The Future or the Present: A personal decision having an impact on a society

"What is your opinion on the future of Singapore economy?"
"Don't know ah. so chim..." (chim = complicated and deep: singapore speak)

We do not like to think very much, especially into the future. Its best left to the thinkers. To the planners and governments. They think for us. Such as building Casinos and putting 5 billion into 'Science.' We generally understand casino, since we gamble every time around Chinese New Year. But what is science? Can it be eaten?

Being a 'scientist,' I find hard to answer that question. Often time my Singapore friend will ask me, "What are you doing for you PhD?" Then I will find myself in a dilemma. I have three answers:
1. I am studying online game.
2. I am learning ethnography.
3. I am understanding the impact of technology on society.

Each of these will get a different respond:
1. Got use meh?
2. What is that?
3. Chim.

Frankly, I would rather the answer be the third, therefore, I would tell people I am trying to understand the impact of technology (online games) on society (I really mean society, not just gamers).

Nonetheless, its hard to dismiss the gross simplification of the future by Singaporeans, and I believe, many Chinese. Its not to say we do not think, but whatever is in our mind, its very 'real.' For example, what to buy when I visit Shanghai, what to eat, how to maximize expenditure while traveling, where do I get the best deal, why is this tea 10cents cheaper than the other? These are actual daily problems which we are very good at. Its hard to undercut a Singaporean!

At times, I wonder again, how do I tell a Chinese what is 'science?' I think it means sometimes very real to us right now. Can I make money out of it? How much do IBM pay for a scientist in their lab? However, hoo haa asides, I do think they mean very different things to us. 'Science' is about identifying the truth. If its the truth, you have to accept. And Chinese have been exploring the truth for a long time, for thousands of years. However, our truth may not lie very far into the future, its probably already here. Perhaps its not the way the west understood it.