Public Seating - A Call for Equality!

As a student, I have to say that I sometimes feel like I am always on the losing end of the stick when it comes to public transport. Even if I were to look at it from another point of view, not just as a student – there’s really just something wrong with how our system works. Of course, I’m not saying that the situation is so serious that we would have to pick up our wooden signs and pitch-folks and revolt. However, I just believe that some change is required.

Example of the "Entitlement" group

Yes, I agree that the elderly deserve seats. In fact, more often than not, we rarely have a problem giving up our seats for such commuters. But then we have another component of commuters’ altogether. More specifically, I refer to a rather unfortunate group made up of people who do not actually need these seats - but still feel more or less entitled to them.

I find that some people have the tendency of assuming that we younger people do nothing but have fun the whole day with our everlasting enthusiasm and energy. Likewise, many workers dressed in their suits or uniforms are looked over and considered ‘energetic’ and ‘youthful’ enough to give up their seats to others. Yes, I agree that us younger people might be more ‘energetic’ than others. However, it definitely can’t be said that we have nothing to do with ourselves the whole day. With our education system, most of us barely have any time leftover for sleep! Adding on to that, work-life isn’t just a piece of cake either – most workers face enormous stress and undertake huge responsibilities throughout the day. They start early and end late, and the demands put on them can be ridiculously overbearing.

Please don't make this a reality. Really, some students here don't even enjoy cheap ticketing!

Now, consider the distance – some of us are put through hour-long train rides everyday. Students are expected to lug heavy books, stationery – and in my case, even a laptop – to our schools or to home. Workers aren’t much more fortunate either – they have their own briefcases or equipment that must be brought to work. Then think about these other commuters – yes, there will be those who actually have somewhere important to get to and something heavy to lug around. However, some of them really rarely have anything important to do with their time. They spend their days going out without any stress or pressure, and they transit to and from home in complete ease and comfort. Of course, some of these commuters might be having some problems of their own. Yes, more often than not, they are given the benefit of the doubt and the seat. However, younger people do have difficulties too. Like I mentioned before – we spend our days studying and working – quite honestly, it can’t be denied that one day we’d be the ones counted on to bring our economy forward. Either that, or we, as workers, can already be considered to be the ones carrying the burden of the economy!

Of course, I can’t contest the fact that many of these older citizens have contributed greatly to the economy back in their day. They were instrumental pieces in getting us where we are now. Of course we wouldn’t hesitate to give up our seats to these commuters when they need them. However, what I really meant to bring across is the need to abolish the mindset amongst the older generations that they, by default, are absolutely entitled to these seats.

This, I support!

I apologize if I have come off as too harsh or too critical. I understand that there will always be commuters who will need those seats more than us. However, I would just like to point out that us students and those in the working population deserve these seats as much as anybody else. I highly doubt that any of us would be unwilling to give up our seats if we know that it is the right thing to do. However, I just feel that it isn’t right for any particular group of commuters to believe these seats are automatically entitled to them. Every one of us has problems of our own, and we shouldn’t feel guilty about taking a seat when we need them. So I would like you, dear reader, to consider a system where nobody is perpetually expected to stand on the losing side of the field!

Thank you for your time, dear reader. 

*When it is really the right thing to do.

Please do not hesitate to send in any of your own thoughts or feedback to Ordinarysgkid@hotmail.com or to follow me on twitter at @NatKathXo :) Comments on the article itself is welcomed too! Please share the article if you happen to find it interesting! :)

Credits: Google for Images. First: wan.kindness.sg Second: Singaporeseen.stomp.sg. Third: youngntuc.com.sg. Fourth:thesavvymummy.wordpress.com 

Recount: Zadig & Voltaire

 Hey guys, just a brief recount of my experience at the Zadig & Voltaire Fall/Winter 2012 event. Here is a little peek at what the event looked like:

Male model for Zadig et Voltaire

Bobbi Brown Make-up Showcase

Fashionable blogger

Brief overview of the room

Sticker received at the door

A free gift my friend received

Stickers on our arms!

Model posing around the room

A sticker on another party attendee

Female model

I arrived at about 7.45pm (the event started officially at 7.30pm) and the place was already teeming with people. Glasses of champagne and canapés were being handed around the crowd and the excited chattering went on amidst the start of the Bobbi Brown Make-up tutorial. Shortly after the Bobbi Brown demonstration, there was a mini-fashion show where the two models walked around the room and made various poses amongst the other guests. Finally, towards the end, there was a photo-taking session with the models before people were left to talk and mingle with the other attendees. 

It was a wonderful evening with many gorgeous and interesting people in attendance. I especially enjoyed the fashion show that they had with the two beautiful models. The way they walked all around the room and posed for pictures really caught all of our attention and highlighted the quality and elegance of the clothes. The Bobbi 

Brown make-up demonstration was a little disappointing because it was hard to hear much over the music and the chattering. However, it was able to get across the right techniques and I am definitely still impressed.

Male model

Overall, the event was well planned and organized and it really managed to show-off their stylish designs. I really enjoyed it and I can only give kudos to the organizing committee and everybody else who had attended for making it such a success!

Thank you for your time J

Please do not hesitate to send in any of your own thoughts or feedback to Ordinarysgkid@hotmail.com or to follow me on twitter at @NatKathXo :) Comments on the article itself is welcomed too! Please share the article if you happen to find it interesting! :)

The Celebrity Bandwagon and Fame

Paris Hilton hounded by the Paparazzi

I have lots of friends who tell me that they want to make it big in the entertainment industry. While this is a noble and ambitious dream, I sometimes feel like such people are oblivious to the downsides of becoming a celebrity. Even worse – we have other overly enthusiastic people point out to us how being famous is like heaven on earth. “What’s not to love?” they exclaim. “You have everything you ever wanted handed to you on a silver platter!”

Well, I can’t deny that there are definitely perks to achieving any positive form of fame. There would be a sense of recognition and accomplishment, limitless benefits and opportunities – and, most importantly, the feeling of superiority and affluence that comes as an added bonus. However, hardly anything comes without a downside of some kind.

I believe that the worst thing that a celebrity is forced to endure is the absurd lack of privacy. Of course, I’m not saying that it is impossible to maintain any personal space. Yet, sometimes, there’s just no telling what somebody else is willing to do to benefit themselves – even if it makes your life a living hell. Let’s consider the latest Kate Middleton photo scandal. I have ‘friends’ who find it immensely amusing – worse still, they take the stand that it happens to be an incident has been a long time coming. For example:

“They should have taken some precautions like stepping up their security. They should have expected the Paparazzi would be there to capture the "sensual" moment.”

These comments were accompanied with a self-edited photo that shows a grossly incorrect and small-minded take on the matter:

Does it really seem plausible that Kate Middleton would stage a publication containing half-naked photos of herself just to attract attention? I believe that this doesn’t just showcase the writer’s small-minded take on the life of a celebrity in general– it also exhibits a total lack of respect by insulting Kate’s integrity as a woman. 

Celebrities are human too – they have feelings and pride of their own, just like us. I highly doubt that anybody would purposely seek any form of negative attention. And even more ridiculous – how could they possibly be at fault just because they had thought that they would be safe to act at ease?

Britney Spears

What I really meant to call attention to is the ridiculous lack of discretion and personal space that such celebrities are put through. Frankly, I believe that it would feel horrible to have our lives and personal details available to the public like an open storybook. 

To add on to that point, it can't be denied that any form of normalcy may be hard to come by once fame is achieved. There would be no more casual get-togethers with friends in public or easy dinners out. Having adoring fans might feel pleasant and exciting at first, but the novelty of it may soon lose its luster. Not to sound too extreme, but this lack of freedom may soon take on the mental similarity of an iron cage. 

This doesn’t just affect the celebrity as a person – anybody closely associated with the celebrity is now vulnerable. Even the family members of the celebrity must now be wary of their own actions in public. Of course, it might not necessarily be such a bad thing to be associated with a celebrity. However, it might not really be all that appealing when you are hounded down by rabid paparazzi just because of your relationship of association with somebody else.

Another downside that arises from the existence of fame is the paranoia and unfortunate reality that not everybody around the celebrity really cares about their success.  Many celebrities refrain from making any new friends besides those in their own circle of exposure. This may not necessarily be a bad thing, but it can be hard to stomach the fact that the people around you are so often cutting you down behind your back.

Demi Lovato

Finally, the least-worrisome aspect of being a celebrity would be the hard work that comes with it. I believe that this isn’t really something too hard to deal with because, let’s face it – everything you do in life requires some form of hard work. However, for celebrities, such hard work also comes with the watchful public eye. Celebrities who are unable to withstand the pressure may resort to horrible outlets. For example, take Demi Lovato and her self-mutilation. Would she have been driven so far if such a tremendous load of stress hadn’t been placed on her?

I suppose that you might be wondering what exactly I wanted to bring across to you with this article. Well, I guess that I have just grown tired of people always commenting about celebrities like they aren’t even human – like they live to cause trouble and seek attention. Or even worse - people who perceive fame as a special paradise where nothing can ever go wrong. I hope that the next time you encounter somebody with a similarly ridiculous mind-set, you might encourage them to look at both sides of the fence before making a baseless remark! I leave it up to you now, dear reader!

Please don't hesitate to send in any of your own thoughts or feedback to Ordinarysgkid@hotmail.com or to follow me on twitter at @NatKathXo :) Comments on the article itself is welcomed too! Please share the article if you happen to find it interesting! :)

Credits: Google for Images. First: newsflash.org, Second: local blog, Third:sodahead.com, Fourth:Seventeen.