It’s a perverse trend since there’s little in real life that’s worth laughing at these days.

Over the past couple of years, the list of black news – losing jobs, a weak economy, threats of terrorist bomb attacks and the Iraq war – has hit the city like a flurry of Tomahawk missiles.

Before their damage could be ascertained, Singapore is struck by a fast-spreading disease called SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) for which a sure cure is not available.

As fear of job losses mounts, so has the number of e-mail jokes and cartoons that I (happily) receive.

The movie industry obviously realises, too, that a crisis is the best time to bring out comedies.

Until SARS came, fun-films like The Hot Chick, Kangaroo Joe and Just Married were playing to packed crowds that gave even Jet Li a tough fight.

Worried about chemical attacks, Singapore began planning for shelters and this prompted satire website Talkingcock.com (it means “talking nonsense”) to suggest a survival kit for Singaporeans.

Necessities they need to bring to a bomb shelter include gas masks, assessment books, emergency durians (throw husks at enemy when they attack) and, of course, a foreign maid.

Also canned food. “After eating, empty cans can be used with a string to rig a simple phone system,” the website suggests.

Gas masks? Not only useful in a chemical attack but also if neighbours in the shelter have eaten too much.

Assessment books? (Children can’t spend the whole day watching DVDs; exams coming, you know).

Bring six 1.5-litre bottles of NeWater, which should last a family three days. “If you run out, just make more by yourself.”

Many foreigners view Singaporeans, raised in perpetual competition, as a serious, humourless lot, like the Germans or Japanese.

They’re not too far wrong. Without natural resources, Singaporeans work and compete hard, always worried about their own smallness and vulnerabilities.

The first generation of leaders was not known to possess a keen sense of humour; they take umbrage at jokes cracked at their expense. Its citizens followed in their footsteps.

But younger Singaporeans, who are better educated, more confident and living in a more prosperous state, are freer at laughing at themselves and their leaders.

In the Lee Kuan Yew era, the political leadership – its likes and dislikes – formed the nation’s overall thinking, virtually 100%.

During the current period led by Goh Chok Tong, this government input towards forming the national psyche, its social values, likes and dislikes, has already been diluted.

I am not referring to legislation but Singapore’s psyche, its collective social mindset not decided by a vote in Parliament.

The people’s contribution is no longer zero per cent when it comes to shaping the nation’s social mindset, but has risen to maybe 20% to 30%.

This figure will probably rise further after Lee Hsien Loong takes over. His father ruled with logic and a big stick; Hsien Loong, even more than Chok Tong, has to rule with logic and persuasion.

A website like Talkingcock.com can play a role, because humour is – in the context of things – an important subject.

It did just that during the SARS outbreak. It said the “gahmen” appealed to the people to carry on with their work as normal.

With tongue in cheek, it carried this picture headline: To set an example, ministers showed “their courage” by leaving the safety of their homes and returning to carry out their responsibilities.

Below it was a large colour photograph of a group of people covered from head to toe in protective spacesuits outside City Hall – saying they’re Singaporean ministers going to work.

Some of the email jokes I get poke fun at George W. Bush and Americans.

Where's the proof that the war is over Iraq’s oil? It's Operation Iraqi Liberation – or OIL.

Another email says the US wants to divide Iraq into three parts: regular, premium and unleaded.

Another calls it a war between the Great Human Butcher and the Butcher of the English language. George W. Bush is known to use English poorly.

Without saying so, humour plays a prominent role in the government’s plan to restructure the economy.

Post-industrial Singapore is to be a fun place, a bit of a bohemia, and PM Goh has appealed to Singaporean youths to help him achieve this.

The goal is to turn it into a metropolis that rivals New York, London or Tokyo with the bright lights to match. That will make it a hub for world talent.

Despite the billions of dollars spent on promoting music and cultural activities, Singapore is described as a boring place where even bar-top dancing is forbidden.

Critics say achieving that requires a lot more loosening up on regulations and government control over business and the people. This will take place only very gradually.

Raising a new generation of creative Singaporeans who can compete on ideas with the outside world needs an environment like in Japan or Korea, at least.

Both these countries have deeper Confucian values than Singapore and yet they have a thriving pop culture of fashion, television, music and films that are exported successfully to South-East Asia.

Japanese youths operate a reasonably successfully fashion-design industry that produces upmarket products ranging from US$350 sneakers to US$1000 dresses.

Singapore has none. Neither has it produced any teenage icon, singer or TV star capable of taking the regional stage.

“Singapore kids are all too busy mugging for exams at this age,” one TV personality explained.

“Besides, they flourish because there’s a pop culture in Japan and South Korea.”

The government frowns on pop culture in Singapore.

Others say the government cannot be faulted for trying.

Goh's government is more tolerant to criticism and responsive to public feelings than any other time in post-independent history.

His is already a quantum jump from the Kuan Yew era. Undoubtedly, Hsien Loong’s time will likely propel another leap.

o Seah Chiang Nee is a veteran journalist and editor of the information website littlespeck.com (e-mail: cnseah2000@ littlespeck.com )

                                                            Home