The conversation of a Master Sergeant and a Third Sergeant:


Master Sergeant: Where is your camp pass?

*Third Sergeant immediately took out his camp pass from his pocket and wear it.

Master Sergeant: (Banging the table) This is my last dime delling you do wear your camp pass! And why are you leaning against the wall?!

Third Sergeant: Wo mei yo kao (In Eng: I’m not leaning)

Master Sergeant: (Finger pointing) Bloody sh**, I’m talking to you in Engrish, you not habby isiz?!

Third Sergeant: (looking buay song, In Eng: not happy)No, Master

Master Sergeant: You not habby, you dell me.

Third Sergeant: (still looking buay song) No, Master

*Conversation ends*

Jus to share my view on the conversation:

What kind of question is “you not habby isiz?! “ ? What do you think will happen to the third sergeant if he tells the truth, “ya, I’m not happy” ? Often we are faced with “stupid” questions, and we know by lying we get our way around, so what is the point of telling the truth if we know trouble awaits us?


Here is another conversation of a child and his father:

Father: U like to stay in AMK or Hougang?

Child: R we shifting?

Father: I’m planning, so u prefer which one?

Child: I’ve never been to AMK or Hougang.

Father: Come child, just choose one place.

Child: I don’t know, AMK?

Father: Y AMK?

Child: Because u ask me to choose one place.

Father: Y not Hougang?

Child: Because AMK sounds nicer.

Father: Come child, tell me what’s on your mind, I’m your dad, u can share anything with me, Y u prefer AMK?

Child: Because AMK got more playground than Hougang.

*Satisfied with the answer, Father walks away*


In this case, Dad is pressing his child for his reason of choice of AMK and apparently the child doesn’t have a reason for his choice. Sometimes, we make our choices according to our feelings because we really don’t have a reason. The child is telling the truth at first, but his father is not satisfied with his answer and tries to prompt him further. The child is unknowingly forced to lie to get his way around.

Actually it also applies to us, when we were young and late for home, our parents would question us why we were late. “I went to my friend’s house to play game.” Maybe once or twice in a month going to a friend’s house to play game is alright, but if we everyday we go home late and give the same reason, what do u think will happen?

“I stay back in school to study.” “I stay back for CCA.” “I do project with my friends” These are the politically right answers that parents are looking for; they just want to hear something nice from their kids. Over time, the kids will know what to say to please their parents and to avoid scolding. Innocence of a child is often lost to experiences gained.