Haiz I’m not even that old (early 20s) and yet I’m having difficulties with the use of too many short forms online and in messaging.

I have to search, then I understood short forms like istg, iykwim, aitah… Then tdy saw something like SOL, idp which I googled but idk wht it means…

Seems like every phrase nowadays, also have short form. Maybe one day the whole sentence will be short form (modtwswbsf)??

I think I will really give up and scold the person if asking me a qn but most in short forms. The phrases are not even very long, and it is not common like idk/idc etc, can’t people type it out instead of letting people ask ‘what does this mean?’

Well, since they like it, I’ll just type my response in acronyms as well. (W, stli, Ijtmriaaw)

Netizens’ comments

• Hahaha thanks for assuring me I’m not alone. The other day I thought iykyk sounds like someone choking on water gonna die alr. Ngl sounds like the sound you make when you’re trying to poop hahahaah

• Hehe this one obviously never work for civil service before. If it doesn’t have an acronym, it’s likely not a Singaporean thing.

• All those English short forms I don’t really understand other than lol, btw, ttyl etc. So I have limitation to such vocab!But hokkien short forms I no limit. Wakaka

My fiancee thinks her parents are being unfairly treated as compared to mine.

I have moved in with my girlfriend for 2 years. We announced our engagement and let our parents know about our wedding plan recently. Both parents congratulated us and gave us their blessings. My parents then immediately wired me and her each 20k to support us for the wedding.

Now we are planning our next year budget. When it comes to the ang-bao, I proposed for this year only, we would give hers 200 each, while mine is 1000 each, as a way to repay their support. My fiancee was immediately triggered and went mad, thinking I was being unfair and did not respect her parents.

Was I actually unfair? If not how can I calm her down and bring her come to her sense?

Here are what netizens think:

• While your parents both gave u 20k, doesn’t mean that you need to give your parents more money because your parents may be rich to begin with so sending you 20k each is nothing to them?If you wanna give your parents $1000 each, why not you and your partner come up with $200 and you yourself top up the $800 difference?My parents in law gave me a huge angpao for wedding because they are well to do, but my mum gave me a huge angpao (not as huge) but it’s a lot based on the fact that she’s a retiree.We have always gave same rates to both our parents eh.

• Fairness and equality is not the same. In the sensitive case like this, both parents should get equal amounts. But it is fair to say that, you wanted to give your parents more because they gave you and your lady big wedding money. You want to return their favors. But now, both side parents become our parents. End.

• LoL….The difference between man and woman is that to man, repaying their parents for the sum they gave is a logical and filial thing to do. But to woman, not giving the same or more amount to her parents means the guy doesn’t take her seriously. You made things worse by being the one who suggested those amount….There is no right or wrong in this case. It’s just how each gender view things.So I suggest you should adjust the her parents angbao either make it equal or slightly more.If you want to be a filial son, you can top up with your own money

• raise it to her that your parents were being generous to give each of you 20k for your wedding and the angbao is like a kind ‘giving-back’ gesture. if she wants to give her parents more, she can folk out herself right?

I’m a 16 Y.O Singaporean (F) and I’m still attending secondary school and I have a criminal record

Context: Yesterday, my friend and I went to steal clothes at a mall and my friend was caught stealing. (I know it was stupid of us to steal. We learnt from our mistakes)

Of course, like what most managers would do is to call the security and the police. We were both detained and interrogated and we both explained that the reason why we stole. (It was because we couldn’t afford it and felt bad asking our parents for money as we are not born into a financially well family)

We fessed up that we have been doing this for awhile now and are guilty. They asked about our schools and our form teachers name and also told us to pack the things we stole before in a plastic bag and said that they would retrieve it. However they did not show up yesterday after we both went home.

The questions that I have right now is that

• Will this criminal record thing stay with us until we die? If no, how do I clear it and how long will it take?

• Can I still EAE into Polytechnic?

• If I want to work as a part timer, will the manager ask about it? (Correct me if I’m wrong but they would probably ask about it, right?)

• How will the school deal with this? Disciplinary case and stuff? Suspension?

Again, I know that it was foolish of us to commit such acts and we shouldn’t do such a stupid thing. Please don’t lecture us, we were already scolded by our parents (badly) Help us out.

Netizens’ comments

• Did the police bring you back to the police station and formally interrogated you?
  Basically what i am asking is – whether a statement was taken and you signed and acknowledged that you gave a statement.
  If they only contacted your school and parents, it is likely that they did not formally charge you.
  Take it as a lesson learnt and don’t steal again.
  Source: am lawyer but not yours so please do not regard this as legal advice just general observations

• Since u all minor won’t have criminal record. Usually they will let u go after warning. Pls don’t do stupid things like stealing.

Debt with moneylenders who called up my workplace

Hi need some legal advice as I’m caught up with some work issues here.

So my workplace, which has a history of delaying payments to many other workers (not just me) has taken this opportunity to further delay my salary and explictly told me they will not pay me unless I settle the issue with the moneylender.

Is this even legal? How am I supposed to pay the moneylenders when my pay is held up?

Additionally, the HR personnel of my company, whom I tried to liase with to get a direct hold of the payroll in charge has blocked me on WhatsApp when I inquired regarding this said problem.

Could anyone assist me on how to approach this matter and which authorities (spf, mom etc.) I could follow up with!! Thank you so much in advance!

Here are what netizens think:

• Definitely MOM. It’s also possible to go to court if delayed payment is not mentioned in your contract.

• I have heard MOM prioritises late payment of salary cases. Can try bringing up to them.

• You can make a threat to the boss and say that you’ll blow it up on social media or the MOM should they not release your pay.Your pay is yours, your debt is personal. These 2 issues do not intertwine.Go seek help from MOM and they will guide you accordingly. However this will take months of investigation so they may delay your salary even further.I will also encourage you to leave the company ASAP.

• MOM have strict laws on payroll matters. Salary should not be be delayed, more so if the circumstances are external.As for the debt collectors, they should not be calling the workplace, though they do that to apply more pressure, the company should know how to handle it; telling the collectors that they don’t have the right to do so and any more unsolicited calls will be reported to the police.