S1E1: Why does it feel like Singaporeans are angry all the time?

The Straits Times Podcasts

What triggers one’s frustrations in Singapore? Even the smallest inconvenience can spark irritation, making it feel like we’re always on the edge of our temper.

Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah explores contemporary societal choices and youth perspectives.

Murals and HDB block patterns, poor service, bad food, long queues, queue cutters, ‘undeserving’ seat occupiers on public transport, slow walkers, ‘pawrents’ spending money on their furkids, XMMs — the list of what grinds Singaporeans’ gears seems to grow by the day.
Throw in social media platforms into the mix, and the rants come fast and furious.
There's an appetite for it - just look at the existence of Singapore-centric complaint groups online and the number of members they have. Or the TikTok videos that pop up, where people rant about a perceived slight or minor irritation. Or the people who have been caught in 4K acting out on the roads, in malls or restaurants.
We could go on.
Natasha goes outdoors to find out if people share this sentiment and what we can do should we encounter the Angry Person.

Highlights (click/tap above)

0:45 Anger in comment section

1:55 The anonymity factor

4:50 Context is everything

6:58 Breathe in, breathe out - anger is unhealthy

Follow Natasha on her IG account and DM her your thoughts on this topic: https://str.sg/8Wav

Host: Natasha Zachariah ([e-mail])

Read Natasha's articles: https://str.sg/iSXm

Follow Natasha on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/v6DN

Filmed by: Amirul Karim and Hana Chen

Edited by producers: Teo Tong Kai and Eden Soh

Executive producers: Ernest Luis and Lynda Hong

Follow The Usual Place Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:

Channel: https://str.sg/5nfm

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/9ijX

Spotify: https://str.sg/cd2P

YouTube: https://str.sg/wEr7u

Feedback to: [e-mail]

---

Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

---

Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

#tup #tuptr

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

บท

1. Why does it feel like Singaporeans are angry all the time? (00:00:00)

2. Anger in comment section (00:00:45)

3. The anonymity factor (00:01:55)

4. Context is everything (00:04:50)

5. Breathe in, breathe out - anger is unhealthy (00:06:58)