Forum: Lost in screens, blind to the threats around us
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I refer to the article “Fewer than 1 in 5 people noticed suspicious items during MHA’s social experiments” (July 30).
Many of us have been taught by our parents to walk away from danger, to leave any action to be taken to the authorities – it’s an apathetic response that must change as public safety becomes of paramount concern.
In an era where we bury our heads in social media and are immersed in it with earphones drowning out ambient noise, we are not mindful of the environment and pay little heed to the hazards around us.
How are we to identify potential threats when all our optical and aural gifts are focused on phone screens? Some people even miss an oncoming vehicle – let alone the subtle signs that could indicate a threat.
We must be aware of not only what’s happening in our immediate surroundings, but also around Singapore, the region and the world. Many young adults are unaware of broader risks.
To heighten and train our senses, perhaps more exercises like the Ministry of Home Affairs’ social experiments can be conducted.
Children, with their wholesome sense of curiosity and unencumbered minds, pick out oddities far better than adults. They have a natural heightened sense of awareness and wonderment.
We should listen to them more. Schools can do more to nurture this innate awareness and help them develop it.
Yik Keng Yeong (Dr)
