5 ms·

I'd describe Singapore strict laws just as effective and strict but in exchange you get a very safe and clean country, no drugs, no garbage, no theft. That's ok

by buster 14y ago

I'd describe Singapore strict laws just as effective and strict but in exchange you get a very safe and clean country, no drugs, no garbage, no theft. That's ok with me if (and only if) those laws are not exploited by the government. i don't think this is really the case in Singapore, at least not more then in the U.S. or european countries. Compared to the surrounding countries Singapore is like _the_ safe place and not the other way around.

homosaur 14y ago
I don't think their laws are necessarily brutal, but their enforcement of those laws is. They view people who break the taboo of law as people who should be handled with the full force of the state. And personally I like drugs.
- buster 14y ago
  Ah well, just because you like the "freedom" of doing illegal things and the reassurance that if you're caught there will be virtually no consequences, doesn't make it right. There are people out there that say "And personally i like to beat my wife and kids" and there are societies where this is accepted behaviour. After being in Malaysia and Indonesia i felt very safe in Singapore and had not the impression of a state the oppresses its people. In short words: Every country has its rules to live by. Singapore may have strict laws but gains a lot in terms of overall safety.
  - white_devil 14y ago
    > There are people out there that say "And personally i like to beat my wife and kids" and there are societies where this is accepted behaviour. Don't equate smoking marijuana to beating another human being. I've never even tried it, for the record, but I don't see anything wrong with getting high if you want to, as long as you don't cause harm to others.
    - buster 14y ago
      I certainly don't equate marijuana to beating people (where did that word marijuana came from? It was about drugs. What about Krok? [1] Besides, you could count the victims of the drug scene, the mafia, gangs and everything that is behind drugs, bribe, weapons or prostitution. Buying drugs sponsors crime). Anyway, back to topic. The point is that Singapore has one of the lowest crime rates in the world [2], that doesn't come ouf of nowhere and is bought with very strict laws. Actually i was trying to make a point to not equate your own understanding of legality with another. We are all bound by certain laws and what we take for granted may sound very strange to others. For example, i find it very, very strange that, in the U.S., people are allowed to carry guns. Can't get it in my head. But well... [1] http://io9.com/5859291/krokodil-russias-designer-drug-that-will-eat-your-flesh http://io9.com/5859291/krokodil-russias-designer-drug-that-w... [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_in_Singapore https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_in_Singapore
      - dkersten 14y ago
        Besides, you could count the victims of the drug scene, the mafia, gangs and everything that is behind drugs, bribe, weapons or prostitution. Buying drugs sponsors crime That seems to be a side-effect of prohibition though, not the drugs themselves. It was the same when alcohol was illegal in the US. If the drugs weren't illegal, would this still be the case?
VexXtreme 14y ago
You only need draconian laws like that to enforce the things you mentioned if the local population is naturally so uncivilized that they need to be intimated and/or treated like cattle in order to behave. I'm not saying that's what the Singaporeans are like, but it sure seems like their government thinks that's the case. Seriously, if you need some crazy draconian law to make sure people aren't littering everywhere, then something is very wrong with your people's culture and level of civilization. In Japan there aren't any laws like that, yet it's safe to say that it is the most civilized country on the planet. It's extremely safe, criminal violence is virtually unheard of, levels of cleanliness are superb and the people are generally very polite and pleasant in everyday situations. It's a living proof that you don't need to intimidate people if their morals and sense of responsibility are in check and they know not to do "bad things" because they're wrong and harmful to the society, and not because they will get caned otherwise.
- buster 14y ago
  I think it funny that you mention Japan, because only last week i was very surprised how hard you're fined for drinking and driving in Japan, even the passengers of a car where the driver drank alhohol. :) Do not drive after drinking alcohol. Driving under the influence of alcohol is strictly prohibited and will result in a fine, imprisonment or penalty. When a driver is arrested for DUI, the driver and the person offering the car will be fined a maximum of 1,000,000 Yen, and all other passengers in the vehicle knowingly allowed the driver to drive will be fined a maximum of 500,000 Yen. And what do you mean with "In Japan there aren't any laws like that"? Are you kidding me? Japan has very strong laws against drugs! So in the end you support my statement.. strong laws = lower crime rate (how surprising). What would it have to do with people. People are not a unique mass, there are drug dealers, psychopaths and what not in every society. http://www.tofugu.com/2011/12/02/drug-laws-in-japan-youd-better-have-a-prescription/ http://www.tofugu.com/2011/12/02/drug-laws-in-japan-youd-bet... http://factsanddetails.com/japan.php?itemid=664 http://factsanddetails.com/japan.php?itemid=664 http://expatsguide.jp/ch6 http://expatsguide.jp/ch6
- Muromec 14y ago
  >Seriously, if you need some crazy draconian law to make sure people aren't littering everywhere, then something is very wrong with your people's culture and level of civilization. And how you change people culture and "level of civilization", by magic? >In Japan there aren't any laws like that, yet it's safe to say that it is the most civilized country on the planet Beter to compare to Malaysia (which is way closer to Singapore). Just cross the border and you see the difference.

by buster 14y ago

homosaur 14y ago

I don't think their laws are necessarily brutal, but their enforcement of those laws is. They view people who break the taboo of law as people who should be handled with the full force of the state. And personally I like drugs.

buster 14y ago
Ah well, just because you like the "freedom" of doing illegal things and the reassurance that if you're caught there will be virtually no consequences, doesn't make it right. There are people out there that say "And personally i like to beat my wife and kids" and there are societies where this is accepted behaviour. After being in Malaysia and Indonesia i felt very safe in Singapore and had not the impression of a state the oppresses its people. In short words: Every country has its rules to live by. Singapore may have strict laws but gains a lot in terms of overall safety.
- white_devil 14y ago
  > There are people out there that say "And personally i like to beat my wife and kids" and there are societies where this is accepted behaviour. Don't equate smoking marijuana to beating another human being. I've never even tried it, for the record, but I don't see anything wrong with getting high if you want to, as long as you don't cause harm to others.
  - buster 14y ago
    I certainly don't equate marijuana to beating people (where did that word marijuana came from? It was about drugs. What about Krok? [1] Besides, you could count the victims of the drug scene, the mafia, gangs and everything that is behind drugs, bribe, weapons or prostitution. Buying drugs sponsors crime). Anyway, back to topic. The point is that Singapore has one of the lowest crime rates in the world [2], that doesn't come ouf of nowhere and is bought with very strict laws. Actually i was trying to make a point to not equate your own understanding of legality with another. We are all bound by certain laws and what we take for granted may sound very strange to others. For example, i find it very, very strange that, in the U.S., people are allowed to carry guns. Can't get it in my head. But well... [1] http://io9.com/5859291/krokodil-russias-designer-drug-that-will-eat-your-flesh http://io9.com/5859291/krokodil-russias-designer-drug-that-w... [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_in_Singapore https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_in_Singapore
    - dkersten 14y ago
      Besides, you could count the victims of the drug scene, the mafia, gangs and everything that is behind drugs, bribe, weapons or prostitution. Buying drugs sponsors crime That seems to be a side-effect of prohibition though, not the drugs themselves. It was the same when alcohol was illegal in the US. If the drugs weren't illegal, would this still be the case?

VexXtreme 14y ago

You only need draconian laws like that to enforce the things you mentioned if the local population is naturally so uncivilized that they need to be intimated and/or treated like cattle in order to behave. I'm not saying that's what the Singaporeans are like, but it sure seems like their government thinks that's the case. Seriously, if you need some crazy draconian law to make sure people aren't littering everywhere, then something is very wrong with your people's culture and level of civilization. In Japan there aren't any laws like that, yet it's safe to say that it is the most civilized country on the planet. It's extremely safe, criminal violence is virtually unheard of, levels of cleanliness are superb and the people are generally very polite and pleasant in everyday situations. It's a living proof that you don't need to intimidate people if their morals and sense of responsibility are in check and they know not to do "bad things" because they're wrong and harmful to the society, and not because they will get caned otherwise.

buster 14y ago
I think it funny that you mention Japan, because only last week i was very surprised how hard you're fined for drinking and driving in Japan, even the passengers of a car where the driver drank alhohol. :) Do not drive after drinking alcohol. Driving under the influence of alcohol is strictly prohibited and will result in a fine, imprisonment or penalty. When a driver is arrested for DUI, the driver and the person offering the car will be fined a maximum of 1,000,000 Yen, and all other passengers in the vehicle knowingly allowed the driver to drive will be fined a maximum of 500,000 Yen. And what do you mean with "In Japan there aren't any laws like that"? Are you kidding me? Japan has very strong laws against drugs! So in the end you support my statement.. strong laws = lower crime rate (how surprising). What would it have to do with people. People are not a unique mass, there are drug dealers, psychopaths and what not in every society. http://www.tofugu.com/2011/12/02/drug-laws-in-japan-youd-better-have-a-prescription/ http://www.tofugu.com/2011/12/02/drug-laws-in-japan-youd-bet... http://factsanddetails.com/japan.php?itemid=664 http://factsanddetails.com/japan.php?itemid=664 http://expatsguide.jp/ch6 http://expatsguide.jp/ch6
Muromec 14y ago
>Seriously, if you need some crazy draconian law to make sure people aren't littering everywhere, then something is very wrong with your people's culture and level of civilization. And how you change people culture and "level of civilization", by magic? >In Japan there aren't any laws like that, yet it's safe to say that it is the most civilized country on the planet Beter to compare to Malaysia (which is way closer to Singapore). Just cross the border and you see the difference.