strings attached.

Been a really long time since i last posted something. (I kinda mentions this in every single post)

This time i got good reasons for the long hiatus. That’s every male citizen’s fave: NS. There were some stuffs that bothered (some still bothers) me but must place a finger to the lip and refrain from blogging, lest some accidental spillage. Misfiring is a chargeable offence!

But well, i’m back anyway so hmm.. Must practice self censor. Been through a number of places till i eventually settled down to where i am now. Been a trainee in BMT, to a trainee as a storeman, to a storeman, to a trainee as a clerk and STILL a trainee as a clerk [and this is holding back my promotion!!!!] I got to say that i am contented with my current vocation. Work’s tough and OT is the norm but at least i feel that i am contributing and serving my nation significantly.

I think a reason why there are so much whining and ranting regarding NS may be due to us, newbies to the societal world, taking a first step out of our comfort zone. I wont say that i understand how those Qiong-Shua servicemen feel but having experience being a service support personnel, it does feel much like a working world. Alright, i wont guarantee that it is identical or even close to those with great business models and structures but it is definitely a foreign environment for someone like me who have never taken any part time job before.

Caution is a must and politics are inevitable. Despite having experience working with people, i realised that the many types of people i encountered before were in fact, an atom of an iceberg.

But i did learn one important thing. The weight of a simple act will always result in a more than proportional feedback. This may act in both positive and negative way…

Well, the positive side need not be further elaborated. Too much emphasis onto that in all the promotion for kindness acts. “A simple act of kindness goes a long way”, etc.

But it may not always be the case. I’m not sure if i mentioned this before but a quote i picked up in BMT sure summarized the pessimistic part well. “Dont take kindness for weakness”. Very true. To a certain extend, kindness is commonly associated as the weak, the ones that can be bullied, make use of and exploit. So do what extend do we help others? Sometimes, there’s a conflicting interest in wanting to do good and fearing the strings attached. Will help and benefit the other or will it eventually result in you falling deeper into the shit hole? Well, only experience could tell.

And the lesson learnt is still simply: think before you act. But be aware that it’s valid too for genuine out-of-good-will acts!!