After reading the articles, I agree strongly that Singapore needs to keep grooming new talent to take over the running of Singapore. Without natural resources, we lose out to many other countries. The only way we can survive at this age of globalisation is to maximise our own human resource- manpower. Indeed, with manpower, a country can do equally well if not better than other countries which have natural resources. In this aspect, Singapore has definitely proven it to be true.
In my opinion, the ministerial pay hike has more pros than cons. Firstly, we need ministers of top quality to run the government to ensure that Singapore is in safe hands. In this modernised era, people can emigrate and leave Singapore easily.If we do not have incentives to attract top talent, Singapore may easily lose the ministers who are always forward-looking and highly efficient . Top talent are in high demand by other countires. Hence, in order to make these talent to stay ministerial pay hike is inevitable. Singaporeans most probably object to it as the ministers' pay still come from the taxpayers. Despite the fact that Singaporeans have to pay even more for their salaries, Singaporeans should understand that in order for Singapore to progress even further, salaries must increase to make top talent stay in Singapore. Moreover, an increase of $20 million for the ministers' pay is nothing as compared to what it brings- a $4 trillion economy. We should always look at the long-term benefits instead of the short-term ones. Initially, one may feel that it is unnecessary to pay more for the ministers' salaries but later on, everyone will enjoy the fruits of success together as one country once a booming economy is driven by good governance.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Monday, May 7, 2007
Cyber bullies- tactics worthy of guerilla warfare
The Sunday Times, May 6 2007
Title of article: Armed, online and dangerous
Today, there are more and more cyber bullies in the society. They are mainly teenagers and make use of their blog to bully someone whom they loathe. This is a worrying trend as there are many undesirable impacts on the cyber-bullying victim and it reflects the character of today’s teenagers,
In my opinion, the main reason why teenagers resort to bulling online rather than the traditional way is that they will not be responsible for their actions and thus will not receive any form of punishment. Teenagers can be anonymous online and thus, it will not be easy to punish the cyber bullies. As such, they become bolder and find it easier to vent their frustration or criticizing their victims online.
Moreover, these cyber bullies have a sense of satisfaction when they bully someone. Though they feel remorseful after that, ironically, bullying also made them feel ‘positive and powerful’, with reference to the article. Perhaps, such feelings prompted them to start bullying online.
A study has shown that cyber-bullying victims feel more overwhelmed and helpless as compared to being bullied face-to-face. It makes them feel demoralized and often stripped them out of their self-esteem. Many teenagers do not care how others will react to what they have written online. Some even feel that it is not wrong to bully someone online. As a result, they will post anything that they want to say online even though other people have access to their blog. Any criticism or remark that is kept in their hearts will be shown online. Using their digital tools, cyber platform has ever since been an easy means of exacting revenge. This not only applies to teenagers but adults as well, when there was once three adults sent to jail for posting racial-discriminating remarks online.
Technology advancement is a double-edged sword. It has brought countless benefits to people around the world and yet, will affect people negatively. One should always be conscious to what they have written online and be sensitive to other people’s feelings.
Title of article: Armed, online and dangerous
Today, there are more and more cyber bullies in the society. They are mainly teenagers and make use of their blog to bully someone whom they loathe. This is a worrying trend as there are many undesirable impacts on the cyber-bullying victim and it reflects the character of today’s teenagers,
In my opinion, the main reason why teenagers resort to bulling online rather than the traditional way is that they will not be responsible for their actions and thus will not receive any form of punishment. Teenagers can be anonymous online and thus, it will not be easy to punish the cyber bullies. As such, they become bolder and find it easier to vent their frustration or criticizing their victims online.
Moreover, these cyber bullies have a sense of satisfaction when they bully someone. Though they feel remorseful after that, ironically, bullying also made them feel ‘positive and powerful’, with reference to the article. Perhaps, such feelings prompted them to start bullying online.
A study has shown that cyber-bullying victims feel more overwhelmed and helpless as compared to being bullied face-to-face. It makes them feel demoralized and often stripped them out of their self-esteem. Many teenagers do not care how others will react to what they have written online. Some even feel that it is not wrong to bully someone online. As a result, they will post anything that they want to say online even though other people have access to their blog. Any criticism or remark that is kept in their hearts will be shown online. Using their digital tools, cyber platform has ever since been an easy means of exacting revenge. This not only applies to teenagers but adults as well, when there was once three adults sent to jail for posting racial-discriminating remarks online.
Technology advancement is a double-edged sword. It has brought countless benefits to people around the world and yet, will affect people negatively. One should always be conscious to what they have written online and be sensitive to other people’s feelings.
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