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A society of couch critics

I am no expert on public trends, but if recent happenings are anything to go by, it appears that Singaporeans are up in arms a little too often.

Letters to Forum pages of newspapers and blog entries seem to either criticise something or lambast someone. From the lack of talent in this season’s Singapore Idol to the actual Singapore Idol belting out one wrong word in our national anthem, there has been an increase in public mockery.

To boot, a recent much-publicised Internet video sent the Singaporean lynch mob from common criticism tohead-on hysteria.

From the response, you would think that tolerance, forgiveness and compassion has hit an all-time low. Ms Ris Low to be exact.

The recently dethroned Miss Singapore World 2009 incited a nationwide uproar because the video showcased her bad grammar and poor diction. The clip started making its rounds in cyberspace and soon enough, she became a household name.

While some laughed it off as a joke, others were not as forgiving. Many, horrified at her weak command of the English language, labelled her a major disgrace to our nation.

This incident, coupled with others like the Taufik Batisah “Don’t Forget The Lyrics” fiasco, brought the tally of nation-wide condemned issues to more than five in just two short months.

This begs the question: Why are Singaporeans so quick to condemn our own?

Is it really our strong sense of national pride that makes us come to Singapore’s defence? Or are we just too caught up with the desire to be the best and have only the best representing us?

Maybe. However, what many fail to see is that only a very thin line divides wanting the best and plain nitpicking. How can one truly say that one has the interest of the nation at heart when one scrutinises and magnifies every flaw?

Perhaps justification for ridicule is the fact that, because they are public figures, they represent Singapore on the international stage automatically subjecting them to a higher level of expectation.

Be that as it may, how can one give good reason to criticise, when as individuals, one cannot say the least to being flawless where their imperfections
are concerned?

Perhaps critics dare to be bold because of the anonymity the Internet provides; with a simple Internet connection and a pseudonym, anyone can be a critic.

Being couch critics have led to many behaving in a manner that is just as disappointing as the major boo-boos that public figures are criticised for.

I cannot help but consider that regardless of their mistakes, by jumping the gun and judging them, perhaps we are the ones committing moral sin.

In the case of Ris Low, our quick-to-judge attitude has also blinded us to her strengths. For the months that Ris had been our nation’s talking point, she has had to contend with having the public eye etched on her back. But through it all, she had managed to remain steadfast in her beliefs, while focusing on correcting her flaws.

Ris had shown dedication and willpower to work on her spoken English, while simultaneously displaying spunk and entrepreneurial spirit by walking through every media door that has opened for her.

The result?

A new and more mature Ris Low, who is able to control her tongue and watch her pronunciation.
Taking cue from this episode, it is now perhaps our turn as Singaporeans to learn a potentially valuable lesson from Ris: Let us not be too quick to criticise, because what starts out as a Low, could just very well end on a High.

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