- Bhutan, one of the poorest nations in the world, gave the world the revolutionary Gross National Happiness (GNH) index to determine the country’s growth instead of using the conventional GDP like all the other countries in the world. Now, almost everyone i know wants to visit Bhutan! LOL!
- The ability to think outside the box can lead to breakthroughs in mindsets, business ideas, ideological beliefs etc. but because most people are steeped in conventional thinking, it is not easy to think differently from the majority and anyway, life goes on with conventional thinking…..hence, my interest in thinking outside the box is only a personal challenge and Bhutan’s GNH creation is profound (to me).
- This question is just for academic discussion: Can thinking outside the box be nurtured? If yes, how can it be nurtured?
Constructive comments and feedback are welcome :)
Bhutan is a small and poor country, yet it has the courage to persue happiness measureed by GNH index.
This is a good example of thinking outside the box. It sets a new phenonmenon of doing something original and against the conventional norms.
It may prove to be benefitial to the country and its people.
Many countries are following the conventioal path in their relentless pursuit of higher GDP. This has increased the wealth of their citizens. But very often than not, there are prices to be paid.
The indescriminate use of land by deforesting and the wide spread pollution of the environment are some examples of modernisation. What about the onslaught of stress and pollution related ilnesses caused by all these economic activities.
Can thinking outside the box be nurtured. Yes, it can be done per se. But many people will not do it for fear of doing something that is alien. They want to be followers rather than forerunners.
I have this urge to respond, me no square brain academic; but sounds to me that Bhutan is NOT thinking outside the box. She does well in keeping their thinking inside their ‘box’, and not let anything from outside their box comes in for any economical or modernization reasons. We are appreciating something indigenous to Bhutan, am I on the track?
When I just started working, my boss (he like to play soccer) told me that:
“Success is a like a ball, if you want to get it, don’t just follow it. You have to predict its direction, and run before it get there.
If you just run after the the ball, you may have chance to touch it for a while, soon another one will take it from you. If you run before it, you may never touch it (you run a wrong direction, or you can get the ball and carry it to the destination you want.’
Sorry that, I just listen, never follow the ball or run before the ball. Up to now, I still a watcher, or an outsider, sigh.
“think outside the box” is easy said but hard to follow by many with our limited brain cells.
But yet human beings such that always like to think that we know better and thus we limit to think “within our box” forever
Till we say to ourself..ok since my thinking is different from you; I shall go out and learn more, then come back and comment. When we can stretch ourself a little that’s a good step to “thinking out of the box”; and you never know the next step would be very rewarding
Let me give a classic example to illustrade what I said thus far
In my cellgroup 9 out 10 think investment (stockmarket) is liken to gambling in casino. And before I can attempt to say more, I sensed that their mindsets already “closed”; that’s no point for me to waste my breath till they can tell themself; “ok I can listen”
Hi Robert #1
Agree that many people want to be followers and not forerunners because of fear of the unknown. Thinking outside the box may mean sticking out your neck and self -serving ppl won’t want to ‘rock the boat’.
Hi Feztus #2
You viewed the creation of the GNH from another perspective. It’s interesting. I would like to add that Bhutan is not a hermit kingdom – it has opened up to the outside world although cautiously. If Bhutan is “keeping their thinking inside their box and not let anything outside their box comes in….” what was/is the reason for the king voluntarily giving up absolute monarchy for constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy government in 2008?
Are we “appreciating something indigenous to Bhutan”? The 2010 GNH index for Bhutan showed 1. Men are happier than women 2. in urban area 50% are happy; in rural area 37% are happy…so i think Bhutanese are not born naturally happy people (if i got the meaning of ‘indigenous’ correctly).
Hi Andrew #3
Usually, at the beginning, a novice would follow the ball. Much later, with experience, this player would anticipate where it would land and hope to grab it. However, if we don’t know how to play the game, it’s SAFER to just watch it. lol!
Hi Jassime.
Regarding your question : Can thinking outside the box be nurtured? First, we must defined what is meant by “nurture”
To me, in the context of your question, I think “nurture” means to educate or train. Therefore one can be educated or trained to think outside the box.
Hence the answer to your question is “Yes” (that is what I think)
But if the person is naturally endowed with the knack of thinking outside the box, then I believe, he can do it better and can achieve more sucessful outcomes than those who are not naturally endowed, but learned and trained to do by hard work and due diligence. For example, if one is naturally endowed with rhythm, he/she can learn dancing very easily with graceful movements within a short time. (Funny, incidently, the word “rhythm” has no vowels)
You said Butan came out with tops on the GNH (Gross National Happiness). The idea itself is, I agree, thinking out of the small box. but is still thinking within the big box, in that it just wants to claim the No. 1 spot ( I am better than you syndrome).
I would like to challenge the satistics of the GNH. How do they measure happiness? Can happiness be quantified?
May I give gentle reminder to have tea at the SHC Games Day, when it is confirmed, the venue, and time. I have seen a game called “Quartos” being played. It keeps you think of the many probabilities that you can win or your opponets can win. Must find where to buy the game.
Wai Jin
Hi Jassmine,
Bhutan is blessed with bountiful natural wealth in the form of pristine forests with diverse flora and fauna, flowing crystal clear mountain streams and rivers, misty snow-capped mountains and exceptional fresh air. These in themselves would with certainty boost up the happiness index rating of most ordinary Bhutanese.
For them less is more in the sense that they are still very happy with the little that they have unlike people in other countries who are ultra materialistic. Bhutanese are an easily self-satisfied lot, the majority of whom are not after status symbols. This says a lot about their Buddhist religion teaching them how to run their simple, mostly pastoral lives and stay happy. In the end, nobody can effectively own everything in perpetuity. When the time is up, he will have to ‘go’ and leave behind his acquisitions to posterity.
Bhutanese lifestyle is predictably simple, slow and leisurely. This explains why the Bhutanese do not easily succumb to hypertension, diabetes and heart problems that beset citizens of highly materialistic societies. What is more, they easily smile and laugh a lot further boosting their health index. If we talk to them about any difficult concept such as ‘thinking out of the box’, they are clueless and, most probably, uninterested.
Terry
Hi Jassmine,
Today ST reported Bhutan is worried that India’s water diversion plan to include building dams and canals on their territories.
Since 1999 Bhutan was connected to the world of telivision and Internet. There are report of violence and the young felt being alienated.Tens of thousands Nepali-speaking minority have been driven out of the country in recent decades.
Yes, Bhutan did stepped outside of the box.
In 1972, the newly crowned leader learn about the problem of other developing countries that focus on econ growth and decided to make GNH his nation priority. They have made a global impact.
This model is still work in process.
Can we learned to think outside the box?
Try to think of a way to cut a cake into eight slices with no more than three cuts. :)
Hi Johnny Pow,
:-) Early morning and hungry for breakfast so I think quickly of how to cut a cake like you said:
First make a horizontal cut, then two vertical cuts – Voila! eight slices of cake. Tio bo? :-)
Hi Johnny Pow,
You have preceded me on up-to-date events in Bhutan. That in itself is very impressive.
I guess Bhutan is an Indian protectorate. Bhutan cannot get close to China to counterbalance Indian influence and meddling, otherwise it might spark an Indian invasion of the country.
Already Sikkim, a smaller Buddhist kingdom, was overrun by the Indian army and her weak king was dethroned.
The problem with small countries without their own self-defence land and air forces surrounded by giant neighbours like India and China is indefensible from the strategic point of view.
Gross National Happiness (GNH) by itself cannot save any defenceless countries from foreign military adventures aimed at heartless land grabs known as imperialism. Seen in this light, it is true that the North and South American continents were taken by force by white colonisers from Europe displacing the indigenous populations.
Ha ha ha, Yatsing.
I was reading all the comments re Bhutan’s GNH and I came to yours.
Yours was the one that made me laugh. Out of the 10 comments, yours gave me happiness!
Now, THIS is happiness.
The new leader wanted to bring attention to himself and to his country by coming up with something different, hence GNH. How the h___ did they measure happiness I wonder??
Can happiness really be measured? We can see if a person is happy or happier but is there a way of measuring happiness?
Try this for thinking out of the box …
You are driving along with your car on a stormy night. It’s raining heavily when suddenly you pass by a bus stop and you see three people waiting for a bus.
a) An old lady who looks as if she is about to die,
b) An old friend who once saved your life,
c) The perfect partner you have been dreaming about.
Question: Which one would you choose to offer a ride to, knowing very well there could only be one passenger in your car?
This is a moral/dilemma question that was once actually used as part of a job application.
Possible answer:
a) You could pick up the old lady, because she is going to die and thus you should save her first, or
b) You could take your old friend because he once save your life. This would be the perfect opportunity to pay him back …
However, for either of the above, you may never be able to find your perfect mate again.
The candidate who was hired (out of 200 applicants) had no trouble coming up with his creative answer. What do you think is the right answer?
hewlee
Hello Hew Lee,
I would ask my old friend to drive the old lady to the hospital and I would stay behind with my dream partner. This way, I won’t lose him. We could then take the bus to somewhere and who knows, love may blossom in the bus. Eventually, my old friend will return my car and the keys.
Cheers, winnie
#12 hewlee
The person who picked c) would be hired as he looks for the future. a) is definitely out of the question.
As for b), giving a lift does not absolve him from paying back under the moral obligation.
So my answer is c).
Johnny Pow #8 question and yat Sing #9 answer
After I saw Yat Sing’s answer, I want to be a little bit naughty to give another method: “Two vertical cut in cross and one horizontal cut”- the same cutting but different in sequence. But I found that if we really want to cut the cake, Yat Sing’s way is easier. So her answer is better.
I don’t consider Johnny’s question is “Thinking outside the box”
Hewlee #12 is really a question of “Thinking outside the box” and Winnie has given the model answer in her #13 which is not included in the Hewlee’s #12.
I have encountered this question before and could figure out the answer in that time. Theoretically, this seems to be a perfect answer but I don’t like it. As when we consider the real situation, the result can be quite different from what Winnie mentioned in her #13. I can think of the following happenings:
– After the old lady about to die is saved, she will not thank you or even blame why you don’t pick her up by yourself.
– You old friend will complain why you don’t pick up the old lady and give him so many troubles
– The perfect partner will wonder what kind of a man you are
I like to say that “Thinking outside the box” is very important, but we also have to take the reality into consider.
To end my comment, I want to give a real example of “Thinking outside the box”
Many years ago, when the PC just become popular, many big companies tracing (competed) after the balls of PC, CPU, memories etc. One not so big company of Singapore – The Creative think out of the box to create their own ball – the Sound Card. When the Sound Card become a must in every PC, the not so big company became a famous company in the world. Unfortunately,the Sound Card is the only ball they created
Hi Yatsing #09,
Good try, but this only gives you six pieces. Try to change the way you look at the cake and how to cut it.
Hi Terry Tang #10,
Thank you for your compliment.
:)
Hew Lee
May I dare to try answering?
Since there is only one seat left, I presume there are 2 passengers with me. I will do one of two things.
First approach. I will ask one of my passengers to alight and wait for me at the bus stop with my old friend while I ferry the old lady home with the man of my dreams safely in the car with me. Then I will return and pick up my good friend and my other passenger.
Second approach. I will ask my dream man to sit beside me and the other two to pile on top of the other two passengers already in the car, ha ha ha!
Hew Lee
Forgot to add that 3 passengers can be seated in the back seat quite comfortably.
Hew Lee
Alternatively, I could also drop off my passenger on my first trip and return with my dream man to pick up the other two. They will be seated more comfortably.
So many options. Ha ha.
Hi Johnny Pow #8.
Looking on plan view, one horizontal cut, and you get two semicircle shaped pieces. Place one piece over the other, give another cut, and you get four pieces (quadrant shape).
Place the four quadrant shaped pieces over each other, have a last cut (third cut), and you get 8 pieces. When you have finished, I would eat the cake, because when you put the pieces over each other, to cut the pieces got so compressed and hard like stone.
Hi Hew Lee #12.
Who says that there could be only one passenger in the car.
Ask him to go fly kite. Take in all the three.
Hi Mary @ #11,
“Can happiness really be measured? We can see if a person is happy or happier but is there a way of measuring happiness?”
Very simper lah,
Hap, happy, happier, the root word is of course ‘hap’, (don’t think you know that, did you?),
then happier, happierer, happiererer,
followed by happierest, happierester, happieresterest. After that is Nirvana lah.
Very easy isn’t it, English? But you only learn this in English 301, (Higher English)
Charles Chua
Did you have too much to drink last night? Ha ha ha.
Charles Chua
Incidentally, the phrase is “thinking out of the box” correct?
Johnny Pow #16
Regarding Yatsing’s way of cutting the cake. She’s not wrong. She gets 8 pieces not 6.
One horizontal cut slices the cake into 2layers and 2 vertical cuts at right angles cut the cake into 8 pieces.
She is brilliant.
Johnny Pow #16
still on the subject of cake cutting.
You did not specify that you wanted 8 EQUAL pieces. So one can cut it into 8 pieces of various sizes.
Yatsing’s method would have got her 8 EQUAL slices.
Sorry if I sound particular but that’s Maths and English.
To all:
The GNH index developed in Bhutan is a statistically reliable survey. The results (findings) of the 2010 Bhutan GNH index is an open document available for scrutiny at the Centre for Bhutan Studies (CBS).
Bhutan “has bravely pioneered a survey on its own happiness and not compared itself to other countries” – ST 7/4 pg A36
Hi Hew Lee, #13 – QUOTE
a) An old lady who looks as if she is about to die,
b) An old friend who once saved your life,
c) The perfect partner you have been dreaming about.
Question: Which one would you choose to offer a ride to, knowing very well there could only be one passenger in your car?
UNQUOTE
Let me try – lets think out of the box – or car. Throw the car key to my “old friend” (assuming he can drive)and tell him to drive the “old lady” to the hospital. I shall walk with my “perfect partner” in the rain. So what if we get wet. Now, THAT is happiness. Cheers !!!
Hi Andrew Yeung #16,
I read that that one of the step to learn TOB is that one must have a creative thinking for a given soutions. So I just grab one recommended puzzle for this post.
Hi Chew Wai Jin #21
Oh no! I should say use your imagination only. :)
Since you have provided your creative solution, eat all you can as a reward. :)
Hi Mary Chan #26 & #27
No need to be equal size but I can’t fiquired out how Yatsin method gives eight pieces.
Hi to all,
I am a reader and learner. I believe that regardless of age or intelligence level, as long as one is humble and willing to learn we can achieve.
Recently I read that there is characteristic which reduce our ability to make a positive change in our thinking methods.
They are:
– Negative attitude.
– Fear of failure, perfectionism.
– Stress.
– Following rules, adheres to black and white thinking (not flexible, unable to perceive the value in gray areas).
– Making assumptions – about others, about the world, about the expectations you feel weighing on you, about our own abilities.
– Over-reliance on logic, along with assuming we have an accurate grasp of what is logical.
I hope more will bring to this forum his or her academic view for me to know how to learn TOB so I can save my money for other uses. :)
Aiyah, Johnny Pow,
Why don’t you come to the next SHC meeting with a cake and Yatsing and I will show you how to get 8 slices of cake with 3 cuts. A simple, round, walnut butter cake will do. Then we can have tea with the cake.
You obviously haven’t cut a cake before, ha ha ha.
Hi Johhny Pow #30 and Mary Chan # 31.
Hi Mary, better not because there may be a fight over the 8 pieces of cake, (assuming the cake is square with icing on the top). Everyone will fight for the top 4 pieces that has icing icing.
Hi Johnny. I think what Yatsing was suggsting is that you make a horizontal cut to divide the cake into 2 layers, (let us call the top layer “A” layer, and the bottom layer “B” layer (if you know AutoCad you know what I mean)
So far I haven’t seen a cake cut this way – Congratulations Yatsing — you are naturally endow with “out of the box”
brain.
Then you position your knife east-west direction, and cut the normal way. For the 3rd cut, position your knife north-south direction, and cut the normal way. You will have 4 pieces from layer “A” and 4 pieces from layer “B” — total 8 pieces. But only the pieces from layer “A” has icing.
Winnie (#14) and Daniel (#29) – you two are hired. Daniel’s solution is more creative. – One of the attributes to think out of the box is to do something different or when people says you are crazy or impossible to do it. I will do slightly different from both of you – I will bring the girl of my dream to the best restaurant in town by taxi.
Mary (#18) and Wai Jin (#22) – you cannot change the game rule ..”there could only be one passenger in the car” (besides the driver).
hewlee
Hi Yatsin #10; Mary #31 & Chew #32
I didn’t read well into Yatsin method #10, now can save the walnut cake suggested by Mary #31, appreciate Chew for highligthing the two layers.
Next time if I got 8 people and only one piece of carrot cake I use this method. Less messy to cut compare to a cake which all of us refering to. :)
Thank you Yatsin, Mary and Chew for your sharing. Hope to see you all the next monthly gathering.
Cheers!
Hi Wai Jin #7
I still kiv the tea. :)
Hi Terry #8
Some people liken Bhutan to Shangrila. I wonder why her population is so small. Does the rarefied air there affect fertility? lol!
Hi Johnny #9, #30
Finding creative answers to tricky scenarios is a good way to develop creative thinking which i believe can lead to thinking outside the box.
The characteristics listed (#30), are spot-on for the perpetration of conventional thinking/thinking within the box….
Just to share some aspects about “Psychological Types” which is related to TOTB –
Psychological type is a theory of personality developed by a swiss psychiatrist to explain the normal differences between healthy people. The theory concluded that differences in behaviour result from people’s inborn tendancies to use their mind in their preferred ways. As people act on their tendencies, they develop and form patterns of behaviour which in dynamic intereaction with other mental functions, form psychological types.
It is observed that the active minds are involved in two mental activities : Perceiving (taking in information) or Judging (organising the info and making conclusions of them). There are 2 ways one can approach Perceiving, that is, by Sensing or Intuition. And for Judging, by Thinking or Feeling. In these 4 processes, the individual may focus his energy on the external world or within himself and that would bring about different flavour to the results. Combining these different orientations bring about many fundamental patterns of mental activities. It is too lengthy to go into the details here but I hope this short note is adequate to explain why people’s personalities differ.
From the studies, it was found that people who think outside the box are likely to
1) draw energy from the outer world of people and activity – have broad interest and will talk and work out ideas with people, sociable and expressive.
2) be fond of recognising connections, the big picture – oriented to future possibilities, imaginative and focus on patterns and meanings in data, follow hunches, trust inspiration.
3) use their personal values in decision making – empathetic , guided by personal values
4) have a flexible and adaptable life – spontaneous, flexible, casual, adapt and open to changes.
On the other hand, people who are private, focus only on what is real and actual, possess analytical reasoning, solve problems logically using cause and effect, deal with the outer world systematically, have plans decided way ahead and properly organised, will more likely be contended to follow only.
Human personality is a complex issue. Everyone is unique. There is no right or wrong. Knowing your own personality provide you with an opportunity to challenge your habits and do things differently thus opening the doors to opportunities. Importantly, becoming aware of your biases can help you avoid negative stereotyping.
HC
Hi HC Lee #37
Appreciate your time and trouble for the above message. How about giving a talk on Personality and Behavior to SHC members?
Hi Charles Chua #23,
To make English easier, I agree with you to use the words happy, happier, happirer, happierest. The reason is that we say fare, fairer, fairest. Following this logic, then we shouls say beautiful, beautifuler, beautifulest.
But, I think if one really wants to measure happiness, then must follow the Singlish logic:- happy, more happy, more more happy, more more more happy, more more more more happy. So how happy one is, is shown by the number of “mores”. So one can add an infinity of “mores”.
If you agree to second this motion, I will email it to the EU ministers’ meeting to show them our support, because they are complaining that their roads say ” Heavy vehicles keep right”, whilst the English say “Heavy vehicles keep left”
Hi Jasmine #36
Thank you for giving me the assurance that I am reading it right.
Hi HC Lee #37,
Reading through the theory of personality by a swiss psychiatrist you mention especially from point 1 to 4 help me understand why one must be prepared for a big change when learning how to TOTB. To re-educate ourself and the way we think is almost a “lifestyle” change.
Hi Chew @ #39,
You are very, very, very, very right. What you say is so, so, so, so true.
You can write to the English, Americans, Russians, EU Community, OECD countries, G7, G8, G12.
But say you are a Malaysian from Malaysia.
Hi Chew Wai Jin and Johnny Pow,
Re: your #38 and #41, I am pleased to note that you found #37 relevant, TQ.
Learning is a life long process and as long as we are healthy, we are Sensing and Judging everyday, of course, sleeping as well .. haha. What I wrote in #37 is just a gist of it. TOTB is not about “don’t think twice, just do it” but towards questioning whether there are new ways or better alternatives. There are many courses in the market which train lateral thinking (names withheld). Such courses are useful. For most of us, learning comes naturally or out of necessity from the circumstances of our life anyway eg., dealing with people or handling issues in the work place.
HC
Hi HC Lee,
I agree to your saying “don’t think twice, just do it” simplistic view.
It had also been said that to TOTB one need to have the following characteristics
– willingness to take new perspectives toward day-to-day work.
– Capable of thinking differently with an open mind, think about the substance of issues, and be receptive to doing things differently.
– Focused on the value of finding new ideas and acting on them.
– Ready to strive to create value in newer ways.
– Capable of listening to, supporting, nurturing and respecting others when they come up with new ideas
Beside courses, there are also many books and articles being publish to teach and encourage TOTB
Johnny & HC
For me the best way to TOB or TOTB is not to do my thinking in a box. Get out of the house or an office and be outdoors. I do get lots of ideas sitting on my loo but that is because my loo is not in a box, it opens to the sky. This is not a joke. I seriously believe and it is logical that people who moves around a lot, have many hobbies and mixes freely have more ideas.
Good morning Tian Soo,
We met and chat at the recent westerlies meet. There are valuable lessons to learn from you when hearing you talk. Hope to meet you again either at the westerlies or monthly gathering at Hans.
Will try to catch up with you. :)
Towards thinking outside the box: consider situation from other perspectives
A common initial reaction to the *newspaper report that 44 men, including public servants, have been charged with paid carnal relationship with an underage girl is – tsk!tsk!tsk! Hypocrites. Wolves in sheep’s clothing preying on young girls…
Their defense lawyer, however, saw those secret liaisons from another perspective. He said the girl was a hardcore prostitute… no need to protect her…the men were victims! WOW! A good one!
A poser: of the 44 suspects charged, only the former principal admitted his guilt. WHY? Is he thinking outside the box? lol!
*S.T. 17/4, pg A1 and A8
Hi Jasmine,
In Bhutan the leader think of how not to let its people work work work and be happy. Here we have enterpreneur think of how to make men pay pay pay to be happy. I think this is a morale issue
Hi Jassmine,
To your question #47, I would believe the principal is being pragmatic of his crime – why waste time & money if you are guilty as charged. Plead guilty, pay your dues and move on in life, albeit, coloured with shame.
To those who committed the same crime as him but did not plead guilty, the lawyers are the one laughing to the bank.
Hi Johnny #48
Yes, issues related to the flesh trade are mostly moral ones. Don’t you think it is strange/surprising for the former principal to plead ‘guilty’. Did he know the girl was underage? I don’t think so since he booked her service through a website.
Hi Constance #49
i think there IS a good chance the lawyers for the accused can prove the accused were victims. Sometimes i think a person’s reputation is more important than money. The former principal’s future may be forever destroyed unless he goes abroad to start afresh.
How to overcome this reputation blemish and ‘rise from the ashes’ again? ……….this needs thinking outside the box. lol!
Hi Jasmine,
Good question “it is strange/surprising for the former principal to plead ‘guilty’ Did he know the girl was underage?”.
Criminal lawyer Subhas Anandan, speaking to reporters after his clients were charged, called her ‘a hardcore prostitute’ and his clients, the ‘victims’.
The court will also in due course examine if Tang has the immoral intent to possibly be the mastermind of the online sex ring.
Now I cannot think.
Let give ourselve the chance for the court to complete its examination.
Hi Johnny,
My observations about the current sex case?
While it is quite natural to hide your face and run from the press in a case like this in small Singapore, I cannot but help notice the very different response from the Pei Chun ex-principal.
I was watching the news and saw that he did not run or hide his face, he was polite to all the press, asking them not to comment on him and to plead for his privacy in a dignified manner.
Such people, imho, are rare. They know they have committed a transgression, are brave enough to face it head-on, polite and civil in their response to the press, are truly sorry, plead guilty, without arguing on any technicality, any excuses, and accept all punishment, from the courts, as well as from society, some ‘friends’, and the public.
They accept loss of face, humiliation, loss of their job and career, and accept all responsibility.
Contrast this with some of the leaders in our society, where the natural and accepted response is to deny, cover up, mislead, obfuscate, push away responsibilty and so on. You will never get the truth from these individuals and getting an apology is like pulling their teeth.
I really hope the court will show some mercy to him.
For the lawyer to call the girl a hard-core prostitute, in public, outside the court shows that he is trying to get public sympathy for his clients. The strategy is therefore to get the court to impose a less exacting punishment. After all, is it the norm to ask for the prostitute’s age and corroborate with a physical inspection of her passport, birth certificate, identity card etc.?
It must be easy to get many ‘expert’ witnesses to say such steps are not the norm.
As for the pimp, I do not think there will be any sympathy for him from the court, the public or his customers. Here is a man, well educated, a professional, with a good job, high paying salary, comfortable lifestyle, persuading young girls, even those below the statutory age, to start a life as a prostitute. Makes me wonder if he would consider his own children in this profession. Not surprising that when caught, he readily spilled the beans on all his friends, customers etc., etc. With friends like him, you don’t need enemies.
BTW, I have nothing against pros, only pimps. No generalisation here.
Hi Charles Chua,
I guess you have watch the video. Yes, many hide their faces while the ex-p while avoiding reporter question shows no arrogance. He don’t look like the type that will break down and live a miserable live forever.
Charles I understand your sentiment. Let me get out of the box. :)
#50 Jasmine states the problem “How to overcome this reputation blemish and ‘rise from the ashes’ again?”
My solution is go or migrate to the States and be a publisher to compete with Hugh Hefner Playboy’s magazine. Maybe name it Neigbourhood Girls. Capital should not be a problem if you are refering to the ex-p. I read he lived in a condo now estimated worth about $1ml. A competitive advantage for those who own much lesser.
This idea is my attempt to think outside the box.
Hi Johnny #53
you are on the right track but $1 million is not enough to compete with Hef.’s magazine. But then maybe he (ex.P) has got good ideas to raise another $5mm. lol!
Hi Jassmine @#47.
To my thinking, the ex-Principal is only logical to admit that he is guilty to reporters (not before a judge). He will still be formally charged in court when he will say that he is guilty because only of the law that made him guilty (the prostitute was under 18), otherwise he is not guilty. So he is only technically guilty.
The defence lawyer called the girl a “hardcore” prostitute
outside the court. If it is not true, the girl can sue him for lots of damages. If she does not sue him, then it may be construed that the lawyer is correct.
Prostitution is as old as civilisation. Some of the old civilisations have died, but not prostitution. If this case had happened in a country which has no statutory law against consent sex with girls under 18 years old, the ex-P
will not be guilty – because the girl agreed to sell her flesh. If it is in China or India, the girl will be a shame to the family. Here we are talking about morality. Has the family failed in its duty to instil moral in its member? If so, how can society or government educate and train such families?
So much emphasis is placed on money these days, that people
sell their kidneys to get money, and don’t feel morally wrong or shameful, and at times even got sympathy. By the same logic, selling of flesh is equal to selling of kidney. This is thinking outside the box.
Wai Jin
Hi Jassmine,
Yes it is not easy to compete with Hef’s magazine. If more capital is required, I suggest get partners from the likes of the wealthy. There are 44 + 4 to pick, meet and talk to.
With reasonable capital and good strategies it is possible. As in all biz, time is required to achieve one’s goal.
Note: Hef created Playboy at his kitchen table.
Passion is needed for the one who is driving the biz.
Shall I approach those wealthy after the dust settled.? :)
I can fill fire in me while typing this response. :)
Hi Wai Jin #55
Looks like everything decays with the passage of time, including the moral compass. Who can think outside the box to save this ‘decadent’ age?
Hi Johnny #56
The kitchen table is a good ‘incubator’. I suggest ppl interested in thinking outside the box gather around a kitchen table and brainstorm creative ideas. :) Methinks this is safer for a start (towards thinking outside the box) – no capital needed! LOL!
TS #45,
We can see that your loo which opens to the sky has already provided you the edge . Always enjoyed reading your comments and post, being a mix of knowledge, wisdom and cunning wits, all cleverly crafted together – typical TOTB type. My loo has a full glass wall. When I sit on the toilet, I’ll always look outside into the garden. Thoughts are plentiful but most of all, it kept me from falling asleep in that comfy situation. No worries, no one looks in for they won’t find inspiration there.
HC
Hi Jassimine @ #57.
Thinking Out of the Box is not necessary good. It is not rare to find that it is exactly because of people who think out of the box (unconventional trends)that results in life-style change and moral decay. For example sex-induced magazzines and “Social Escorts” services doing a roaring business — at the expenses of others (for example the 44 people). The fruits of thinking out of the box may benefit the initiators, but have dire consequences for others.
In today’s ST( 21st April, Saturday, pg A 12) ” What lures
women to become social escorts”
Today, those people who sell sexual services to obtain fast money and don’t even blink an eye may seem to be thinking out of the box type of persons. Over time if and when the majority of people copied that life style, it becomes the “in” thing, and will no more considered as thinking out of the box.
Wai Jin
I observe that time and social norms can change
Hi Jasmine,
#57 Your question on: “Who can think outside the box to save this ‘decadent’ age? ”
How’s this for an idea: a full blown Confucianism (not the half bake ones)
:)
Hi Wai Jin #59
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly all have the potential to think outside the box. And be responsible for their ‘out-of box’ ideas.
Sharing a joke:
A Russian businessman walks into a Swiss bank in Geneva and asks for a $100 loan. He offers his luxury Mercedes car as collateral. The collateral is too good, and the bank manager approves the loan. A year later, the Russian comes back. He repays the loan and the 10% interest and is ready to collect his car. Finally, the puzzled bank manager dares to ask him: “Excuse me, sir, could you tell me: did you really need that $100 so badly? In order to get the money, you left your luxury car with us for a whole year!” The Russian replied, “That’s simple – just think outside the box: where else in Geneva can I find such a great parking place for just $10 a year?”
What a clever man!
Hi Johnny #60
If all men become junzi (gentlemen), women and children would be safe from one kind of predators, but there are other ‘vices’ like envy, pride, greed, …don’t know what Confucianism says about these other ‘vices’.
I think a study trip to Bhutan may be enlightening! lol!
Hi Jassmine,
The core of Confucianism is the practice that focuses on human nature. Confucius’s teaching help a person improve one’s character and conduct.He believes human beings are teachable and thus focuses on the cultivation of virtue and maintenance of ethics. One commentator wrote that Confucius have been working hard during his time to improve the social behavior of the Chinese people.
A study trip to Bhutan? I prefer to go there for holiday. Let me know if you are planning one.
Cheers! :)
Hi Johnny #63
Visiting Bhutan is on my bucket list. :)
Thinking outside the box…
I just watched a TV travelogue on the East Indies islands which included Cuba and Trinidad.
It is mind-boggling that Cuba had adopted a Cummunist system for over 60 years, faced up against the world’s strongest power: the USA, and managed to survive as a nation and a people. Cubans are proud, stoic and accepting of their condition. Everybody is paid the same, food is rationed, medical services sparse but free, life is enjoyed with what little they have. Viva la Cuba, viva la Castro!
The other end of the spectrum is a small island owned by Richard Branson; originally bought for 50,000 pounds and developed over the years at greater cost. Now a night there fetches 30,000 pounds and it is a mecca for the rich and famous. Branson has also bought an adjacent island to turn into another exclusive resort but for a hefty 10 million now.
Trinidad is a bustling megapolis with its oil and gas resources and is the home to Carnival. This annual street party rivals that of Brazil’s, attracting thousands of visitors from all over the world.
Now I would like to visit Cuba and Trinidad (for the Carnival), but I don’t think I could afford to stay at Richard Branson’s Necker Island!