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Possible articles/links for you to read/explore/ponder upon. 

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Possible articles/links for you to read/explore/ponder upon. 

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Do note that NOT ALL are specifically relevant to hurtful humour. Some articles/links could be on the general topic of humour, comedy etc. Other links touch on the need for greater sensitivity towards diverse cultural, religious, racial beliefs etc. in our society- so the examples here show biased attitudes, prejudice and discrimination, rather than specifically through hurtful humour.

[OPTIONAL TASK as CORRECTIONS]: To review your own AQ response and re-write one. Read some of the articles here to give you some possible insights.

Consider what we discussed in class about the importance of answering the given AQ question on the CONSEQUENCES of HURTFUL Humour. Identify relevant arguments from the passage on this!

Can submit to me for marking if you would like some feedback via whatsapp or share your Google Doc with me (Email: wong_sui_lee@moe.edu.sg).

Press on, my awesome 22A06! :D

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SINGAPORE - In his 14 years as a stand-up comedian, Mr Rishi Budhrani has been called many things - not all pleasant. His most recent? A "People's Action Party stooge" and an "imported foreign talent", after uploading a video poking fun at a 2023 Presidential Election candidate.

But the 39-year-old has since learnt to roll with the punches, saying that there will always be people who will be upset at his jokes and disagree with him no matter what he says.

"But I believe that if you really want to connect with your audience, and you come from a real, honest and sincere place, then the likelihood of people getting offended is lower," he said.

In an interview with TODAY leading up to his show "Artificial Indian", which runs from Sept 29 to 30, Mr Budhrani reflected on his career as a comedian - speaking about where he draws inspiration from, how he treads the fine line between being funny and foul, as well as his recent presidential election videos.

The first Singaporean to win the Hong Kong International Comedy Competition, Mr Budhrani does not shy away from exploring what people would perceive as sensitive topics such as race and politics, for his content.

During the recent Presidental Election for instance, the stand-up comedian had posted several videos on his social media as part of his series the #therishireport - a political satire cum commentary.

The videos he made during the election touched on certain points that the presidential hopefuls had raised during their campaigns.

When asked what was the main driving force behind putting out such content during the election, Mr Budhrani said that it is important for youths now to know who their leaders are.

"We are in a phase in Singapore now where you genuinely have an opportunity to make a change to the society you live in, whether that's by volunteering, getting involved in a non-governmental organisation, or by voting," he said.

"How can you change the process if you're not even willing to get involved in it? That's my message."

He urged youths to consume political content not just on mainstream media but alternative ones and TikTok as well.

"Watch it all and be a politically aware citizen in the nation you're living in. Because otherwise, you are just going to sit back and complain? I'm saying go and vote and earn the right to complain."

Pausing at this, he quipped: "If I run for office that will be my campaign slogan - 'Earn your right to complain'."

HUMOUR AS A DIGESTIVE

In attempting to make his audience laugh, Mr Budhrani often has to walk that delicate line between being funny and offensive.

He said that he always does his due diligence in obtaining the facts first - a result of his journalistic training in university.

"So I don't go in with an agenda. I get the facts first and build my opinion based on that. So if my facts say this then my jokes are based on what the facts are," he said.

"You can get upset at me but this is the mirror I'm holding up for you to see. So if you're angry at that then you're angry at that (fact), you're not angry at me."

When it comes to race for instance, the veteran comedian has seen various kinds of comedy such as those that make fun of different races using entrenched racial stereotypes.

"I try to avoid that. I feel like there's being racist and then there's mocking the ridiculousness of these racial stereotypes. I feel that I do the latter. So I hold up the mirror and sometimes people will laugh and say yeah that's true," he said.

To Mr Budhrani, humour is akin to "hajmola" - a popular Indian digestive made of herbs and spices.

"For things that are difficult to digest as a society, you lace it with humour and that makes it easier to go down," he said.

Touching on the incident involving Singapore-born comedian Jocelyn Chia, who received backlash for making a joke about the Malaysia Airlines, Mr Budhrani said that the medium in which comedy is delivered matters.

"At the end of the day, some genres of content are meant to be enjoyed live and some genres of content are meant for TV and radio. The level of openness changes with each medium," he said.

He had penned his thoughts about the saga in a commentary published in CNA in June.

During a "live" stand-up comedy, time is spent building a relationship with the audience, Mr Budhrani wrote. "During the process, the comedian reads the room, gauges what that group of strangers, in that moment and in that space, is ready for."

But when an excerpt of a comedian's routine is posted onto social media, the audience is "no longer that same group of people in that room", he wrote. "The stakes have changed. And more importantly, the rules have changed."

When asked if there was a topic he would never use for stand-up, Mr Budhrani said that he "does not consciously think of that". Instead, inspiration for his work can come from almost anywhere.

"If something has occurred in the news, something you saw on the street and it is an original, authentic thought or experience that I feel can connect to an audience, then I think it's fair game," he said.

His career as a stand-up comedian had taken him to countries such as Australia, India and China.

He also wrote for a local television show in 2017.

But one of the highlights of his career was when he was invited to host the National Day Parade last year, which he said was a "big step" for local stand-up comedians.

"This is the nation's birthday and if a comedian on live TV decides to go rogue... I mean, of course there are tanks and weapons and jets and all that, so I would be a bit conscious," he said with a smile.

"But it was a big step for everyone involved to open the door for stand-up comedians. And I was very grateful because there are now comedians who are younger than me or from another generation going 'wow, we can tell jokes in comedy clubs to 20 people on a Tuesday night and eventually one day perform for 25,000 people'."

Despite his glowing achievements and popularity, why Mr Budhrani enjoys doing what he does comes down to a simple reason - bringing people together.

"People want to laugh but I think more than that they want to connect with each other," he said.

"And I think the beautiful thing about stand-up comedy is that (it's an) art form using laughter to unite a room full of strangers. It's very hard to do, so I'm very excited and very grateful to get a chance to try to do that."

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How to joke about race, politics: Comedian Rishi Budhrani treads the fine line between funny and foul

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SINGAPORE - In his 14 years as a stand-up comedian, Mr Rishi Budhrani has been called many things - not all pleasant. His most recent? A "People's Action Party stooge" and an "imported foreign talent", after uploading a video poking fun at a 2023 Presidential Election candidate.

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Now woke to the highly insensitive actions they did four years ago, a group of former Raffles Institution students who posed in blackface for a photo have all spoken out about their own immaturity and ignorance in their youth.

The internet was rightfully repulsed by a picture posted on an Instagram account in April 2016 - a photo of a student, believed to be of Sri Lankan descent, surrounded by 10 others donning black beauty face masks.

This, on top of the group standing with a paper bag with the label "whitening kit" - all apparently part of the birthday celebrations for the brown student. Though he gave his consent to posting the photo, it'd be hard to imagine that he was completely comfortable with his so-called friends spotlighting the colour of his skin in such a manner.

A Twitter user found it and resurfaced the problematic photograph on Wednesday (June 3), where it blew up. The former RI student who posted the photo on his Instagram account took it down immediately and issued an apology via Instagram Stories, taking responsibility for his "stupidity and racist actions".

Prominent playwright Alfian Sa'at reposted the photo on his Facebook page, remarking how he felt "visceral revulsion and shame" as a former RI student himself.

He expanded on the post by sharing his own uncomfortable brushes with racial jokes at his former school, where he had been a minority.

"Let it be known that I encountered jokes like these not in my 'neighbourhood' primary school, nor when I was serving in the army, but in the hallowed halls of Raffles Institution," he wrote.

"At that time I never spent much time wondering where my schoolmates picked up these jokes - their parents? Cousins? Friends? And what made them think it was all right to share these jokes in front of me? And that I would not retaliate? Because there were so few people who looked like me in school?"

[embed]https://www.facebook.com/alfiansaat/posts/10157528313627371[/embed]

It was yesterday afternoon (June 4) that Alfian made another Facebook post after receiving a note from the 10 former RI students who donned blackface in the problematic photograph. He republished the apology they wrote as a collective.
"We wholeheartedly and unreservedly apologise, to our friend and the community. What we did was wrong, and in no way justifiable. It is no excuse that we were young, immature and ignorant. It is no excuse that we had no malicious intentions. It is no excuse that we were celebrating our friend's birthday. With our insensitive, racist, and cruel celebration, we clearly failed him instead. We are deeply sorry to our friend, and to the many others whom we have caused distress. We know that our apology cannot undo years of microaggression and casual racism, but we hope it goes a small way towards making things right. Race-based banter, like what we engaged in, is not funny, and never acceptable. Like other forms of racism, it marginalises minorities and perpetuates discrimination. Moving forward, we commit to unlearning these behaviours and will continue to reflect on our actions. We will work harder to amplify the voices of the minorities in Singapore and educate ourselves further. Once again, we are truly sorry for what we did."
RI also issued a statement of its own in response to the controversy, condemning the former students' actions. The 10 students have also reached out to their former school to apologise.

[embed]https://www.facebook.com/RafflesInstitution/posts/2569995896437638[/embed]

"We do not condone such cultural insensitivities and regret that their actions have caused distress and hurt to the community," RI wrote on Facebook. "Their teachers would have intervened and counselled them if they had known about their birthday celebration plans."

"This incident is a timely reminder to all of us that our work in building a more inclusive school and society must continue."

Reactions to the students' statement of apology have been commended for its sincerity.

ilyas@asiaone.com

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10 former RI students behind blackface group photo issue apology; school condemns their actions

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Now woke to the highly insensitive actions they did four years ago, a group of former Raffles Institution students who posed in blackface for a photo have all spoken out about their own immaturity and ignorance in their youth. The internet was rightfully repulsed by a picture posted on an Instagram account in April 2016 - a photo of a...

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Sometimes, we may hear "playful" racial jokes being shared among friends, and nobody appears to be offended. CHEW WEI SHAN wonders about what kids really feel when they are teased like that.

Jessa and Aadi were always the butt of racial jokes, growing up. Many times, they found themselves playing along, even if it pained them. Today, they share their feelings and experiences with me.

Shan: I have seen kids being teased about their looks, their accents or something else about them that makes them different from the other kids. The person who cracks the joke may mean no harm, and may say that it is only affectionate teasing. I wonder whether those being teased are truly cool with it. Or, are they their feelings just to fit in? What are your experiences of jokes like that?

Aadi: You must have heard this one before. The kids in my class used to turn off the lights and joke, "Eh! Where's Aadi?"

The joke was that my skin was so dark, they couldn't see me without the lights on. I used to laugh along so they wouldn't think I was too sensitive. But, it actually made me feel like I was some kind of freak.

Shan: Oh, dear. You're right, sadly... I have heard that joke many times.

Aadi: It seems to happen to almost every darker- skinned person I know. Whenever we had overnight school camps, everyone would joke, "If you see a toothy smile floating in the darkness, don't panic. It's just Aadi."

Aadi (cont'd): I knew that I would be made fun of even more if I protested. I just wanted to be chill, I guess. I wanted people to like me. So, I not only embraced the joke, I started making the same jokes, too - about myself, or aimed at my other dark-skinned friends! Looking back, I am not proud of doing that.

Jessa: You were just trying to fit in. I totally get it!

Aadi: Maybe, but I hurt other kids in the process. Somehow, I had trained myself to ignore the discomfort and just live with it. Over time, it just got worse.

I was a football player, and I had very good footwork - I could gracefully steal the ball from my opponents. My teammates called me the "dark shadow". "Careful, later the dark shadow swoop in and steal your ball," they would say.

I told myself it was fine - the whole "shadow" thing must be their way of saying that I have good football skills. But soon, the jokes evolved to a nastier level.

"Careful, the sun is setting. Later the dark shadow steal your money." "Careful. Later the dark shadow steal your girlfriend in the night."

I realised it was about my dark skin all along. I chuckled politely at first, but it started to bother me more and more. One day, I gently protested, "Oi. I'm not some kind of criminal, lah!"

Casually and still laughing, my friends teased, "Why should we believe you? There's a reason they say DTI."

Shan: What does DTI stand for?

Aadi: I had heard many people say "DTI" before, but I had no idea what it meant. I always assumed it was some kind of inside joke. "What is DTI?" I finally asked.

"How can you not know? It stands for 'Don't Trust Indians'."

I was shocked. In the years to come - through secondary school, poly, even university - I would continue to hear "DTI" everywhere I went. Sometimes, even Indians used it jokingly on themselves. "It's just a joke, what!" they would say if I showed any discomfort.

Don't people say "racist jokes are funny because they are true"? It makes me worry. Do people really believe that Indians can't be trusted? Am I supposed to laugh it off? I don't know.

Jessa: Of course, you shouldn't just laugh it off ! Joke or not, it still spreads harmful ways of thinking. ( Sighs) My schoolmates used to make mean jokes, too.

My mum is Filipino, and my dad is Eurasian. Because of Dad, my skin is quite fair compared to Mum's. When Mummy first picked me up from school, my friends immediately said, "Hey Jessa! Your maid is here!" Even after they learnt that she was my mother, they continued to joke that she was my helper.

Some classmates even put on a Filipino accent and imitated her, saying things a domestic helper might say: "Jessa, please to hurry up, later Ma'am and Sir not happy."

Shan: How did you feel when they imitated your mother?

Jessa: I laughed along, at first. Only when I was much older did I understand how harmful these jokes were. On hindsight, I am ashamed I didn't defend my mum. I wish I had said, "What is so funny about looking and sounding Filipino? My mother is proud to be Filipino, and so am I."

But somehow, I felt so helpless. I couldn't bring myself to tell my friends how I really felt. I was afraid that they would think I was overly sensitive. I didn't want to lose my friends.

Jessa (cont'd): Sure, some Filipino women
are helpers - they too deserve our respect! Making jokes based on stereotypes or looking down on people spreads ugly attitudes about them.

Aadi: It's hard to admit you are hurt. I think admitting it is scary because you feel less safe. But you know, I eventually came clean with my friends about their racial jokes.

Jessa: Really? That is brave of you, Aadi. How did you do it?

Aadi: We had been schoolmates for 10 years before I finally decided to be honest with them. I told them how racial jokes have been making me feel all these years.

I was so afraid to lose their affection. But, they actually listened. Then, they apologised! They said they realised that they were blinded by their advantage, as childish boys. They even promised to change for the better, and continue to educate themselves. That is when I knew I had true friends, and I have never been happier.

VOCAB BUILDER
masking (say " mas-king"; verb) = hiding something.
laugh it off (say "laf it off"; phrasal verb) = to make yourself laugh about something unpleasant to make it seem less serious.

The author of this series is a Chinese Singaporean who admits she does not know what it is like to be treated differently. So, she listened hard to people who had experienced everyday racism. Based on their stories, she wrote up these articles for you to read. The people's names have been changed to protect their privacy.

Stamp out jokes that hurt

Many ethnic minorities have endured painful racial jokes all their lives. Aadi was very brave to speak about the issue with his friends. However, it was not his responsibility alone to teach his friends to stop being racist. Racial teasing robs the victims of their dignity. When a robber steals money from someone, it is not the victim's job to catch the robber. In the same way, it is not fair to expect the victims of mean jokes to educate those hurting them.

It is everyone's job as human beings to be kind, and to treat others with respect. Just as Aadi's friends did, when we make mistakes and hurt others, we should admit we are wrong and commit to change.

We must all learn how to identify jokes that hurt and exclude others, even if they seem "all in good fun". As long as a joke singles out and puts down someone, alarm bells should ring in our heads. When that happens, we can speak up for our peers. We can step forward and call out harmful attitudes when we see them. Only then do we have a chance at stamping out casual racism.

What is everyday racism?
Racism means to treat some people worse than others, just because they are of a different race or skin colour, come from a different place, or have a different culture. Everyday racism is a form of racism where people say or do hurtful things without intending to be unkind. Everyday racism is also called "casual racism", although there is nothing casual about it for the person at the receiving end.

This series is sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, Singapore. You can find more articles about casual racism at http://more.whatsup.sg.

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Racial jokes: "But they're cool with it!"

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Sometimes, we may hear "playful" racial jokes being shared among friends, and nobody appears to be offended. CHEW WEI SHAN wonders about what kids really feel when they are teased like that. ...

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Jokes about politics: The good, the bad and the ugly

(Humour can reduce stress and build bonds, as well as spread lies and breed cynicism)

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What's so funny about racial stereotypes?
Comedians like Kumar regularly use stereotypes, with many taking no offence. But for some, racism is no joke.

Audrey Tan looks at what type of humour is acceptable, in light of an incident where an actor here was asked to put on a thicker Indian accent at an audition

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In Conversation With: Rachel Pang, Creator of @RachelPangComics

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post_excerptTheHomeGround Asia speaks to @RachelPangComics on how they seek to reshape Singapore's dominant narratives - one little comic at a time.

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Must Share News - Independent News For Singaporeans

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Singaporean Artist Sheds Light On Microaggressions & Racism Through A Comic

Unless you've been living under a rock, you've probably heard of the unfortunate 'brownface' E-Pay advertisment incident.

Local actor Dennis Chew from Mediacorp was portrayed with darker skin to resemble a Malay lady and Indian man in an ill-received ad.

But why the fuss over a simple ad? Local artist Rachel Pang (@rachelpangcomics) explained how allowing 'brownface' ads to be published, can continue to trigger microaggressions against members of the racial minority in Singapore.

We're not sure how long this comic will run, but her first post is focused on defining racism. And we think she did a beautiful job of explaining what the issue is about.

Racism defined

Rachel Pang defines racism as "a system in which one group receives advantages over another based on their race".

For example, minority groups may not be allowed to enroll in SAP schools because of their race or Mother Tongue.

How does privilege look like?

Members of the majority race usually don't need to worry about representation.

Meanwhile, minorities struggle with stereotypes. They could face microaggressions on a daily basis like, "You're the good kind of Indian" or "You're pretty... for an Indian."

Metaphors of microaggressions

Rachel Pang used metaphors by Dr Beverly Tatum - a psychologist and writer- to highlight racism.

We might not feel racism if we are part of the privileged majority. In the long-run, this leads to the perception that one's race is superior due to constant exposure to alternate narratives.

She also provides the analogy that not doing anything against racism seems like riding a travellator. As long as we stand still, we help perpetuate it.

Awareness of racism

She shares that it's possible that members of a 'privileged majority' might not understand racism and perceive 'brownface' as a joke.

How can we end racism? You can start small by listening to the problems of minorities and treating everyone with compassion.

The fight against racism doesn't stop there.

We constantly need to educate ourselves and fight for systemic change.

Fighting microaggressions & racism

Just because you can't feel racism doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

Some minorities experience microaggressions and judgments based on stereotypes. 'Brownface' incidents also can deny minorities of the representation they deserve and perpetuate racist norms.

Racism may be difficult to spot, and even harder to stamp out but we can spark change by treating everyone with mutual respect.

Have you experienced racism and microaggressions in Singapore? How do you fight against racism? Let us know in the comments below.
Featured image from Instagram.

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S'pore Artist Uses Comics To Explain Microaggressions & Racism, Absolutely Wins The Internet

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Local artist Rachel Pang, showed how a 'brownface' incident can trigger microaggressions against racial minorities in S'pore using a relatable comic strip.

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She is known for her satirical videos and parodies of viral events in Singapore. Apart from those, she also raps, which has proven to be pretty popular.

Local social media personality Preetipls, whose real name is Preeti Nair, first shot to fame with her parody of Toggle's 'Fashion Police' video two years ago. Today, Preeti has greatly evolved from the social media figure she was back in 2016.

On top of creating funny videos for her Instagram and YouTube accounts, she now holds a part-time job as a radio DJ at 987FM. Earlier this year, Preeti even battled against Singapore's veteran comedian, Kumar, on a stand-up comedy show.

Behind the humour and satire, however, Preeti is a keen advocate of using social media responsibly. At the closing debate of the Singapore Writers Festival yesterday, she debated on the pros and cons of social media usage among Singaporeans.

When Youth.SG met her at a café in her neighbourhood on Oct 26, the 24-year-old greeted us with a bright smile.

During our hour-long interview, Preeti was bubbly and often peppered her responses with laughter.

What's the story behind her sassy online persona, 'Preetipls'?

The cheery comedian sipped on her glass of iced water before sharing her story: "People usually don't speak up unless it affects them personally and I thought that I'm not going to wait till it offends me personally to do something."

That thought sparked the start of her social media journey, where she uses humour to address serious issues such as racism and stereotypes.

After the unexpected success of her 'Fashion Polis' video in 2016, she found herself working on more videos and parodies. But what sets her apart from other content creators are her inaccurately translated Mandarin subtitles.

"Everybody thinks I pay someone to do my subtitles but it's all me, all off the top of my head.

"I've studied this for so long, I might as well put it to good use," chuckled Preeti, who took Mandarin as her second language in school.

Preeti, who has over 17,000 followers on Instagram, also credited her rise to fame to the unexpected nature of her content.

"My content may seem to be randomly uploaded but that's because I never had a regular content schedule. That's why there's still that element of surprise and it has always been like that.

"If an idea comes to my head, I'll just find some time to do it and make it happen," chirped Preeti excitedly, as she explained her creative process.

As her social media following grew, Preeti started to receive more supportive comments from her fans. But she has had her fair share of haters too.

When Preeti released her debut single, 'Thicc', last month, she received some body shaming comments on her Instagram account and YouTube channel.

However, she chooses to take things in her own stride.

"Now, I would joke about it, screenshot it and say something funny on my Instagram story. I just take everything with a pinch of salt."

She also felt thankful for her fans, whom she spoke about endearingly. When her dog, Mini, passed away in May, her Instagram inbox was flooded with heartfelt messages from her fans.

"My followers are such a huge part of my life, it's just so sweet that they took time to send me some nice words and be kind.

"They don't just watch and laugh, they actually feel an emotional connection," said Preeti.

With the recent success of 'Thicc', can we expect more singles from Preeti?

With a cheeky grin, Preeti said: "Music is actually an endeavour I want to venture into. I want to drop a five-song EP and call it 'Singapore's Top Album'.

"Even if I do music, it will still be comedy. Comedy is always my thing. Comedy will always be first," said Preeti.

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Preetipls' videos make us laugh and rethink our lives | Youthopia

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Social media personality Preetipls uses satire to get people talking about touchy topics on social media.

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TheWackyDuo.com - Singapore Wacky Magazine

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How many times will you get 2 scandals a day relating to Singapore political parties?

Both scandals are related to the affair, and it happened to the 2 biggest political parties in Singapore. While one is confirmed, the other is still under investigation.

As you know, we are apolitical. We are not going to comment on what happened, but that does not stop us from sharing what the rest of Singapore is thinking through these memes. Here is a snippet of what Singaporeans really think about these scandals.

For News Agencies

Public Opinion

National Day Planning Committee

A bonus one relates to National Day Parade, which is just a few weeks away. There will be a few empty seats at the grandstand on that day!

As much as these memes are tongue-in-cheek, there may be others that are unwarranted.

Some sites are posting photos of spouses and children. That is crossing the line.

It has been an exciting day in Singapore for the wrong reason. Let's hope we do not see any more of these fireworks anymore!

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Two Scandals in Singapore and the memes that follows

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How many times will you get 2 scandals a day relating to Singapore political parties?

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With an opposition that presents as such, the PAP seems like the best that the electorate can have at the moment, although it's evidently not what everyone thinks.

While the PAP laid claim to 69.86% of the popular vote in the 2015 General Elections, what about the remaining 30.14%?

Indeed, when the best that we can have demonstrates perceived cracks in their perfection, we get riled up over their flaws, and insistently harp on them because they're all we have at the moment.

We seize upon these cracks with gusto and glee to vent frustration with the lack of political diversity.

Yet, observe as well, that the long-lived memes of Singapore's politicians that dominate discourse and attain virality tend to focus on politicians in power. Memes of opposition politicians, on the other hand, tend to be short-lived and sporadic, perhaps reflective of their participation in politics.

Naturally, memes remain relevant only as long as the subjects they lampoon. The political careers of the opposition seem like mayflies in comparison with those of the incumbent in power that can span decades. Their memes ostensibly follow their trajectories.

Or maybe it's simply more fun and delicious to see those in power caught squirming in the spotlight-satisfaction comes from punching up, not down.

The next General Election has to held by 15th January 2021; it would prudent before then, to reflect on why we make memes out of our politicians, even if they do make memes out of themselves.

The ability to repackage complex ideas into a simple digestible viral packet imbues memes with a potent power of their own-one that defies censorship and demands to be heard.

Considering how ubiquitous meme-making has become in tandem with the supremacy of social media, memes may have already superseded thoughtful critique agitating political thought. The advent of younger generations of voters that speak social media could thus magnify the impact of memes on political engagement to an unprecedented degree.

Powerful as they are, political memes are ultimately engineered for humiliation with razor-sharp focus. Peripheral contexts and nuances-important as they are to achieve a holistic understanding of hot-button topics and perspectives-are swept aside for a punchy, short, schadenfreude-driven delivery.

To mount a logical defence against memes is thus highly improbable, given that that part of their charm is to blend the absurd and the reality. This is where the potential for maximum injury to politicians lay. There is nothing more damaging than someone laughing at you over something out of your control.

For politicians, meme-making could very well make or break public opinion, and they would do well to tread carefully with their gaffes in the years to come.

For the rest of us, we should be more afraid of what it means to have memes supersede critical social commentary in the power to dictate and refocus discourse or risk them becoming thought-stoppers.

Let's be honest, does anyone think of James Gomez when they hear 'mee siam mai hum'?

That's what I thought.

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Memes About Politicians in Singapore Will Never Die. And That's a Good Thing.

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Everyone knows mee siam doesn't come with 'hum', but once upon a time, someone very important didn't know.

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And don't forget to up your Singlish. "It's central to the evolution of Singaporean humour," explained Gwee Li Sui. "It's humour reaching past the physical to the cerebral, where the performance of words, not so much bodies, occurs in the head." So how? Can or not?
5. IF IT'S SLAPSTICK, IT'LL PROBABLY WORK
Of course, while your friends' brains are going into overdrive with all that cerebral Singlish, a little slapstick won't hurt - in fact, it'll do you good.

"I haven't seen us grow much beyond enjoying physical comedy over the decades. We still adore slapstick and laugh at social manners and behaviours. All platforms using performance - from stage to screen, be it film or YouTube - stress the physical body and exploit this form of humour. The recent S-hook Ah Lian videos are classic examples," observed Gwee.

I think we just like things in our face

But it might also depend on which demographic you're talking to. This might work with what Sharul considers the "older generation" of audiences - "people who are about 50 and above like the slightly slapstick, race-based, loud and expressive kind of humour."

She calls this kind of "in-your-face" humour an "Asian" one. "We act out our wit - if you're talking about the character, we'll act it out. I think we just like things in our face - that's why we have veterans Kumar, Hossan Leong and Irene Ang doing so well."
6. SINGAPOREANS ALSO LOVE LISTICLES ABOUT THEMSELVES
Yes, listicles are still popular, particularly for online videos, where it has proven to be a formula that still works. "Ten types of people - that does really well," said Preetipls. "JianHao Tan recently posted a video about 10 types of students before exams and that hit more than one million views. I thought it was an old video but it was posted on the first week of October. Singaporean love these types of relatable content."
7. DON'T BE CRUEL, CRUDE OR RUDE - THEY'LL GET TURNED OFF
That said, there are limits to what we can take. Much like how religion is often comedian's no man's land, humour that's too crude can be a hard pill to swallow for Singaporeans, said Michael Tay. "I don't foresee we can ever do a Sacha Baron-Cohen kind of a comic skit. I find him funny but a lot of local audiences might find his pranks getting a bit too far."

Ditto roasts. "You will rarely find the level of flaming humour you see from America's Comedy Central Roast in local humour. Singaporeans still hold back when making fun of others."
8. IF THE PUNCHLINE IS TOO COMPLICATED, THEY'LL PASS
There are a few other things that might fly over a lot of people's heads. Things like irony, dry wit or the more "intellectual" type of humour.

"We aren't big on the mere enjoyment of words, wit and life because, I think, we don't know what to do with that," said Gwee, who said that in general the humour that Singaporeans collectively find entertaining ranges from "buffoonery to sarcasm".

Many Singaporeans would find challenging humour that requires a bit more critical self-awareness

He added: "Many Singaporeans would find challenging humour that requires a bit more critical self-awareness. The immediate reaction is to take offence. It's why sarcasm is enjoyed more than irony."

However, Sharul added that in contrast to the older generation, younger people are also being exposed to other comedies thanks to platforms like Netflix. "They're open to different types, like dark humour or storytelling."
9. NO REACTION? IT TAKES TIME FOR THEM TO WARM UP
Not everyone's a stand-up comedian performing to an audience, but if you're getting silence from a friend after a joke, it might just be because he or she is waiting for someone to laugh first.

"You need 15 minutes for them to warm up," quipped Sharul. "Singaporeans take time to laugh, it's the process. Maybe they're scared to laugh and they're asking themselves, can I laugh at this?"
10. EXCITING THINGS ARE HAPPENING ONLINE
Television shows, movies, books and live performances have long been the benchmark for Singaporean comedy - from Jack Neo's movies to Under One Roof, Phua Chu Kang and The Noose, from The Teenage Textbook to Army Daze, Chestnuts and Dream Academy's shows - but the online world could very well be where a lot of the laughs are taking place.

Mean meme machine SGAG, satirical news site New Nation ("50% Real News"), and YouTubers like Mr Brown and Wah Banana are offering up a bunch of laughs by the clicks and hits.

I think Singapore humour is in a transitional phase

Preetipls agreed that the online world has opened up things to humourists. "There's no strict format compared to TV, so a lot of parody and satire can only exist online. There's a lot of content you can get away with saying and doing."

"A few YouTubers have followed what Buzzfeed, CollegeHumor and Cracked have done, in terms of parodying popular culture or listicle-style videos," said Suffian. "I think Singapore humour is in a transitional phase, and in the coming years, there will be a more solid stamp on what it is - we're moving away from cheap humour and audiences are wanting humour that's smarter, that pays off in punchlines that are earned."

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What do Singaporeans find funny - or not? Here's a handy guide

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Want to make Singaporeans laugh? CNA Lifestyle asks some jokers about their thoughts on whether there's a uniquely local sense of humour. (Also, just say "lah".)

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#trending: Singaporeans praised for sense of humour over post claiming Jewel’s Rain Vortex is at Scottish shopping mall

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Singaporeans have hijacked a Facebook post with their hilarious takes on landmarks here that could be other famous world sites. This was after a Scotland travel page posted a photo of Jewel Changi Airport’s Rain Vortex, stating that it was in Almondvale Shopping Centre in Scotland.

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Comedian's joke about MH370 'appalling', says Vivian

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She was born in the United States and raised in Singapore. Read more at straitstimes.com.

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Singapore apologises for ‘offensive’ remarks by stand-up comedian.

Netizens had earlier slammed Jocelyn Chia for insults and ‘bad joke’ on missing aircraft.

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The idea of what constitutes racism - especially among youths today - has shifted from a binary "racist or not racist" to a scale of how much harm was caused, said Mr Mohamed Imran Mohamed Taib, founder and board member of the Centre for Interfaith Understanding.

This is why some people have a problem identifying that their actions are racist, he said. "They may think that racism is something spectacular, such as the physical violence committed in other parts of the world."

WHAT'S OFFENSIVE, WHY IT HURTS, AND WHAT TO SAY OR DO INSTEAD

A CNN article in 2020 noted that microaggressions can be intentional or unintentional and sometimeseven well-meaning. However, they communicate hostile, derogatory or negative racial messages or assumptions to the receiver.

In the Singapore context, individuals from minority ethnic groups also face microaggressions in everyday life, be it in the form of words or actions. Here are some examples:

Why it's offensive: These comments can be seen as backhanded compliments that imply something negative about a race. Compliments such as being good-looking or hardworking are human attributes and not a feature of any race, said Mr Imran.

What to say instead: "If we want to offer a compliment, simply say 'You're good-looking or hardworking'," Mr Imran said. "To add 'for your race' implies the assumption that one's race is generally ugly or lazy."

"I can't see you when I turn off the lights."

Why it's offensive: Racist jokes are often used so that people can defend their racist notions with the pretext that they were just engaging in light-hearted humour, said Dr Mathew Mathews, head of the Institute of Policy Studies Social Lab and principal research fellow at the institute.

At the heart of it, these jokes play on the vulnerabilities and insecurities of the victim, said Dr Mathews, who is also a board member of OnePeople.sg, an advocacy body championing interracial and interreligious understanding. They normalise racism and reduce them to "fun" or "casual" remarks that shouldn't be taken too seriously, he added.

What to say instead: Simply put, Mr Imran said, don't make such jokes.

Using terms that are, or have come to be, derogatory.

Why it's offensive: Some of these terms may have had neutral meanings in the past, but have come to be derogatory over the years, said Mr Imran.

"Mangkali", for instance, is a bastardised form of the word Bengali while "keling" was used to refer to South Asians assumed to have come from the historical region of Kalinga in India, he said. Some terms like "matrep" or "minah", which are terms to describe a subculture, may or may not be a racial slur depending on the context, he added. But words like "ahpu neneh", a distortion of the word "brother" in Tamil to refer to a body part, are a total insult.

What to say instead: "It is important to refer to a person in dignified ways rather than using words that are demeaning, even if the intent is to appear close and friendly," said Mr Imran.

"I'm not racist, I have a friend from an ethnic minority group. You're being too sensitive."

Why it's offensive: Racism is a way of thinking that essentialises a race and views the races through the lens of superiority and inferiority, said Mr Imran. Having a friend from an ethnic minority does not shield someone from being racist, he added.

What to say instead: Always avoid being defensive when called out and instead, try to understand why a person felt hurt by a remark that he or she perceived as racist, Mr Imran said. "Try to see the world through the lens of another person's lived experiences. This will make for a better conversation over issues that have hurt others, particularly of the minorities who may not have the same privilege as being in the majority."

Gripping your child's hand tighter or pulling him or her away when passing someone of a different race.

Why it's offensive: Unless the person does this when passing by all strangers, the child will inevitably learn to avoid people of that race even though they may not understand why, Dr Matthews said. "They are simply being socialised that some people of a particular race can be dangerous," he added. "Research has shown that children pick up on such cues in school and from home, even when they are not taught explicitly about race and racial differences."

What to do instead: The person should ask why he or she does that, Mr Imran suggested. "Is it because you have entertained a negative view associated with that race?"

He or she should also question why certain social problems are associated with a race, Mr Imran added. "Is it because of their overrepresentation in a lower social class that is often linked to crime? ... Is it because of their race or other sociological factors such as the social environment that does not provide or support a positive development of a person?"

Once people uncover their own biases, they will start to behave differently, Mr Imran said. It will also help people think about their own privilege and hopefully, question how to use that privilege to help others instead of judging them, he added.

THE TRAUMA OF EVERYDAY RACISM

Apart from the incident at the Kembangan bakery, Ms Sherlin said she has been made very cognisant of her race through the racist episodes she faced as she was growing up, in part because she read the Malay language in school as her mother tongue, or what was known as second language back then.

"Of course, they were passing comments, but they made me wonder about my race and why there was so much fuss and confusion around it," said Ms Sherlin, 45, a freelance writer and communications and general studies lecturer at a polytechnic.

"What I didn't realise back then was I simply didn't fit into a neat narrative of an Indian girl of a certain skin tone who wore her hair a certain way, spoke with a certain accent and could speak Tamil."

Ms Sherlin was born in Singapore to a Punjabi mother and a Hindustani father. Her parents are both Singaporeans.

In What We Inherit: Growing Up Indian, an anthology by The Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE) soon to be distributedby Ethos Books, she recounts how she often gets confused stares from people trying to figure out her racial identity, because she didn't look or speak like the Tamilian Indians often portrayed in local media.

In the book, she writes that at a coffee shop, she tries to "compensate for my dubious identity by sounding extra Singaporean and nodding politely". "If I can throw in a 'xie xie ni (thank you in Mandarin), Uncle' for good measure, I do so without hesitating," she writes. "Consciously or not, I got to try to prove I belong."

The power of microaggressions is in its cumulative effect, said the book's co-editor Shailey Hingorani, who is also the women's advocacy group's head of advocacy, research and communications.

Such incidents, when not addressed meaningfully, are left to simmer, she said.

"This leads to ethnic minorities looking back on these incidents continuously, reinforcing the feeling that they do not belong."

When someone experiences a microaggression, it may also trigger memories of similar incidents, Ms Hingorani added.

It is this trauma, said actor Gosteloa Spancer, 34, that makes it so emotionally taxing whenever he has to call out and correct someone.

"For the person who has experienced racism his entire life, he needs to sit through his trauma first before he can educate (the other person)," he said.

And the trauma can come from the most minute things. "For example, you could say, 'Dude, I'm just joking'. That itself can trigger the trauma," he added. "(Ethnic minorities) take a lot of time unpacking this, and it's hard for the majority Chinese to even comprehend the weight of this."

In 2019, Mr Spancer started community group Not OK SG with his partner, where on Facebook and Instagram, they point out practices that are considered racist in Singapore.

For the past year, the pages have been inactive. "It's because it's a tough battle," he said, adding that he wants to continue the work but will need to search for more contributors to help out.

Beyond the hours of research they put into the posts, Mr Spancer said that it was very emotionally exhausting to work through these issues and write about them in a logical and detached manner that can be understood by ethnic Chinese.

TACKLING MICROAGGRESSION: CALLING OUT OR CALLING IN?

Some Singaporeans would argue that there was a time not so long ago when people could crack racist jokes without anyone batting an eyelid. In their view, the country's racial groups had always been harmonious to the point of poking fun at each other, Dr Nazry noted.

"So, an incident such as a Chinese actor putting on brownface has been said to be 'normal'; nothing to fret about," he said.

"I don't find this argument convincing," he added. "To address the problem of racism means to first accept that Singapore may not have been as successfully multicultural as we think, and that we might learn from other societies with similar social compacts on how we can do better."

A recent poll by the National Youth Council (NYC) found that two-thirds of youths have personally experienced or witnessed racial discrimination, with experiences differing for different races.

The NYC Youth Discrimination and Inclusivity Sentiment Poll surveyed more than 1,000 Singaporeans and Permanent Residents aged 16 to 34 between October and November last year.

While a majority of respondents (85 per cent) believed Singapore was heading in the right direction towards being racially inclusive, more than half (55 per cent) thought a lot more work was still needed.

Mr Imran believes that Singapore, over the last two decades, has grown to become more conscious of racism and that the youth's willingness to tackle it shows that the country has come to a point where racist acts can no longer be ignored.

Over the past few years, several instances of racism and microaggressions have been called out on social media, from a street confrontation between a polytechnic lecturer and an interracial couple to the People's Association's use of a cutout of a woman's wedding photo as part of Hari Raya decorations.

Mr Jose Raymond, who started the #CallItOutSG movement with three others in 2021 to urge victims of racism to come forward with their experiences, said that people need to be called out so they will be made aware that what they are saying or doing affects others and is unacceptable in society.

"This is one way to bring about behavioural change," said the director of strategy of a public relations firm. "The people who are called out need to take it in the right spirit. What they are doing is not acceptable, and they need to be called out and told off, especially if it affects others."

Noting that some people tend to take an aggressive approach towards calling people out, Mr Spancer said that it is sometimes an understandable reaction because of the emotive and traumatic nature of experiencing racism.

While he does not think that being aggressive is the right approach, he said that the very least people can do when they spot racist behaviour is still to call it out, or the person committing the act may not know that what he or she has done is not socially acceptable.

Mr Imran felt that calling out should be reserved for overt forms of racism with ill intent.

"I personally don't like the boisterous ways of calling out because it is often a virtue signalling rather than transformative," he said.

At a forum last year hosted by Roses of Peace, a youth-driven interfaith organisation, panellists discussed issues surrounding the growing culture of calling out unacceptable behaviour or, when taken to the extreme, cancelling a person or a brand altogether.

Among the points raised, said Roses of Peace founder Mohamed Irshad, was that when a person calls out someone else, it sometimes misses the point of engaging the person to learn that what he or she did was wrong.

Instead, he thinks that "calling in" is more appropriate, where the person is engaged in a way that educates him or her.

Indeed, more than half of the respondents (56 per cent) in the NYC poll felt that the majority race can, and should, speak up more on racial discrimination.

Among the top ways the youths said society should address discrimination were to encourage inclusivity across all social settings and acknowledge the existence of discrimination.

Asked in what ways they were willing to help address racial discrimination and promote racial inclusivity in Singapore, the top three results were: Building relationships with people of other races, learning about other races, and staying informed about racial issues.

On this, Mr Spancer said that employees should also examine whether their workplace is inclusive to all races and raise any concerns they have to their employers.

Parents and educators have a big role to play as well, since stereotypes are often formed in a child's early years, said Mr Irshad.

Mr Imran said that community leaders must also not unwittingly perpetuate racist assumptions themselves. In Singapore, the society's emphasis on meritocracy can often unwittingly mask racist attitudes, he felt.

"A Malay person who succeeds in life must not be portrayed as being successful simply because he or she is hardworking; because the opposite assumption is that an unsuccessful Malay is due to laziness," he said.

Instead, factors such as access to resources, opportunities and social capital should be examined, he said.

"Otherwise, Malay success will always be seen as exceptional because overrepresentation of the Malays' social problems are attributed simply to their personal or communal failures," he added.

To be sure, microaggressions or everyday racism is not something that can be eradicated without looking at broader structures and systems, said those interviewed.

Mr Imran stressed: "People don't develop negative views on a race out of a vacuum. They are socialised into thinking such ways through the dominant narrative in society."

BEYOND RACIAL TOLERANCE

While earlier generations had strived to build up racial tolerance among the disparate ethnic communities here, the NYC poll suggested that many Singaporeans now think that the country needs to go beyond that and move towards a greater understanding and appreciation of the different races.

The poll found that 91 per cent of respondents felt that it takes more than tolerance to be considered racially inclusive.

Among these respondents, they were split on whether Singapore should strive for acceptance (44 per cent) or appreciation (47 per cent) between races. Only 9 per cent of the respondents said Singapore should strive for tolerance, where different races put up with each other's cultures and customs but are not receptive to them being part of their personal sphere.

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The Big Read: To stamp out everyday racism or microaggression, treat it as anything but casual

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SINGAPORE: After all these years, Mr Asyraf still remembers how some of his close friends who are Chinese called him a "black monkey" in his teens. A remark made by one of them - "if I turn off the lights, we won't be able to see you" - also remains firmly etched in his mind.

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Note: this article is NOT on humour.

However, it gives an in-depth discussion on how social media could lead to increased polarisation in Singapore.

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WHAT DRIVES POLARISATION?

MODERATE VIEWS LACKING, IN-FIGHTING A CONCERN

ONLINE SLANG: HELP OR HINDRANCE?

Any social media user knows snap judgements are often effectively expressed through online slang, but language can also hinder communication.

"Language, including slang and colloquial terms, add to discrimination and polarising views. But this is neither new nor precisely a social media phenomenon," observed Assistant Professor Saifuddin Ahmed from Nanyang Technological University's Wee Kim Wee School of Information and Communication.

He added that slang can signal "alienation", implying one group is more "in the know" than others, which can worsen social relations between groups.

What social media does, he noted, is broadcast such language to a broader audience, "aggravating the alienation of out-group members".

Moreover, different groups of people might have different assumptions around a particular term, leading to misunderstanding, said Prof Lim.

"A lot of the very fraught arguments can sometimes be triggered by a particular term being used with one intent but being interpreted with an alternative intent."

Prof Lim pointed to the PA standee mishap as an example where different groups didn't share the same understanding of racism.

Where slang is concerned, labels like "snowflake" and "boomer" tend to also be commonly expressed in polarising views.

"Snowflake" usually implies an overly sensitive or easily offended person, who believes they are entitled to special treatment, while "boomer" is used to dismiss someone who has out-of-touch or close-minded opinions. "Snowflake" is associated with younger generations, while "boomer" is commonly tagged onto older generations.

"People want to express themselves with impact. They want to be seen as witty and clever. When they use these labels, there is that sense of wanting to project that you're always with it, that you know what sort of urban slang is in vogue now. Plus, social media exchanges are snappier and more succinct," explained Prof Lim.

"But such terms can be harmful in the sense that ... you can find them becoming sort of lightning rods for debate, the way it was with the whole 'snowflake' comment."

Using these terms to evoke humour and not nuance is par for the course these days, noted Mr Jerusalem.

"With online discourse, certain turns of phrase are incentivised. Things like 'clapping back' without much nuance, and doing so to evoke humour and not nuance, is commonly perceived as perfectly fine, because not everyone is trying to write an essay online," he added.

"I think there's an element of humour on social media. Sometimes we say things just to be funny. It's one of the key gratifications on social media, where we seek levity and laughter. Like if I'm going to engage in this, I might as well have fun."

Sometimes, however, the phrasing "might not be so attentive to how it can potentially have an impact on the real human being on the other side of the screen", he said.

"It can be very easy to engage in a way that's all-or-nothing, black-or-white, if not plain combative."

TROLLING: WHERE TO DRAW THE LINE?

So when it seems so simple to slide into extremes, where does one draw the line between useful and unhelpful comments, irreverent comebacks and harmful trolling?

For Mr Jerusalem, the basic concept of trolling might not even have a definition everyone agrees on, although he pointed out that most people would agree that trolls are "fake profiles" or "people who engage in bad faith arguments".

But he suggested that trolling isn't limited to a standard idea of trolls, and that many people involved in online discourse actually engage in some kind of "troll-ish behaviour".

"It's adopting a tonality that's frivolous and un-serious, often incorporating some extent of irony," he explained.

Facebook user Michael Lum, 49, told CNA that he has been on the receiving end of trolling and personal attacks.

He said he has become used to being called "boomer" by younger people who hold extreme views that go against his support for certain government policies. Some have gone as far as commenting on his white hair, calling him mad or an idiot.

"For many people my age, and even those around 35 to 40, if they have a beef with the Government, that's fine. They would've been victims or benefactors of policies," he said.

"But those in their 20s, or 18-, 19-year-olds, who have views that are so extreme, like the Government is bad, the Government is making my life miserable, my thought is that you were born into a situation from day one. The situation didn't occur while you were trying to have a life. So for them to hate the Government, I can't really see the rationale."

Anonymity, or at least a sense of being anonymous, fuels trolling, experts agreed.

"Our online presence is often an extension of ourselves, but anonymity and less accountability on social media allow for more toxicity and greater polarisation, which may not always happen in offline settings," said Prof Saifuddin.

"There is something called the online disinhibition effect," added Prof Lim.

"That visual anonymity, that lack of identification, as well as the absence of social cues from synchronous communication can lead us to become very deceptive and say very extreme, obnoxious expressions that we might not say in a different situation."

Prof Lim recalled Gamergate, where female gamers were "very vociferous" about women's rights in games. What was interesting, she noted, was that many of the gamers who retaliated against these women with vicious and violent threats were found to be teenage boys, who found a convenient platform to propagate views that they would otherwise not share.

That said, on rare occasions, trolling can be used to "defend yourself from attacks", especially if you're "a minority in any sense", shared Twitter user Madhu Vijayakumar.

"Often growing up, you had to learn how to defend yourself from discriminatory attacks. You'd learn the hard way that sometimes coming in good faith... people would just use it as a way against you or make fun of you. The 'survivability' is also just about making clapbacks."

While trolling isn't the same as being vocal or standing up for oneself, the line can sometimes blur.

"Minorities have become more vocal than before as the rise in public racist incidents has triggered a trauma expulsion," the 22-year-old suggested.

"In the context of race, what we're seeing is a lot of expulsion of trauma from minorities. To a point where they might not be saying things that are nuanced, but they are doing this because nobody has ever listened to their concerns before. And now that everything's in the open, suddenly the gates have opened."

Ms Vijayakumar herself is an example. About two years ago, she started becoming more vocal on Twitter, as it helped her to become more empowered and vocal about her experiences. However, she felt that she had "no restraint", and would "say anything and everything because it was an expulsion" of all her experiences that she felt she'd kept in.

But when being completely honest about one's position could attract even more trolling or criticism, some social media users choose to filter their words. For instance, Ms Vijayakumar doesn't consider herself anti-establishment, yet she doesn't feel like she can be open about it on "left-wing" Twitter, where she's an active participant.

"I do think I conceal sometimes, like I have to filter my words a bit. ... Nuance is what polarisation lacks," she said.

Ultimately, regardless of what drives online polarisation, MP Leon Perera (WP-Aljunied) told CNA that a danger is people becoming "incapable of having a reasonable discourse".

"Our public figures and role models in society need to model that behaviour, and say, hey we can have a civil conversation across different points of view. We can agree to disagree and we don't have to persuade each other and that's fine. There's no shame in that," he said.

"It doesn't mean that every conversation has to lead to an outcome where one person's view prevails, because that's the correct view. I think this is a big problem in Singapore."

WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR CIVIL DISCOURSE?

The YouGov survey found that while 65 per cent of respondents think people with vastly different views can engage in civil and polite conversation online, only 53 per cent of respondents had actually seen it happen.

This desire for balanced views online isn't new, but it's hard to achieve, observed the individuals CNA spoke to, from experts to the average social media user. Different people also have different ideas of how they define balance, with their personal bias possibly enabling echo chambers.

Take Mr Yeo, who once received disparaging remarks from both pro-establishment and anti-establishment camps online. He's a follower of Facebook page Critical Spectator, which has been painted with the same pro-establishment brushstroke as Calvin Cheng and Wendy Cheng. The page, run by Polish national Michael Petraeus, typically features commentaries on local issues.

Mr Yeo calls his takes "refreshing" and "quite different", explaining that he "dares to say things that might be more controversial". He cited a post where Critical Spectator had looked at the COVID-19 outbreak at Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

"There was some panic, and things seemed bad. But he put things into perspective, relating the numbers to the whole world. We're quite a low-risk country, with low infection rate and high vaccination rate," he said.

While Critical Spectator's fans applaud his writing, he has also attracted criticism. Sometimes, this has resulted in online spats emerging where the language used has reflected some of the trends observed in the YouGov survey.

For instance, in June this year, local playwright Alfian Sa'at wrote a Facebook post to say "a certain Polish polariser" was "decontextualising and distorting" things he had written on social media to do a "takedown". He called this "pathological behaviour".

A few days later, Mr Petraeus addressed Mr Sa'at's post with another Facebook post: "Never a dull day with left-wingers!" he wrote, saying that Mr Sa'at's actions made him look like a "gigantic hypocritical snowflake".

Shortly after, local publisher of former socio-political site The Middle Ground, Daniel Yap, came under fire on Critical Spectator. Screenshots on Critical Spectator showed that Mr Yap discovered Mr Petraeus' name was Michał Piotr Pietrusinski, and left a Facebook comment asking The Online Citizen's editor to amend his name in articles "for Google to crawl properly and index".

In a Facebook post on Critical Spectator addressing this, Mr Petraeus wrote that he was giving space to these "loonies", in order to "expose all of the self-professed fighters for better Singapore for the hateful frauds they really are".

Mr Jerusalem said that it would be "quite a big charge" to hold particular individuals as a source for the trend of online polarisation.

"My sense is that with or without these individuals, there'd still be a diversity of views and the factions that currently exist. People sometimes find it convenient to reduce the views of these factions down to an identifiable figure that represents them. But I think regardless of that, there'd still be polarisation," he said.

"The presence of individuals with strong views is not the only reason for polarisation. There's also echo chambers and bubbles that exist within each platform, and a lack of spaces where people can engage in intergroup dialogue, whether online or in person."

He added that Singapore has its own unique challenges in terms of political participation.

"Many people regard society as not being very hospitable to that, so this discourse is taken online."

On the other hand, Ms Tin turned to a line from Spider-Man to describe her take on these high-profile individuals: "With great power comes great responsibility."

"If you're a public figure, and if you have a significant following, you know you have an influence over people, then I think your response also needs to exercise greater care and responsibility. Who can be 100 per cent sure that you're always right?" she advised.

"I would prefer that even as you state your position, (you observe) the tone with which it's said. It's about being responsible for how you ask a question because it affects other people's opinions, being cognisant of our impact on others. As much as we want people to listen to us, we must also be willing to listen to others."

Beyond what the Government can do, Ms Tin said society has a "powerful" role to play.

"We're powerful on our own. Whatever's being talked about online is done by people themselves. So if you're able to recognise wrong-doers and the harm they're inflicting on other people, you can rally people to come in and say, no, this is wrong, bullying is wrong," she said.

"Even if that individual can't be banned from Facebook, if there are enough people willing to stand up, I think it will help to balance the sentiment and help the victim to feel like they're not alone."

If that fails, social media companies like Facebook have hate speech policies that could help.

Facebook defines attacks as violent or dehumanising speech, harmful stereotypes, statements of inferiority, expressions of contempt, disgust or dismissal, cursing, and calls for exclusion or segregation, Ms Kate Blashki from Facebook's Content Policy team told CNA.

Ms Blashki added that Facebook prohibits attacks on people based on their "protected characteristics". This is defined as their race, ethnicity, national origin, disability, religious affliation, caste, sexual orientation, sex, gender identity and serious disease.

For content that doesn't violate hate speech policies, she noted that they may violate other community standards, like those related to bullying and harassment.

"However, we know that the same words can be considered a slur in one country and totally benign in another, and that changes in language can occur quickly. We're constantly working to understand these cultural and linguistic nuances," she added.

But such extreme measures might not be necessary, said Workers' Party's Mr Perera, who said another danger he sees is political apathy.

He observed that away from online echo chambers, many people in Singapore "aren't interested in politics", unless something affects them personally.

"They don't have a view about what an ideal society should be. I think that is profoundly dangerous, and I see that the biggest danger of Singapore is that people are more focused on personal interests," he said.

"I've seen people who profoundly disagree on certain policies, and their response is that they're going to migrate. Why isn't your response that you're going to stay here, and fight for things to change? Maybe it's just that we've been entrenched in a one-party dominant political system for so long, that people just can't see how that can change through citizen action."

FIGHTING ONLINE POLARISATION THROUGH INDIVIDUAL ACTION

The individuals CNA spoke to agreed that the responsibility to create more civil discourse boils down to their own actions - whether that's disengaging with people who just want to argue or learning to express their views in better ways.

"We do have a responsibility (to build civil discourse), but sometimes it's also about making yourself heard in a way that you need to be heard. That doesn't mean directing hate to people, but you also don't owe anyone kindness or civility," said Twitter user Ms Vijayakumar.

"If someone says something very offensive, you're allowed to be offended. You cannot conceal your humanity just to make online discourse a bit better."

If you think social media is polarising, don't assign too much power to it, she added.

"Social media pushes for action in Singapore, as (some might feel that) avenues for action are few and concerns are given little importance, unless a big storm is made on social media. It's good for this purpose, but there are downsides such as lack of nuance, bullying, doxxing and exhaustion. So I would say pick your battles."

Looking beyond social media polarisation can simply mean opening yourself up to "a diversity of views", which is healthy, advised SUTD's Prof Lim.

"That to me is the first step towards healthy discourse, because if you don't know what the other camp is thinking, and you don't actually understand why they think the way that they do, how can you even begin to come to the table?"

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IN FOCUS: 'Boomer, snowflake, oppie, pappie' - unpacking the growing social media polarisation in Singapore

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Is it possible to have a civil discussion online when you disagree with each other without getting "cancelled"? Or does social media inadvertently turn everyone into a troll, complete with name-calling and snarky "clapbacks"? CNA dives down the rabbit hole of online discourse for answers.

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Kumar is one of those rare comedians who can go by just one name and still be instantly recognized by fans across Southeast Asia.

The legendary Singaporean comedian, who is known for his hilarious drag persona and sharp social commentary, is currently on his Kumarsutra World Tour, which will hit Jakarta and Bali this weekend.

Presented by Jakarta-based Mad About Comedy, Kumar's shows will take place on the evenings of May 4 and 5 at Soehanna Hall in Jakarta, and this Sunday at the Quest San Hotel in Denpasar.

Both shows in Jakarta have sold out (the venue has a 450-seat capacity) while, as of yesterday, the Bali show only had 20 tickets left out of 300.

"I didn't expect Bali [show] to sell. It was a pleasant surprise [because] I didn't expect people to understand [me]. I'm very Singaporean, right?" Kumar said In an exclusive interview with Coconuts Bali yesterday.

During the interview, Kumar confirmed that he goes by "he/him/his" pronouns as he only performs in drag on stage and he doesn't "live a trans life."

"The resort I'm staying in Bali is also called Trans [Bali Resort in Seminyak]. It's so funny - the irony," he added with a chuckle, saying that he would use that as the opening line for the Denpasar show.
From drag queen to comedy king
Famous for his wit and observational comedy, 54-year-old Kumar began as a drag performer in the late 1980s. He said he initially did the usual routines such as lip-syncing and celebrity impersonation before discovering his knack for stand up comedy.

"In those days you either swam or you drowned. If you have a talent, you work with it. I never knew I was funny. It all worked well," he said.

Due to the censorship rules in Singapore, Kumar had to perform his whole set in front of the authorities before getting approval to have a public show up to 2000. Nowadays, he told Coconuts Bali that he only does closed shows.

"I only perform in theaters where people buy tickets to watch," he said.

"When you do [comedy in] public, people might get offended. But if they buy a ticket to watch you, they know what they're coming in for. If they can't handle stand up comedy, don't come, because I don't put a gun to your head and force you to come, you know," he said, adding that he has a strict "no-camera" rule wherever he performs.

On his comedy style, Kumar said that his "no-no" is saying vulgar words on stage. While he still talks about sex, Kumar recognizes that his general audience is still family-oriented and that they "like to see something they can relate to."

"You can talk about sex but you have to be very subtle. I'm lucky because my mentality stays in the old school way so it works for me," he said.

Having said that, Kumar acknowledges that observational comedy is, indeed, his brand. Kumar said he gets his inspiration for his jokes from watching the news every day and staying up-to-date on world affairs.

"Everyday from 3pm to 5pm, I would turn the TV on as the news airs as I prepare dinner for my dogs," he said.

Kumar also said he would adjust his jokes according to the audience and the location. For example, he said he would tone down his Singaporean bits of comedy and his Singlish for the Jakarta and Bali shows, although he would still do some for his Singaporean fans who might attend.

"Relatability is very, very important," he said.

He recently concluded his Kumarsutra World Tour in Australia, during which he had time to observe the Down Under Asian community. Kumar promised he would talk about whatever observations he had about that after landing in Jakarta on stage.

He also said he was aware of the situation in Bali, especially regarding the many news reports of foreigners misbehaving publicly on the Island of the Gods.

"Bali is mostly Hindu. So you have to respect whatever you see while you're hiking. You ask before you take a picture. It's just common sense. Courtesy, you know. Polite," he added.
LGBTQ in Southeast Asia and comedy
Last November, it was announced that Drag Race Singapore would be part of the expansion of the RuPaul's Drag Race franchise.

When we asked Kumar, as a legendary entertainer, if he would be involved in the show somehow, he said no.

"They have [approached me] but I said no. Because I'm not a full time drag queen. I only drag because of work. I want to be recognized as a stand up comedian, not as a drag queen," he said.

"The reason why I did it in drag 30 years ago is because in Singapore or anywhere around the world - now no more, lah - when we see a transvestite on the streets we always do a double take because they're not sure if it's a boy or a girl, right? So to get my audience's attention, I went in drag. So I got their attention first. Then I can do stand up comedy. It sticks with me.

"I didn't give my drag [persona a] name. That's my biggest mistake. People couldn't separate the drag and Kumar."

But why are there not more LGBTQ comedians or drag performers in Southeast Asia following his footsteps? Kumar has a simple answer: comedy is hard.

"This art is very difficult to follow. It's either you have it or you don't have it. There is no school to learn about this," he said.

Kumar shared that he had, in fact, once tried to mentor a protege. Unfortunately, it didn't work out for her.

He also observed that many drag performers prefer to stay beautiful and glamorous, rather than make fun of themselves or others.

"They don't want to be ugly or whatever," he said, adding that many prefer to find an easy way out and make quick money on the streets rather than hone their art.

"They'd rather be on the streets than on stage as prostitutes. Quick money, easy money. They don't want to work this hard."

Despite the challenges, Kumar said he still hopes to see more queer comedians emerge in the region. He offered some words of wisdom for those who want to pursue comedy as a career.

"Just go on stage and just talk to people. Just think like you're talking to someone. You don't have to make 100 people laugh. If you can make 10 people laugh, it's okay already," he said.

"Believe in yourself. Don't doubt yourself," he added, before giving an even more practical piece of advice. "If comedy is not your thing, drop it. Chase another career before it's too late. Don't drag it."
Tickets are available for purchase now through the Mad About Comedy website.

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Singaporean stand-up legend Kumar dishes on drag queens and the difficulty road to comedy success | Coconuts

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We spoke with iconic Singaporean entertainer Kumar as he gets ready to bring his razor-sharp wit and observational humor to audiences in Jakarta and Bali.