Monday, February 25, 2019

S M Ong: ERP, auto-lock jokes and a ‘hostage’ situation

Source Website: https://www.tnp.sg/lifestyle/others/erp-auto-lock-jokes-and-hostage-situation
By S M Ong, Humour, The New Paper, 04 February 2019 at 06:00 am


Act Blur
https://www.tnp.sg/lifestyle/others/erp-auto-lock-jokes-and-hostage-situation


It's because everyone has been repeating the line from the Go-Jek "hostage" video since it went viral late last week. There are even dance remixes now.

The joke is getting played out. It's like saying "boomz" or "stunned like vegetable".


The joke is getting played out.
https://www.tnp.sg/lifestyle/others/erp-auto-lock-jokes-and-hostage-situation


And "stunned like vegetable" was how some people reacted to the behaviour of the woman passenger in the video who accused the Go-Jek driver of trying to cheat her and then kidnapping her, culminating with the "Is it because I'm Chinese?" line.

On Saturday, the driver, Mr Kamaruzzaman Abdul Latiff, who posted the video, thanked "everyone for the moral support" on Facebook.


Mr Kamaruzzaman Abdul Latiff showing his viral video.
PHOTO: Mr Kamaruzzaman Abdul Latiff showing his viral video.
PHOTO: SHIN MIN DAILY NEWS
Picture posted by S M Ong, Humour, The New Paper on 04 February 2019 at 06:00 am
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2cHUCuF6sFQlxzyVItAoPYVh43coPecBDudsBPbn2kiFiaRooBdpEQxQh1p16tHetFQv_5_cV6dyvdDAQGbekx1d4boChMn3dgnH7PV7rWEKutX4E7UyQIhyphenhyphenfwiq9ff7Q14ZYpNrkiUM/s1600/NP_20190204_OSCOL04_4599940.jpg
https://www.tnp.sg/sites/default/files/styles/rl780/public/articles/2019/02/04/NP_20190204_OSCOL04_4599940.jpg?itok=QchUa_9H
https://www.tnp.sg/lifestyle/others/erp-auto-lock-jokes-and-hostage-situation


The passenger, on the other hand, has received, let's say, less support.

She has reportedly removed her Facebook account and left the country for a holiday.

Online commenters have described her as "crazy" and "mentally disturbed", which I think she is not and perpetuates the stigmatisation of mental illness.


The passenger has reportedly removed her Facebook account and left the country for a holiday.
PHOTO: The passenger has reportedly removed her Facebook account and left the country for a holiday.
Picture posted by Alamy
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWxsnTLBHt61H7Quq2q1edOg8WjVhyj1oaNj9z2tnWOn-FyTxDJ8BsOfpemie5z4CCgTbT5c4IFGw_Eftfz0P361WJBdb3pMCyzUfwaDc9ttksZh34PVAF0xZ1vMY5mBK98-uuGSIPrds/s1600/E5X85H_11.jpg
https://c8.alamy.com/comp/E5X85H/rear-view-of-young-woman-strolling-barefoot-along-rural-track-delaware-E5X85H.jpg
https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-rear-view-of-young-woman-strolling-barefoot-along-rural-track-delaware-72491933.html


Yes, she kinda over-reacted in the situation, but I can understand why she got so triggered.

Put yourself in her shoes and the backseat of the Go-Jek car.

Let's say you have taken a ride to this place "every morning" and drivers gave you the option of going the faster way with Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) charges or "the way where there are no additional charges".

Then one day, this driver says he doesn't know the non-ERP way. Having little faith in humanity because of the HIV Registry leak, errant postmen and The Bachelor TV show, you assume the driver is trying to cheat you.


One day, this driver says he doesn't know the non-ERP way. Having little faith in humanity because of the HIV Registry leak, errant postmen and The Bachelor TV show, you assume the driver is trying to cheat you.
PHOTO: One day, this driver says he doesn't know the non-ERP way. Having little faith in humanity because of the HIV Registry leak, errant postmen and The Bachelor TV show, you assume the driver is trying to cheat you.
Picture posted by Mascia on Friday, 08 July 2011
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMvLee47yYRzEJYe0WVja1tIV_GXYWmeENmQCYH7FMct82UWaBtmpiLWYzhCfb7-zjlD9pI0jw5dwjnaOyKXPzDi_2uGoK9Vi6uehEwnuWIWgiYCX4OUdho_yAHeZnaVKsQH8TLjBBU2s/s1600/cg_angel_41987-1600x1200.jpg
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcJ494lcAkkgTK3eoHuPfvzTMXY68DfcDfyAVpznENjnPPy7XXcnx4EiA7Dte2txECKVnCEjX0Ce7gfW8ecIga1dRA6mDhxAhVfx5r9u7ZcwjotABv264cq8qVT5xj8pbeeKiySmFoLcI/s1600/cg_angel_41987-1600x1200.jpg
https://liberamenteconmascia.blogspot.com/2011/07/senza-ali.html


The trouble is, as someone who doesn't drive, you also don't know the way, just as you don't know that car doors have an auto-lock system.

All you want is to get to Coleman Street (without paying for the ERP), but now you're being driven to a Toa Payoh police station against your wishes because you've just accused the driver of trying to cheat you. So you cry kidnap.


All you want is to get to Coleman Street (without paying for the ERP), but now you're being driven to a Toa Payoh police station against your wishes because you've just accused the driver of trying to cheat you. So you cry kidnap.
PHOTO: All you want is to get to Coleman Street (without paying for the ERP), but now you're being driven to a Toa Payoh police station against your wishes because you've just accused the driver of trying to cheat you. So you cry kidnap.
Artwork by Jessica Allain, uploaded on 17 July 2014 - These Chains
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT-egFSjQpeoLpTVdAisZ6dP1n1ZYoRGO70cAe5KX_XbJt5TUEZFrsN_oJmsOKPRUf-1ieKptnI-3ZXPsK0NE5Op7mkTmA8XLs5KVZHzA9vcbMWV7Jr7zIKxna5wBOh0wan9w3iHZe4lA/s1600/these-chains-jessica-allain.jpg
https://images.fineartamerica.com/images-medium-large-5/these-chains-jessica-allain.jpg
https://fineartamerica.com/featured/these-chains-jessica-allain.html


The video also shows Mr Kamaruzzaman speaking to an unseen male Certis Cisco officer in Malay, a language the woman may not have been able to understand, which exacerbated her distress, making her feel like the two men were ganging up on her, a vulnerable lone woman auto-locked in a car against her will.

Thus when the Certis Cisco officer appeared to take the side of the driver by mansplaining the auto-lock system to her, I can see how she may have felt like she was being persecuted due to her race being different from the two men's, resulting in her utterance of everyone's favourite line from the video: "Is it because I'm Chinese?"


The video also shows Mr Kamaruzzaman speaking to an unseen male Certis Cisco officer in Malay, a language the woman may not have been able to understand, which exacerbated her distress, making her feel like the two men were ganging up on her, a vulnerable lone woman auto-locked in a car against her will.
PHOTO: The video also shows Mr Kamaruzzaman speaking to an unseen male Certis Cisco officer in Malay, a language the woman may not have been able to understand, which exacerbated her distress, making her feel like the two men were ganging up on her, a vulnerable lone woman auto-locked in a car against her will.
Artwork by Jessica Allain
Picture posted by Darkdreams on 23 April 2013 at 01:24
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv5QwnPXTcqqKhviCvUzbXoYJNcPq61m5GP6E4b7ZAl47XkqKztqp6ymK2lOCnQwQdywO8lqHM5KY8ReMVS97xizEc9vW6v2yRx0vhGCLvH8tcRtTFmuaskSMWJfBfR8_59Om8vgVcO2g/s1600/1c04029e.jpg
http://darkdreams.d.a.pic.centerblog.net/o/1c04029e.jpg
http://darkdreams.centerblog.net/13757-jessica-allain


MEMES
Within a day of the seven-minute video going viral, memes and parody videos abound.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force jumped on the bandwagon with a post advising people not to call an ambulance for non-emergencies, adding: "Psst, our ambulance doors auto-lock for your own safety. So do not be unnecessarily alarmed. Please!"

Meanwhile, Caltex Singapore posted this seatbelt advisory: "Your cars may have auto-lock functions, but your seatbelts don't. Remember to put on your seatbelts!"

Zanzan Digital Lock posted: "Your cars may have auto-lock functions, but your homes don't. Starting from $299, you can have this auto-lock feature for your house door too."

And gaming computer company Asus Republic Of Gamers, of all things, promoted its laptop with the tagline: "When even laptop has auto-lock feature. #NotTakingYouHostage"

Even the Republic of Singapore Air Force posted something about "canopy auto-locks" yesterday.

Can we stop with the auto-lock already? It's enough to make me almost miss the "Is it because I'm Chinese?" jokes.


Can we stop with the auto-lock already? It's enough to make me almost miss the 'Is it because I'm Chinese?' jokes.
PHOTO: We really shouldn't just focus on one area and misinterpret the whole person. Some good did come out of this incidence. LTA shut down one ERP gantry, and readjust the timing for another 2 ERP gantries from Monday, 18 February 2019. LTA said on 11 February 2019 that two gantries on the Marina Coastal Expressway will stop charging vehicles before 8am. A third gantry, along Upper Bukit Timah Road, will be shut down completely. [2]
Picture posted by Tan Thiam Peng, AsiaOne on 12 February 2019
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ERH2Xp06YKz4S1eEGVJ2M5Cru8_dpLEqIUoe9aAtGSS-hZ40gKTcBEtYxBa5yA1URsYBezFsDh8Dr83uTLtVFYYbSQ4QWhHyOVprttMYHk2yohtyDLgy4mi2KY5bMEGFbDjidJDH03Q/s1600/51892081_2877006295773414_7136613415329464320_n.jpg
https://img.stomp.com.sg/s3fs-public/styles/500_height/public/images/2019/02/51892081_2877006295773414_7136613415329464320_n.jpg?itok=usE8sh0W
https://stomp.straitstimes.com/singapore-seen/internet-thanks-gojek-passenger-in-viral-video-after-3-erp-gantries-switched-off#&gid=1&pid=2
 

Sometime when focusing solely on one area may distract us from the virtue of somebody, and that is not appropriate.
PHOTO: The internet's mysterious powers of association started connecting Jovina's rant and LTA's 'Chinese New Year giveaway'.
With a hopefulness we wish we possess, some people believe Jovina's viral ordeal compelled the authorities to create a toll-free road for her to enter the city. [2]
Picture posted by meilleureimage.eu
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https://image.shutterstock.com/z/stock-photo-portrait-of-young-beautiful-woman-in-long-red-dress-standing-back-on-the-road-in-the-field-outdoor-103000931.jpg
https://meilleureimage.eu/portrait-of-young-beautiful-woman-in-long-red-dress.html


I'm surprised Scoot and Ikea, who are usually so quick to capitalise on the latest viral sensation, haven't posted their own spoof ads.

Have their social media managers gone on holiday too?

Is it because it's Chinese New Year?


Scoot and Ikea, who are usually so quick to capitalise on the latest viral sensation, haven't posted their own spoof ads.
PHOTO: Scoot and Ikea, who are usually so quick to capitalise on the latest viral sensation, haven't posted their own spoof ads. Have their social media managers gone on holiday too? Is it because it's Chinese New Year?
We rely on Jesus' promise in John 10:28-30
PHOTO: We rely on Jesus' promise in John 10:28-30: "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
Picture posted by WordPress.com on 17 April 2015
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https://oriflamzvezda.ru/2472/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/539728336588507196/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/354799276888169394/

By S M Ong, Humour, The New Paper, 04 February 2019 at 06:00 am
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Reference
[1] S M Ong, Humour, The New Paper, S M Ong: ERP, auto-lock jokes and a ‘hostage’ situation, posted on 04 February 2019 at 06:00 am, https://www.tnp.sg/lifestyle/others/erp-auto-lock-jokes-and-hostage-situation

[2] Tan Thiam Peng, AsiaOne, Internet thanks Gojek passenger in viral video after 3 ERP gantries switched off, posted on 12 February 2019, https://stomp.straitstimes.com/singapore-seen/internet-thanks-gojek-passenger-in-viral-video-after-3-erp-gantries-switched-off

[3] Reflection - Jonah Prays, God Delivers - Lessons from troubles and suffering, posted on Friday, 22 February 2019, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2019/02/reflection-jonah-prays-god-delivers_22.html


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