I was on my way home from NTUC at around 12AM when I saw him. He was lying on a bench at the bus station near Admiralty MRT, fast asleep. I had seen him there before, and I always wondered why he was there.

At first, I didn’t think much of it. I assumed that he was just a homeless person, trying to find a place to sleep for the night. But as I continued to see him there day after day, I started to wonder if there was more to his story.

One day, I decided to approach him. I walked over to the bench and sat down next to him. He didn’t stir, and I couldn’t help but feel a pang of pity for him.

“Excuse me,” I said gently, trying not to startle him. “I couldn’t help but notice that you’re always here, sleeping on this bench. Can I ask why?”

To my surprise, he opened his eyes and looked at me. He had a tired, worn expression on his face, and I could see the pain and sadness in his eyes.

“It’s a long story,” he said, his voice hoarse from sleep. “But if you really want to know, I’ll tell you.”

I nodded, and he began to speak.

“I used to have a good life. I had a wife and two kids, and we were happy. I had a good job and a nice house, and I thought that nothing could ever go wrong.

“But then, everything changed. My wife left me, and I lost my job. I was devastated, and I didn’t know what to do. I tried to find another job, but no one would hire me. I lost my house, and I was forced to live on the streets.

“At first, it was hard. I didn’t know how to survive, and I was constantly hungry and cold. But eventually, I learned how to make do. I started scavenging for food and looking for places to sleep.

“And that’s how I ended up here. This bus station is one of the few places where I know I can always find shelter, at least for a little while. It’s not much, but it’s better than nothing.

“I know that I’m not supposed to be here, and I’m grateful that the security guards let me stay. I don’t have anywhere else to go, and I don’t know what I would do if they kicked me out.

“But I’m trying to make the best of it. I keep to myself, and I try not to cause any trouble. I just want to survive, and to find a way to get my life back on track.

“That’s my story,” he finished, and I was stunned. I had never expected to hear something so heartbreaking and poignant.

“I’m sorry,” I said, feeling inadequate. “I had no idea. Is there anything I can do to help?”

He shook his head. “No, thank you. You’ve already done more than enough by listening to me. I appreciate it.”

I nodded, and we sat in silence for a few moments. I didn’t know what to say, and I couldn’t believe how much his life had changed.

Eventually, I stood up and said goodbye. I gave him a small smile and walked away, feeling a mix of emotions. I was saddened by his story, but I was also inspired by his resilience and determination.

I never saw him again, but I never forgot him. His story stayed with me, and it

Respect is earned, not given

I hate the idea that you have to give more respect and preference to someone just because they are an old person.

Literally being older doesn’t make you any holier, you can just be as stupid and annoying as someone who’s younger than you.

Either earn your respect or learn to live without it, I’m not gonna praise you or bow down to you just because you are older than me. Doesn’t make you any better.

Netizens’ comments

• This old person (not too old) agrees. Take my upvote. Respect is earned. Had plenty of encounters with older ppl who thought they were entitled just for being older. They equated age wirh respect.
  Personally, I give people respect off the bat but my respect for them can go up or down based upon their actions and so forth. Once my respect for them goes down to 0, it’s over. It’s as if they no longer exist. But that’s just me. Everyone is diff. GL OP.
• Nothing proves this more than when you work in a retail setting, service industry, or even some healthcare jobs. Older people are entitled and disrespectful. They expect everyone to drop everything, just so they can spew ignorance and hate.
• This is backwards and what I feel is very wrong with our world. Everyone should be given basic respect, until they proove they don’t deserve it. Without basic respect for our fellow citizens our world will continue to decline in civility
• I hate it when people say this. Respect is the default everyone gets treated with respect and when they don’t return the respect you stop giving it.
• It reminds me of that quote, “Respect is like money, it’s better to earn it, not to ask for it” (or something like that)

I was scrolling through my phone, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of disbelief. I had just found out that my sister was doing OnlyFan, and I didn’t know what to think.

I had always known that my sister was ambitious and determined, but I never thought she would resort to something like this.

I didn’t want to believe it was true, but the evidence was right there on her Instagram page promoting a link tree and one of the link is to her OnlyFans page.

Confrontation

“Is this really happening?” I asked, my voice shaking with emotion. “Are you really doing OnlyFans?”

My sister looked at me with a mix of guilt and defiance. “Yes, I am,” she said, her voice steady. “And I don’t see what the big deal is. I am just going to buy my LV bag and I will stop”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “The big deal is that you’re selling yourself online!” I shouted, jumping to my feet. “You’re letting strangers see you naked, all for the sake of a stupid bag!”

My sister shrugged as if my reaction was unwarranted. “It’s not like that,” she said, her voice calm. “OnlyFans is a platform for creators, and I’m just using it to make some extra money. It’s no different than any other job.”

I shook my head, unable to believe what she was saying. “It’s different,” I insisted. “You’re putting yourself at risk, and you’re sacrificing your dignity for a material object. It’s not worth it.”

My sister stood up, her eyes flashing with anger. “You don’t understand,” she said, her voice rising. “I’m tired of living paycheck to paycheck, and I want to have nice things. And if I have to do OnlyFans to afford them, then that’s what I’m going to do.”

I tried to reason with her, but she wouldn’t listen. She was determined to continue doing OnlyFans, no matter what I said.

In the end, I left home feeling frustrated and helpless. I didn’t know what to do, but I knew that I couldn’t just sit by and watch my sister make such a dangerous and foolish decision.

So, I decided to take action. I started researching the OnlyFans industry, and I talked to some people who had been in similar situations. I learned that OnlyFans can be a dangerous and exploitative platform, and I knew that I had to do something to help my sister.

Eventually, I came up with a plan. I talked to my sister again, and I offered to pay for her Louis Vuitton bag. I told her that I didn’t want her to do OnlyFans anymore and that I would support her in any way that I could.

To my surprise, my sister agreed. She shut down her OnlyFans account, and she accepted my offer to pay for the bag. And for the first time in a long time, I saw a spark of gratitude in her eyes.

I knew that it wouldn’t be easy, but I was determined to help my sister turn her life around. I would do whatever it took to make sure she was safe and happy, even if it meant sacrificing my own comfort. Because at the end of the day, family is everything.

Girlfriend and I were young 20 somethings when we stayed at her parents’ house. Got going in her bedroom when her younger teenage brother, who’s autistic, knocks at the door.

“Jie jie, mum said to come out for dinner”

We told him to wait for a bit, but alas. I’m still inside her when he immediately opens the door.

He repeats “Mum said to come out for dinner”. He keeps standing in the doorway, just staring at us, both struggling for covers on her bed.

My girlfriend tells him we’ll be right there. ‘Yeah, but you need to come now.’

We explained to him that, dude you barged in unexpectedly and not at a great time. We’re not getting dressed while you’re in here.

Her parents took away the keys for the locks in their house because he had a tendency to lock himself in. Nonetheless we thankfully got the key to her bedroom that day.

We went to a small Christmas gathering with one of his co-workers. I am friends with the wife. She invited us and after asking my husband, texted her that we would be there.

I get nervous meeting new people but I was friendly and upbeat. Smiled and talked to people. We were only there an hour before my husband told me that he was ready to leave.

We said our goodbyes and got in the car. On the way home, we talked. He said of course I know how to socialize..you were just acting all awkward.

I asked him what he meant. He said I do this awkward thing with my arms.(??) Then he called me an awkward weirdo.

I told him to stop it. But he kept it up the whole ride home. I was silently crying..he didn’t know or more likely didn’t care.

I have a hard time making friends. I thought I did okay last night but I wonder if I messed up somehow.

I am alone a lot because of this move. And I haven’t been able to meet people. I’m afraid they won’t like me so I stay home.

When I have a chance to meet someone..I feel like I mess up. Maybe I should just stay home and just be alone.

As a woman who is working, I was always fiercely independent. I never relied on anyone else to take care of me, and I never felt like I needed a man in my life to be happy.

In fact, I used to joke with my friends that as long as I had a fresh cucumber in my fridge, I didn’t need a man at all. It sounds silly now, but at the time, it was a sort of mantra for me.

I grew up normally like everyone else, where most of the girls my age were focused on finding a husband and starting a family. But that wasn’t what I wanted. I had dreams of traveling the world, and I wasn’t going to let anyone hold me back.

So, I went to university and studied abroad, and I had some incredible experiences. I climbed mountains and swam with dolphins, and I met some amazing people along the way.

But eventually, I had to come back home. And when I did, I found that things had changed. My friends had all settled down, and they were busy raising families and building careers.

I was happy for them, but I also felt a little lost. I didn’t know what I was supposed to do next.

That’s when I met him. He was tall and handsome, with a charming smile and a great sense of humor. He swept me off my feet, and for a while, I thought he might be the one.

But then, things started to unravel. He was jealous and possessive, and he didn’t like it when I spent time with my friends or pursued my own interests. He wanted me to be with him all the time, and he didn’t understand why I wouldn’t give up everything for him.

I tried to make it work, but eventually, I realized that he was never going to change. And so, I ended things. It was painful, but I knew it was the right decision.

Now, I’m back to being a single girl, with a fresh cucumber in my fridge. And you know what? I’m happier than I’ve been in a long time.

I’m not saying that I don’t want to find love, or that I don’t want to be with someone special. But I’m also not going to settle for less than I deserve.

I’m going to keep traveling and having adventures, and I’m going to keep being independent. And as long as I have a fresh cucumber in my fridge, I know that I’ll be just fine.

I accidentally found out my coworkers don’t like me.

Today I tried to do a nice thing for one of my coworkers. She mentioned she had a craving and so when I was getting my lunch I picked up the food and drink she wanted too on a whim.

I gave it to her and went to the breakroom to eat.

I guess I got the wrong type and flavor. When I came back from my lunch she told me to ignore the instant message she sent me.

Naturally I read it since it was the first thing that popped up when i logged in. It was some not-so-nice things about me that she meant to send to our other coworker.

I tried to keep my composure but I had to go to the bathroom to cry. I’ve always been kind of an outcast, but this was a huge blow because I thought my coworkers genuinely liked me.

I feel like even at 28, no matter how hard I try to fit in and be nice, I somehow mess it up.

Netizens’ comments

• Your coworkers don’t deserve someone like you
• Stop doing them favors, keep it strictly work related.
• Unkind people never like anyone. They don’t even like each other, they just enjoy being nasty together.
• This is a reflection of your coworkers and not you. You sounds like the best coworker ever and your coworkers sound like children gossiping and passing notes. Who insults someone who provides such a kind gesture? Garbage. OP, you sound awesome.

As a male, what can you do if a drunk female friend touches you inappropriately?

I don’t feel comfortable telling this to anyone so I’ll just anonymously say it here and leave out most of the details.

A few months back I was in a chalet with a group of friends and one female friend seemed to be particularly drunk. At one point she was touching me at various places that I was not comfortable with (chest and groin area).

Part of me thinks that it’s not intentional and she doesn’t realise what she was doing since she was drunk. But the other part of me thinks that it could be her using her “drunkardness” as an excuse?

But either way even if it was intentional, I don’t think there’s much you can do as a guy? Go the police? They might be laughing me out of the police post. Confide in my friends about it? They might just be teasing me about it.

Though there might be a possibility that I am just overreacting even though I’m still affected by the incident.

Netizens’ comments

• Make a police report immediately. This comment section smh. Imagine if the roles were reversed. Ppl here would be slamming the guy. He would no doubt be reported. His life would be over. Why should it be any different just because she is a woman?
• If a guy did that to a girl he would’ve been arrested already. So just report police if she does it again and make sure you have evidence
• The police will take you seriously if you are considering to do a report, but sadly, society as a whole won’t.

Coworker thinks I am looking for job coz I am on LinkedIn and told boss

I use LinkedIn to read articles and some interesting technical topics. My cubicle mate seems he’s been spying me for long. He says something like oh you’ve been on LinkedIn all day hor.

I want to be polite so I asked him whether he is on LinkedIn so that I will connect him. He said “No, not active”

Then proceed to say “What are you looking for? Hope you are not looking to change” I thought he joked. Later in afternoon team meeting, he joked in front of Boss and team “Nanda has been active on LinkedIn. We better learn his codes before he leave them to us”

Made me look bad in front of Boss! I’ve been furious all day. How do you deal with this kind of a-hole?

FYI, I don’t want to leave (yet, at least for 2 years). I just want my coworker a-hole to leave me alone.

Sometime, there are down time that we have nothing to do. I use LinkedIn during those time. Compare with my other team mates like they are either playing MLBB or tiktok on their phones, I read articles.

Netizens’ comments

• When you do leave and manager asked the reason, just blame it all on this colleague. “I was just reading news, but then xxx intrude my privacy, put me in bad spot, and i felt bad & pressured (self-fulfilling prophecy), so the best thing is for me to resign”
• Might have to thank him. Maybe a raise is on the way if they don’t want to lose you.
• Actually can be a blessing in disguise as maybe your boss may look into your welfare and pay. of course if your boss asks you then just explain that you are not looking for any new opportunity at the moment.
• ‘Well I am not leaving but when i finally decide to leave, it’ll be because of xxx’s constant minding of my business’

As my husband packed his bags for a business trip, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. He had been acting strange all week, and I couldn’t figure out why.

“Are you sure you want to go on this trip?” I asked, trying to hide my concern.

“Of course,” he replied, avoiding my gaze. “It’s an important opportunity for my career.”

I didn’t believe him. Something was definitely wrong, and I was determined to find out what it was.

I followed him into the bedroom, where he was finishing up his packing. I sat down on the bed and watched him, trying to read his body language.

“Who is this trip for, exactly?” I asked, trying to sound casual.

My husband paused for a moment, then turned to face me. “It’s for my boss,” he said, his voice strained.

I felt a surge of anger and betrayal. My husband’s boss was a woman, and I had always suspected that he had feelings for her. Now, it seemed like those suspicions were confirmed.

“I don’t want you to go,” I said, standing up and facing him. “I don’t trust her, and I don’t trust you.”

My husband’s eyes widened in shock. “What are you talking about?” he asked, his voice rising in anger. “I’m not doing anything wrong!”

“I don’t care,” I replied, my voice shaking. “I don’t want you to go on this trip. I don’t want you to be alone with her. I don’t want you to have the opportunity to do something that you’ll regret.”

My husband tried to argue, but I wouldn’t listen. I was determined to stop him from going on the trip, no matter what it took.

In the end, my husband reluctantly agreed to cancel the trip. He was furious with me, but I didn’t care. I knew that I had made the right decision, and I was willing to face his anger if it meant protecting our marriage.

Over the next few weeks, my husband and I had many difficult conversations. We talked about his feelings for his boss, and I made it clear that I would not tolerate any infidelity.

Eventually, my husband agreed to transfer to a different department at work, one that didn’t have a female boss. It wasn’t an ideal solution, but it was the best we could do under the circumstances.

His salary decreased by 15%. But looking back, I know that I made the right decision. I may have caused some tension in our relationship, but I also prevented something much worse from happening. And for that, I am grateful.