Man frustrated with his xenophobic friend on Facebook

Happened to spot this on Facebook today & saw a conversation of a man being frustrated with his xenophobic friend. Decided to screenshot and cover their identities. I do not intend to reveal their identities as I do not want this issue to blow. Best to let them handle this among themselves. One thing for sure, xenophobia is alive. I wish this man success in counseling his friend against xenophobia.

 

Alternative Media Code of Conduct: Doing the RIGHT way.

Little Fish has received feedback & observed comments from Facebook & other sources. Most with hateful remarks while some with encouraging remarks. Some says Little Fish is from China while some says Little Fish will be cooked if CSI team caught me. Worst comment is some called me a PAP boot-licker & dickhead. Little Fish appreciates all kinds of feedback anyway. I can understand your frustration, hope you can understand why I am Speaking Up Against Xenophobia & exposes the source of spread in cyberspace.

Now on positive note, I will blog below about "Alternative Media Code of Conduct: Doing the RIGHT way."

Some people recognizes the flaws & choose not to read such websites. Some people doesn't recognize the flaws and still read such harmful websites. For me, I read with a pinch of salt. Still there is gotta be somebody else who comes forward to expose the flaws to open up your eyes & mind.

"Your Mind Works Only When it is Open"

Please look at the screenshot I took some time to browse and demonstrate below.

The Temasek Review = Fail
(with 54,000 'Likes' on Facebook & '1 million readers' on their website.)

Up to date, they are still clueless whether to impose their own Code of Conduct to extend having to seek readers for their inputs. No moderation, flaming & vulgarities break out. Sometimes you can see racist remarks.

"What is the 'norm' of online behavior accepted on this page? Should we start censoring certain words, hate speech and 'extreme' views against foreigners here? Please feel free to discuss and offer your input." - The Temasek Review.


Temasek Review = Fail.
(with 9,500 'Likes' on Facebook)

Confusing people with 'Caption Please'. One can wonder whether it is Temasek Review (TR) who creates it themselves to incite Xenophobia hate or TR took it off somewhere else and ask for captions. Overall it's distasteful & irked a few sensible readers off. You may see the other screenshot of their readers comments below.

 

The Online Citizen = Pass.
(with 49,000 'Likes' on Facebook)

Their moderators did a good job. In my opinion, TOC keeps to their fences well to receive good inputs.

"Dear Jackson, we are removing your post as we do not believe it is appropriate of you to criticize Dr Paulin Straughn based on who she has chosen to marry and his nationality. Also, please refrain from using vulgarities on our page. Thanks." - The Online Citizen




TR Emeritus = Just Pass.
(with 2,100 'Likes' on Facebook)


"Editor’s note: While this may be a good idea, there is no way of knowing and verifying if the information provided is genuine. As such, it may be subjected to abuse." Source: [Click here]

Just Pass is because he doesn't seem to get what DPM Teo says. [Refer to here] 


Still gotta give him credit for efforts to moderate though not as 'popular' as 'The Temasek Review'. (which he claims is the FAKE).




Lastly, MP for Aljunied GRC Pritam Singh asked:

"MP Pritam Singh speaks up on the Code of Conduct.

An unusually large number of PAP leaders are speaking about a code of conduct online. I am unsure what such a code would achieve in practice. I believe a counter-intuitive approach from the government would be better insofar as political issues are concerned, paralleled by greater government transparency and accountability in real world. Encourage Singaporeans to speak up even more and share their concerns with Ministers and MPs. Otherwise, a government-sanctioned code of conduct would be perceived as a tool to ring-fence critical views. What are your thoughts?"

In my reply to MP Pritam Singh:


While online internet is a good platform for Singaporeans to voice out & share their concerns, it can also become a bad platform if not used or delivered correctly. Some alternative medias (as shown on screen shot above) comes with or without their own code of conduct. Those without the code of conduct can run amok as they please. People with bad propaganda will penetrate through & bring harm to our society. It can also make things difficult for the people & government to work closely together to build our nation. It also includes the Opposition Parties as well.

 
Respects,
Little Fish   

The Temasek Review Caught Red-Handed 'Smearing' Andrew Loh

Dear Readers,

Please speak up in fairness for Andrew Loh. For those who reads his blog knows Andrew Loh gives a fair and balanced view on social and political issues. Please look at the screenshot I caught The Temasek Review today. Please wake up and open your eyes if The Temasek Review is a good alternative media to follow? How can this kind of Media that urges their readers to 'Boycott' somebody?

They are doing exactly the opposite of what they self-proclaim themselves as 'Fair, Balanced and Responsible Journalism' That is totally disgusting and a load of CRAP!

For more info on Andrew Loh and who he is; you may find the link below.

http://publichouse.sg/categories/itemlist/user/63-andrewloh

Please note from Straits Times by Tessa Wong: Source <Click here>

Internet can 'help unite or divide society'
News | Updated today at 06:00 AM

Globalisation could be a double-edged phenomenon that could make or break a society's cohesiveness but so can technology, said Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean.

'On one hand, they can help us to find common ground; on the other, they may accentuate differences and drive us apart,' he said in his speech at the annual National Community Engagement Programme Dialogue yesterday.

The Internet has made the transfer of information more efficient, brought together people across the world, and mobilised people to do good, he said.

But the downside could be increased physical isolation.

'For instance, a person who chooses to spend most of his time in front of the computer screen may have many Facebook 'friends', but end up not knowing or speaking with his neighbour, who lives right next door,' said Mr Teo.

By affording anonymity, the Internet can also encourage people to take on more extreme views than might otherwise be the case, and amplify these views even though they might be in the minority.

Along with extreme views, social media has also made it easier for terrorist organisations like Al-Qaeda to spread their ideological messages quicker and further.

'This has given rise to the emerging concern of more 'lone wolf' terrorists, who are indoctrinated by radical ideologies through the Internet and social media,' he said.

But while extremism thrives on divisiveness, it also rallies people together when they unite to reject extremism, as was seen in Singapore during the Jemaah Islamiah arrests in 2001, he said.

He cited an example of how local Muslim religious leaders set up a rehabilitation group to counsel the JI detainees, and helped them to eventually integrate back into society.

The Temasek Review - Original Source of Xenophobia (part 1)

Like many of you, I am also one of the reader of 'The Temasek Review'. They claim to be the alternative media for the general public with 54,000 'Likes' on their Facebook page and they also claim their website reaches out to 1 million readers.

I thought it was cool to see the other side of opposition media which I have not seen before & after spending several months reading with caution, I feel disgusted when they start their anti-foreigner publications to boast the ego of xenophobic Singaporeans. Emotions are stirred up, flaming and vulgarities can be seen on all over their past articles and walls. I have collected some screenshot examples and pointed out the xenophobia symptoms & behavior. (This post is part 1 with few more to come)


Origins of The Temasek Review: The Temasek Review is owned and operated by a company registered in Panama and its Managing Editor is Ms Molina Han.  As of now, it does not have any full-time journalists based in Singapore. Info Last Date: 16 April 2011.>> (See more here)

Current website of The Temasek Review> Click here

One can wonder why they are based overseas and the identities of their group is unknown. They get their source mainly from hardwarezone forum & anonymous contributors. One can question how reliable is their source & the 'Truth' they report to 54,000 Facebook readers and 1 million website readers? (refer to screenshot below example case of mistaken identity Kenneth Milana) How are the readers going to hold them accountable? How are victims gonna able to sue them? Do they even have their Code of Conduct like the registered Media Companies in Singapore? Fair, Balanced & Responsible Journalism indeed. You judge!

Please refer to the Straits Times on 19 April 2012 by Ms. Tessa Wong where they discovered the truth. "Wrong boy targeted in online witch-hunt for noisy drummer"

Image 1

Image 2

Image 3

Their apology is published here right at bottom of their article: Click here.

On 28 April 2012, Channel News Asia published the story "Social media is a double-edged sword: DPM Teo" Please read the story there. Take note of the highlight below.

"Anonymity on the Internet emboldens people, encouraging them to take on more extreme views than they might otherwise. The Internet also amplifies the extreme views even though they might be in the minority, and virtual mobs form to cheer or jeer, which only help to accentuate the differences, polarise and inflame emotions further," he said. - By Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean




The Temasek Review posted another of DPM Teo's article on their Facebook wall and as soon their readers receive on their feed, see what happens below. (screenshot)

My previous post: Please click here: Xenophobia: Identifying its Symptoms & Behavior



P/S: Little Fish is not a Pro-PAP or Pro-Opp. Little Fish is a Pro-Singaporean. Little Fish only wants to publish this post to let public viewers judge for themselves after observe & analyze in all fairness. 


The end of Part 1.

Xenophobia: Identifying Symptoms & Behavior

What is Xenophobia?

Xenophobia - Fear of strangers or foreigners.

A key feature of social phobia is the person's fear that he will experience embarrassment and feel humiliated if his behaviour does not meet his own preconceived standard in front of foriegners. The social phobic typically fears that he will behave either inadequately or excessively, or in a manner which will attract the adverse criticism and judgement of others. Commonly, he fears that his anxiety will manifest itself in a visible way such as by blushing, trembling, particularly of the hands, having a quavering voice or stammering, not being able to make eye contact, becoming 'tongue-tied', experiencing nausea, vomiting and the urgent need to urinate.

Symptoms of Xenophobia

Xenophobics commonly have low self-esteem, assuming that they are evaluated negatively and critically by others in a social context and fearing such judgements. They may have a critical standard of behaviour which they have set for themselves and, in the phobic situation, they engage in constant self­monitoring for signs that they are falling below the ideal. If the social phobic fails in his own estimation to meet his critical standard, it may have the effect of further undermining his already low self-esteem.

Social phobics may also be on the lookout for signs of negative judgements being made about them by other people. In fact, they may be hypersensitive to perfectly innocuous signs or remarks from others and misinterpret these as criticism. The social phobic is already anxious when he enters the feared situation and may well be in a state of heightened physiological arousal (for example raised heartbeat rate, sweating, etc). It is thought that these physical symptoms reinforce the process of self-monitoring, in that the person believes that they are a sign of impending social failure and that they are highly visible and obvious to others.

The person becomes even more self-vigilant which may well have the effect of increasing his physical symptoms of anxiety. All this, combined with his lack of self-worth and low expectations, leads to a reduced likelihood of achieving social success.

Source Link: Click here

Dangers of Xenophobia

Extreme xenophobia can lead to a general isolation of a person or even a group of persons. Also, a xenophobic person will almost always come off as bigoted in some way to non-suffers, creating an even more isolated world view. While xenophobia does not start off as racism or bigotry exactly, it can easily morph into these without education and treatment. This is why treatment for xenophobia is recommended if the symptoms appear.

Source link: Click here


Hope this information helps,

Little Fish

Speak Up Against Xenophobia in Singapore is now on Facebook!

 

Facebook link: Speak Up Against Xenophobia in Singapore

Please 'Like' & 'Share' Thank You!

The New Paper: 'It's against what we took years to build.'

Dear Ms. Esther Ng from TNP,

Little Fish sincerely wants to say thank you very much for publishing part of my blog contents on your article in TNP, 27 April 2012, page 6. (photo: image below) It is a good step forward to bring awareness to urge Singaporeans to speak up against xenophobia in Singapore. I am sure many of your TNP readers will find your article a good food for thought to identify the bad elements of xenophobia.

Have a good weekend!

Salute & Respect,

Little Fish

Little Fish has received feedback that the above image can't be read. Hence I have attached the link below from AsiaOne. Link is here>> Click here

Story below:

By Special Correspondent
The New Paper
Sunday, Apr 29, 2012

Whenever there is a road accident involving a bus driver and a pedestrian, netizens are quick to assume the bus driver is a Chinese national and would then launch diatribes on their driving skills.

Foreign scholar Sun Xu called Singaporeans "dogs" and described the standards of public hygiene in Singapore as being "deplorable". He was then flamed mercilessly by netizens even after he apologised and was fined $3,000 by the National University of Singapore.

Now, a few Singaporeans are speaking up against xenophobia.

A blogger, "Little Fish", had set up a blog, "Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining" to highlight the dangers of xenophobia.

In its first entry on Wednesday, it posted screen shots of The Temasek Review's Facebook wall post.

It highlighted how Singapore needs some 25,000 new citizens each year to keep the population stable and to support a growing pool of elderly Singaporeans.

This is so that by 2016, there would be 100,000 new citizens to keep the People's Action Party in power.

"Little Fish" questioned how it arrived at that assumption.

"Doesn't (sic) the new citizens have a mind of its own? Isn't 'The Temasek Review' misleading the public?" he asked.

"Little Fish" describes himself as a young Singaporean and a "moderate political observer who shares his moderate views to readers in his country of birth" and "doesn't have any political party".

The New Paper tried to contact him, but he did not reply by press time. No comments had been posted on the blog, though there were three "recommends" on Google+ .

In his second post yesterday, "Little Fish" noted that a Google search for "foreign trash" turned up results such as "foreign trash singapore", which prompted the blogger to say: "We can wonder what some Singaporeans have evolved into today."

While "Little Fish" recognised that Singaporeans "may not like" foreigners from "third world (countries)", he said that "it doesn't give us the right to discriminate against them especially to those innocent people who have done nothing wrong to us".

He called on Singaporeans to do better than succumb to xenophobia.

"It goes against the human rights, multi-racial and peaceful harmony where we Singaporeans took many years to bond together to build up."

The New Paper (TNP) reader Lawrence Chowdhurie admitted that he used to resent foreigners in Singapore until a recent incident changed his mind.

A taxi driver had blocked him from filtering to the left lane, but a Caucasian motorist allowed him to do so.

"Through this experience, I thought to myself, why are many of us, myself included, complaining about foreigners, when many of us are just as guilty," he said in an e-mail to TNP.

In an article posted on The Kent Ridge Common, a National University of Singapore newspaper, a Singaporean student spoke up for Chinese national students, amid the Sun Xu saga.

"I write because I fear what xenophobia may cause and because I'm tired of tolerating prejudices."

As the topic was so sensitive, the paper said that it decided to keep the identity of the author anonymous.

Member of Parliament for Tampines GRC Baey Yam Keng welcomed Singaporeans speaking out against xenophobia.

"We must remain open and not be biased, because sometimes what we read is not accurate," Mr Baey told TNP. When a newspaper report on how a neighbourly dispute over curry was resolved sparked an online furore last August, Law and Foreign Affairs Minister K Shanmugam weighed in on the matter.

He clarified that the incident had taken place about seven years ago and that the settlement had been suggested by one of the two parties, and not the mediator who was present.

He had then said: "We must affirm our Singaporean identity and must protect it. (But) at the same time, let's not turn this into a xenophobic attack on foreigners in general."

While sociologist and former Nominated MP Paulin Straughan recognised that much of these negative comments were Singaporeans venting their frustrations through new media, she was concerned that such behaviour had become "normalised".

She said: "In my parents' generation, we were very mindful not to use race or religion against each other because it will destroy us."

Noting Singaporean's concerns on the Government's projection that Singapore would need 25,000 new citizens annually to mitigate some of the effects of a shrinking workforce, Associate Professor Straughan said Singapore needs to target its catch of new citizens better instead of simply growing the non-resident population.

"We need to attract younger immigrants who have spent some time working here, and who might want to start a family here."

She added: "This noise is detrimental to us because we're pushing away people with options, and we could end up with people with no options.

"People with not enough assets to go elsewhere, but come here because we've certain gaps in the economy, because there's money to be made.

"If that happens, we'll end up with a lower quality of immigrants," she said.

Meanwhile, to help residents and new immigrants forge friendships, the Integration and Naturalisation Champions and grassroots leaders organised a carnival yesterday at the Singapore Zoological Gardens.

This article was first published in The New Paper.

 

Understanding why Xenophobia is a DISEASE in our society.

I refer to my first post in ‘Speak up Against Xenophobia’ where I highlighted ‘Xenophobia is equivalent to R-A-C-I-S-M’. Foreigners come to visit or work Singapore from all over the world. You may see them in different class or races. You may not like those foreigners coming from ‘third world country’ who displays their disgusting habits, bad mannerism or anti-social culture but it doesn’t give us the right to discriminate against them especially to those innocent people who have done nothing wrong to us.

One or two black sheep here doesn’t warrant the whole lots of them from the same country are the same black sheep. This kind of mindset is very shallow. Those foreigners who break the law in Singapore will be dealt with. That’s why the law is here in place. We should not take matters into our own hands and go to the extremes; both online in cyberspace & reality. That’s where we will sink to the level of xenophobia; a DISEASE. Your mind and heart will be filled with hatred & full of negativity. You can never be happy unless you eliminate the xenophobia within yourself and walk out from it, and to be free. 

This form of xenophobia act is totally wrong. It goes against the human rights, multi-racial & peaceful harmony where we, Singaporeans took many years to bond together, to build up & we are proud of it. 

As Singaporeans, we are all educated people. Our children are easily able to access to education everywhere in a small cosmopolitan country; therefore I trust that we, Singaporeans can do much better than to allow xenophobia to get the better of us. Would you want your children to learn from your bad examples? 

As long you have resentment against a foreigner/ PR or new citizens, your own behavior will create unhappiness be it in workplace, neighborhood or public places. You won't be able to work in sync with your foreign colleague, you won't be able to communicate or form a bond between yourself and your neighbors. In public places such as restaurants, public transports & services, you would have no qualms about lashing out your complaints/ unhappiness against them. The anger and resentment is all up in your mind. The only solution is to free yourself from discrimination and prejudices starting today! 

"You are responsible for how you feel no matter what one does to you. Remember, you are always in control of your thoughts so choose to feel confident and adequate rather than angry and insecure." 

Let’s give us a minute to think about it & proceed to the facts below.

Now let’s face reality. I will list out some facts below.

1)       How many of us have traveled out of Singapore to visit China, India, United States, Australia, Philippines, Thailand and more.

2)       How many of us have ventured overseas to work with foreigners both in and out of Singapore?

3)       How many of us know the historical fact that Singapore has always been dependent on immigrants for its economic prosperity?

4)       How many of us local citizens who have foreign spouses who eventually become new citizens & gave you a lovely home, family and kids?

5)       How many of your spouses who are ‘New Citizens’ receive or experience such treatments from xenophobia people?

A Google search engine for ‘Foreign Trash’ has taken me by surprise. Here is a screen shot of it below. We can wonder what some Singaporeans have evolved into today. 

 

Please ‘SHARE’ this article to your Facebook wall today to create awareness to Speak Up Against Xenophobia!

With Salute & Respect,

Little Fish

Speak Up Against Xenophobia in Singapore

Xenophobia is equivalent to R-A-C-I-S-M if many of you are unaware.

Remember our National Pledge where you sing it everyday in schools when you are kids?

"We, the citizens of Singapore,

pledge ourselves as one united people,

regardless of race, language or religion,

to build a democratic society

based on justice and equality

so as to achieve happiness, prosperity and

progress for our nation."

In what way has xenophobia contribute to unity, democracy, equality, happiness, prosperity & progress for yourself & your country?

Look at an example below.

Another example below:-

So now you may judge for yourselves who are the ones trying to create a social disharmony & spread xenophobia in Singapore. Wake up!

On other hand, if the opposition supporters firmly believes that the 100,000 new citizens will vote the PAP back into power, it will come true. Your xenophobia acts against new citizens/ PRs or foreigners will really bite you back twice hard. Opposition parties who worked hard to be your voices in parliament will lose all credibility due to your OWN BEHAVIOR.