Everybody knows that Chinese New Year (CNY) is just a day that aunties and uncles get together to compete with each other.
They are also masters in scathing remarks and questions that undermine your very being.
A group of Singaporeans have came up with a crowdsourced list of such microaggressive remarks made every year.
Aptly named PowerPlay — which in this instance refers to how people try to gain ‘power’ over another — the list just never ends, and is still open to entries.
MS News explores the kind of comments made by aunties during CNY.
They WILL ALWAYS insert a person studying in a more prestigious school.
How come you didn’t get into ACJC/Hwa Chong/RI?
Or they will spout nonsense when they haven’t heard of the University — because NUS, NTU and SIM are the only universities in Singapore.
If you aren’t studying Law/Medicine/Business, they throw shade at your degree.
You studying IT ah? IT not good, next time the Indian take over your job!
They are especially condescending to humanities courses.
Huh, studying arts ah? next time do what, be teacher?
The worst ones still think that arts refers to fine arts.
Girl ah, you study Arts In NUS? What kind of things do you do? Drawing? Painting?
Correction — even if you do pursue Law/Medicine/Business, they will still take jibes.
What you study ah? Law…is your mother force you one?
Most of the time, they do this to prove their family member is better than you.
Or else, they are simply trying to insult your intelligence.
What is your GPA?
HUH, THIS GPA ALSO CAN GO PUBLIC UNI MEH.
Or in this case, yet another jibe at the teaching profession.
Aunt: Oh where you going to study?
Me: NIE
Aunt: Aiyoh why NIE?
Me: Because I wanna be a teacher?
Aunt: Is it because you never do well at A Levels?
Me: …
Perhaps ‘face’ is just too important.
Thus, they try to compare their son or daughter against you to establish a higher social status.
Don’t eat too many pineapple tarts. My doctor daughter say not good for you.
Or dangle the rare NS-deferment due to studying Medicine in your face.
My son need to go back do NS in 2020, he studying Medicine you see.
These relatives sure know to press on where it hurts. They either openly give snide remarks or ask you condescending questions about getting a boyfriend — or even getting married.
You eat so many love letters won’t get real one la!
Some want you to get married so they wouldn’t have to give you red packets anymore.
I’m so tired of giving you angbao already you know. Can go get married already or not?
For girls, these relatives like to link age and relationship status to serve double whammys.
Huh so old still no boyfriend ah? Girl why you so picky, no one want you.
For guys, physical fitness is an important trait in snagging a boyfriend.
Haiyo, bakkwa eat so much, later fat no girl want you for bf.
Time is also ticking, till you come out of the closet apparently.
Got girlfriend yet anot? Faster go find otherwise you will turn gay.
You might be thinking — what happens when you have a girlfriend/boyfriend?
Some relatives will run out of hurtful comments to say to you and move on your significant other.
This is the same girlfriend from last year right? Never change girlfriend hor.
Whether you are thin, skinny, fat or normal, they WILL find some way to comment about your appearance.
Wah, girl eat more lah. Why you so skinny.
That means if you are somehow different from the ideal model, you will get struck by their lightning.
Eh how come you so fat now?
Maybe they are just trying to make themselves feel better.
You know the times when aunties suddenly become fashion judges and start questioning fashion choices?
Yep. This is it.
Can you wear more girly tops?
Choice of colour as well.
Aiyo why you never wear red this year. your parents too rich so you don’t want them to huat ah!
Once they’ve had their fill of comparing their son/daughter against you, they might even start comparing themselves.
This was apparently overheard in a conversation between aunties.
My CPF got way more than you.
As if education and appearance is not suffice to make them feel superior, they will also judge you by income earned.
You change job already? How much is your salary or they pay you celery?
To these people, being unemployed is the worst, and young people should be working as long as they have free time.
Discrimination against certain types of jobs, are still pretty prevalent.
What you working as now ah?Journalist? That one real job meh?
Like monks, they chant the same thing over and over again.
Repeat after us,
National Service is easier now.
Here are other few commonly heard NS-related remarks that will definitely make their rounds during your reunion gatherings.
“Airforce lepak, only 8-5 one”
“Eh my son OCS leh! You in SCS, how?”
“Ah boy you PES C ah? Wa lao you chao keng ah?”
“What do you guys do in SCDF? Is it always saving cats?”
Gahmen very unfair don’t let my son buy HDB say he earning too much, aiyoh.
Reminds us of how some companies sell consumers stuff without coming across as trying to sell something.
There are some cheapo aunties and uncles that want free services after finding out your occupation.
Can give me free MC or not?
A redditor hypothesizes that aunties and uncles have nothing better to do, thus all the incessant questioning.
Or they might be just saying all these to cover their inferiority complex.
Asian societies deem face and status very important, and this is a fact that cannot be avoided even in Singapore.
Thus, perhaps it would be better to turn a deaf ear to all the nasty comments from aunts and uncles.
For example, you can eat more pineapple tarts as a distraction — and worry about the weight gain later.
Featured image from MustShareNews.
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