Oh for the graciousness of our society!

Having just returned from a holiday in Japan, Kimmy and I had a lengthy discussion today on why it seemed impossible for our society here to emulate theirs in terms of graciousness and civic mindedness. I know we have an influx of foreigners, some from (dare I say) less developed countries than Singapore, but the locals here aren't pushing the envelope in terms of being caring for their neighbours or just having manners.

A few gripes we have:

1. Nobody ever clears their tray at the food courts which have initiated the "Tray Return" station. Everyone's too used to having uncle and auntie clear up after they have eaten. Nobody clears their trays at the fast food joints too. I wonder why nobody remembers that ever since the creation of fast food restaurants, one has always been expected to clear their tray after dining at Macdonalds, KFC, or Mos Burger.

2. Nobody queues up or gives way at the entrances to the MRT Trains. Everyone rushes to get in, and some do it "unobtrusively", trying to squeeze in at the side, thinking they won't block anyone's way.

3. Nobody ever moves to the center of the train carriage. They just get past the train doors and then heave a sigh of relief that they were able to get onto the train, and just stand there. What? You mean there are people behind trying to get on? I don't think the thought ever even crossed their minds.

4. After so many years, there are still people standing on the right side of the escalator, especially at the MRT stations. Kim thinks this was shortsightedness on the government's part for not actually implementing this system when the MRT was started. As a result, everyone is too used to their "old ways" and cannot change. I usually like to say "excuse me" loudly in their ear and then try to squeeze past them. Miraculously, they look at me like I was the most uncouth and rude girl they have ever seen. Sometimes they couple it with a few "tsk tsks".

5. Drivers in Singapore don't ever stop at zebra crossings to let pedestrians cross. Somehow they seemed to have forgotten their basic theory, and the concept of a zebra crossing.

Will Singapore ever achieve a gracious, polite and civic-minded society? Does it take generations, to change mindsets and perhaps weed out the uneducated older bunch of inhabitants who don't see the need for a "first world" type of culture and mentality? In the meantime, I'd need to check my tolerance levels, up it a few more notches.