I must revise my views on young punks people
I've taken to a new hobby over the last couple of months, what I termed as 'blog-surfing'. I'll just click on a random blog and from there one of their random links and so on, until I find something interesting to read. I remembered reading her blog some time back, and I remember being very impressed by her articulate thinking, although sometimes her england was too powderful and kinda made me lost in the midst of her bombastic vocabulary of words. She was in the news lately due to the largely published issue of her 'debate(?)' with a minister. It was only then did I realise that she is just 17 years old! I'm a full 10 years older than her, and I doubt I can write like she do. My impression of 17 year olds' blogs revolve around having an irritating background music that you can't shut off, loud pink flashing background pictures, loads of act cute pictures taken with the cellphone and terms like 'darling', 'dar dar', 'lao gong', and normally the entries are TyPE iN aN iRriTatInG aNd dIfFiCuLt tO ReAd wAy LiKe TiS. I could not believe that a 17 year old young
I think back to what I was 10 years ago. Nowhere.close.at.all.
At 17, I was more concerned on where to go after school.
At 17, I was more concerned in breaking that street fighter record.
At 17, I was more concerned in being popular with girls.
At 17, I was more concerned in deciding which girl to date come weekend.
At 17, I was more concerned in getting myself yet another versace jeans.
At 17, I was more concerned in counting down to my 18 birthday so that i can
I wish I was
posted by Nutcracker @ 6:31 pm
10 Comments:
Not too late to start being youthful, enterprising, gungho with a never say die spirit all over again. Remember Colonel Sanders started selling chicken at 63 years old, and look what at KFC is today!
Ganchau
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The youth of today are exposed to opportunities that simply were not available to the older generation. The person whom you speak of came from a privileged, wealthy family, and thus has been groomed and is at liberty to explore extra curricular interests that would not be possible for many of her age.
Don't confuse articulate with intelligence, and don't confuse bravery with ignorance.
It's never too late to start being someone else and trying something new. But you shouldn't have to apologise for what you were when you were 17. You were interested in other things then, as were many people I knew. These same people went on to do extraordinary things, just not in the political field.
Political apathy is not a crime. People need to realise that.
to oriental express: yes, Colonel Sanders started KFC at 63, but how many years did he have to enjoy his success? :P still, that does show that age is not an excuse for not trying!
to mezzo: I agree with you fully that youth of today are exposed to so much more, just as we were as compared to our parents generation, and the family you are born in have a great impact as well. I'm sure in another 10 yrs time, we can see an even more outstanding batch of youngsters. And for the record, I was not apologising for doing what I did when I was 17. In fact, that was the most fun period I had in my life, and I was simply reminiscing :)
Perhaps it'd be good for people to be less ageist too. Sure, Gayle is precocious. But the important thing is that her views resonate with her readers, not her age.
Thanks to everyone who said exactly what I feel, that my age is not the real issue. I don't like to be suddenly labelled as the spokesperson for the youth or some such nonsense. Speaking out, anyone and everyone should do :)
Just one thing though.
"The youth of today are exposed to opportunities that simply were not available to the older generation. The person whom you speak of came from a privileged, wealthy family, and thus has been groomed and is at liberty to explore extra curricular interests that would not be possible for many of her age."
I'm sorry, but why are you making assumptions as to my family background? Being in ACJC doesn't mean I'm rich, contrary to popular perception. My family isn't poor, but I wouldn't call us wealthy either. I can't go to study overseas in university unless I get a scholarship, for example. What you call my having been 'groomed' is nothing more than my having been offered opportunities in our education system :)
Regards,
Gayle
hi gayle, nice of u to drop by :)
I assume that most people, myself to a certain extent, assumed that going to an elite school and all makes you a pretty much in the wealthier 'upper class'. Apologies if that may have offended you in anyway. :)
"I'm sorry, but why are you making assumptions as to my family background? Being in ACJC doesn't mean I'm rich, contrary to popular perception. My family isn't poor, but I wouldn't call us wealthy either. I can't go to study overseas in university unless I get a scholarship, for example. What you call my having been 'groomed' is nothing more than my having been offered opportunities in our education system :)"
Dear Ms Goh:
It is true that I am not privy to your father's submitted statement to the IRS, and I will apologise for having the odd assumption that you were at least from the middle income class. Again, I apologise.
However, having been through the system myself, and having some close contact to form an impression of the education differential extant; I will reiterate. You are being groomed. You just haven't started calling it that yet.
Dear Cracked nuts:
Sorry about taking over your blog like that! I know how irritating it is when two posters start discussing things that have nothing to do with your own blog topic.
Dear Mezzo (please call me Gayle):
Your apology has a veneer of sarcasm to it. Don't feel obliged to throw one together if you don't mean it :)
It's not an 'odd assumption' that I at least come from a middle income family, as you put it, but you made it sound like you had full confidence and knowledge that I came from a rich background - a 'privileged, wealthy family'. I'm just concerned that others reading your post would make the assumption that you were speaking from a vantage point of fact.
Also, if you want to say that I am being 'groomed' by being in the education system, sure, if you want to call it that. I didn't learn what I learned about Singaporean politics from school, but I'll be the first to admit that an education helped, and that the ministry's aim in the education system is to 'groom' youngsters who are informed and expressive. The extent of their success in grooming these youngsters is a separate and debatable issue.
Nutcracker:
No worries, it's an easy assumption to make, if not a valid one. AC -is- chock full of rich kids. And again, I'm not poor lah. But our family does have its share of financial woes :) more than that I'm sure you won't expect me to say. Thanks much for your encouragement, and I hope to hear more from you!
Mezzo: Dun feel bad, a good discussion is worth having any time any where. :)
Galye: Dun worry too much about what others may say, just keep coming up with those great posts of yours! :)
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