Monday, January 31, 2005
Hrm...
What a proposition, Dawn. I don't mean to be sarcastic or anything (please don't get the wrong idea...) but me in the IGS would really make me an anomaly. Bleah.... =P
You guys sure I'm really not SP2? I mean, like, sigh... Just feel detached with nobody to really talk engagingly to. After all, I am a chatterbox, and I need to just talk, given the right topics (War history, literary analysis, technology and wushu, if you all are curious... oh add the AOE series to the list) and person to talk to, though... So probably that's why...
Btw, HF, I beg to differ on the issue of the divide becoming more serious through more discussion. On the other hand, from the tone I gather from analyzing everybody's diction, it seems we're all gradually coming to a greater level understanding of this issue. And everybody has been amicable in discussing it, so why not let the discussion flourish? I think it'd be really good if everybody would come to learn something out of this discussion.
Oh ya, I'm just curious to know, who here has the star sign of Leo?
CNY coming. Then Valentines Day. Then more work. And then Block Tests. Sigh............
Still, the issue, though isn't resolved, isn't at a dead end either. Take heart in knowing that though we are divided, we are coming closer to knowing each other with each passing BLOG article that comes up on the issue.
Eric (:
Sunday, January 30, 2005
ome okie this is lame.. i typed sth and post and poof it is gone!! nvm
thanx liang for adding!
and to dawn junkai and changfang.. u all can jus go to the profiles part on the dashboard to edit ur username then can show alr.. yep yep. ;)
anyway. personally i dun really like using c l i q u e s.. sounds quite bad actually. haha. were jus groups.. and in a class there is bound to be groups.. and soon we can be a happy 'farmily' :D
if theres's a will there's a way! rock on 7B!!! :))))))
anyway i think it got more and more serious cos we keep talking about it.. i think it is not tt bad after all ba. i hope.. there is still hope man! yea! haha.. k k .. have a great week ahead.. cny coming sooN!!!!!! why do i keep saying this?? hahaha. k nvm.. have fun!
huangfang (:
aha. my first post. So. here's my two cents worth.
Cliques. I think they're just unavoidable. I mean, even in my secondary school class (which was only like 13 people!) there were cliques. And now I'm in this class which has double that number...well, I'd be surprised if the class wasn't split into various groups.
There are bound to be personality clashes in any group. However, I think our class is already very 'mature' in the sense that even if some of us may get on each other's nerves, we don't actually go around badmouthing people behind their backs. Well, at least I haven't really heard it yet, IF it does go on. So I guess we have that much of an understanding, at least?
This is bound to be a busy year for everyone. A TON of homework (is it just me, or has the workload increased as compared to last year???), cca (for a lot of us), s paper and things like that, commitments outside school... I really don't see how we will find so much time to have class outings, class lunches, class dinners...etc etc. But one thing that we DO do as a class...is school. We have so many hours a week together, shouldn't it be enough? Or maybe we just don't make the most of it.
How do some groups of people form a clique anyway? Many of us have been talking about common interest and all that. But one thing I find very interesting, is that for my 'clique'...the 'IGS', I don't actually have much in common with them. I guess it's just start off by hanging around with a certain group, and it becomes so familiar that we kinda get stuck that way.
So. How to change now? I don't think there's any answer. I'm not even sure random seating would work. I don't think we even need to do anything now. When we're through with JC, that's when class spirit will really show. Just be patient.
Oh and Eric...you're welcome to join the IGS...if you can put up with the label. ;) I think you belong to a unique class of people: you can move within all groups! And you don't always have to talk to people when you're with them...do you?
dawn (:
Yay i finally get to see the invite b4 it expires. Wow there's really been some frank discussion. Just want to add my 2 cents' worth. The problem seems to be serious, now that every1's blogging abt it.
Hah around last year, guanlin used to talk about it to me, but i simply thought that it was normal for a class to be cliquely, just like what foony said. For my sec 4 class, there were also cliques, but come to think about it, there was a bit more interaction btwn cliques than compared to 04S7b i guess..
Has anyone wondered why some people tend to be viewed as "not bothered"?..For quiet people like me, it's not as if i don't care, it's just this psychological barrier i guess. I'm quite scared of people, so i tend to speak more to people i'm more familiar with, and find it hard to open up to people i don't usually mix around with. (hah but i have improved k, u ask pple who knew me in sec 1 or 2, then you'll know i don't speak to people i don't mix with at all.)
Then for so-called "not bothered" guys or gals in our class...maybe it has something to do with the fact that the class people, except foony and me, are frm single-sex schools? Some lament the lack of interaction btwn guys and gals, but maybe both sides just find it hard to talk to the opposite sex, save for some who doesn't have such a problem. (and i notice those guys who talk more freely to gals are usually attached or have a crush on someone.) Otherwise, there's the reason that qunxiang brought up, that is some people put studies first b4 making close friends..
I was wondering...why is it so important to have class bonding? Maybe it's like when a earth-shaking event occurs, then everybody rallies around one person;or when everyone goes thru a emotional situation together, u feel a gratifying sense of belonging. Or simply just that one needs to widen his or her circle of friends. I think the former is more impt, in that it is more meaningful. Let's say we achieve a state where everyone can communicate regularly with each other. But what meaning is there if at the end of the day, it's just superficial interaction?
Hah i actually think destiny plays a big part (what a romantic notion). There isn't really much to do, perhaps maybe everybody should be conscious of this situation, and simply take a bigger interest in interacting with people ard u. Maybe it won't happen in a very conscious manner..but i think it will be enough when we reach a level where, let's say something happens, and every1 rallies ard that person..
lalaa (:
Wow, within one day and I see so many entries. That's a good sign =p
Well, I must say that it is indeed heartening to see all of us actively discussing and engaged on this topic. It shows at least we all care? And that we feel a bonded class matters to us a lot? That's a good place to start from! At least we all know that deep down inside, we actually do want to mix around and have a more close-knitted class?
Perhaps before we kick-start anything, we could try to put aside our differences? To do away with whatever impressions we have of the other person? Like say you think..oh this person belongs to which clique and whatever, do you think I should start off a conversation with him/her? And what should I say? I guess we should try to diminish such waryness..Well, by that I don't mean discarding all sensitivities one has for the other and say anything but hmm at least like speak naturally instead of speaking for the sake of holding a conversation, cos I feel that will not help to nurture true bonding but only superficial ones?
And one thing on random seating... it's a good idea since it allows more opportunities for interaction among us. With interaction comes understanding, and with that comes acceptance, then bonding. And I feel that initially when we start having random seating, we might face situations when we don't know what to talk to our neighbour about. I guess that would be quite natural, since we have to admit that most of us are more introverted rather than extroverted? However, I feel we should not be discouraged or think that eh...is there something wrong with me such that he/she doesn't speak to me? Because for all you might know, the person beside has such sentiments too! So perhaps when we start off this random seating thing, we should realli see it as a chance to know more about each other instead of constantly evaluating it, asking ourselves if it works or not since if we do that, we would be too eager for results rather than to establish a true bond.
Let us have no expectations in whatever efforts we do to promote class bonding. Rather, enjoy the process of mixing around! If we believe in it, we can do it!
irene (:
Hmm I've been reading the class blog lately and it seems that a festering problem has at last come under discussion----that of cliques in s7b. Haha personally I hate to use the word cliques as the connotation is somehow negative. Well, to discuss such a matter, I guess we have to accept that cliques, to different extents, are inevitatble in classes and society as a whole. People of the same interests do gravitate and stick together because they enjoy the camaraderie of the group.
Ok I found this on google... "Some teens think cliques are just a normal part of school and give a sense of security and belonging.
"If you have a clique, you have a place where you belong," says Thomas, 15, from Mount Vernon Secondary."There are cliques at my school, but it's not such a big deal. People tend to blend in pretty well," agrees Audrey,17, from Catholic Junior College.Here's some small comfort. Experts say school cliques are totally normal. "
However that is not to say cliques cannot exert destructive effect on individuals outside of it. People who are excluded will feel weird, like when u are eating at the hc canteen with another group. Sure we are all classmates, but there's this unspoken boundary between them. I felt this way before sometimes. This is by no means a problem that can be solved overnight, but I think everyone in the class should take small steps towards ameliorating the problem. Say for example, a simple hello to him or a friendly hand gesture to her. The thing about "regulated random seating" won't work as it isn't good to restrict individual freedom.
Yes, we can still mix with pple that share interests, but the guys can tone down on dota speak in the presence of other non-dota players. Yea and we certainly can have class lunches or dinners, preferably with round tables included. Hmm maybe that's the problem..there aren't round tables in schools! With round tables, u can take in everyone sitting at the table as opposed to a rectangular table where ur "talking radius" is confined to at most 3 pple opposite u and 2 beside u.
Ya one more year to fix this... =)
Kosmik (:
Hmm not bad, suddenly this blog gort life again.
nwae eric, relax u r not SP ver 2.0. i think u r isolated, cuz our class boy ALL plae dota, either that or they r in the Front Row clique. Basically u don't play dota, neither do u tok abt much the topic the other boys tok abt. mebbe if all the boys started playing AOE 2 u'll be part of the forum too. mebbe u can start picking up dota? ^^ Or we can all wait for AOE 3 to be released, den we'll all haf sth common to tok abt. Yea i read from somewhere that there IS an AOE 3, i think the theme is settlers in the New World. haha sth to look forward to eh?
frankly in sec sch my class didn't haf such a problem. maybe cuz my class almost everyone haf attitude prob one. so yar most of us plaed Magic the Gathering, Lotr TCG, or Yu Gi Oh. Den a large majority watched (n bet) on soccer too. Not to mention the racist/vulgar streak in all of us. So yea we all got along fine.
budden come JC, there's quite a number of restrictions when mixing ard wif gers. I dunno that's how I feel. Somethings can't be said/done =P den it wud be pointless to tok abt games or soccer with the gers too. so i think most of us take the easy way out n juz mingle among ourselves. haha abt food: yea Guan Lin maybe rite. The hokkien mee isn't that bad, the chicken rice has some standard too. Budden it's not filling. =( In TCHS 2 bucks feeds a nation. somemore the queue at HC is disgustingly long.
like all the prev entries have stated, we shud find some common activity our WHOLE class can engage in.
Laezeeth (:
Yeah! It is good to see so many blogging! Seeing one of the highest blog density in the 04S7B blog due to this issue.
Foony is actually right. Why do we bother to do something? Bonding is not proportional to the amount u talk to each other, it is not measured by whether u sit beside him or her... It is the internal feeling that binds us each other, something that will not be achieved if we just sit with each other, talk with each other... but the crux is in understanding each other of his strength or weakness, knowing about his thoughts and emotions, and working together when there is a need... We should not withhold the thinking that the others will not be enthusiastic. Take the first step and I believe, people will soon follow.
So if we were to random sit, don't just sit with the ones beside u... Do chit-chat about stuffs such that firstly, you won't fall asleep; and secondly, know more about each other and appreciate each other's talent and character. Forcing won't help... Remember it has to come from the heart.
So, don't let the attention that we have placed on this issue come to nothing! Do something and let 04S7B bond as one!
qunxiang (:
hey pple! erm, foony, why don't u publish your draft? yupz.. all this 'discussion'... hmm, i would like to point out sth... it's not as if pple don't try to mix around. For example, when some of us girls tried random seating during maths lecture, the result was that we got to move back to sitting next to each other. Maybe that's why we don't like trying? I think the main idea is to get everyone to realise that there is a problem here and why not do sth about it, like knowing one more person better for this day? We should all try this, yeah? Random seating is okie too.. but don't juz seat next to someone else, but talk to him/her too! (Or else we'll end up sleeping coz the lecture is too boring or whatever...) Class outings are quite okay, i think.. it's juz a problem of who will actually go, and perhaps we should try persuading sp to go sometimes? Maybe pple will naturally go talk with their cliques, but it's during class outings that everyone or almost everyone will be present and then we could talk to anyone we want to, if we want to, that is. About the lunch problem... ehh... personally, i do try to get the girls to go there sometimes, but they are hard to convince.. haha.. someone try to convince them lehz! And the guys should go to hc canteen once in a while... the food is not that bad! Really! Maybe try the hokkien mee or chicken rice..? Haha.. oops! Hmm, but everyone don't be depressed, kaes? We ARE a class after all, and S7B will always rock! Yeah! Let's all jiayou together!
Guan (:
Counterpoint
Hi everybody, maybe I should come in and give my take on this issue of our class spirit.
3 major cliques, 3 divisive lines. That's the general picture that I see. Simply put, I also agree with everybody on what is going on. And to top things off, upon reflection, I realize that by not doing anything, I place the burden of fault on myself too.
For the past year, vascillating between the big DOTA forum (a majority of the time), the IGS (which I've never actually been inside), and the Front Row (sometimes talking with Daryl etc.), I realize I actually don't fit anywhere. Wait a minute: I'm so left out.
Yeah, true, I go off and eat at the high school side with the DOTA gang, but thinking about it, I don't really talk engagingly with them about anything. Then I tried to eat at the college canteen with the Front Row Clique, but mostly, I'm sitting there, eating my (ugh) food while listening to everybody rattle off their opinions on our tutors and lecturers. Or if I stay at the class bench, where the IGS is situated, I find myself reclusively doing some work, or else pestering (yes, pestering) very desperately (yes, very desperately) for others to kick that little feathered toy with me. I somehow wonder: have I become SP2 (Song Peng no.2)?
Class games, class lunches, class outings, class this, class that, class everything. That term 'class' is so cliche. It seems to me that we, as a class, have divided ourselves further into different classes. The DOTA class, the IGS class and the Front Row class. Where's the linking? Where's the bonding? (By the way, sometimes I feel lonely enough to actually look to 05S7B for someone to chat to.)
The root cause of this problem, I believe, lies with our priorities. Basically, the three groups have two different priorities: either studies, or games. Of course, there are anomalous elements within each group, but generally, that's the feel. Perhaps, it is time to change our priority to a more common one. Say, perhaps, (just as an example) enjoying our time together as a class. The methods of 'class this class that' might not work, however, as the faultlines are so divisive that if we were all to go out together, we'd all just fall back into our old cliques all over again. Yeah, and I'd be walking alone at the side. Perhaps Qunxiang's method of random seating, wherever we go, would be a better idea.
As to why I'm so isolated... I really can't tell for now. It's a newly-discovered sentiment within me. Perhaps if anybody could point it out to me, please do so. I wouldn't mind whichever method you want to tell me; via SMS, e-mail, BLOG, Y!Groups, face-to-face, just please give me an answer...
We must take note, however, that though we're divided, at least we are not embittered by our differences. At least we do not quarrel bitterly over simply everything and anything. Take joy in this fact that we can all still mend up.
Eric (:
hmm.. liang liang.. can u add me as admin oso?? then i can help u with this blog.. cos u very busy oso..
and hmm.. this grp thingy again.. i'm sorry for starting all these. i dunnoe if it is good or bad to jus directly point out this prob on my blog previously.. but i admit i am a very direct and frank person.. i dun really noe the art of talking.. sigh.. but i totally agree with liangz.. it is really sth from within.. it is sth whereby u have to accomodate to others.. we all noe tt our interest and characteristics are very different.. it is jus a matter of whether we are willing to jus come together and jus have fun.. everyone has to start interacting and not jus a particular grp.. maybe we shld all reflect upon thyself and work it out. i dunno.. sigh.. another long dreary week ahead.. have fun everyone.. and soon cny will be here!
huangfang (:
Thursday, January 27, 2005
Hm. Must say smth le...
I think Glendon and Qun Xiang are right. I guess we can't possibly say it's the guys dota forum fault cos i admit it's fault on our part too. The front row people always a bit noisy and somehow neglect the entire class. I think everyone will feel the same way, that something needs to be done and everything. Of cos, those are feasible ideas. But isn't it a little...sad? I mean, we really want huang fang to stand up and say, ok, compulsory sit here sit there, every Monday compulsory go eat together...everything becomes compulsory. Will it have any effect? I doubt so.
If it's class bonding, it has to come from within. I think the most important thing now is to throw away whatever impression we have about another guy or another group and maybe we'll mix better. I dunnoe wad can be done. Seriously. Some clever souls do smth. I sux at coming up with actions. I can only question actions but never come up with some. So pardon me. Are wegoing to make it compulsory, or are we gonna take the initiative?
But smth needs to be done, fast. Tt's a fact. It's really not too late.
Anonymous (:
YoyOz...
Totally agreed with Glendon... I think this issue regarding the class bonding should be looked into seriously... It is never too late to say never, that we can't remedy or address the situation... We have to face it and tackle it... it is like a class you have spent two years with it... and you do not have any feelings abt it? Any memories that can be taken as a class for these 2 years?... That would be real pathetic...
I think to address the issue, everyone has to play his or her own part. Forcing, or in better terms regulating, people to sit in alternate seats would be rather superficial... I dunno... but the feeling is that more class bonding should be done... For example, we can have the whole class to have "class lunch" on Mondays and other days since for Monday it is a double period (and this is a good time for better stuff other than doing hw)... Class outings can be organized and everyone should make a conscious effort to come for these outings... It would be hard to break up cliques, and not advisable... but everyone should make the effort to talk to everyone instead of the people in their own clique... Like what the passage has mentioned, we should maintain "similarity" in terms of the common "class" identity but not "homogeniety"...
Anyway just for the DOTA forum, as junkai mentioned, the DOTA fever is taking too long to be over and I think it will go on like forever... for normal games, it is just at most 1 month? Maybe by talking less of DOTA, then everyone would have a common topic to talk abt? Haha... Anyway we, I mean everyone, should indeed interact.
But one thing that I have to disagree with Glendon... though the number of people who are blogging are very few, the people viewing the blogs are aplenty... so blogs do play some influence... but the point is really that the class should address this issue and not trying to avoid it... The further it is being delayed, the worse the situation may get...
Got to type my own blog liaoz... haha... byeZ... hope the situation gets better
qunxiang (:
Hey all,
Just went to the junior's class blog to take a look. Was oso reading up some of our own classmates' blogs. hmm looks like some of u guys not happy abt the cliques that has divided up class up, literally.
yea it's a pretty sad huh, that we don't seem bonded as a class, despite the class concert n other various outings we dun seem to haf a realli strong class spirit. i've got to admit the guys haf played a major role in this Great Divide. After all we are a walking DOTA forum, day in day out tok onli abt dota. I noe the rest of u all prolly damn bored already, hearing the same stuff over all the time. we also make daily pilgrimage to TCHS side for food, when most of u all go to HC Canteen to haf ur meals. we also don't make the effort to interact with the rest of u all.
haha i oso dunno how larh. i think we are adamant abt not eating in HC, for sure. frankly if u guys wanna do sth abt it, u all shud ditch ideas of class outings n stuff, cuz we'll still go divided. mebbe can start out simply. CT Rep must speak out lor ^^ Address dis problem to the class, when everybody is around and listening. no use complaining in this blog. i can count the number of people who blog with my 10 fingers. single digit for sure.
mebbe a suggestion is to sit in alternate seats. so the class is more evenly spread out. dun need always haf 3 kingdoms arrangement (front row clique, dota forum and the rest of the class) mebbe lectures oso?
zzzz it's just a suggestion bahz, i noe some pple think it's a bit too late le. i feel at the very least, shud attempt to do some dmg control lor. still haf abt 1 yr left together.
Laezeeth (:
Monday, January 24, 2005
Hahaz, this site must be more lively but it must come from more people. Die i think still a lot people not invited, or invited nv accept, or accept dunnoe how to use. ERPZ.
New layout coming soon!
Anonymous (:
Yoyo,
Hmm i'm spamming this site with links. but do check this one out. esp the entries on IRC n JC Orientation. quite funny.
http://cheekybynature.blogspot.com
Laezeeth (:
Sunday, January 23, 2005
Haha... agree with Daryl and Guan Lin... the first three months of J2 is completely different from those of J1s lah... right now finding ourselves very busy with CCA, studies, and also the fun that we needed...
Abt the exhibition match, I think that sadly, very few play soccer... If we can get a team of 7 from junior and senior class, then maybe we can play with the 79s (they play everyday) or 78s (quite pro too)... but the thing is whether people will play or not loh...
Anyway, it is time to build up our class spirit... and a class outing is just the thing for us to do... next saturday? Since next sunday, daryl is also not free, ya? Have a common activity in which everyone can be involved... so I would highly recommend cycling! And indeed it helps us to destress... So 3 for class outing liaoz!!! Yeah!
qunxiang (:
Saturday, January 22, 2005
hey all
http://www.dota-allstars.com/forums/lofiversion/index.php?t15988.html
http://www.penny-arcade.com
check these sites out! haha it's v funny.
Q('.'Q)
O---('.'Q)
(x.x)O-----('.'Q) *bish*
Laezeeth (:
hey ppl! i think we muz blog more often.. cannot leave it dusty and full of any sort of webs liao.. haha, see the juniors' blog? so clean and updated! oh dear.. okie, i'm crapping. hmm, i think j2 life is much tougher, with so many pple going home late and feeling so tired once at home but yet gotta do hwk and tutorials.. yupz, but hang in there, pple! we all can do it! =)
oh by the way, qx, when's the exhibition match? it seems that it's put on hold permanently? it'll be fun to see u guys and prob some girls playing! i don't really like soccer though... hmm, bball still suits me best! yupz! and i want to go east coast park! we should have a picnic there.. each person can bring some food, den we can all eat and talk and cycle! okie, enuff! byee!
Guan (:
Hey dudez!
Here's a DOTA poem I found. I think it's damn niao. Haha enjoy~
Roses are RED
Violets are BLUE
God made me GOSU
Wtf happened to you?
hmm to refresh ur memory, Gosu = Pro.
Laezeeth (:
Thursday, January 20, 2005
wahaa.. everyone has to sweep dust off when they tag. so i guess now it is clean and nice so i shall tag!! hehe~~ :) why is it always these few tagging huh?? pple be more enthu!! if not send more invitation to peep.. anyway wanna wish everyone a
hehe.. enjoy urself k!! take a break from all the school work and all and lets have an east coast outing soon! hehe.. sorry xiu. tt time a bit bu liao liao zhi. we will make it up k k.. (:
huangfang (:
Sunday, January 16, 2005
hey STJ was fun! and 7B rocks ya?
hmm brian and jonathan ('jorathon')dedicated songs yup...dunno who else did...yupz
oooh i ordered drinks too! so rmb to collect money from me too
now that the dust and cobwebs are cleared..time to spray air freshener! *psst psst*
must blog more k? oh and rmb to drop by at the juniors' class blog too...
irene (:
GLENDON! thnx for coming to the rescue! yay, shall post more now. But this cannot turn into a liangz's blog so u guys must blog too! haha.
Yupz, today's STJ realli not bad. They very enthu and on. Were we like tt last yr? Haha, but I know for sure we din tok as much to seniors. Anyway people, how was the food? I seriously think the swordfish collar could have been better if not for the mass order. Haha. Shit I'm still very hungry now feel so pig. Yupz, the dedication of songs was cool! Yay. Ya, we kind of pissed other customers on, but we brought life to fish and co k! Haha, anyway after tt they also quite noisy so nvm. Then after tt play tt lame lame game. haha. Not bad lah hor... hope all of u guys had a fun time!
Now we should look forward to JTS. Yes, JTS. I wanna eat my share back! Haha.
Anonymous (:
Shall continue from where Kai Liang left off. *sweep sweep* *dust dust* nwae just bloggin for fun larh. STJ was fun n 7B ownz!!! haha cud tell we were irritating the other customers budden haha not our problem larh. hmm who dedicated songz to our class arh, good job leh. let everyone noe whu we are ^^ hmm btw jun kai n i ordered a drink, we hafn't paid for it yet. pay to whu arh...
sadly today's DOTA: Gathering of Heroes, Showdown of Pacts not v successful. some people missing in action so cannot realli haf an all out match. must haf one soon, while we still haf the chance.
Peace out, n rock on!
Laezeeth (:
Thursday, January 13, 2005
okok...clear some dust here...*choke choke* haha. Ya lor u guys always dun wanna post on blog keep tagging onli. Erpz. Eh, so STJ confirmed this sat? Any outing plans before tt?
Oh yah, tml very sian. 2 subjects onli...and mdm yeo...our maths lessons are like non-existing. Argh. Bah. We should go eat class dinner or wadever class meal sometimes. We so long nv eat as a class already lor. It's always half chinese high half HC. haha. Too bad.
Kk, i'm crapping. I have to retake bio test tml. Someone wish me luck!
Anonymous (:
