I Am @ Youth.SG
The last time I had a blog with the title "I am @ Youth.SG", it was for a contest but I did no justice to my blog because it popped out of nowhere, I didn’t explain it and it wasn’t integrated with the rest of my blog. I designed a "typical" winning entry but "Wah lao forget it lah!".. which for my non-Singaporean friends would mean "That’s out the window!".
I stepped into Toys R’ Us (Times Square) today out of the freezing minus 11 degrees celsius cold and was greeted by a giant Ferris Wheel. I thought to myself, "Wah! How come Singapore dun have wan?" which means "Whoa! America’s got it all man!" Upstairs there were 4 stations set up for people to have a go at Nintendo’s new motion sensing Wii! I played a game of tennis with a perfectly random stranger. What a cool device! Here’s how it works! There’s even an upcoming game that will let you strap on the Wii to your hips for some R(A) - Restricted Artistic action. I’m still trying to decide if that’s more restricted or artistic.
Youths today have so much offered to them. I never had such toys growing up. I’m not complaining because I think I have the best of both worlds as an overgrown kid at 29! The simple joys of shooting and winning over each other’s marbles in the sand during recess or even sneaking in a game or fight of erasers during class. Today we have action figures and plushed toys that light up and talk. Then I thought to myself. "That’s what produces a new generation!" The movies, things we are exposed to (especially as youths) influence our humour, speech, identity, everything!
Just take for example Barbie and Bratz. Look at the difference. The new generation wants edgier! Barbie sales have declined and Bratz is now the top selling fashion doll in the United Kingdom and Australia. The Barbie now tries to keep up but she’s nowhere close!
I still wonder if products and services actually hugely influece our wants or is it that we’ve just become a different generation? In either case, I still enjoy doing what many would consider kiddy stuff. I like having the best of both worlds.
I also like being a Singaporean in New York. I understand the East and the West so much better this way. The store did take me on a journey and I went back out into the cold but feeling warm this time.
