There’s no denying it; Singaporeans and the act of comparing things are a match made in heaven. Surely you’ve been within earshot of relatives discussing which prestigious school to send their kids to, or butted heads with friends debating which side of Singapore is the superior region.
Nonetheless, we’ve rounded up some of the most common things Singaporeans like to compare. Pros and cons are aplenty on both ends of these arguments, but read on to hear us out.
On the topic of comparisons, you may have chanced upon these minimalist “comparison billboards” all around Singapore.
Plastered across MRT stations and bus stops, these plain billboards with just white text on a black background have left many commuters scratching their heads at first, then pausing to ponder the comparisons posed.
The series of billboards – comparing everything from your preferred style of coffee to cool bosses versus micro-managers – has caused quite a stir on social media, with curious minds discussing what this nondescript campaign could actually be for. A social experiment? Propaganda messaging? Well, the cat’s out of the bag – as this is actually a clever campaign by none other than Lazada!
It all harkens back to their guarantee that shopping on Lazada means no more comparisons, since you’re bound to find the most competitive price on their platform. Before we share more on that, here are some uniquely Singaporean comparisons that came to mind as we perused Lazada’s eye-catching billboards:
When it comes to getting from place to place in Singapore, we should be thankful that we’ve got a couple of options at our fingertips. You’ve probably considered buying a car in Singapore to make traversing the country much easier, but our trusty public buses and trains do the job just fine, if you take the odd service disruption out of the equation.
Singapore’s small enough that getting from one extreme end to the other only takes about 1.5 hours by train, so taking the public transport for our daily commute will suffice for most of us. Meanwhile, those with enough purchasing power to afford a car in Singapore can argue that the time and convenience brought about by owning your own set of wheels justifies its steep price point.
We can all agree that getting a driver’s licence and learning to drive is useful, even if you don’t plan on buying a car. Private hire vehicles are an option too, while reducing your carbon footprint is a welcome byproduct of taking public transport. Regardless of which mode of transport you use to get around the Little Red Dot, there’s an option for everyone.
The deadlock between Easties and Westies over which side of Singapore is better has been a topic of contention since time immemorial. I’ve got to admit, pledging allegiance to a particular region of Singapore does promote a prideful sense of belonging, but take a step back and you might find that the grass is greener on the other side.
best second best airport in the world is also located in the East.
Hailing from the East myself, I can’t imagine living far away from mainstays like Tampines’ cluster of malls, East Coast Park, and Changi Village’s delicacies. However, the West is pretty happening too; just ask our Eastie colleague who we tasked with spending a whole day exploring the West side of Singapore.
Image credit: LEGOLAND Malaysia
Westies have some of the best spots for nature-lovers like Jurong Lake Gardens and massive malls like IMM and Jem. They also make quick work of hopping over the border for a quick respite in JB, with their close proximity to the Tuas Checkpoint. Ultimately, both ends of Singapore come with their unique plethora of things to do, so there’s really no telling which one trumps the other.
Speaking of our neighbours, another highly debated talking point is figuring out which country whips up the more delicious nosh, Singapore or Malaysia. When it comes to food, it can’t get any more controversial, especially when national pride’s on the line. You’ll find hordes of fervent foodies trying to convince you that their nation’s cuisine is better on both sides of the causeway.
To instantly spark a lunchtime altercation at your office pantry, simply pose the question: Is Singapore’s chicken rice better than Malaysia’s? Some people also swear that our pepper-based bak kut teh is the perfect comfort food during rainy days, while others would much rather indulge in Malaysia’s herbal-style broth.
Nasi lemak, Hokkien mee, laksa, you name it; there are many dishes with both Singaporean and Malaysian variants. Of course, people are entitled to their own opinions but I say we should be grateful instead, as we can taste-test both kinds of delicacies since JB’s not too far away.
Every working Singaporean will have had to come face-to-face with this conundrum at some point of their career: to eschew a good work-life balance to chase big bucks, or vice versa.
Perhaps you’d rather work a job that’s not too demanding while drawing a lower pay, which also allows you to set aside more time for your friends and family due to its laid-back nature. However, others might prefer to commit wholeheartedly to the hustle and can work long hours every day, in order to bring home a more sizable income.
In the end, it’s really up to you to decide if the grind’s really worth it or not, as everyone has different circumstances. For the unlucky few, the decision will be made for them, by the most unreasonable, dictator-like bosses who’re naturals at micro-managing. Or you might be blessed with higher-ups who don’t mind you taking a day or 2 every week to WFH.
It’s quite the coin flip that can make or break your work experience, so we’re praying that you don’t bump into the former who’ll turn any office into a toxic workplace, for your sanity’s sake.
Long-standing couples and newlyweds will have grappled with this one; whether to opt for applying for a BTO, or buying from the resale market. The consensus is mostly divided, as both options come with their own set of advantages and disadvantages.
Buying a BTO flat is undoubtedly the more economical choice, as you’ll get grants and benefits from the government to ease you into paying for your first home. However, you’ll have to contend with the long waiting times that can span over years, plus your locations are limited. If you’re single, you’ll only be able to apply for a BTO at 35 years of age, so there’s that too.
On the other hand, at the cost of a heftier price tag, you might be able to secure and move into a resale flat within as early as 2 months. You’ll also be able to pick exactly where you’d like to live, perfect if you’re a die-hard Eastie or Westie. But, you’ll have to bear in mind that pre-loved residences come with a declining lease, so it might be hard to sell it again if you decide to move out.
Like most of the previous entries on the list, you’ll have to make a calculated decision when it comes to settling on something as important as your place of residence, so do weigh both options carefully.
As much as our kiasu culture propagates it, there’s really not much of a point to go about constantly comparing every aspect of our lives. There’s always the other side of the coin, and greener pastures we think we’d rather be on, but forging our own way ahead is probably the best way to go about living life in sunny Singapore.
We love how Lazada took something quintessentially Singaporean – the act of comparing – and spun it into a memorable campaign. One thing’s for sure, it certainly kickstarted plenty of conversations be it online or on our commutes home.
Leave it to Lazada to give us one less thing to compare. Because their Lowest Price Guarantee means that shopping on Lazada will always fetch you the best prices – plain and simple, no further arguments needed.
This post was brought to you by Lazada.
We Singaporeans just love comparing, don't we?
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