Tata, here you go: QueensBay Mall, the latest and supposedly the greatest place in Penang to
This gigantic building houses hundreds of shops selling branded goods (read: one piece of underwear will cost you a fortune kind of shop) and a variety of eateries. The greatest news is: once inside, it looks almost the same (forgive my obsession to use the word 'isomorphic') as any shopping malls in this world. The ad flyer claims Penang has become a relatively advanced place because the world renown brands have established their outlets here.
Wait, did I say the QueensBay Mall is isomorphic to all other shopping malls in the world? If it is isomorphic, then it is not unique. But aren't we cherishing creativity, individualism, and therefore uniqueness? Looking like others is first of all not 'cool', maybe downright boring. If not cool and not unique, we are not an 'advanced' entity in any measure. If we are not cool not advanced, then we are not Boleh!
This finding is more disturbing than finding out monkeys in fact is the devolution of some brain-dead politicians instead of the other way round. (Ok, this statement is awful. I apologize. I know, I shouldn't insult the monkeys)
(Boleh is a Malay word meaning 'can' as in 'can-do'. Usually this is mainly used in the term 'Malaysia Boleh!', chanted proudly after numerous expensive record-breaking but useless projects like building the largest cake in the world, tallest tower made from pokers, biggest malaysian flag made with 1 cent coins, etc. Exact rationales please contact your nearest zoo which has monkeys)
We have a problem it seems. Let's step back and think. Is modernisation really bringing uniqueness and individualism? At the surface it sounds true, you can dress and do whatever you like, as long as you are within the legal bound (or you don't let others see it, or you live in BolehLand).
I want to argue that modern society is more homogenous than it seems, especially now information travels almost instantaneously.
The latest fashion in Milan today can be bought the next day in Woman Street in Hong Kong with only fraction of the pricetag and if you are nice to the sales-girl, she may give you a pair of socks for free. Fashion is definitely contagious and homogenous in this sense. If you don't look like the norm, others will chide at you "Oh my god! You are so out of date!" Heck, so where is the uniqueness?
Look again at what we read and more generally, what we know. We go to similar news sites and read similar news. For any questions, we automatically google for the answers and land on basically the same pages, no matter you are from US, India, Antartica or Singapore. It is not surprising to see more and more people in different geographical regions have similar thoughts and world views, because they are exposed to the same information.
The upcoming challenge is no longer about insufficient information, in fact, what we are critically lacking of is the critical thinking skills to differentiate, filter, absorb, and apply the barrage of information on time while maintaining our own identities.
May the power with you to make you as Boleh as possible, but not more Boleh. Meow.
2 comments:
Let's randomize google search results! Say no to homogeneity!
Can't post using my account for some reason.
You can't really say no to homogeneity, examples abound in this aspect: McD burgers taste and look the same throughout the world, the same goes to most knowledge you learn in university. Homogeity saves time to think and process information in most of the time. Price to pay is loss of individualism. Take your pick
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