…yesterday was like the fourth or third fight I’ve witnessed since arriving in Singapore. And it keeps getting nearer and nearer. The first was quite far away and the last one I remember seeing was downstairs in front of the elevator as I was exiting with the stroller, thinking of assignments like the new Symbol LS2208 scanner and such.

Two old men trying to have a fist fight with a crowd of five elderly men trying to break them up. It travelled further for another 50 metres or so and went on for another 10 minutes. Again, since it was in Mandarin, I had no idea what was going on but it was clear that one of the men was goading the other into a fight as the crowd tried to break them up. And I thought it was too close for comfort…until yesterday.

I do wonder though – is it very normal for fights to occur in public here in Singapore? I hardly see any happening in KL near my home although I have heard of fights breaking out in Petaling Street among the stall owners and shoppers. In Switzerland, confrontations like this are quite rare and in the 1.5 years of us being there, we were privy to just one fight.

Is it the whole close proximity lifestyle coupled with city living which stresses people out the cause of all this mayhem?