Why So Serious? (+ Fashion Asia Pics)

I’m always touched when my juniors from WKWSCI (Wee Kim Wee School of Communication & Information) write to me. Whether it is to ask for advice, or to leave a comment or to share what their thoughts are, I find myself reminiscing about those school days. I’m envious of them, for stressing over the readings, grappling with deadlines and struggling to make it on time for morning lectures because I actually quite enjoy being in an academic environment where the grueling curriculum serve a purpose for you, without you having to set one for yourself, even if you aren’t very clear what it is.

One of them left a comment on a previous entry, regarding how her ex-boyfriend suggested that she should have take a more practical module instead of “Acting” but she was glad she took no heed because acting was the only fun she had the entire semester. While I was formulating my response to her, I wondered if that is the reason why people here sometimes take everything too seriously? Have they stopped having fun? Part of my response to her was “…I don’t understand why people equate fun to being frivolous and [fun] is often frowned upon and associated with being lazy, impractical or time-wasting.” because I genuinely think having fun is part of living, and that it does makes work or study a lot more enjoyable than it is.

Is there a prejudice against people who actually have fun working or studying? Is it wrong to want to have fun? Are they mutually exclusive?

One of the reasons given is that people can get carried away when they’re having fun, so much so that it distracts them from the tasks required to be completed which inevitably results in a  lack of productivity and efficiency. But we are not talking about children here, we are talking about young adults and adults who have developed an awareness since. Surely they can be trusted to know their responsibilities and fulfill them?

I’m not saying it’s not important to be productive or efficient or professional, but they need not always be at the expense of having fun. One of the differences between human beings and machines is that we have emotions and our interaction with one another is organic, as opposed to being programmed. Yet how often have we met people who seem to be talking and reacting like there is a course to follow?

While I don’t have scientific evidence to prove, I do feel that human beings are naturally drawn to happy, positive emotions because it’s a lot easier to experience them, ceteris paribus. Of course I might be wrong. It’s just that I’ve seen for myself, that in cases where the overall experience is positive and enjoyable, there is less focus on the unpleasantness and difficulty of the task, less complaints, and a greater willingness to engage in it.

I’ve heard and it saddens me to know that there are employees who have been told by their employers to adhere to certain rules and work conduct which indirectly promotes behaviour that is devoid of human emotion. We are all unique individuals with different personalities and one of the reasons why humans, instead of robots, are in most jobs is because the world is made up by people. Products, ideas, campaigns, movements are all driven by human beings. Because each of us bring to the table a part of us, which is different from someone else.

We all want to work hard, but we can definitely work harder, if we can also have some fun at the same time.  They are not mutually exclusive, unless we humans make them to be.

Enough said, here are more fun pictures from my Fashion Asia Bangkok trip to share. Have fun everyone!

I have no idea why that pose came about!

Clarence, the unsuspecting victim stole the scene from us!

I thought these earrings were really cute. Muak muak.

I like the look and feel of this top!

Pretending to mannequins...

...still pretending to be mannequins...

...Keith looks totally the part!

Did u know the "book" I'm holding is actually the box that comes with the accessories at Stretsis? So pretty!

OMG, what/who is that?

Alvin (MediaCorp make-up artiste) and I

Oh...Clarence...

A happy face from each of us.

These are fake flowers but they look so pretty!

Welcome to Bangkok, Thailand, The Land of Smiles.