Forum: Better ways to handle and resolve disagreements

The recent incident involving the elderly wonton mee uncle at Roxy Square saddened me (Police investigating after elderly man allegedly pushed to ground for patting girl’s head, Aug 16).

I have known the elderly man as a familiar face at the foodcourt for decades, and I visited him after the incident to wish him well. He is recovering, although I noticed that his voice and usual energy are not quite the same. Seeing an elderly man go through such an unpleasant experience is really heartbreaking.

I understand that parents can be very protective of their young children. But when there is a misunderstanding involving a child, I hope we can pause, communicate and find out what actually happened before letting emotions take over.

If the man had simply patted the child’s head out of affection, perhaps the situation could have been resolved with a simple conversation. If the parent had been uncomfortable with what happened, expressing his concern firmly but calmly would have been a better approach.

An elderly person pushed to the ground can potentially suffer serious injuries. At the same time, I also believe we should not rush to judge or condemn anyone while police investigations are still ongoing.

What concerns me most is how a small misunderstanding can easily escalate into something much bigger.

Perhaps this incident can remind all of us – parents, seniors and members of the public – to exercise a little more patience and restraint. We may not always agree with what someone does, but there are better ways to handle disagreements.

I hope the uncle recovers fully and can continue doing what he has been doing for so many years – serving his customers and being part of the Roxy Square and Marine Parade community.

Sometimes, a little patience and understanding can prevent a moment of anger from becoming a lasting regret.

Raymond Lim