It's uniquely Singaporean and very rude

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Apr 26, 2011
It's uniquely Singaporean and very rude
SINCE my arrival in Singapore almost nine months ago, the tissue reservation practice at various eateries irks me most ('An issue with tissue on road to graciousness' by Mr Francis Cheng; April 16).
During our break on our first day at work, we headed to the Maxwell Food Centre, where my colleague and I could not get a seat after having bought our food.

We did not understand what the tissue packs were for.
Subsequently, at a well-known food chain, just as my husband and I were heading towards a table with our food, two girls walked in and headed straight for our table to place their tissue packs. I told them it was our table and they moved to 'reserve' another. We finished and left before they even got their food.
As we left, another two girls placed their tissue packs on our table and there were at least 15 people in the queue ahead of them.
When I complained to the owner, his reply shocked me. This was the custom and culture of Singapore, he said, adding that he did not think he should reject the traditions followed in the place he operated.
Since when and how has this practice become a Singaporean cultural tradition?
One recent incident at a newly opened ice-cream store in a tourist area takes the cake. Two girls ran through the shop and threw themselves on a couple of seats just as some tourists were about to sit down with their ice cream - and high-fived their success in securing the seats.
The tissue pack practice is appallingly rude and not seen anywhere else.
With all the campaigns to make Singapore a better place, perhaps it is time there is a campaign for not hogging tables.
This is a country full of multinationals and it is time Singaporeans thought about how they would like to be seen by the rest of the world.
Su Timmins (Ms)
http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_661088.html
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