<p>
</p>
<p>Big Brother 1984 is a communist.</p>
<p>
[quote]
People just don't care where Singapore is, let alone what Singaporeans think in the context of world issues.
[/quote]
You know, I begin thinking you disgraced yourself even more than spencer. Congrats for that!</p>
<p>
I guess it is sort of exaggerated. I figured a while ago that the real top 1% (of the cohort, inclusive of those of in the same age group who are in polytechnics and ITEs) would be those with 4As and 1 Special Paper Distinction or above. Hardly everyone at RJ scored 4As + 1 Dist or above. In fact, far from it. The "real" top 1% would be pooled from all those with that result or better from the top-5 JCs.</p>
<p>I was using irony Big Brother. Detroit is a city in decline because it has not adapted its economy to changes in the world. It has relied on manufacturing which is in decline in the first world, especially in cities, for several reasons. </p>
<p>Singapore will vever be a power like the USA for several reasons. Being a superpower brings a lot of good things and at the same time a lot of bad ones. Being a place like Singapore with all its wealth and oportunities (except chewing gum) without the hastle that the USA has is not that bad. Look at Ireland, Monaco and Luxembourg. They are hardly world leaders, but do you think they are losing sleep over that. </p>
<p>Well done to South Korea. One place does not have to be crap for the other to be good!</p>
<p>PS. Trust me, I do know that Detroit has a serious crime problem.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I was using irony Big Brother.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Haha I totally didn't catch that. Detroit isn't exactly the most exemplary city in the world, but I still like it a lot. It has winning sports franchises, a great hockey town, and a very prideful citizenship. </p>
<p>
[quote]
You know, I begin thinking you disgraced yourself even more than spencer. Congrats for that!
[/quote]
</p>
<p>This surprises me coming from you. Couldn't resist the ad hominem game, huh?</p>
<p>Listen, I didn't insult your beautiful country, if that's what you think I did. But if you don't like my sharp, incisive comments, then you should've at least tried to dispute my points like D.T. did. I've never insulted you directly now, have I?</p>
<p>You threw down the gloves first this time aw5k. Remember that.</p>
<p>
Big Brother 1984 is Big Bully 1984.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Big Brother 1984 is a communist.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>
[quote]
Big Brother 1984 is Big Bully 1984.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Thank you for the remarks spencer.</p>
<p>This thread REALLY needs to end.</p>
<p>
[quote]
This surprises me coming from you. Couldn't resist the ad hominem game, huh?</p>
<p>Listen, I didn't insult your beautiful country, if that's what you think I did. But if you don't like my sharp, incisive comments, then you should've at least tried to dispute my points like D.T. did. I've never insulted you directly now, have I?</p>
<p>You threw down the gloves first this time aw5k. Remember that.
[/quote]
No, you didn't insult me at all. You even didn't insult my country (I'm not from Singapore, not even from Asia). However, I find comments such as
[quote]
People just don't care where Singapore is, let alone what Singaporeans think in the context of world issues.
[/quote]
highly disturbing. It's just plain nonsense, and you should know that.</p>
<p>I don't know what you mean with the gloves.</p>
<p>
[quote]
It's just plain nonsense, and you should know that.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Hey look, if I struck a nerve or something, then I apologize. I just don't see how you would find that statement disturbing, especially since I followed it up with a compliment, and several more in the following posts. I can say with full confidence that Canadians don't really think all that much about what goes on in Singapore. Heck, I don't even think the U.S. President even knows what's up with Singapore. Ignorance is certainly a bliss here in N. America.</p>
<p>Even though you might not agree with me, don't start attacking me. You seem to have wanted a clean discussion, so keep it that way.</p>
<p>Ok, ok, I'll have to elaborate a little bit more on that.</p>
<p>Look, you just cannot say something along the lines "Who the **** cares about Singapore? I don't even know where that country is". Truth doesn't play a matter, here. It has something to do with (1) politeness and (2) social intelligence. Likewise, would you tell a big, fat girl the truth and shout in her face that she's the ugliest thing you've ever seen, even if that's true? I think you know what I'm trying to say, here.</p>
<p>Besides, if you say that
[quote]
That could be so, if I could find Singapore on the map. I kid you not, I don't even know where it is on the map - nor do I care.
[/quote]
then that says more about you than it does about Singapore. This statement doesn't support Singapore's little importance in the world, but your ignorance. If you're not able to find this country on the map, it's <em>your</em> fault and <em>your</em> lack of general education.</p>
<p>And yes, I want a clean discussion and I don't find any of my statements "not clean". I'm not attacking you personally, but just pointing out some faux-pas. I guess you didn't even mean to sound that harsh, but let yourself go a bit too far. </p>
<p>Debates on the internet are even more difficult than in real life, and there are several things that have to be kept in mind. From my experience, you'll go nowhere when you start getting inprecise, abusive or subjective. Politeness is sooo crucial for a clean debate. As you've seen in this thread, things get quite out of control if you don't keep those things in mind. spencer attacked you, but so did you (I remember reading something like "you're too dumb to understand"). I know it's hard to keep control of yourself, but in the end, it's the best thing you can do really.</p>
<p>
[quote]
It has something to do with (1) politeness and (2) social intelligence. Likewise, would you tell a big, fat girl the truth and shout in her face that she's the ugliest thing you've ever seen, even if that's true? I think you know what I'm trying to say, here.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I concede. However in those circumstances, you can bet that those impolite remarks would circulate behind the girl's back. I don't know about you, but I would have a problem with that.</p>
<p>Likewise, my seeming calls against Singapore were not arbitrary. I was trying to refute whoever said that Singapore was an economic powerhouse, or an important player in this world. That was it. Look, my responses were probably longer than they needed to be. But the simple thing is, we shouldn't fool ourselves with false ideas or patriotism when we know better. I suspect a LOT of that has been going on in this thread.</p>
<p>
[quote]
then that says more about you than it does about Singapore. This statement doesn't support Singapore's little importance in the world, but your ignorance. If you're not able to find this country on the map, it's <em>your</em> fault and <em>your</em> lack of general education.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I was actually lamenting more on the ignorance of the general population here than of my own. I agree that it's my OWN fault for not being able to find certain things on the map. But what about all the other people out there who just don't bother to know where the country is, or keep up with the politics in Southeast Asia? The bottom line is, a lot of people HERE don't tend to bother with such details that are relatively trivial to them. I'm pretty sure the U.S. President doesn't even know where Singapore is, or what's going on in that region. Not to be harsh, but I don't think he particularly cares at this moment either.</p>
<p>
[quote]
And yes, I want a clean discussion and I don't find any of my statements "not clean". I'm not attacking you personally, but just pointing out some faux-pas. I guess you didn't even mean to sound that harsh, but let yourself go a bit too far.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>That's fair. But you made out what I thought was an ad hominem coming from you. You could've just said, "Listen BB, that statement of yours was extremely ludicrous -> [point]." Attack the statements, not the user. spencer did lose sight of that a lot, but I must admit, so did I.</p>
<p>
[quote]
spencer attacked you, but so did you (I remember reading something like "you're too dumb to understand").
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I attacked spencer quite a bit on this thread. It was the emotional response to do so after him having waves and waves of ad hominems flooding this thread. I absolutely agree that we have to focus on a rational response, and not let the personal attacks get way out of hand.</p>
<p>But just so you know, he started it.</p>
<p>
[quote]
But just so you know, he started it.
[/quote]
I know :)</p>
<p>(But that's always a bad argument, you know ;))</p>
<p>Anyway: back to topic, or has everything already been said?</p>
<p>I find aw5k's posts very insightful.</p>
<p>Big Brother,</p>
<p>I don't know why you don't think Singapore is a economic powerhouse.</p>
<p>It is one of about 15 of the financial centres of the world. Don't forget finance Is the money maker of this time period. As computers were a few years ago and industry was before.</p>
<p>I think this is just an exercise in semantics, but I really think you're taking things on a per capita basis. Singapore certainly has a very high per capita standard of living, and I suspect that it's fairly productive on average as well. But a powerhouse? Come on.</p>
<p>I even find my own statement about Canada being an economic power extremely dubious, but it is a part of the G8 after all. Countries like Japan, China, and the United States are true powerhouses. The total, absolute production of these nations as quantified by US dollar values simply dwarf that of Singapore. </p>
<p>
[quote]
It is one of about 15 of the financial centres of the world. Don't forget finance Is the money maker of this time period. As computers were a few years ago and industry was before.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Oh I wouldn't say that finance is the sole money maker as of now. There are certainly many other ways to rake in the cash. I would probably pitch in an argument for high tech startups such as Google and Amazon.</p>
<p>I'm sure Singapore is a great financial hub. But for whatever reason, its total economic output simply doesn't reflect the numbers of a "powerhouse." Heck, Hong Kong is a highly successful financial center with immense capital. But it's no powerhouse.</p>
<p>Hong Kong is a powerhouse in the A group. It is up there with New York, London and Tokyo as far as cities go. Definatly, more of a powerhouse than Singapore. </p>
<p>Finance is not the only way to make mega bucks. I agree 100% but it is defiantly the megabuck industry of the moment. This can obviously change ex: pet.com</p>
<p>
[quote]
Hong Kong is a powerhouse in the A group. It is up there with New York, London and Tokyo as far as cities go. Definatly, more of a powerhouse than Singapore.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I think you're running on a different, stranger definition of a powerhouse here. New York alone is definitely not a powerhouse. The state of California could be a powerhouse, but entire nations like Japan and the US are definitely powerhouses.</p>
<p>Instead of arguing whether Dartmouth is over-valued, it's much better to discuss which ranking's methodology is more fair and credible and why. It's all about the criteria and metholodogies being used. Hey, I can come up with my own methodology that puts Northwestern the first using proximity to a large body of water as the most important criteria. Make it freshwater too (sorry, UCSB). ;)</p>
<p>Big Brother 1984,</p>
<p>I find your recent statements on Singapore to be highly offensive and ignorant.</p>
<p>Firstly, it's not nice to say such things about other places, no matter how much you don't like the place. I'm sure you wouldn't like Americans calling Canada just another state of USA? Sure, Singapore may not be that big or significant or fanciful. But as a Singaporean, I am very offended by what you've said about Singapore and I hope you realize this before spouting crap about other countries to other people. </p>
<p>Secondly, your argument on GDP is very senseless, and like what others have said, "is like comparing apples and oranges". You said Canada has 10 times Singapore's population. Taking this to be true, you haven't considered the fact that Canada has million of times Singapore's natural resources. So by that argument, shouldn't Canada produce millions of times more goods and services (i.e. GDP) than Singapore?</p>