Kids these days…

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September 25, 2003

Just today, I was waiting in the queue for the bus when the secondary school girl (probably 14 years of age) who was behind me in the queue dropped a coin. I think it was a 20 cent (the currency is the Singapore Dollar) coin. And she didn’t pick it up. I’m pretty sure she’d noticed it, and it is easily within reach if she just bent down. She wasn’t carrying anything that would inconvenience her picking up the coin. She just stared at it for a moment and then promptly ignored it as she whipped out her Nokia 8310 handphone and started pressing the buttons.

I remember back when a 10 cent coin used to matter (10 cents could get you 3 sweets), not to mention a 20 cent coin. In fact I’d pick it up if I dropped it, now. Why not? Should anyone feel embarassed to pick up a 20 cent coin? No. Should a 20 cent coin have so little value that it isn’t worth the effort to pick it up when dropped? Not yet (at least until inflation gets real high). I realize I’m being critical of the young lady without giving her the benefit of the doubt, but I make no excuse for that.

Posted by Chu Yeow at September 25, 2003 SGT |

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| Category: Personal

8 Comments & TrackBacks (Add yours)

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20 cents ? what is the currency ?

Posted by: Terminus on September 25, 2003 2pm

Oh I forgot to mention that - the currency is the Singapore Dollar (SGD). Updated entry to reflect that.

Posted by: Cheah Chu Yeow on September 25, 2003 3pm

Just FYI to the American readers: 20 Singapore cents is equal to about 12¢ in US money — roughly a dime.

I see dimes on the ground from time to time, and I pick all of them up and put them in my pocket.

Posted by: Anonymous on September 25, 2003 6pm

I’d still pick it up. At the very least, it would find a home in my car’s change tray ;).

Posted by: Vinnie on September 25, 2003 7pm

I think the penny (Canadian dollar) is about the only unit of currency not worth picking up. Everything up to $2 is a coin here, so most are fairly valuable.

Posted by: Mark on September 26, 2003 12pm

By the way, I love your site. Very good, excellent categories. I thought I was the only person on the planet who cared about XUL.

Posted by: Mark on September 26, 2003 12pm