A Chinese netizen recently riled up some Xiaohongshu users with his contentious opinion about the environment in Singapore’s MRT cabins.
Posting a clip of his POV standing in a crowded MRT cabin, he declared: “Singapore’s MRTs are really noisier and messier than the ones in the Mainland.”
He also added: “Everything else in Singapore is great, it’s just that it’s genuinely noisy in the MRT.”
In his video, several conversations could be heard going on in the background, along with the distinct chattering and cackles of a couple of kids. Judging from the packed cabin and the mandarin orange paper bag a commuter was holding, the man was likely on board the MRT recently over Chinese New Year.
Naturally, the comments section quickly got busy – and spicy.
A few Singaporeans pointed out that there were “quite a number of foreigners” in the cabin.
“I can’t really pick up a Singaporean accent among the people talking, seems like the majority were excited tourists,” wrote one.
Others questioned if the scene in his video could even be considered “noisy”.
“Where’s the noise you speak of?” questioned one netizen, while another asked: “Is this really noisy to you?”
Another commenter explained that the man could have been travelling during the school holidays, and it is “unavoidable that the trains are more crowded and noisy during the peak seasons”.
One commenter provided what they called an “objective take” on the situation, writing: “Singaporeans are generally of higher calibre, and there’s good social order. The only thing is that the MRTs can’t be considered quiet. We often hear old people using their phones on speaker, students laughing and talking loudly, and parents ignoring their kids who kick up a fuss.”
They continued: “Singaporean Chinese generally keep to themselves, they don’t like the limelight, so even if they’re unhappy with [the noise] they might not speak up about it. In general, Singaporeans are also more chill, and more tolerant to those who act less civilised.”
Many agreed that the man’s experience in the cabin was “very normal” and there was hardly anything to complain about. It is also not clear what the OP was referring to when he said that the train situation was “messy”.
To be fair, there must be a reason why we have signs to tell commuters to keep their volume down when taking public buses.
Do you agree with the man? Or do you think people were being too harsh in their replies?
Photos: 泥嚎/ Xiaohongshu