Discussion: Kiasu-ism

[xJing]

Originally Posted by Cactus

The prevalence/severity of kiasu-ness depend on the environment also...

During my form 5...because most of us have almost the same "level", so it really doesn't matter if you teach anyone who are having problems understanding the course content. If you want good ranking, just study hard and you'll probably get it.

Anyway, being the student who got number 3 in class, I always felt a bit shy to ask the number 1 student....felt like I'm threatening his position if he helped me too much, lol.

But I think it's no fun to study in an environment where people consciously try to outbeat each other....(haiz...welcome to the real world...)

(Sorry if I digressed, lol)

Wow. The one in bold really struck me. Lol. It never really disturbed me to see the number one become number 3 or 5 or 10, even when I was the one who got number 1. lol. I guess your class is really competitive

[Nicholasng925]

Originally Posted by xJing

hahah! then better change course! Don't go do Actuarial Science dy.

LOL!!! Don't want hmph!

[Cactus]

Originally Posted by xJing

Wow. The one in bold really struck me. Lol. It never really disturbed me to see the number one become number 3 or 5 or 10, even when I was the one who got number 1. lol. I guess your class is really competitive

Much to the contrary, it wasn't

That's why....I become really really stressed when people get competitive. (latent kiasu-ism perhaps)

[xJing]

Originally Posted by Cactus

Much to the contrary, it wasn't

That's why....I become really really stressed when people get competitive. (latent kiasu-ism perhaps)

Lol! okay now this is highly confusing. hahaha. I think I'll stop trying to figure out what your class was like. This must be the result of trying to drown myself in Chemistry formulas! :S

[twin]

Originally Posted by joan2468

The term "kiasu" is generally meant to mean someone who is obsessive over something (to my understanding, anyway), when used by students it has come to take on the single, more specific meaning of a student who has an (often unhealthy) obsession over their studies, some of them also having anti-social traits like refusing to participate in classroom activities or having a mean competitive nature, like refusing to help explain when asked a question by another student so as to deprive them of knowledge and defend their title as "the best student".

In simple terms, kiasu-ism is the fear of losing. Not necessarily does it mean that students are obsessive over their studies nor are they anti-social.

Refusal to impart knowledge with friends are people who are selfish, not kiasu.

Defending their status as best student is indeed kiasu. But don't u have no.1 friends who are sociable, helpful and are the happy-go-lucky type? Even when I was in SBU, the no.1 girl was smart and helpful. She defends her top student spot every time. But i felt that she was deserving. For her being kiasu made her perform even better. It created a somewhat healthy competition among all students.

Originally Posted by Cactus

But I think it's no fun to study in an environment where people consciously try to outbeat each other....(haiz...welcome to the real world...)

I think it's fun and enlightening.

Don't u think Kiasu environments make us work harder? Kiasu people = competitive people. That's indeed the real world. I enjoy studying in a kiasu (but not entirely selfish) environment. At least everyone is striving to improve themselves.

If u're like lee chong wei with no lin dan. no competition. always no.1. do u think that's a good thing? It's at the time when u have a match that u will keep improving ur techniques and stamina! Both badminton players are definitely kiasu. they don't want to lose to each other. But of course, as sportsmen, they accept defeat graciously.

Originally Posted by joan2468

How do you think such a nature affects a classroom and learning environment?

Seriously in SBU (negative) kiasu-ism is prevalent? U can't condemn kiasu-ism. It's everywhere.

If kiasu-ism is such a bitter trait tell me why when u write an essay u hope of scoring the highest mark?



I'm kiasu. Tee-hee. Who isn't? ;p

[Cactus]

I think I kia-su until I kia-competition....scared of competition.

Any of you with similar problem? lol

[Dominic]

I am surrounded by so many kiasus in college that I no longer harbor any hope of beating them. What's the point when they always get near perfect or perfect scores, while even if I do my best, I can never attain those levels? They're all just so ridiculously hardworking.

Originally Posted by twin

If kiasu-ism is such a bitter trait tell me why when u write an essay u hope of scoring the highest mark?

I don't. With all the perfectionists with amazingly good controls of the language, I just hope that I do well enough to get good results at the end of the year.

Originally Posted by Cactus

I think I kia-su until I kia-competition....scared of competition.

Any of you with similar problem? lol

If you want to overcome this fear, just don't try to compete with those who are impossible to beat.

Originally Posted by twin

Refusal to impart knowledge with friends are people who are selfish, not kiasu.

Some people are both. I have a friend who was like that.

[Hollowic]

Well sometimes kia-su can be a good thing to motivate you to work hard. But remember just don't push yourself too hard, because you know where your limit is right?

And what I believe is that the God is fair, when someone's result is better than you, there's must be something you are better than him too

[xJing]

Originally Posted by twin

I think it's fun and enlightening.

Don't u think Kiasu environments make us work harder? Kiasu people = competitive people. That's indeed the real world. I enjoy studying in a kiasu (but not entirely selfish) environment. At least everyone is striving to improve themselves.

If u're like lee chong wei with no lin dan. no competition. always no.1. do u think that's a good thing? It's at the time when u have a match that u will keep improving ur techniques and stamina! Both badminton players are definitely kiasu. they don't want to lose to each other. But of course, as sportsmen, they accept defeat graciously.




Seriously in SBU (negative) kiasu-ism is prevalent? U can't condemn kiasu-ism. It's everywhere.

If kiasu-ism is such a bitter trait tell me why when u write an essay u hope of scoring the highest mark?



I'm kiasu. Tee-hee. Who isn't? ;p

I wouldn't call the strive to do well kiasu-ism. Being kiasu is, as you said, being afraid to lose. I do well because I want to do well for the sake of making my parents proud, and because I know that God has blessed me with the ability to do well. I couldn't care if my friends are better than me and I see no need to try to outdo them. The only person I need to outdo is myself. And no, I don't write essays hoping to score the highest mark. I write essays with realistic targets. What is the essay about? Is it within my forte of writing? Is it a genre I'm comfortable with? Was it inspiring? If someone else did better, well I'll be glad. If I did better, I thank God for it, but in no way do I take a paper just to do better than others. I would hardly call my attitude kiasu.

Kiasu people ARE competitive people, but competitive people don't necessarily need to be kiasu. Think about it, even though it might not make sense at first glance. I don't think I'll bother elaborating on this, because I'm too lazy to type panjang2. But you gotta admit, sometimes having kiasu people in your class might do you some good.

Just my two cents. Feel free to disagree.

[youngyew]

There is the literal meaning of kiasu (which is the fear of losing), and there is the implied meaning and scope of kiasu which could encompass competitive, selfish or even sinister means in achieving one's goals. The meaning varies depending on who you are talking to.

When it comes to the sinister kiasu-ism, there is no need for elaboration for why it is unwarranted. We all have our fair share of story about the student who cheats, hoards, or sabotages his way to success. However, the fear of losing per se is not necessarily a bad thing as long as it's not excessive. In a measured degree, it propels one to work towards his goal by exerting a healthy amount of pressure. Lots of successful people find themselves striving in a moderately stressful environment. Of course when left unchecked the stress and the inability to accept loss would still lead to considerable emotional distress.

The question of "is kiasuism good or bad" doesn't have a simple answer. It's like asking "is fire good or bad" - it depends on the context and the nature.

The reason we see that many selfish-kiasu people around is because we live in a limited-outlook, third-world country. In a developed country, you can score 60 in school and be reasonably happy because you are raised by your parents in a society who is happy to accept that exam scores in a rote-memory test does not necessarily decide your fate and position in the society. A lot of successful people in all sorts of fields did not have good results in school. In the case of Chinese, you also inherit the culture from your ancestors who lived in a country with one billion people with limited means of success in an autocratic society. There probably isn't going to be scientific evidence for this, but I suspect there has even been natural selection for competitiveness in the Chinese society so the kiasu trait is probably even incorporated in your genes!