Ignition

was randomly blogsurfing after adding chichi n liks to the links, and then surfed across skhoo's blog.

the latest post: rebuttals to various retorts on the issue whether a prospective new train station nearby should be named after Hot Coals Incorporated.

apparently, some random pple at Abolish Counter Strike (International) have been striking up a storm at his place, about Hot Coals Incorp. having a big ego, with them not being too bright (generally) etc. etc.

i do not wish to take them down meticulously one by one. not because i cannot, im sure many will tell you that i can, with 3 years of training and the trademark sarcasm that my consortium-mates and i exhibit.

this is merely a general reply to random comments and issues i find creeping across skhoo's tagboard.

so. without any further ado, let us start, shall we?

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1. Doing so "centers on the big ego of [Hot Coals Incorp.] in [this place]."
Rebuttal:

firstly, ego? well yes, it's pretty surprising, and its a first for that area... but when you win something and celebrate, is it a celebration of ego? if a country wins an olympic medal fair and square, can u blame them for jumping for joy (and hopefully not getting stuck)? similiarly, if Hot Coals decide to propose it as such, it is at IT'S OWN RISK. and certainly not for ego.

secondly, what will it accomplish for its ego this way? will people suddenly be motivated to join up and sign up coz an MRT station is named after it? it's right next to Hot Coals HQ, but the station called by any other name, would still be as convenient for anyone to use.

thirdly, im pretty sure skhoo has outlined the general stereotypes of people at Hot Coals Incorp. the general idea (i'm not dismissing this as false or promoting it as true, i say it as i see it) is that Hot Coals people usually are teh muggers, concerned with their next performance review first and foremost, have little or no life, and think Facebook is for people to have their face in a book.
can i personally say that that is false? for one, some are, but they are few and often either referred to as "geniuses" or help out when possible. of coz, there's always the elitist feller here and there, but as a general rule Hot Coals people are okay. and they have a social life - you won't believe how many people are sposed to be attached. Lesser Abseiling National CENTER (LAN CENTER) is a frequent hangout too.

in short: Hot Coals people are well... normal?

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2. "cheena" ie. china -men are idiotic, and usually have no idea what's going on.

firstly, again, false. the tactful answer: this is a generalisation. the truthful answer: this is ethnic discrimination. even peoples who are not supposed to be the most technologically advanced or anything have made astoudning leaps and developments and they are generally quite okay and live within their own rules.

secondly, and most obviously, not. everyone. in. Hot Coals Incorp. is. from. china. not that it's a bad thing, but it's a funny misconception pple like to have.

thirdly, they can't speak proper english? i won't say my english is the best, but i bet i could hold my own. this blog 'ere is scattered with numerous examples of shattered english, but i don't think u use Queen's English every time u speak, either. again, by expereince and contact, another blindingly stupid misconception, especially for those at Hot Coals.

fourthly, have u ever wondered whether "we cheena men" ever criticize u for not being able to speak chinese properly? again, not that we do it that well ourselves?

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and can i add another thing?

not all people at Hot Coals Incorp. support this. some, if not most, are against it. even though it supposedly boosts image and such, egomania and other such accusations immediately come to mind.

so. please. check your facts before answering.

people who usually don't, upon finding out their "facts" are deproved, usually have their credibility crumble faster than a soft cookie in an industrial-strength liquifier.

that's presentation skills 101, people.

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and, one more thing.

it is true that a single word can swing whole debates around. it IS true. for example, take a look at this little word over here.

"suggestion".

it's not confirmed, people. it's a proposal. a suggestion. meant to be corrected and have concerns voiced out. the very fact that some/most of its own people are against it is testament against the proposal, but it is by no means any ground for anyone to make such snide comments.

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and just off the record, i am also at Hot Coals Incorp.

when i entered, four and a half years ago, what enthralled me most was the enthusiasm and passion our seniors had. yeah, desk jobs were boring as usual, and everyone's favourite topic to whack was crazy assignments, unreasonable superiors, and an "in" box that never stopped overflowing.

but when it comes to competitions or other stuff like that, few get more passionate.

that's y i decided to join the task force involved: the consortium councils. i figured this was the main pulling factor, over others like Roti Intenational. as in, what use was a job where u don't have any loyalty to?

so yes, i do sometimes complain. yes, superiors may be unreasonable, and assignments overflow our tables like some random waterfall.

but above and beyond that, our batch, and our seniors, we had the passion.

who else would spend weeks preparing for the national TnFs?
who else would hype up the new batch for 3 days in a row?
who else would be willing to lose voices and boxes of strepsils to tell the juniors the depth of this passion?
who else would go to the flats facing the stadium hours before the opening to ask permission to hang banners from their windows?
who else would carry a superbig banner that requires abt 15 - 20 people to move?
who else would walk into the stadium, worried that one can only see the competitiors' banners, only to realise, heng, the background is our banner?
who else would get boxes of red and yellow war paint and paint each and every supporter?
who else would cheer across a distance so great the response time is 3 seconds?
who else would drown out whole competition contigents drums and clappers with only voices?
who else would emphasize, year after year, of the need for this passion?

yes, it seems kinda stupid. if i went into a random place in Hot Coals Incorp and rally for a cheer, pple would probably be reluctant.

i dun blame them for that, i'd probably be reluctant too.

but in these times. at SOO. at TnF.
thats where you cannot NOT have the passion.

that's why im so pissed at reports of the new batch.

no friking enthusiasm at all.

it's kinda true, each batch tends to be worser then the last. our seniors had to come down to scream at us, and now only do i realise the importance and meaning behind their frustrated yells.

don't u dare tell me you don't want to cheer.
don't u dare tell me you don't feel like cheering.

even those ap people in my batch. made an attempt to cheer. shouted still. at the end of 3 days, the ap pple were at least putting in a concerted effort.

nsm - a usually quiet guy in my batch. quiet. not ap. quiet. but during these things, he shouts.

that's why. don't u see?

even though we don't cheer our runners may still cross the line first, but is the cheering that truly shows our team spirit and determination. clinche, yes. true? yes. when we lift the triple champs, we celebrate. when others clinch one championship, they act as if they won the world. rightfully so. because they really have to earn it.

if you seriously dun want to participate, even at these times - this is not some boring school excursion, or some lame thing people drag you to.

this is the REAL heritage.
years that run into the double digits that i can't remember already.

why we can look competitors in the face and be proud of ourselves, why we can talk about how badly we pwn people dedicated to this field. this is the reason.

doing well is an extra. but when we have it, it is an honour we should defend.

and if you tell me, eh, sorry leh, i dun want to participate

i'm sorry too.

as i tell the mt juniors:
you can be the most intelligent or most capable here in the field. but so as long as ur not passionate about the job, if you're just doing it to clock up the hours, so as long as u treat this like a piece of crap that you can drop anytime

you're not welcome.


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so. in summary:

skhoo: good job rebutting. and good self restraint, too.
others: think before u speak. enough said. i think... many of the people on this side of the line are restraining themselves. yeah. don't. do. anything. rash.

and. one more thing.

i'm going to come back the next SOO. see if i don't.
i don't think its that fair to judge based on simply what i've heard. as horrible and lame-inspiring as it may sound. i still want to see the good. perhaps it was overexaggerated. i hope so.

so. next soo. seniors from my batch. we'll come. we'll see. we'll decide.

personally, i will come (try to) during TnF next year. hur. maybe i'll buy my own supply of paint? or maybe every1 will use so little that i won't need to?

even if soo is not an accurate judgement, this should be.

juniors, if u read this. please. don't do this to us.

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oO lengthy rant.
comments are welcome.

haiz. what will this lead to?



the long black hand jerks across the clock.
tick. tock.