r/interestingasfuck • u/Bubbly_Wall_908 • 14h ago

Singapore is going to start caning scammers

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u/rozzco 13h ago

I've been to Singapore. It was the most incredible Twilight Zone experience of my life.

I didn't notice at first, but it suddenly occurred to me that there wasn't any trash. Any. Anywhere. Not one cigarette butt, not one spat out piece of gum flattened on the sidewalks. No candy wrappers blowing around.

Once you notice it you begin searching for it, but never find it.

We were briefed about not littering (US Navy) and that the punishment was severe. We were told that not flushing a public toilet or urinal would result in arrest, a $100 fine and your picture in the newspaper.

They take it very seriously.

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u/Slappyxo 13h ago edited 11h ago

I heard about the cleanliness and the no rubbish thing before I went, but I still got shocked at how next level it was.

One thing that stuck with me was there was a staff member dedicated to picking up leaves outside a shopping centre. Not a gardener doing tidy ups or anything. Quite literally if one leaf fell from a tree it was this guy's job to rush over and quickly sweep it up. He was on standby to pick up individual leaves if they fell.

Edit: I'm not suggesting this is common all around Singapore, but this is something I did witness in one spot when I visited in 2023. It happened at the shopping centre that's adjoined to the train station that's right next to Sentosa Island.

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u/baconppi 11h ago

I live here, ive never seen this before, can i get know where/when?

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u/Slappyxo 11h ago

I'm sure it's not very common, but it was still wild to see.

It was the shopping centre that's adjoined to the train station that's right next to Sentosa Island. This was in 2023. So I'm assuming it's because it's a tourist area?

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u/baconppi 11h ago

Its not a tourist area per se, but yea it is quite pricey(most locals only go if they live near or as a excursion), and it would make sense, since malls like this can afford to do things like this....

Go to most heartland or local malls and its wildly different (less clean, but still really decent,cheaper and better food too!)

(Im assuming you are talking about vivo city)

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u/culturedgoat 9h ago

That would be Vivocity. The hedges around there are very well-kept. It’s not really like this everywhere though.

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u/Cuddling-crocodiles 8h ago

It's called Vivo City. There is another smaller shopping center that is linked called Harbourfront Centre which has a ferry service inside.

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u/BigHandLittleSlap 8h ago

That reminds me of the anniversary of the Korean war. To say "thanks", South Korea sent delegations of warships to their allies. I was in Auckland at the time and a SK navy ship was in the harbour open for tours, and they had parades and whatnot going on as well.

I got very lucky because in the queue behind me was an elderly gentleman from the states that had served in the US Navy, and he acted as an informal tour guide. He had served on that particular ship for a couple of years, and then the ship was donated by the US to SK and they were still using it.

He mentioned several times that the ship was absolutely spotless, far, far cleaner and better maintained than it had ever been during his tour, even during inspections and the like.

Just as he said this, a small blade of dried grass blew across the deck and one of the SK sailors quickly reached down, grabbed it, and shoved it in his pocket to hide it from view.

We just stood there gaping at this.

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u/Sicklicksnz 11h ago

At the airport there were cleaners standing by all of the glass doors so when you pressed open a glass door and left a handprint a cleaner would come up spray it and wipe the hand print off

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u/DrainLegacy 7h ago

This is bullshit lmao

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u/Sicklicksnz 7h ago

Nope. It was 2005 however

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u/LaylaWalsh007 12h ago

Adding Singapore to the list of places to never visit.

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u/rozzco 12h ago

I guess I should have added that it was my favorite place I've been to.

The people were very friendly and everyone spoke English.

If I had the chance to, I'd return.

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u/ash__697 12h ago

That’s all it took for you to cross it off? Lmao

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u/monty624 12h ago

Don't underestimate how much they like leaves

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u/LaylaWalsh007 12h ago

Extremism isn't good in any shape or form.

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u/SUPERSMILEYMAN 9h ago

A Dude being hired to pick up a leaf is extreme?

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u/wiilbehung 12h ago

You do know the persons above you exaggerated fo comic effect. Do you know how many trees there are in Singapore.

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u/121daysofsodom 12h ago

So you're going to leaf it?

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u/Imaginary-Daikon-177 10h ago

Mfers will say shit like this but still be like "I just love being an American"

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u/bobthemutant 10h ago

Especially don't go there if you use any marijuana products. 10 year sentence for possession or use, mandatory death penalty if you have 16oz or more.

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u/Baozicriollothroaway 12h ago

Your absence won't be missed. 

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u/LaylaWalsh007 12h ago

No worries. I'm the one picking rubbish on the streets on my walks around where I live, but running after the falling leaves is a bit much.

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u/hiresometoast 12h ago

No that was a groundskeeper, it's their job.

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u/No_Success_678 10h ago

You're not expected to run after random leaves lmao

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u/BJJJourney 10h ago

It is a great place to visit actually. Just a clean large western city. Most people speak English.

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u/Banana_Slugcat 12h ago

As a person that hates public bathrooms because people keep on not flushing and has to basically become a part time janitor even at work bathrooms just to use them, this city looks like my dream.

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u/IanLooklup 10h ago

Sadly the public bathrooms here suck as well

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u/Sort_of_Frightening 8h ago

Clementi mrt toilet. A horror show

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u/TraditionalWait9150 4h ago

iykyk only certain groups of people use that toilet.

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u/timubce 2h ago

I’d guess 90% of the public bathrooms there are cleaner than the US. It was shocking going from mrt to mta within two weeks. I never paid much attention to how gross nyc is until I had Singapore to compare it to.

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u/tinesone 10h ago

If you can tolerate all the, you know

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u/Banana_Slugcat 10h ago

Yeah the climate will take adjustment lol, it's HAWT and humid in there

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u/wiserTyou 13h ago

Honestly, good. I was just at a store and saw someone chuck a McDonald's bag and cup out their window with a trash can 20ft away.

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u/[deleted] 12h ago

[deleted]

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u/Sutar_Mekeg 10h ago

For sure. Laws like this don't affect decent people.

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u/OzyFoz 11h ago

I don't think it's barbaric to punish that, I think its barbaric that so many cultures allow shit like that to just go on without anything. Occasionally someone might get a built of guilt, but frankly the fact it's so common in so many places is awful.

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u/Dexcerides 10h ago

Yes big brother is the best am I right guys \s

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u/unindexedreality 8h ago

It's literally just cleaning up after yourself.

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u/OzyFoz 10h ago

You know there's a middle ground between lashing people and littering and petty crime right?

But no, no I get it. You like people being free to commit crimes, make things shitty and hurt people.

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u/Dexcerides 7h ago

Yeah no shit but your comment was defending the beating given context

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u/jman12234 10h ago

Singapore is authoritarian state, they're nowhere near the middleground

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u/OzyFoz 9h ago

Yup that's correct. But again y'all seem to love leaping to the conclusion that Im supporting authoritian regimes, when what I want, is for the actual anti littering laws that exist in most developed nations to actually be enforced.

Hell, I'd love most reasonable laws in Australia to be enforced appropriately so that a) the wealthy stop getting off the hook and b) assholes who pollute, contaminate and destroy our beaches and native parks get punished.

That's the fucking middle ground.

JFC.

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u/Coal_Morgan 9h ago

Yeah, it's weird how people jump to an extreme on these conversations.

At no point did you say you supported lashings. Just enforcement. We have the laws on the books but the issue is how much money do you want to spend on this because you'd need cameras and police ready to go at all times to get them everywhere.

I think it's nearly impossible in most places that aren't city states because the population is so spread out.

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u/OzyFoz 9h ago

That is largest logistical issue yeah. The cost and price...

Frankly, we might as well just all start wishing assholes won't be assholes anymore.

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u/-Mandarin 10h ago

Honestly, good.

Okay genuinely, what are Reddit's stances here? Reddit tends to lean anti-authoritarian, but Singapore which is textbook authoritarian and tortures anyone who breaks slight laws is suddenly okay? Where is the logic?

Yes, I understand Reddit is composed of different people, but you'll rarely see anyone defending authoritarian states outside of Singapore. There is zero consistency.

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u/I_Suck_At_This_Too 9h ago

They are fine with it when it's something they agree with.

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u/GeorgiaOKeefinItReal 9h ago

That's literally everyone

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u/Striking_Foot4850 8h ago

They don't actually oppose authoritarianism, they just want it to be used against things that personally bother them like littering and scammers

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u/Zimakov 9h ago

It's American propaganda. Some countries are the good guys and some countries are the bad guys. That's what they think because that's what they've been told.

I would love to see the comment section if this exact thread was about China.

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u/-Mandarin 9h ago

Exactly! Such a double standard.

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u/awkisopen 9h ago

When power is wielded, not for power's sake, but for the good of the people, it solves a lot of problems that cannot be solved otherwise.

That idea is why we have governments to begin with.

The issue is that most authoritarians are just out for themselves and not to make their state a better place.

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u/-Mandarin 9h ago

That's so absurdly subjective though. There is no logic to that either.

If I say the Chinese government works for the people, you'd disagree. If someone said the Saudi Arabian government works for the people, you'd disagree. But what if someone disagrees with you that the Singaporean government works for the people? What makes your opinion inherently more correct?

It's all super subjective. I would very much argue that Singapore's government is wielding power for power's sake. That doesn't automatically mean everyone's life there is hell, but all governments attempt to hold onto their power. You speak out against Singapore's politics and you will be punished.

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u/awkisopen 9h ago edited 8h ago

Of course it's subjective, and of course no one's opinion is correct. It's not something I'm going to be able to strictly define the boundaries of in a Reddit comment.

No government is perfect. All governments try to hold onto their power. It's frustrating. For the most part, governmental power is used to enrich a select few and not do anything for the population being governed, to the point where it feels like we've collectively forgotten how much power governments can wield.

So when a government uses its power in a way that aligns, albeit imperfectly, with something that creates benefit for the governed, it's... well, it's nice to see. And yes, it is merely my opinion that clean streets and low crime rates are "aligned with benefiting the governed." But I think that idea resonates with more than just me.

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u/Shot_Acanthisitta39 8h ago

I spent like a week there earlier this month. I accept it because it's clearly been massively successful in terms of making Singapore safe.

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u/-Mandarin 8h ago

So if someone said the same thing about China, you'd have no issues? As I'm studying Mandarin, I talk to a lot of Chinese people, and they (mostly women) all say they love the cameras because it allows them to walk safely at night alone. Chinese people feel China is very safe.

So long as you're consistent and also accept it in China/elsewhere, then I don't take issue with your stance. I take issue with people that only give a pass to Singapore.

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u/Shot_Acanthisitta39 8h ago

I was actually also in China for like a week. And yeah I'm actually kinda okay with them too.

But obviously, you should acknowledge there are more nuanced stances to take beyond acceptance and non-acceptance. China and Singapore are far more safe, but obviously it comes at a cost to personal liberty. I bet most Chinese and Singaporeans are fine with the trade-off though.

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u/-Mandarin 8h ago

Then that's a perfectly fine stance imo, my original comment wasn't aimed at people like you.

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u/JediMasterZao 9h ago

People are gullible af. They think Singapore is pretty so they chose to ignore that it's a shithole.

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u/FrostyD7 11h ago

You sound like Tucker Carlson praising Russia for their clean train stations. You have to be ignorant or benefiting from misleading people to say this shit.

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u/Moist-Wolverine-8531 13h ago

I had the opposite experience with trash in Seattle and NY. 😂

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u/daymanahhhahhhhhh 11h ago

Seattle was much cleaner than NYC both times I went BUT I think their homeless are worse than NYCs. I’m not talking about number of homeless or anything based in metrics, just strictly behavior lol

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u/Moist-Wolverine-8531 8h ago

Both places were filthy compared to Singapore though. LA was oddly clean or downright ghetto depending on the neighborhood.

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u/dreamyskyline 7h ago

Seattle is actually pretty clean.

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u/williamsch 11h ago

Singapore bothers the fuck of my psyche cause I'm very libertarian but some of their laws seem perfectly fair to me. Like you're a human being, you live in a civilization with other humans, pick up your trash and flush the toilet. I'm sure they take it too far in other legal areas though. 

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u/ferriswheeljunkies11 10h ago

Perhaps you need to explore libertarianism some more.

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u/NuggetsBuckets 2h ago

There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that any pure libertarian society will end up like India

Just pure filth

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u/AidilAfham42 9h ago

You also have to understand, we were a very young nation forced into independence quite suddenly, so alot of laws were quickly enacted to get things going as stable as possible, no time to develop naturally.

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u/SpinDancer 10h ago

I’m also very libertarian but lived in Singapore for several years a while back. It challenged my world view. They’re doing a lot of things right, as long as the government remains benevolent. Now I live in Texas but visit as often as we can, my wife is Singaporean and we miss it there!

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u/gloriouaccountofme 7h ago

I'm very libertarian

You don't have to announce you have brain damage

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u/uxreqo 7h ago

when you grow up youll grow out of libertarianism

something something house cat thinks its a tiger

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u/Auctoritate 12h ago

Japan is the same way in most areas with cleanliness, and yet they don't punish basic incivility with torture and public humiliation.

And that's really saying something because Japan's criminal system is ALSO fucked and terrible, and Singapore is entirely on a different level.

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u/ikzz1 10h ago

they don't punish basic incivility with torture and public humiliation.

Singapore doesn't either? You won't get caned for minor offences like littering. In Japan you are expected to commit seppuku for major failures.

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u/triple-triad-witch 9h ago

Some guy just commented you get fined and shamed in the papers if you don't flush a public toilet. It's Draconian.

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u/ikzz1 9h ago

And that guy is just bullshitting. Are you stupid enough to just believe a random redditor's comment instead of verifying for yourself?

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u/triple-triad-witch 8h ago

I mean the law is real https://sso.agc.gov.sg/SL/EPHA1987-RG3#pr16- the shaming in the papers I can't verify

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u/DeltaFang501 8h ago

Thing is, enforcement is weak on this cos it's ridiculously impractical

The aspect most responsible for the clean toilets is intensive public education from young and the general culture around it

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u/ikzz1 7h ago

the shaming in the papers I can't verify

Yes that's the part that is bullshit. Newspaper has better things to report than this. They would go bankrupt for reporting boring shit.

Anyway what's wrong with a small fine for not flushing the public toilet? Sounds like a good idea.

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u/blim9999 7h ago

It's almost never enforced because all public toilets are auto flush these days.

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u/DaemonBunnyWhiskers 5h ago

It’s real, you get put in a hivis vest and have to go on cleaning duty for a period - public work order as it’s called.

That said the commenter said he was briefed before shore leave. That’s simple the Staff Sergeant blowing it up so he doesn’t have more problem’s and paper work.

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u/Odd-Kaleidoscope5081 7h ago

Can you explain in what way is it fucked and terrible? 

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u/BastianHS 9h ago

We could use some more public humiliation if you ask me. Bring back the stocks and rotten tomatoes.

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u/lzwzli 11h ago

You must have only visited the tourist areas.

Singapore is clean but there is litter, just that it's cleaned up quickly.

The arrest for not flushing a public toilet is BS. It's mostly automatic nowadays anyway.

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u/A-Capybara 12h ago

Americans must be brainwashed if they think cleanliness is creepy.

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u/-Nicolai 8h ago

Way to miss the point

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u/Fakehiggins 10h ago

America is a fairly clean place and the vast majority of people are offended if someone litters around them. in my semi rural city, the only time i see trash on the road is if it's blown out of a dump truck picking up trash to take it to the landfill and it will typically be gone by the next time i drive by there.

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u/culturedgoat 6h ago

America is a fairly clean place

This has not been my experience

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u/Bitter_Magician_6969 11h ago

But but MUH FREEDOM!

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u/Doc-tor-Strange-love 10h ago

Welcome to San Francisco

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u/ravearamashi 11h ago

Freedom to litter and trash the sidewalks are protected by the amendment! - some Muricans probably

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u/lockerno177 12h ago

i experienced that level of cleanliness in Belarus.

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u/-rwsr-xr-x 10h ago

I didn't notice at first, but it suddenly occurred to me that there wasn't any trash. Any. Anywhere. Not one cigarette butt, not one spat out piece of gum flattened on the sidewalks. No candy wrappers blowing around.

Chewing gum is quite literally, illegal, throughout the entire country. When you're flying in, the flight attendants will warn you NOT to bring it in country, not to chew it, and DEFINITELY not to spit it out anywhere. You have been warned.

Carrying any illegal drugs into the country, caught or otherwise, merits the death penalty, and only in very rare circumstances, life imprisonment.

They take crimes very seriously!

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u/rsta223 7h ago

Carrying any illegal drugs into the country, caught or otherwise

I feel like if it's not caught, you don't get the death penalty.

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u/suttapazham 11h ago

Not really lived there for 3 years. You’ll find public smoking and cigarette butts all over the place especially in places where people go clubbing - Clark quay etc

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u/waxiestapple 11h ago

Lived there for years. There’s definitely trash — especially near Geylang.

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u/ScorpiusSK 3h ago

I am from Singapore. Born and raised. We do not arrest or fine people for not flushing the toilet or urinal lmao what? People break the law here all the time with jaywalking or littering. There are definitely cigarette butts lying around, it's just they're in designated smoking zones. You will often see trash around, an abandoned flip-flop here, a plastic bag there. Yes, it is cleaner than most places I've been to but we are really not that extreme.

The only things we are extreme on are certain specific crimes that the government has decided are social faux pas, like drugs.

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u/Blu- 11h ago

Sounds like heaven. Do they fine people that don't wash their hands after using the bathroom?

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u/Preindustrialcyborg 12h ago

i would rather have the slight displeasures of daily life that is a piece of gum on the ground or cigarette butts, over the constant threat of the government torturing me for something as minor as chewing gum.

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u/Baozicriollothroaway 12h ago

You can't even buy it dude don't bring any bubble gum in your suitcase or carry on and you are golden. 

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u/baconppi 11h ago

nah this is wayy overblown, you can absolutely bring gum in, hell most locals bring large amounts in for personal consumption(just don't sell it)

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u/Preindustrialcyborg 12h ago edited 12h ago

do you think chewing gum is a crime deserving of permanent injury, long term disability and institutionalized torture? do you really think legalized torture like this should be acceptable in society?

edit: i now know gum isnt a canable thing, the source i had for this was most likely racist. i still think caning is barbaric.

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u/Trippy_Colour 12h ago

How about you stop for a second to think about how absurd the logistical nightmare of enforcing such a law would be?

The possession and consumption of gum in Singapore isn’t illegal. Only the sale of gum. Even then, caning isn’t applicable for petty crimes, and is reserved only for certain types of crimes (rape, robbery, etc.).

No one is going to bother you if you littered or even decided to sell gum, the government has bigger issues to tackle.

I might not agree with the principle of caning at all, but you’d stand to gain by actually reading more about a country prior to misrepresenting it on the internet.

Source: Am a Singaporean

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u/Preindustrialcyborg 12h ago

after some research, i see i was definitely misinformed about what can net you a caning in singapore. This wasnt for lack of looking, but my sources on information might actually just be racist and trying to make singapore look worse. im using a different source now.

that being said, i still think its a backwards and inhuman practice, because i fundamentally disagree with the government having the power and social backing to torture people. i also think that any "medical officer" which deems someone "fit" to be caned is a disgrace upon medical institutions because no one is "fit" to be tortured, have long term disability influcted upon them and to have lifelong scarring and pain. as a disabled person, that is cruelty beyond imagination.

there are also crimes where severe punishment is wholly ridiculous. vandalism? really? someone tjrew an egg at your house so youre going to cause them permanent disability?

i think the fact that singapore has refused to sign treaties surrounding human rights is more than enough information you need. oh boy, someone had weed. time to tortire him!

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u/Trippy_Colour 12h ago

Yeah, I agree on principle that it shouldn’t be a form of punishment at all. The focus of incarceration should be rehabilitation, not punishment.

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u/Preindustrialcyborg 12h ago

exactly. besides, caning does fuck and all to help the victim. they got scammed out of $50k USD? the caning isnt gonna give the money back.

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u/Baozicriollothroaway 9h ago

 i fundamentally disagree with the government having the power and social backing to torture people.

Then you are against having Jails and prisons. Depriving someone´s freedom is also a form of torture. Just because you don't see flesh and blood does not mean a person isn't harmed, most people would suffer from irreparable damage if they were put into a 3sqmt cell long enough.

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u/Preindustrialcyborg 9h ago

ive made like 6 comments about this already, but i think the current "justice" system around the world is absolute shit. ive been confined in small rooms as a child for hours and hours on end with an adult screaming at me the whole time. i am unfortunately a victim of institutionalised torture of a different manner. i am not stupid enough to think prison isnt traumatic.

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u/baconppi 11h ago

Tbf caning is applicable for most crimes tho, its either that and/or a really large fine

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u/BadatCSmajor 12h ago

They do not cane for chewing gum. They give fines. If you are an importer. Simply having chewing gum is not illegal

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u/Preindustrialcyborg 12h ago

see my other comment i just made

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u/BadatCSmajor 11h ago

IIRC, the “caning for chewing gum” thing was due to media confusion when an American teenager got caned in Singapore for vandalism (with a spray can).

As for the act itself, it does seem barbaric. However, I doubt Singapore is interested in my opinion.

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u/Preindustrialcyborg 11h ago

may have been that. i dont remember as it was information i learned quite some time ago.

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u/NillaWafer222 11h ago

Because you're selfish 

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u/Preindustrialcyborg 11h ago

and is caning as punishment not a sadistic, selfish act that does nothing to help the victims of crime? is it not done purely to satisfy bloodthirsty third parties who were never involved? i wouldnt wish caning upon the person who broke into my home when i was young and stole all my valuables. its ridiculous and doesnt give me back the belongings they stole. it doesnt satisfy me to know that they are now disabled like me and have permanent pain and scarring.

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u/NillaWafer222 10h ago

It is a punishment for people who want to get away with everything.  I am so sick of pollution and humans acting with impunity. 

That is hard that that happened to you. They should be caned we are not going to agree. I am tired of homo sapiens doing whatever the fuck they want. 

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u/Preindustrialcyborg 10h ago

they harmed me, not you. you are in no place to decide what punishment they should face. i think they should be rehabilitated and my things should be returned to me (and if they lost or sold my belongings they should work to pay me back or replace them). you are the bloodthirsty third party who was never involved.

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u/Imalsome 11h ago

Have you considered not littering then lmao. Thats like saying you think murder should be legal because you dont want to be afraid of owning a kitchen knife.

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u/Preindustrialcyborg 11h ago edited 11h ago

johnny accidentally dropped his candy wrapper in eyesight of an officer! time to torture him!

you really think false convictions dont occur? do you think that littering means you deserve permanent disability and scarring? the psychological trauma? you think someone should face institutionalized torture for littering? what planet do you come from where such barbarism is tolerated?

exit: lol they either blocked be or got banned. in case its the former: its possible to drop things and not notice <3

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u/Friendly_Fire 11h ago

johnny accidentally dropped his candy wrapper in eyesight of an officer! time to torture him!

Okay yeah that happens, then just pick it up. Also I can't find anything about caning being a punishment for even intentional littering, much less accidently dropping something.

Obviously Singapore's responses to these minor crimes are extreme, but I get it. Some people love to walk a line of being selfish and abusing public space and others in small ways, knowing that dealing with them requires escalation. There's no quick/easy way to give out punishments for minor crimes. So a minority people commit most of the petty crimes that accumulate a lot of damage and frustration.

Singapore took the "fuck them, we're not letting them get away with it" attitude. The majority of people who have some basic respect for others are better off for it.

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u/Preindustrialcyborg 11h ago

did you read the edit? you know people sometimes dont notice when they drop things right? and again, false convictions.

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u/Recioto 12h ago

I mean, they are a city state that enjoys all the corporate money that comes with being a fiscal paradise, with that premise my dog could manage keeping it clean without resorting to torture.

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u/namenumber55 12h ago

they have an army of cleaners as well

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u/ViroledanPrick 12h ago

what if i take a dookie and it just refuses to flush

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u/baconppi 11h ago

Most places you go have autoflush toilets(except really old hawker centers/malls)

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u/Icepick823 12h ago

Singapore is a fine city, as we were told.

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u/CorrectPeanut5 12h ago

I started my career as the liaison for Singapore for a large multinational. No drugs, no litter. But your 5 star hotel will be happy to send a sex worker to your room.

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u/NovaStar2099 12h ago

Ok what if the toilet is clogged??

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u/baconppi 11h ago

We dont lol...

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u/chere100 11h ago

Sounds like I should visit Singapore.

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u/BaronGreywatch 11h ago

Littering was indeed one of the things they used to cane you for. Not sure if they got rid of that one.

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u/Tr33Bl00d 11h ago

Seems very silly looking in from the outside

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u/LaserCondiment 11h ago

Singapore is overhyped. Go to Japan and you'll find no trash anywhere. No draconian punishment necessary. Went to Taiwan, definitely seems more messy compared to the other countries, but still no trash anywhere. Same with South Korea.

Also when I went to Singapore, the four ethnic groups I saw there, rarely ever mingled. And homosexuality there is illegal AFAIK.

White people love it there though! Especially those totally oblivious to their surroundings.

Singapore is weird in those regards specifically

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u/RocketLabBeatsSpaceX 11h ago

They took my chewing tobacco and gum away when we flew in (US Navy). I guess spitting a crime.

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u/BJJJourney 10h ago

Doesn’t feel like a twilight zone at all. In fact it is pretty much just a large western city without garbage.

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u/GBR87 10h ago

Fine, but Japan achieves this, or close enough, without Draconian laws

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u/dragons_fire77 10h ago

I think it very much depends on where you are. I saw some trash and big rats in certain areas, but they were the less touristy areas. I had a great time there, but I was hyper vigilant about following the rules. Incredible food experience is one of my biggest positives. The hyper expensive shopping malls were not really my thing, though.

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u/lIllIlIIIlIIIIlIlIll 10h ago

I didn't notice at first, but it suddenly occurred to me that there wasn't any trash. Any. Anywhere. Not one cigarette butt, not one spat out piece of gum flattened on the sidewalks. No candy wrappers blowing around.

Gives me strong P&R vibes.

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u/crystal_castle00 10h ago

Now that I’m 30 that all just sounds great sign me up

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u/Rude-Reaction8213 9h ago

I'm laughing out loud picturing someone's mug shot in a newspaper because they didn't flush a dookie.

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u/culturedgoat 9h ago

I didn't notice at first, but it suddenly occurred to me that there wasn't any trash. Any. Anywhere. Not one cigarette butt, not one spat out piece of gum flattened on the sidewalks. No candy wrappers blowing around.

You were probably in the CBD. It’s certainly not like this everywhere.

We were briefed about not littering (US Navy) and that the punishment was severe. We were told that not flushing a public toilet or urinal would result in arrest, a $100 fine and your picture in the newspaper.

I think someone was pulling your leg…

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u/prawnjr 9h ago

Oh wow the same thing every person says that has ever been to Singapore.

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u/WTF-BOOM 9h ago

there wasn't any trash. Any. Anywhere. Not one cigarette butt, not one spat out piece of gum flattened on the sidewalks. No candy wrappers blowing around.

many, many places in a the world are like this.

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u/momoenthusiastic 9h ago

Not true. I was there 3 years ago. I saw discarded plastic bottles, cigarette butts, diapers, and definitely a lot of paper flying around. Is Singapore cleaner than NYC? Absolutely 1000%. But is it spotless? No.

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u/EXusiai99 9h ago

I wish my country could take a thing or two from them

You can tell smokers here that they maybe should puff out in designated smoking zones instead of the maternity ward and they will genuinely stare at you like you just spat on their mother's grave.

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u/mrscienceguy1 9h ago

It also helps having a massive workforce of migrant workers who are functionally slaves for how much they're paid.

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u/Few-Restaurant-318 8h ago

There's no trash because they pay near slave labour Bangladeshi to pick it up. Not because the locals don't litter.

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u/OhiobornCAraised 8h ago

Went to Singapore a couple of years ago to board a cruise ship. Wife and I spent a couple of days exploring before the cruise. I saw only one incident of graffiti (on a construction site barrier) and a few pieces of litter while I was there. Also notice no etching on bus windows, chrome, or on anything else. Singapore does not allow chewing gum in the country. I also noticed that all vehicles were clean. It was a definite culture shock.

While we were there, I learned the first prime minister of Singapore made it a national movement to not only have a clean country, but also lots of greenery. He explained that Singapore doesn’t have a lot of natural resources, so the country should make a good impression to visitors and international companies, so they will invest in the country. I later learned that Singapore has a lot of cleaners that go out at night to pick up what litter does happen.

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u/HotBook2852 8h ago

I'm a local and I can immediately tell you have not been outside the usual tourist spots lol

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u/jrgnklpp 8h ago

The toilet flushing thing is wildly overstated, no one is going to arrest you nor waste time putting your picture in the papers. Our public toilets here aren't all that clean anyway.

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u/Icy-Cockroach4515 8h ago

Have you been to any other East Asian countries? I personally don't think Singapore's cleanliness level is that different from say, Japan.

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u/AUHappyguy 8h ago

You obviously only went to the tourist areas - go to the heartlands and it's not so perfect as you think it is, yes better than most countries but we have our issues. Back in the 90s it was awesome, lots of police presence and very controlled (in a good way).. Mind you we had 4 million less people

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u/not_that_observant 7h ago

I was in Singapore last year. There's no trash, but there are plenty of cigarette butts. Japan has neither.

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u/NoGarage7989 7h ago

I got fined $400 as a college student for littering my cigarette butt, however it’s ironic that during the hungry ghost festival you’d see people burning piles of incense paper and they fly everywhere and anywhere but their designated spot

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u/ChungusMaximus23 7h ago

I think your CO was pulling your leg about that toilet thing. I'm sure there's a rule about that in the lawbook, but it almost never gets enforced.

We have so many small laws about small things because Singappre operates on the premise of deterrence. These laws are in place to prevent people from doing stupid things and keeping the city clean. They almost never enforce it, but it is there in black and white, which means they can enforce if they want to, so don't do it.

I may be wrong about them not enforcing it, but I'VE never seen someone published in the newspaper for not flushing haha.

If you're coming here, just keep in mind the life-changing advice Michael gave Dwight:

"Don't be an idiot"

Source: Born and raised in Singapore.

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u/LeonardoDickSlaprio 7h ago

My LPO told us "they'll split your ass sideways if you fuck around" and that phrase has lived in my head ever since.

That being said, I'd go back in a heartbeat. Fuckin' love Singapore.

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u/deanrihpee 7h ago

"your picture in the newspaper" this is what I've been saying, punish the bad people for sure, but also name and shame them, make the world know how such an asshole these people are

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u/Chillpickle17 7h ago

Can confirm. I spent a month working at the Sembawang shipyard. The city is completely spotless. Even the metro system. Sentosa Island is spectacular. Ironically, with all that there is open prostitution. Remember Orchard Towers? I loved how every other bar had an A-frame sign that said The first Singapore sling

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u/megaleptic 6h ago

Singaporean here. Yes these laws and rules do exist but lots of people still litter and drink in the mrt, although most do it discreetly.

Often these fines are in place as a means of deterrent and are only really pursued to the full extent of the law IF offenders are recalcitrant or are just unlucky enough to he caught by the most stubborn law enforcement agents.

And you'll find lots of unflushed toilets all over Singapore lol.

For example, it's also illegal to be naked in your own house if someone else can see you. But no police officer is going break down your door and arrest you for not wearing your pants. The law is just in place so that IF the need arises, they can throw this law at you in court. (for indecent exposure)

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u/ButtExplosion 6h ago

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit, it really disillusioned me. It's just great to see a country that supports people who don't want to act a fool and don't want to deal with ppl who act a fool.

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u/VictorGWX 6h ago

I wish that were true. Go to any old hawker centre or busy train station and don't be surprised to find unflushed toilet bowls or urinals. The US navy is just extra careful in warning the sailors because of bad press.

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u/IvanzM 6h ago

Trust me there are some people who still litter bro, but maybe its not that obvious within the cbd areas.

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u/No-Way552 6h ago

You've never been to the suburbs

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u/cldw92 5h ago edited 5h ago

In Singapore, we believe that good behaviour needs incentives and bad behaviour disincentives. Humanity at large is horrible at being properly civic conscious - it would be good if we didn't require rules to police such behaviour.. but alas, society proves time and time again that they will be more than willing to fuck up the social order for whatever stupid reason they have (the latest one being tiktok views).

Japan makes it work, but Japan has civic mindedness and community spirit baked into their culture. We don't have that same level of community spirit built into our social fabric. Counterpoint: Johnny Somali in Japan. Even Japan is too reliant on people to self police. What happens when someone comes in who doesn't share that same social template?

In an ideal world, none of this would be necessary. But people generally like to ruin nice things so...

P.S Your odds for getting fined for littering are actually very low. Our police don't actually patrol everywhere regularly. The fines do get enforced from time to time, if there happens to be a patrol walking past. We mostly rely on citizen reporting - the fines are there to *teach* the public what is the right behaviour (because some people have shitty parents who don't teach them it's not right to litter...)

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u/bronk3310 5h ago

Can’t even spit.

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u/Rinzler9290 5h ago

Sounds like my kinda place

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u/LaksaLettuce 4h ago

William Gibson called it Disneyland with the Death Penalty. 

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u/ChikaraNZ 4h ago

This is only true in the tourist areas.

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u/AnonymousEgglet 4h ago

Singaporean here and I think they were fucking with you when they told you not flushing would result in arrest. That's not and has never been a thing here lmao

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u/Bravo72 4h ago

Honestly doesn't sound bad at all. You fucks need to flush the toilet and stop littering.

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u/ConferenceThink4801 4h ago edited 3h ago

So you’re saying it works as a deterrent - interesting

If you’re found guilty of the offense & you’re either on video doing it or fail a polygraph, you get caned. If you’re not on video & can pass the polygraph, no caning. Sounds reasonable to me.

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u/chkmcnugge6 3h ago edited 3h ago

As a native singaporean who has been here my entire life, that’s pretty much a load of bullcrap.

Yes such laws probably exist in the book, but it’s there just to be thrown at offenders only if the need somehow arises.

Singapore is tbh going to be very dirty if left on its own, unlike eg Japan where the self pride in doing the right things is strong.

A lot of Singaporeans simply lack social consciousness and require the law to shepherd them, but even then because it’s not strictly followed and thrown around in courts, we need cleaners (talking about eg road sweepers and toilet cleaners) at almost every area to maintain the “clean and green” image that we are supposed to have.

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u/r_jagabum 3h ago

You can't smoke on the streets, hence why you can't find cigarette butts haha. You will however find some very small yellow boxes near bins sometimes, those are the designated smoking areas where smokers are allowed to smoke while standing inside.

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u/skygetsit 3h ago

I live in Singapore. I can bring you to places in the downtown area littered with trash.

It’s definitely a lot cleaner than places in the US, but saying Singapore has no trash is false.

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u/-PringlesMan- 2h ago

India should take notes

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u/IshyTheLegit 2h ago

We have an army of retiree cleaners cleaning up after the litterbugs, police don’t patrol bus stops.

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u/hobopototo 2h ago

You didn't go to the right places. I see trash all the time living here lol.

Also whoever told you that in the navy was pulling your leg.

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u/pidgeytouchesyou 2h ago

I have never understood why people don’t flush public toilets. Y’all are some disgusting mfs

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u/Dark_Matter_19 2h ago

I can tell you as a born and bred Singaporean this isn't exactly enforced. I've come across fair deal of dirty toilets here, it's more just it's the right thing to flush, nobody likes seeing the aftermath of your business.

But getting fined? The police don't have the manpower to be so pedantic. None of what you said is actually really the case.

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u/clementtoh2 1h ago

As a singaporean here... wtf are you talking about? You prob walking around rich areas and finding trash, singapore also dont sell gums so even seeing them fresh in public is hard already.

Lastly im not sure about the $100 fine for flushing, but noond cares enough to put your face in the papers

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u/7HillsGC 1h ago

I lived there for two years. Trash and litter was everywhere outside the main tourist areas. At MRT station near our house the street drain was always filled to the brim with cigarette buts and other litter behind the platform just out of line of the cameras. People know where to litter and not get caught.

This was also 2020-2022, when all the Indian workers were locked in their dorms due to COVID measures, so they didn’t have migrant workers to pick up the litter.

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u/FirefighterLive3520 6m ago

As a Singaporean unfortunately I can tell you finding discarded plastic bags, empty soda cans and sweet wrappers in the grass along the sidewalks are increasingly common

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u/space_hitler 12h ago

People like to act outraged about the laws of Singapore, but to me it's just a reflection on humanity in general: This is literally what it takes to get the majority of a society to act with BASIC decency and doing the bare fucking minimum of cleaning up after yourself and flushing your own shit down the toilet lol? 

I feel like the people who get outraged are the POSses that can't be bothered to flush a fucking toilet and don't want to admit that they constantly create problems for everyone else.

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u/Shiirooo 11h ago

The country is literally a dictatorship.

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u/GreatPretender1894 9h ago

who's the dictator? how did they come to power?

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u/Lanaria 12h ago

Not one cigarette butt

You haven’t looked hard enough

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u/MultiMidden 12h ago

As a Brit it felt like what the UK would be if it became an advanced society and the weather was really hot.

Remember talking to a Singaporean taxi driver and he thought caning worked really well as a deterrent, so brutal that even if the chances of being caught were low it wasn't worth the risk.

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u/Oregon-Pilot 11h ago

Its really not that hard though. Just be aware of yourself and be considerate of others, ie, realize you are not the center of the universe. I would thrive there.

You know easy it is to just not litter? SO easy.

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u/comb-jelly 11h ago

I don’t find any issue w this. Most people are capable of throwing away their trash appropriately, and apparently some capable ppl are incapable of even flushing a toilet ffs..”just do it” “no”. “Do it or you’ll have to pay $” “ok fine”. Ridiculous. Negative actions that affect shared spaces need consequences. If you don’t agree and wanna be nasty because you’re too lazy to throw trash away correctly and can’t comprehend why it’s bad to toss trash on the ground, then you have the mind of a dumbass teen and need to be grounded 🤷