Forum: Noise dispute with neighbours raises question of inclusivity
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A recent noise dispute with our new neighbours at the condominium where my family and I live has escalated into an unexpectedly heated exchange.
The core of the conflict lies in their practice of keeping their apartment door open throughout the day and night, leading to significant noise disturbance due to the proximity of our units.
Despite our polite attempts to resolve the matter amicably, the situation took an unfortunate turn during a conversation at one of their open-house gatherings. Their guests confronted us, dismissing our concerns by saying, “This is the Singapore lifestyle”, and suggested we adapt to the country.
My husband and I are permanent residents and have called Singapore home for over a decade, and this exchange left us both disheartened. It raises a larger question: Has societal sentiment towards foreigners evolved, or are such attitudes still pervasive?
As someone who admires Singapore’s multiculturalism and plans to apply for citizenship next year, this incident unfortunately contrasts with the inclusive values that drew us to this nation.
Tara Guo
