what a churlish old man lee seck kay is ! now as long as the service provider is helpful & polite, im satisfied, never mind what they call me ... but wait till u read mr maverick's comments below ... 
From ST forum (1/3/2010) ...
IT SEEMS that only in Singapore can one, after or nearing retirement, automatically become an 'uncle' or 'auntie' to the young, regardless of whether that person is one. These so-called honorifics are improper and make me cringe every time I hear them.
Some believe the young are just using them to be polite or respectful, or as terms of endearment even. Actually, it is none of the above.
Recently, an employee at a polyclinic greeted me with 'Good morning, uncle'. I asked her why she addressed me as 'uncle' even though I was not her uncle.
With a sheepish smile, she said she did it out of habit and saw nothing wrong with it as all her colleagues were calling the elderly 'uncles' or 'aunties'.
I pointed out they could avoid the faux pas by addressing the elderly in a proper manner, such as prefixing their surname with 'Mr' or 'Mrs', or simply as 'sir' or 'madam' and their equivalents in other languages. She thanked me for the advice and agreed to bring up the matter with her superior.
I hope staff at the integrated resorts have been properly briefed in this respect. Addressing well-heeled visitors, especially those at the casinos, as 'uncles' and 'aunties' could be regarded as presumptuous at best. At worst, some guests may take offence.
Lee Seck Kay
:p
I heard this story of an American working here. Everyday the coffee lady or "Ah Soh" would come in to make coffee/tea and clean the pantry. The Singaporeans would ask her for help and then thank "Ah Soh".
After a week, the American could take it no longer and asked his Singapore colleagues why they were so rude to keep calling the auntie "Arse-hole".
Posted by: mr.maverick at Mon Mar 01 16:40:39 SGT 2010
From ST forum (1/3/2010) ...
IT SEEMS that only in Singapore can one, after or nearing retirement, automatically become an 'uncle' or 'auntie' to the young, regardless of whether that person is one. These so-called honorifics are improper and make me cringe every time I hear them.
Some believe the young are just using them to be polite or respectful, or as terms of endearment even. Actually, it is none of the above.
Recently, an employee at a polyclinic greeted me with 'Good morning, uncle'. I asked her why she addressed me as 'uncle' even though I was not her uncle.
With a sheepish smile, she said she did it out of habit and saw nothing wrong with it as all her colleagues were calling the elderly 'uncles' or 'aunties'.
I pointed out they could avoid the faux pas by addressing the elderly in a proper manner, such as prefixing their surname with 'Mr' or 'Mrs', or simply as 'sir' or 'madam' and their equivalents in other languages. She thanked me for the advice and agreed to bring up the matter with her superior.
I hope staff at the integrated resorts have been properly briefed in this respect. Addressing well-heeled visitors, especially those at the casinos, as 'uncles' and 'aunties' could be regarded as presumptuous at best. At worst, some guests may take offence.
Lee Seck Kay
:p
I heard this story of an American working here. Everyday the coffee lady or "Ah Soh" would come in to make coffee/tea and clean the pantry. The Singaporeans would ask her for help and then thank "Ah Soh".
After a week, the American could take it no longer and asked his Singapore colleagues why they were so rude to keep calling the auntie "Arse-hole".
Posted by: mr.maverick at Mon Mar 01 16:40:39 SGT 2010
!
