The world is constantly advocating freedom. But what is freedom? Can you give a definition of it? Freedom is the power to decide what you want and to do whatever you like. Okay, fair enough. That sounds desirable. But is this freedom advocated by the world really that desirable? I can think of a few things I've heard people say, claiming the exact opposite (maybe) without realizing it.
Example 1:
Girl 1: Huhh I got nothing to wear! I wore this top two days ago leh, cannot repeat or else people will know!
Girl 2: Ya lor, I also got no more clothes to wear already!
Girl 1: Haiya.. I wished we had uniforms. Every day just wear the same thing, don't need to think so much about what to wear and don't need to waste so much time every morning.
Girl 2: Ya ya! I always late because I cannot find clothes to wear!
*Disclaimer: 'Nothing' here is not to be taken literally. In girls' POVs, we can have a walk-in closet bursting with clothes and have 'nothing' to wear.
Guys, don't bother trying to understand this because I think you'll most likely fail haha. I'm guilty of such conversations. In fact, I think I say that quite often. I really love uniforms. I'm not really interested in looking trendy or following the current fad, so give me a set of clothes to wear for the rest of my life I'll thank you. But of course, I would like to dress up once in awhile la. Think of our sec sch/jc times, we have a certain set of uniform to put on every day but there were variations such as PE tee and/or tie-day. And we had the freedom of wearing the shoes we liked (more so in JC, sec sch was limited to white). And there's also prom, an elaborate dinner function with an equally elaborate dress code. Sure, many people complained about their uniforms when they were still schooling, I don't know about you but I sure did miss my uniforms after I graduated. And I still miss my pinafore and my JC 'mini-skirt'. In fact, I decided to ditch prom because I found dressing up for it too much of a hassle.
Example 2:
Girl 1: OMG this pair of shoes is so pretty!!
Girl 2: YEA, and omg they have it in other colours too! The green and pink and navy blue one also very nice!!
Girl 1: AHHH. I want to buy all of them! How ah? Which colour is the nicest??
Girl 2: Hmm don't know leh.. I think all very nice ><
Girl 1: Yalor, shit la. I don't know which one to buy leh.
...Spends 1 hour deciding...
Yayaya, I'm talking about myself. I'm the most indecisive shopper on this planet. People who have shopped with me should know how long I take to decide on something, much worse if there are colour or design variations. In a way, freedom is the ability to choose which we like best and there better be many choices to choose from (the world is big on choices). Don't get me wrong, I don't think it's a bad thing to have choices but think of the olden times when people didn't have so many choices available. Some people might label them 'deprived', but I think there's so much joy in simplicity, people were happier back then. In our current society where we are 'spoilt for choice', are we any happier than the people in the olden times? If we weren't slaves to our smart phones (they aren't called smart for no reason), if we didn't have societal problems like bankruptcy due to credit card overuse/loans, might we not be happier? And most of us, I dare say, have an abundance of stuff that we don't use anymore or have only used it once after buying them. There is so much wastage of resources! I felt it very acutely when I was moving house. I don't even need half of the stuff that I own (not talking about wanting).
So what led me to this topic? This morning as I was going about settling stuff like visa and apartment problems, it struck me that living alone carries so much responsibility with it. The bulk of people who go overseas to study do so to break free from their parents, they crave the freedom that comes with being independent. I know alot of people do enjoy that freedom, but I sure don't enjoy having to pay endless bills, always having to be mindful of the due dates, settling bank stuff when I don't get half of how the system even works, having to take care of myself from cooking my meals to doing the laundry. It always makes me miss home. Yes, you may say I'm spoilt and pampered, but my grouse is not that there's no one to take care of all my needs, but just simply that freedom is overrated.
If our society continues to go down this path of pro-freedom, pro-choice, what would our world be like in 100 years time? If someone had asked that question 100 years ago, I would answer him this: gay marriages, abortion, divorce, alienation from society, war.
Redefine freedom. True freedom doesn't result in a whole bunch of societal problems, but in true happiness and joy.
Example 1:
Girl 1: Huhh I got nothing to wear! I wore this top two days ago leh, cannot repeat or else people will know!
Girl 2: Ya lor, I also got no more clothes to wear already!
Girl 1: Haiya.. I wished we had uniforms. Every day just wear the same thing, don't need to think so much about what to wear and don't need to waste so much time every morning.
Girl 2: Ya ya! I always late because I cannot find clothes to wear!
*Disclaimer: 'Nothing' here is not to be taken literally. In girls' POVs, we can have a walk-in closet bursting with clothes and have 'nothing' to wear.
Guys, don't bother trying to understand this because I think you'll most likely fail haha. I'm guilty of such conversations. In fact, I think I say that quite often. I really love uniforms. I'm not really interested in looking trendy or following the current fad, so give me a set of clothes to wear for the rest of my life I'll thank you. But of course, I would like to dress up once in awhile la. Think of our sec sch/jc times, we have a certain set of uniform to put on every day but there were variations such as PE tee and/or tie-day. And we had the freedom of wearing the shoes we liked (more so in JC, sec sch was limited to white). And there's also prom, an elaborate dinner function with an equally elaborate dress code. Sure, many people complained about their uniforms when they were still schooling, I don't know about you but I sure did miss my uniforms after I graduated. And I still miss my pinafore and my JC 'mini-skirt'. In fact, I decided to ditch prom because I found dressing up for it too much of a hassle.
Example 2:
Girl 1: OMG this pair of shoes is so pretty!!
Girl 2: YEA, and omg they have it in other colours too! The green and pink and navy blue one also very nice!!
Girl 1: AHHH. I want to buy all of them! How ah? Which colour is the nicest??
Girl 2: Hmm don't know leh.. I think all very nice ><
Girl 1: Yalor, shit la. I don't know which one to buy leh.
...Spends 1 hour deciding...
Yayaya, I'm talking about myself. I'm the most indecisive shopper on this planet. People who have shopped with me should know how long I take to decide on something, much worse if there are colour or design variations. In a way, freedom is the ability to choose which we like best and there better be many choices to choose from (the world is big on choices). Don't get me wrong, I don't think it's a bad thing to have choices but think of the olden times when people didn't have so many choices available. Some people might label them 'deprived', but I think there's so much joy in simplicity, people were happier back then. In our current society where we are 'spoilt for choice', are we any happier than the people in the olden times? If we weren't slaves to our smart phones (they aren't called smart for no reason), if we didn't have societal problems like bankruptcy due to credit card overuse/loans, might we not be happier? And most of us, I dare say, have an abundance of stuff that we don't use anymore or have only used it once after buying them. There is so much wastage of resources! I felt it very acutely when I was moving house. I don't even need half of the stuff that I own (not talking about wanting).
So what led me to this topic? This morning as I was going about settling stuff like visa and apartment problems, it struck me that living alone carries so much responsibility with it. The bulk of people who go overseas to study do so to break free from their parents, they crave the freedom that comes with being independent. I know alot of people do enjoy that freedom, but I sure don't enjoy having to pay endless bills, always having to be mindful of the due dates, settling bank stuff when I don't get half of how the system even works, having to take care of myself from cooking my meals to doing the laundry. It always makes me miss home. Yes, you may say I'm spoilt and pampered, but my grouse is not that there's no one to take care of all my needs, but just simply that freedom is overrated.
If our society continues to go down this path of pro-freedom, pro-choice, what would our world be like in 100 years time? If someone had asked that question 100 years ago, I would answer him this: gay marriages, abortion, divorce, alienation from society, war.
Redefine freedom. True freedom doesn't result in a whole bunch of societal problems, but in true happiness and joy.
2 comments:
Like. And fyi, my mom is full of praises for you. She thinks you're very independent. haha (and complains that i'm the opposite)
If you were put in the same circumstances as me, I'm sure you'll be independent too. At our next stage of life (ie getting married, moving out & starting a familY), you'll see how independent you become haha.
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