On words both written and spoken, words in the wind, and deadlines.

Recently some guy (henceforth referred to as the dude) posted a status (or smth) on facebook being extremely insulting to Singaporeans. Kindergarten stuff. Basically, an adult version of "Your head like watermelon. You loser. I no fren you. Your fren also no fren you, dey fren me. You forever alone" I'm paraphrasing, because I'd rather not type what was said on the post.

It was a comment most (normal) people would dismiss as hate mongering. The most violent reaction would have been a police report.  The dude would be investigated, his computer confisticated, and if it was determined that he had indeed posted those comments, then he would be reprimanded, or fined, or jailed, or whatever. Case closed.

Enter facebookers. And STOMPers. A whole bunch of people with too much time on their hands, united by a single aim, to make the dude FAMOUS!

My newsfeed is now filled with people talking smack about the guy. Although I don't get how sharing a post that says you're stupid might help, I do understand (and in fact, applaud) the rejection of the racist sentiments expressed in the post.

But there is a whole other group of people, what seems to be the vast majority of Singaporean netizens, whose shared motto appears to be "fight fire with fire, and watch the world burn". They have countered against the Dude's racist remarks by posting racist remarks of their own.

Even the STOMP article (ever so subtly) does this.

Stomper Velther was also disappointed, and said:
"This is very disappointing as we have been a very gracious country and giving opportunities to foreigners to work in Singapore.
"Not only he is not unappreciative yet he still hopes all Singaporeans came to no good end."

 I will point out that I was not aware that the Dude was somehow representative of all foreigners living in Singapore. I also was not aware that I was entitled to "appreciation" from "foreigners" because I "give them the opportunity" to, I dunno, live next door? Work for their own food?
Should I request that they kowtow everytime I pass in front of them, for allowing them to exist?

Does this guy even realise how racist his comment was? Did the moderator (I assume) who made the decision to quote this guy (Velther) read the comment and say to himself  "I see nothing in this post that could offend anyone"? 

Around the time I was asking myself these questions, I decided to read the comments. That's when I realised that Velther's comment was really among the most diplomatic. Head to the comments page (a task for the bold, to be done on an empty stomach lest you start to puke) to see a glorious display of  vulgarities, racism, racist vulgarities, and the like.  

Even after the dude claimed his account had been hacked, people still dug up old racist posts he had made to 'prove' he was lying. And went on with their racist tirades. 

Of course, tension regarding "FTs" had been growing for years. Perhaps, these people, irritated by rising costs of living, crowded mrt trains, and monolingual drink stall aunties*, just needed some outlet for their pent up steam. 

But imagine you are a foreign worker. You came all the way to Singapore, leaving all your friends and family, just so that you could earn a living. Or maybe you brought along your family so that you could all have a better life.
Now imagine you had to read comments and posts made by users like Velther (sorry Velther). You start slightly as you realise that, right now, you are a foreigner.
It isn't just that. There are also the funny looks you get every time you speak your mother tongue in public - gone as soon as you turn around. The snide comments you hear whispers of. And - is it your imagination? - how people seem to exclude you, or consider you inferior. But there is no solid proof that you are being discriminated against. 

Sure, that guy, who is from your country, said a bunch of stupid things. Now you look at your newsfeed and see your friends, your Singaporean friends, criticising not just that person, but also your whole country and countrymen (and women). Do they criticise you as well, behind your back?
Once you see something once, you see it everywhere. Slowly but surely the frustration grows - and so does the paranoia. Everyone is against you, everyone is out to get you, there is no one on your side. All these feelings are pent up, building stronger every day until one day, at a slight trigger...

you snap.

Booze was not the main trigger of the Little India riots. It was this, the subtle, Singaporean brand of racism that was to blame. Racism that was apparent even in the aftermath - and how the authorities handled the issue. Racism that is felt not just by "foreigners" but also by true blue locals, albeit ethnic minorities.

If the Dude's aim, in writing such a post**, was to make Singaporeans look bad, then I'd like to congratulate him on a roaring success. There is nothing uglier than racism, and finally the mask that covered our hideous, racist selves has been ripped off to reveal what was beneath. He could not have made us look as bad as we made ourselves look. 

Perhaps now that we know for sure an illness exists, we can find a cure as well. 

On another note, I'm supposed to be meeting a deadline. For something else. Waaaaah. Somebody help meeeeeee.

EDIT: Apparently the dude was fired. For other racist comments on his blog. So... yeah.

*or aunties who refuse to speak in english to us poor non-chinese speakers and purposely gives us kopi-o even after we do our best, using hand gestures like some gila  playing charades, to tell her that we want ice lemon tea. Had to go off on a separate rant there. 

** As yet unproven. Innocent till proved guilty.