Inappropriate people

I have been practicing in this 'new village' for close to 5 years and I have a compendium of brushes with inappropriate people which can fill a book. Today is no exception, with my latest experience with a 60 year old man.

I reckon respect is given when it is earned. Such is what I am brought up with. It doesn't automatically comes with a person's standing, nor age. Although I am brought up with the old Chinese tradition of 24 types of filial piety, none the less I am still very worked up and irritated by this odd character.

You see, I was in the dark room, developing the xray that I had taken prior, well my practice is an independent setup and I do everything myself, from taking xray to developing it. Yup, a doctor's life is hard, and at times of economic uncertainties like this, it's even tougher., but this is not the story that I am divulging today,.... back to the old man, as I was coming out the dark room, i was shocked to see an old man, capping two mineral bottles and the whole floor virtually flooded. As it is the water tap is located next to the entrance of the dark room, So imagine my chagrin when saw the place filled with water. I pointed towards the tap and informed him that the tap wasn't turned off properly, my exact words, translated from Cantonese "Uncle, the tap is not turned off properly"

Imagine my amazement when he shot back at me and said that I was "arrogant". I was like 'what?', I told him I was just telling him that the tap wasn't turned off completely and the water was still trickling out. Is that wrong? By the way, the area is supposed to be off limits, since it's in the vicinity of a radiation area. A clinic is not a public place, many people are unable to grasps this idea. It's a private place and as any private place, certain areas are off limits.

So is it morally and idealistically wrong for me to tell him that the tap is not turned off properly, denying the obvious fact that the very basis of him being in a 'private' place without express permission is overlooked? Haven't I accorded the proper terminologies in referring him as "Uncle?".

What did I do to deserve this 'arrogant' perception? Is my reaction extraneous? I think not, I was shocked no doubt, but definitely I wasn't rude, nor my intonation out of line. The fact remains that he is not even my patient, but some old fellow that just walked in, without permission (again if I may add) into my private place. Heck I should have bombarded that fellow, but decency got the better of me. I am pissed, no doubt.

The fact remains that if someone who was walking outside wants to go into your house, to use the toilet, isn't it appropriate to deny that person? Or it isn't my right, not to loan the person the toilet or to prevent him from entering any prohibited place? Well all in all, I'd to say that's the so called civilized people of new villages, the state of mentality of our so called cultured and older generation. I reckon the the aptly coined term, "Jinjang people" really does have it's merits. It goes to proof one thing, that is decency, calm and courteousness doesn't come with age, it's ingrained right from young. Old people do behave badly, and young people doesn't necessarily be uncouth and rude.

Pleasant surprise

Today started a bit different from my previous Tuesday morning, I had to rush to the condo to see the contractor and to decide if I would engage the electrician. Naturally owing to the raising costs of almost everything, I need to be extremely prudent with my money. Anyway that isn't what I intend to write, the past couple of months, apart from dabbling in nonsensical things like writing unsolicitated emails to bumming around, I was in fact busy renovating and shopping for items to furnish my place.

Anyway, the pleasant surprise that I am posting today is in regard to a friend's comment about someone who happens to read my "incessant ramblings". I was taken aback that there are some who actually reads what I write. Well it's flattering, although I reckon, I'll probably need to update more religiously. Looking back it's amazing how technology enriches people's lives. To the mum who read blogs and goes online to chat, I salute you, for you are so IT savvy. At least you are embracing technology with open arms.

I assure you that I am fine and hopefully will be fine in future. Thanks and God Bless.

A mind of their own?

Living in this age and time, everything is automated, everything has "fuzzy logic" in it, for whatever that means. Even a washing machine has some AI and fuzzy logic which purportedly ends up cleaning the clothes better. Sounds funny? sounds out of this world? Sounds ludicrous? Well, welcome to the new millenium, the 21 century.

What i am wondering if all this so called Artificial intelligence, does a machine really process it? Allow me to elaborate further when I am asking if they have one, for everything from automated teller machines, to dialing the bank or your local telephone exchange and asking for assistance.

As for me, I bank in the takings for my clinic every day or at least once in a few days. Naturally I bank it in via ATMs, and it's easy and convenient, don't get me wrong, but at times it's utterly frustrating and irritating. It's funny when you bank in notes, it is invariably that some will be new, some worn out with some stains on it, and assortment of notes of different denominations. Funny thing is that each individual machine has it's own character. Each has it's whims and fancies. I would no doubt bank into my favorite ATM rather than anyone that's not "engaged". It's because the one that I use, will take most irregular notes, stained? no problem, new? also no problem, "semua hantam". Other machines rejects new notes, and takes old one. Some worst one even rejects everything. So if I were to be forced to use them, I'd end up folding and staining the notes so that the ATM will accept it. I mean why the double standards?

It's especially irritating when they only takes 30 notes at one time and when u slot in 30 notes, 10 will be rejected the first time and then 6 and then 2 and the last one will be rejected a few times. It takes time and looking over the shoulder all the time is pretty intimidating especially when u anticipate the next fellow that shuffles near you might be the one that is planning on robbing you. Well in Bolehland, anything can happen, we have thieves carting away the whole ATM machine barely 100 metres from the police station. What do you expect? Anyway this is not the scope of this post.

Anyone might have had the experience of dialing the local phone directory or a internet service provider asking you to press '0' for operator assistance, dial '1' for menu, dial '2' for products enquiry, dial '3' for technical assistance, and the numerical goes on...irritating isn't it, talking to an electronic voice?

Do they have a mind of their own? I hope not, lest we'd be like some out of Hollywood blockbuster epic. I'd stick to old fashion operator or over the counter banking, thank you very much.