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Shy? Please, lah...

There's an article today in TODAY, 'Are we ungracious, or just shy?'

Couldn't help but laugh...

I'm sure there are many shy people in Singapore. I'm sure there are many gracious people in Singapore. And I'm sure there are many ungracious people in Singapore as well.

However, does being shy make one behave in an ungracious way?

I do not think the example of 'shy' people not giving up seats is a particularly enlightening one. Sure, there is the possibility of being rebuffed and 'made to look stupid'. But it's all in the mind, isn't it? Why should you feel 'stupid' if someone refuses the seat you offered? And if you are rebuffed, just sit back down, lah. If you have the 'courage' to publicly offer your seat, you must have enough thick-skinnedness to ignore the rebuff.

But I do agree with the sociologist who said that "If you don't want it (the seat offered to you), say 'Thank you, but I don't need it.'"
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