The power of 'Thank you'

Recently, I was awaken by the power of 'Thank you.' First was because of a study I did in China, and then an event that happened in the US. This is a personal blog so I do not want to go into that study in details. You can read my other blog.

'Thank you,' someone told you. And you immediately feels good about what you had done. It gives you a reason to do it again. How many times have we seen someone who bought or saw a nice thing in the mall, and immediately call her parents or good friends. Someone who would say 'Wow what a find? How much is it? Can you get it for me? Thank you!'

'Thank you' is a social asset. Someone's 'thank you' is worth more than the others. But the more important thing is, everyone has some 'thank you' to give to. Those that give 'thank you' readily are generous. Those that don't are social misers.

I my studies in China, I saw so many disappointed volunteers to the community who received no word of thank except picky remarks. Then they immediate think, 'why have I volunteered.' Similarly, a recent debate in the gaming space also sparked some players to flame the volunteers that 'I don't really need your crap' or something along that line. These people are worst then misers, they destroy faith and social connectedness.

'Thank you' - I will have to remember to say it. I think of all the language that we had invented, nothing connects people more than these magical two. You may say it, or bow, or smile, or maybe give something back. They all make your world a better place to live in.

Games = violence? Bah!

Within a few days, I saw computer games being blamed for violence in youth. First was about the cases in Singapore where a student slashed his professor before jumping to his death, and another student hanging himself. Second was about a German youth killing 16 others.

On the first case, a Singapore Facebook user said, "I thk we shld also start looking into the stress our kids have at home. this may includes parenting and society stress...exams...pressure. Restrict Violence Gaming is a MUST !"

On the second case, "The actual problem is violent computer games," says Georg Stiel, president of the club in Volksdorf.

"They mislead young ones, letting them shoot people and animals without being at risk themselves. I would have those games banned."

Shooting clubs, on the other hand, teach respect towards weapons as well as safety rules, gun law, discipline and patience, Mr Stiel says.

"Guns are our sports equipment. Of course they are weapons, but so are golf clubs, tennis rackets and broken bottles," he adds."

(Duh... I wonder if Mr Stiel has a choice, would he like to be hit by a golf club or a gun?)

Why computer games? Because the users are the powerless youths who can be easily lambasted, in comparison with the general adults that watched movies? Isn't TV a more widespread perpetrator of gun and violence? How about our national service (conscription to the army)? We learn how to shoot with a real gun.

My point is violence is violence, just because we could not understand our kids doesn't mean it is due to gaming. Finding a scape goat is to overlook the real issues here. We can eradicate 100 technologies that seemingly inculcated violence, but still not realize why are our kids angry.

Best place on earth for travellers

Often when we traveled, we would compare places and say, 'This place has good temperature. Not as cold as such-and-such and not too warm. It has nicer scenery, its safe, etc. That place smells and garbage piles.' After traveling so much, I finally had my conclusion of where can we find the best place on earth.

Yes, you are right - the shopping malls!

This was where I went to in Hang Zhou when I was hungry for a place to sit down and write some notes. They said that Xi Hu was nice, scenic, and a heaven on earth. I am not sure why. That day, the lake was foggy, and cold. And there the tree were bare in winter. Perhaps for those who encouraged me, their heaven had always been found in what other had.

For me, the natural thing was to hail a cab and went straight to the 'largest and most central mall.' That was what I told the cab driver, and he indeed, it never failed me.

Nice temperature, lots of lights yet not scorching, clean and safe, pretty merchandices, good food, and beautiful people - isn't that what you wanted in travels?