Sui Generis - Latest Comments

Re: Forcing Others to Do What They Don’t Want

derrickkwa — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 13:04:20 -0000

Well, again this goes back to the persuading vs forcing issue.

And I'm probably going to get some flak for this, but I think you shouldn't FORCE someone against it. Here's the difference between forcing and persuading, in this case. Persuading him would be talking to him and convincing him not to jump (doing an intervention or anything). Forcing him would be tying him down so he can't jump. I don't think the latter is necessarily a good idea.

Re: Forcing Others to Do What They Don’t Want

Truble Sun — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:15:04 -0000

Of course, of course, of course. Why didn't I think of this before? You shouldn't force your friend to do what he doesn't want to do, such as stopping him from jumping off a building. It obviously doesn't work at all. So let him jump.

Re: Forcing Others to Do What They Don’t Want

derrickkwa — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 01:50:18 -0000

Definitely, there's nothing wrong to persuading someone. But you shouldn't force someone to do it before they have been persuaded.

Re: Forcing Others to Do What They Don’t Want

Ron — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 21:54:03 -0000

My thoughts are that it is not worth to REALLY force someone to something. Being disagreeable is not bad, as long as the person can support the decision or request. But I do find most people need persuading.

Re: Wordpress Direct Misses The Point

derrickkwa — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 10:33:59 -0000

Yeah, definitely, content is important. I guess what I meant by "it shouldn't even be about the content per se" is this - you say that "anyone can share their awesome ideas and thoughts", and I completely agree, that's the brilliance of the web. The thing about sharing, though, you can't share without the community.

So I guess what I'm saying is that you can create content even without the web. What the web and blogging does is it allows people to see the content and talk about it and all. As Cory Doctorow said, "Conversation is king. Content is just something to talk about."

That was what I was trying to get at. Content is still definitely important, though, but I think the community matters more. It does to me, anyway. =).

Re: Wordpress Direct Misses The Point

Glen Allsopp — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 07:15:45 -0000

I agree with you...sort of. Blogging is very much about the content in my opinion, the web and blogging means that anybody can have a voice, anyone can share their awesome ideas and thoughts.

Of course, the community is still my favourite part, great post!

Cheers,
Glen

Re: Wordpress Direct Misses The Point

derrickkwa — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 15:21:53 -0000

Is there a way to reverse this trend? Interesting question.

I think that the trend will reverse itself naturally. In time, as people see that doing it just for money isn't going to work, they'll stop trying it. And only the passionate ones will stay on. When it gets tough, those that aren't in it for love of the community and what they're doing - they'll leave. At least that's what I think.

As for what we can do now, I think all we can do is to build awareness and lead by example. That's the only way we can show the true value of blogging, and it isn't money.

I don't have all the answers, of course, so I'd love to hear what you (and others out there) think of it - what do YOU think we can do to reverse the trend?

Re: Wordpress Direct Misses The Point

Clement — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 15:16:52 -0000

I agree with you 100%.Blogging is about the community exchanging ideas and building one another. Money might come in only as a by-product. Unfortunately, these days money is taking a centre stage. But is there a way to reverse this trend?

Re: “If you’ve never failed, you’ve never lived”

derrickkwa — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 10:33:49 -0000

No thanks needed. =). I'm just glad to be able to help.

Re: “If you’ve never failed, you’ve never lived”

Ellen Weber — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:08:21 -0000

What amazing spaces you inspired so people to take a risk in ways that gives growth a real shot at succeeding. Thanks for the refreshing challenge here - it comes at a great moment!

Re: Jigsaw Puzzles | Sui Generis

Indie Berg — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 18:13:34 -0000

nice one, i enjoy your writing :-)
you should check out this site http://www.jspuzzles.com to play online jigsaw puzzles, it's an addict! i think jigsaws are coming back to fashion, you know, like the 80's retro?

Re: Forcing Others to Do What They Don’t Want

derrickkwa — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 14:25:00 -0000

Well...I'm not a fan of Manchester United, so I don't want to say too much. Haha. But if I remember correctly, Ronaldo himself never really said he wanted to leave.

And well, I dont' think Sir Alex forced him to stay. I think it was more a case of persuading him to stay. There's a subtle, but really important difference there. Trying to persuade someone to do something they don't want to can work out well. But if you try to persuade them and fail to do so, forcing them isn't a good idea, in my opinion.

Of course, that's just my thoughts. =). You're free to disagree. And as for the example of Ronaldo, it's all speculation, I don't think either of us know exactly what happened, what was going through his mind, etc (unless you have some connections I don't know about?)

Anyway, thanks for your comment, and you're more than welcome with regards to the link. =). Keep creating.

Re: Forcing Others to Do What They Don’t Want

tim young — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 14:18:37 -0000

hey derrick interesting post. do you think that there are some situations where forcing people to do something they dont want to do actually works out well?

i often whether manchester united would have won the champions league had sir alex ferguson not forced ronaldo to stay at manchester united after euro 2004. ronaldo looked hell bent on leaving manchester united as he became public enemy number 1 after getting rooney sent off in the portugal england game. but because of SAF's intervention, ronaldo has gone on to become the best player in the world.

oh well thats just my 2 cents worth, thanks for the link previously!

Re: How to Fall

Susan — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 02:56:28 -0000

Falling or failing is learning from it and move on or rather to cut lost and move on.

I feel sad that the financial tsunami has wiped out life long savings, compensation or the lack of it means those affected had to be able to cut lost and move on, tough and really sad.

Coming back to the analogy, when one just let fall, then there is a chance of fatal fall when it hit the head - Of course, one can say there is a lot of tolerance or so I hope.

Re: How to Fall

derrickkwa — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 15:39:01 -0000

You're right, I didn't think of that. But that's a great point. Thanks! =).

And yeah, I'm doing alright. Could be better, but that's the way life is, isn't it?

Re: How to Fall

Margy — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 15:29:29 -0000

Hey Derrick!

I know you probably don't mean it that way, but your post reminded me about falling in love. It's really something that you can't catch yourself from falling.

Oh well, just a thought.

Hope you're doing well =)

Re: How to Fall

derrickkwa — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 12:52:14 -0000

=). No thanks needed.

Well, personally....physical fitness isn't something that I care about that much. And if it was just physical training, yeah, maybe I would take that opportunity. But National Service consists of so much more - the footdrills, the marching, etc. There's just too much rigidity and regimentation, and those are things that I do not believe in.

As for my community, not really. How would that be part of embracing my community? My community is you guys. My friends, the people who read my blog, the people who's blogs I read, etc. My community is the people I interact with and talk to. It has nothing to do with National Service.

Re: Playing Safe

derrickkwa — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 12:51:34 -0000

Well, there are (I think) definitely *some* people who will be willing to. They would be in the minority, but they are there. And in my mind, it's a question of being enabling that community and proving that the status quo isn't the only way.

Re: How to Fall

Julian Delphiki — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 11:52:28 -0000

Ah all right, thank you for the clarification. Just as a matter of curiosity, why do you not simply take the opportunity to keep fit then, instead of seeing it as a "damaging" matter? Would that not be part of embracing your community then?

Re: Playing Safe

Abi — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 11:11:17 -0000

I think education, especially high school education, is something no one is willing to experiment with because everyone's really sensitive about their children's future. So, I'm not sure how you can actually change it. Even joining a school with a non A-level syllabus like NUS High requires a major leap of faith for most local parents.

Re: How to Fall

derrickkwa — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 14:13:44 -0000

Yes, all aspects. But the analogy I'm talking about is the idea of failure. I probably should have been more clear in the post, but yeah. The analogy I was trying to make was falling -> failing. In the sense of, in whatever you're doing, sometimes you'll fail and things won't go according to plan. The best thing for you to do isn't to resist the failure, but to learn from it and move on.

The comparison to National Service, in my opinion, would be whether to start skateboarding in the first place. If you don't want to skateboard in the first place, being forced to get on a skateboard is only going to hurt you more, etc. Yes, you can minimize the damage, but it's better not to do it unless it's something you want to do.

Same thing. I'm currently in a stay-out training, and even in Tekong I tried to make use of the time to think about ideas, etc. It minimizes the "damage" (the time that NS wastes), but it would be better to not do it at all.

Re: How to Fall

Julian Delphiki — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 14:04:20 -0000

All aspects? I think you have a false analogy there. Do you really think that's the advice for all aspects of life? If so, then why don't you 'fall' into this National Service thing and roll with it?

Re: In the News

derrickkwa — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 12:25:36 -0000

=). Yeah, of course. That's the only reason for the hat.

And well, I don't really "see" anything that far ahead. I'll just..take it as it goes, and keep open to as many opportunities as I can.

Re: In the News

Hun Boon — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 10:57:34 -0000

Hey I saw your article, were you trying to hide your NS haircut? :)

So where do you see your blog in 2 years' time?

Re: “If you’ve never failed, you’ve never lived”

derrickkwa — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 12:51:09 -0000

Glad you see where I'm coming from. =).