, many say that fat shows that they are unhealthy, lazy or smelly or gross. But what evidence can you find to show that fat people are smelly or lazy? Can you answer? You can't! Because that was just your assumption! You are simply prejudiced!!

This topic is a little sensitive, however, I feel that the B.A.B thing is good as it help to build self-esteem for those facing obesity. It helps to send a message that being obese is not the end of the world. As long as they are willing to overcome it and continue to lead a healthy lifestyle, we all believe that their life will be like everyone else. And to me, I think that not everyone who is bigger in size have lots of fat, sometimes it is just that their bones are bigger in size. Thus, to conclude, I feel that all of us have to accept them in socialty and be fair towards them. They are just like us, don't you agree? They are humans and have human rights. JUST LIKE US :)

BY GLADYS (101897s)

This was definitely a shocking news which held many aback. How would you feel if you were trapped in this scenario? You'll never never want this to happen in your whole entire life.

When I came to know about this news, what came to me was the level of responsibilty and professionalism the clinic performed. And definitely, the emotions of the couples, what are they going to do with the baby.

If I were to experience this, I'll experience a mixture of emotions, flushed into my body from many different directions. I assumed that the couple faces agony, frustration, shock, disappointment and a lot more. What should they do with the baby? Give it away? Or keep it and raise the baby like their own child? It's really a tough choice to make.

Ok let's split the outcome into two categories:
1. Give the baby away
2. Keep the baby

1. If they were to give the baby away, the mother would be influenced by great impact. Carrying the child in her womb for 9 months is not easy like abc. The bond between them, the excitement experienced and the expectations looked forward. When the baby is given away, all these would cease. It would probably be an experience which the couple would never want to experience again, and likely to remember this for their whole life. However, the baby's life would be affected as well. It'll be given away to stay with another family.

2. If they were to keep the baby, it'll be a win win situation for both sides. The couple gets a child, and the baby have a family to grow up in. However, relationship might turn sour especially when the baby grows up. The father might resent the child as not even the hair is identical to him. In another sense, they are just strangers who met and lived together. Many things might happen when the child know the truth. For example, to look for his or her biological father.

It really depends on the couples' decision. It's definitely tough, but I hope they make a decision without room for regrets.

Gazyle

Sperm mix-up

Upon reading the article, I fully sympathize with the family.
Imagine if you were the baby... Growing up to be different from your parents, genetically only having your mother's genes, and you do not know your biological father.
Growing up wouldn't feel the same, like how any children are supposed to feel.
When the father gazes into the baby's eyes, he is gonna know it isn't his own eyes.The family chain has been broken due to the carelessness of the private hospital in question.His bloodline disrupted due to a single person's or the management's carelessness.

Will the baby grow up to be like his biological father or will he grow up to be like the affected father?only time will tell.

The parents now have the toughest decision they probably have to make in their married life.What they have to decide is the suitable time and place to break this bizarre piece of news to the son.Because how they do it is gonna shape the son's thinking and behavior.From my point of view, i rather the parents disclose the news to the kid before he enters his teenage adolescent years.It is in a way better than having him find out on his own as it may have disastrous consequences, for both him and the family in question.

As for the private hospital that caused this mix up, i suggest they man up and accept full responsibility for the mistake and support the couple in whatever they plan next.It may not turn back time but at least that would ease the terrible and heart wrenching burden on the couple.

i sincerely wish from the bottom of my heart that no other couple will have to go through this kind of ordeal ever again.

Cassie Goh (101531z)

Singapore IVF baby does not have DNA of 'father': lawyer

A baby conceived through in vitro fertilisation (IVF) at a private hospital in Singapore has different DNA to the supposed father, a lawyer representing the clients said Wednesday.

After reading the news, I feel awkward and sorry for the couple. They were probably excited and eager to have a baby. Now, the baby only has the DNA of his mother, and no one knows who the real father of the child is. I wished that the private hospital didn’t make such a blatant mistake, but what is done, cannot be reversed. The other couples who are currently trying to conceive through IVF in that private hospital would probably be quite worried about their babies too. We don’t want a second case of ‘baby without the father or mother’s DNA ‘. The thought of ‘sharing’ the baby with a stranger feels weird. But it would be worse if the real father happens to be someone they are close to. Nobody wants to be caught in such a tacky situation.

I don’t know how the child would feel when he grows up. It is really saddening if the real father doesn’t have the opportunity to let the child know the truth. Let me give you a scenario:

When the child is a kid: The biological father wouldn’t bear to let the child know the truth at such a young age, for he fears that it would be detrimental to his growth.

When the child is a teen: This is when the father would worry about his child again. The teen would be experiencing mood swings, and he would be trying to handle things like school, love and friends. Who knows what the child would do if he knows about the truth? Would he go into rebellion, or do hurtful things to upset his parents?

When the child is now an adult: The child would be really angry with his parents for keeping the truth from him. Things would be really complicated.

So since there isn't a ‘right’ time to let the child know the truth, it is not the parent’s fault for keeping the truth from him (not letting him know earlier, or letting him know about it too early).

Now that the baby is born, the parents have to find a way to let the child know the truth someday.

In my opinion, I think the child would need a lot of love and the feel of acceptance (especially since no one knows who the biological father is). No child would like the feeling of ‘My parents left me at the dumping ground, because they don’t love me.’

In future, the biological father may have his reasons for hiding the truth from his child. But I hope the child would also look from his father’s point of view and try to understand his parent’s difficulties.

Posted by:

Seah Hui Ying
103596T

Sperm mix up?

Sperm got mix up? When I first heard this news from my teacher, I was shock! I thought this would never happen at all as this was the first time such thing have happened. My first thought was "oh my goodness. Poor baby."

We have discussed this topic in class and, yes, this can lead to many consequences, and all these bring no good to the baby. What if the real father knocks at the door and wants his baby back? How are the couple going to tell their baby the truth? Will the baby be able to accept the fact that he was borned by an accident? Will the Caucasian man really treat this baby as his own son? Of course, no one knows.....

Regarding to this topic, I feel apologentic for the couple. Indeed, it was an accident and no one wanted this to happen. Now, saying,commenting or criticizing anything will not be able to change the fact. I, as an outsider, feel sympathetic towards the couple, as well as the baby.

However, what has been done have already been done, time cannot be reversed. Hence, I guess they will have to learn to accept the fact and treat the baby as their own flash and blood. This especially goes to the Caucasian man, whose baby did not have his dna. Lastly, I have no say in this incident, but I wish the best for the three of them.

By Gladys 101897s:)

By, Keith

Seeing that Singapore has a high cost and standard of living, i feel that it is only natural for all of us to feel stressed over things like education [ having to constantly study as we are implemented with the mindset that studying hard ensures your future ], finance [ working adults having to pay for house installments, car installments, electricity bills, phone bills and so on... ].

I feel that stress could be good in mild quantities as it motivates us to carry on with our activities. However, being too stressed up is not a good thing which could lead to a lot of unhealthy problems coming up like depression.

I am also currently feeling stressed right now writing my comments on our topic "stress" which in a way could be a good thing as it motivates me to complete my post.

Why Stressed?

Why do we feel stressed at times?

We feel stressed when we can't cope with our workload, or handle our problems. We may have excellent coping skills for several areas and limited resources in a few.

Some people seem to be resistant to stress, whereas others are much more sensitive to stress. Some of us have a personality which doesn't experience negative emotions like anxiety, fear, anger, sadness as much as others when bad things are happening.

When i am stressed, i would switch on the tv for 'Just For Laughs', read the 'fml-your everyday life stories' site for jokes, chomp on spicy chips, start blasting music or have a good laugh with a close friend. Food makes me happy!

I guess we can combat stress by having a positive attitude.

Have you seen the insurance agents at the MRTs or shopping malls? They have a quota to reach for the day/week, and it seems like a really challenging task because people are always trying to shun these insurance agents. It is a really stressful job, but they maintain a positive attitude anyway and try to deal with the challenges they face.

However, stress can be a good thing. It gives us the drive to get something done. Once you have completed the task, you will be rewarded with a sense of achievement and pride, and here comes satisfaction!

Seah Hui Ying
103596T

Stress-A good and a bad factor in our lives.

What is stress?

One may say stress stems from financial insecurity, some may say education is a factor wheres as some may say stress stems from life itself.From my point of view, stress can be good and bad part for everyday life. Basically its about how someone manages to handle their stress and use it to their advantage.Many famous people have been through stress and have emerged victorious. Figures that feature prominently would be Mr.Barack Obama.Despite all the drama and having the public's eye on him, he managed to use the stress generated to good effect and hence proceeded to become the President of The United States of America.

However not everyone is the same and one can say different people have various means of handling stress. Some tend to handle it in a rather difficult way that people may look at it as extreme. As noted in the recent couple suicide in Scotland, where the wife-to-be committed suicide after realizing she would not get a visa to settle down in Scotland with her fiance. The groom, being unable to cope with his lost, succumbed to stress and pressure and eventually committed suicide at the same spot where his wife took her life. Things like tells us that stress can be fatal and thus should to be dealt with seriously.

Hence in order to prevent this stress from taking control over me, i tend to do things that distracts my mind and i love to occupy my mind with happy thoughts :)
So fill your mind and heart with positive and optimistic thoughts that will never fail to uphold you. Whether you let stress control you and drag you down, or whether you want stress to be a key factor in your success, all depends on how you perceive it to be.All will be well when we take things in our stride and enjoy life the way it is :)

As many have said,

"Its a daily rat race we live in and only the toughtest survive to live another day".

Cassie Goh, 101531Z

Are you stress, or not?

Mountains of assignments which i can never complete, being financially disabled and having to meet deadlines. All these little things inject stress in me, sometimes leaving me with ultimate frustration, feeling helpless. Stress is never something new to our daily lives, and yet many suffers from it whether mild or severe.
And definitely, i am not spared from the stress monster. I feel stressed because of relationship problems, schoolwork, family affairs, and even deadlines pressurise me. It just feels like there is a gigantic vacuum cleaner attacking me, trying its very best to rip me apart. It sounds exaggerating, but most of us do not realise that stress can cause damage worst than what we can imagine.
Generally, stress is a normal physical response to events that makes you feel threatened or upset your balance in some way. Minimal stress level can be beneficial in attaining goals or putting our ability up for challenge, sometimes accomplishing missions or goals which we never thought we can. However, in opposite, too much stress cause damage to our health, mood, productivity, relationships and quality of life.
Although our body works brilliantly, it can never distinguish physical and psychological threats. For example, if you're stressed over tonnes of projects, our body reacts the same way like you're in a life-or-death situation. Being constantly stress can lead to long term stress, which leads to serious health problems.
In my opinion, stress is commonly felt by most of us, whether young or old, male or female. Although what is stressful for me might not be stressful to you, we all experience stress. The worst nightmare would be letting stress lead you by your nose, and controlling you without realisation. So, we shouldn't allow stress to cause major disturbance in our lives.
Try asking yourself questions like, "When i gets angry, am i able to soothe and calm myself down asily?", "Do i get worked up or angry over trivial things?" or even "Am i seldom distracted or moody?" If you answered yes for all the questions, you're guarantee a stress patient. However, do not panic but instead, try to overcome stress by trying to take charge of your own emotions, thoughts, environment, and the way you deal with problems. Relaxation is a must in the healing process, or you can try talking to someone whom you trust.
So my advice would be, learn how to relax, be happy and always inject positive thoughts into your mind! Or, i don't mind you coming to me when you're feeling stressed. Absolutely no charge at all!

Gazyle Lim Tee

Are you stress?

Personally, I feel that everyone faces stress in life. Sometimes stress is the motivation to allow us to move forward in life. For example, only with stress, will we be able to set targets and achieve what we want. Will we be able to meet our own expectations and when we have succeeded, we get to enjoy the sweetness of our success.

However, if stress becomes a form of pressure, it may cause a lot of problems. Some reasons why some people feel stress is because of society's fast-moving pace. If people are unable to catch up with it, they may lose out and may not be able to adapt to the fast changing world. More reasons will be financial problems, family matters and individual problems.

All this may lead to depression, hence, I feel that we should learn how to cope with stress by lightening them through listening music, doing things that we enjoy, exercising, going out with friends, catching a movie, talking to parents, friends or counsellors, etc.

Most important is to keep an optimistic mindset to life and I believe that nothing cannot be solved. :D

BY GLADYS (101897S) :)