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Often in interviews Lee Kuan Yew was quick to point out that Asian cultures were inherently different to their Western counterparts, therefore what worked in on

Often in interviews Lee Kuan Yew was quick to point out that Asian cultures were inherently different to their Western counterparts, therefore what worked in one place would not necessarily work in the other. As a thought exercise, I do sometimes wonder what would happen if gum was banned in New York City or London?

TazeTSchnitzel 12y ago
Perhaps many would buy chewing gum to be rebellious.
adventured 12y ago
If you banned gum in NY, the first thing that would happen is a significant increase in gum on the sidewalks, gum sales would soar; then after a short rebellion, consumption would fall by half as the more pliant folded. It would also generate a classic soda-ban type media circus, nanny state accusations, and so on. Lee Kuan Yew would know that Asian cultures vary as much amongst themselves as they do compared to Western cultures. Strikes me as a convenient defensive line to shut down debate. The manners in China are very different than the manners in Japan for example. Whether we're talking about spitting in public or line queuing. In his same line of reasoning, what would work in Singapore, would not inherently work in the Philippines.
- iQuercus 12y ago
  Good point. Reminds me of some research I've seen comparing differences between boys and girls in toy/play preferences. Differences within a gender (between girls for example) were larger than differences across the genders (boys and girls). Even though we're inclined to assume the most obvious "border" is where the most dramatic differences would lie.
- notsony 12y ago
  I don't think cultures are that different. It's a question of education and enforcement. I see people spitting all the time in San Francisco, it's pretty disgusting, and not just homeless people but also techies, hipsters, Marina crowd, they all do it. Meanwhile in Hong Kong, spitting in the street is quite rare now due to public education (government advertisements and notices) and of course hefty fines which are enforced.
civilian 12y ago
Eric Garner would have been choked over smuggled gum. :-/

TazeTSchnitzel 12y ago

Perhaps many would buy chewing gum to be rebellious.

adventured 12y ago

If you banned gum in NY, the first thing that would happen is a significant increase in gum on the sidewalks, gum sales would soar; then after a short rebellion, consumption would fall by half as the more pliant folded. It would also generate a classic soda-ban type media circus, nanny state accusations, and so on. Lee Kuan Yew would know that Asian cultures vary as much amongst themselves as they do compared to Western cultures. Strikes me as a convenient defensive line to shut down debate. The manners in China are very different than the manners in Japan for example. Whether we're talking about spitting in public or line queuing. In his same line of reasoning, what would work in Singapore, would not inherently work in the Philippines.

iQuercus 12y ago
Good point. Reminds me of some research I've seen comparing differences between boys and girls in toy/play preferences. Differences within a gender (between girls for example) were larger than differences across the genders (boys and girls). Even though we're inclined to assume the most obvious "border" is where the most dramatic differences would lie.
notsony 12y ago
I don't think cultures are that different. It's a question of education and enforcement. I see people spitting all the time in San Francisco, it's pretty disgusting, and not just homeless people but also techies, hipsters, Marina crowd, they all do it. Meanwhile in Hong Kong, spitting in the street is quite rare now due to public education (government advertisements and notices) and of course hefty fines which are enforced.

civilian 12y ago

Eric Garner would have been choked over smuggled gum. :-/