I swear, sometimes people just can’t let go of things – past, present, drama, whatever la. It’s bad enough that we have real life dramas at home, at the workplace and even in our relationships, be it with friends or family. But an e-drama between ‘neighbours’?
It started yesterday evening when minishorts dearest kicked a link over regarding some XiaXue post entitled “I’m hungry” (or something to that effect). I didn’t have time to check it out since I was in a rush to settle some stuff. Anyway, that night, I logged on and after a while of boredom, checked out her pinkified blog entry. Nice template although I have one complain to make – she really needs to resize her pictures (it takes a while for everything to load. Gack!) OR stop putting so many pictures on one page! @_@
I felt that it was typical of her, after having observed what happened during the previous e-drama where we got lambasted just before the country’s big birthday. Thought it was slightly bordering on insensitive but what’s new? There are people like that in this world. You either learn to get on with the programme or face the possibility of dying young from getting your panties in a knot every time someone says something unpleasant / stupid / silly / immature / whatever that doesn’t rock your boat.
THEN lo and behold, just after lunch, while I was checking on PPS, I see a string of links pointing to the supposed ‘stupidity’ of XiaXue. You know, for someone as ‘stupid’ as she is, getting free manicures, hairdoes, and other advertising stuffies plus some writing on the side – that ends up in the form of a nice, quite fat and steady income for her – while she doesn’t have to lift a finger or brave the workplace like the rest of us isn’t really stupid. And at her age as well.
Speaking of her age, did anyone of us remember what we were like at 21? The things we thought of? The stuff we wrote? Are we saying that being ‘ambassador’ of her country’s blogsphere means that irrespective of age, she’s suppose to behave like an old fart – all sensible and what-nots? Alright. Fair shot. BUT then, ladies and gents, get this – even old farts aren’t sensible ALL the time.
I’m disappointed to see that every time an e-drama occurs (especially when stirred up by our lovely neighbour down south), people jump the gun and ultimately, fall into the biggest blackest sin of them all – the pot calling the kettle black.
We accuse her of lack of maturity when we ourselves label her with names like “BITCH”, “IDIOTIC”, and “STUPID”. Hello? Like how matured is that??? Does it help the situation at all?
We accuse her of being ignorant when we ourselves don’t do anything to educate others about facilities for the disabled (except for a few out there la).
We accuse her of stirring up a hornet’s nest when we ourselves, not happy with just bitching in her comments, put up the very same comments on our own blog and bitch her about somemore. Tsk tsk. Ever heard of the words ‘batu api‘?
We accuse her of insensitivity when we ourselves air dirty laundry about other people and rant about lousy drivers, stupid government, ill-mannered kiddies, the useless ex-boyfriend/ex-girlfriend, the bad sex, etc. Talk about double standards.
“Let the person without sin cast the first stone.”
If you must lambast her, then think about this: life is too short to get hissy over an online post. Instead of putting all our energy and effort into blackwashing her, why not blog about educating people about disabled life? Why not blog about other issues? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO…instead we retort to name calling.
Sometimes I get so disappointed with people. Like her, I wish all this energy spent in putting one person down for her remarks be channeled into something more positive.
eh, so… tell me more about facilities for the disabled lah. hehe.
i was not fully aware until some months ago, a friendly neighbour pointed out the Akta Orang Kurang Upaya 1993 to me, pointing to the lack of disabled facilities in high-rises. Ramps, rails, toilets, they all matter, especially when badly in need by someone.
Totoro: For one, our stupid council put pavements for wheelchair bound people but what good is it when you have to hike up your wheelchair a good two inches in order for you to get to the pavement? Nanti jatuh on the road, blame who?
What about those pedestrian lights, you know, that button thingie on the traffic light you press if you want a super fast green light? They make it around my height and they think that people like Peter have orang utan limbs. ~_~
What about busses? No ramps for the wheelchair bound. Some office buildings are totally disabled friendly.
And this isn’t just for disabled people. What if I’m injured/recovering from an injury and I want to get somewhere? I remember how I had a sprained ankle once. I was recovering and blardy hell, had to go up the stairs everywhere I went in my former workplace.
Our train stations are also the same thing. What if you’re like my grand aunt who is 70 and has bad knees? She stops off at one of those old stations like the one near Taman Tasik (where my brother lives) and faints right away coz 1) no escalator/elevator and 2) nearly 30 over steps. We limited the movement of our elderly people then say that they are a burden on us. Geez. Squatting toilets??? I had a knee injury from my trip to Hanoi and all only two seating toilets in this particular place was full. It was so blardy painful for me to squat and somemore got nothing to hold onto. I cursed the shopping mall inside and out, to and back from Hell that day.
Don’t even get me started on facilities for the deaf and blind. ~_~
As far as I know, there is no Akta Orang Kurang Upaya 1993. If there is, I am not aware of it. The draft of the Disabled Persons Act 2002 is still not seeing the light of day after so long.
Apart from that, there is the Uniform Building By-Law which spells out the facilities for disabled persons that must be incorporated into buildings. Sadly, the local authorities are not well-versed or could not be bothered to enforce this law. The little that have been built for us are constantly being abused by people who do not need to use it.
I must point out that these facilities are not privileges but a right. We need it to be able to carry on with our daily living activities with as little hassle as possible. Tell me, how much education is needed to teach such ignorant people before they realise that those facilities were built with a purpose?
Yeah, I’d rather stick to my one John. He has mental and physical disability yet living very independently. He hobbled here and there to get on with life and most times people do not understand what he says or they are scared to get too near ‘cos his mouth was crooked and his saliva will probably land on you. Yet, he is the only person who told me ‘I pray for you everyday’. In return, all I did for him was buy him curry chicken (and more but I’d rather not mention). *sigh*
Peter: As much as it takes for it to get into their heads. People don’t seem to understand that at any point in time and life, they too can become disabled. I can either go 1) deaf, 2) blind, 3) disabled or worse 4) all of the above tomorrow or in the future. One can never know.
AND it isn’t about disabled people only (that’s another way of looking at it) – it is about people who are hindered due to age, illness, etc.
Which is why I love Sydney…
Lilian: :hugs: