People are stupid: Part 1 - People like stories more than facts.

People love stories. In fact, a good story will trump almost any fact you can throw at them.

So while I am in this world, people who may need persuading would expect a good story.

Here's one I haven't actually told anyone, but I guess it could pass, as the situation sees fit.

A Story of Integrity in a classroom full of SE Asians

It's the last day before exams of Spring Term, at a certain university in SE Asia. I am sitting in a class of 30-40 students, with 4 to 8 around each round table. In a very Singaporean matter-of-factly accent, the professor starts talking about business ethics and karma, how you should never make up results, treat your customers right, because what comes around goes around yada yada...

And then it's time for presentations. He checks the class student list, which has been divided into groups of 4 students. For this particular course, attendance counts as 10% of the final grade.

Knowing how much Singaporeans like things orderly and what they could do when things were not, I punctually went to every single class. But our group members were not so nice. They skipped almost every class besides the first and last. I didn't fake their attendance at all.

"What is this?! How can this sheet have so many ticks when less than half of you showed up each time?"

"You see? You tink I won't no-tice ah eh? "

"Your parents pay so much to send you to this college. Is this what you want to be? Cheat-ders and liars?"

" now this one is honest. Who is... Eugene?"



"Ah you see? This young man has honesty. Integrity. Come in once, tick once. What's wrong with you guys? Give him a round of applause!"





"You all get zero for attendance. OK. Let's move on to your final presentations. Who wants to go first?"

We do our final presentations and go for dinner.


Written in authentic Singaporean accent.