Jan 17, 2007 - The Straits Times
By Tan Hui Yee & Chua Hian Hou
IS THERE A GAMING ADDICT IN YOUR HOME?
IT MAY start out looking like a harmless hobby, but for more and more Singaporean youths, video and computer games are becoming a serious obsession.
Five or six years ago, about one patient under the age of 19 admitted to the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) in a year would have problems associated with gaming or Internet addiction. Now, about 12 of the roughly 200 new young in-patients the institute sees every year need treatment for such problems, said Dr Daniel Fung, a senior consultant psychiatrist at the IMH's child guidance clinic.
The warning signs are varied, but not difficult to spot: withdrawal from social activity, worsening grades, restlessness when away from the computer and even outbursts of anger if prevented from playing games. The problem is significant enough that a new centre was opened in August last year to help young people truggling with game addictions. So far it has handled more than 40 cases. Touch Community Services, which runs this 'cyberwellness' centre in Bukit Merah, provides mentoring and counselling for young people and also works with their parents on the problem.
The rising number of cases comes as online video games like World Of Warcraft and MapleStory become more popular. A 2004 report by research firm IDC put the number of gamers here at more than one million.
In one case the centre saw last year, a secondary school boy had lost touch with many of his friends after moving to a new estate and resorted to online gaming to get to know people. According to Touch's cyberwellness and sports manager, Mr Poh Yeang Cherng, the boy eventually became hooked, spending more than 12 hours a day playing the game MapleStory. Once an extrovert, the boy turned moody, his grades slipped and he began playing truant. After the boy went for counselling, he made friends with the staff and mentors at the centre. Meanwhile, his mother attended workshops to understand the difficulty her son
was going through and joined a support group for parents having similar problems with their children.
Today, the boy spends only about two to three hours gaming every day and has found a new group of friends.
Mr Poh said it is important to understand the child's motivation. In some cases, he may want to feel the sense of achievement, or like the competition or immersing himself in another world. By identifying the motivation, it is easier to address the problem.
Experts said that parents can prevent their children from becoming video game addicts by keeping a look-out
for the warning signs and engaging their kids in meaningful activities. They also said that some parents who notice signs of addiction do not react until their children begin failing exams or throwing temper tantrums.
Delaying action can allow the obsession to get out of hand, making it harder in the long run to help the child get back on track.
Interestingly, saw this article on the papers.
Jan 9, 2007
TEENS VENT ON ONLINE DIARIES FOR THE WORLD TO READ
(as reported on The Straits Time Interactive (Digital Life) on 9th Jan 2007):
Miss Emily Butler used to keep a pen-and-paper diary. But after her mother found it, the Arlington, Virginia, teenager started pouring out her feelings online.
'When there were days when I just needed to rant, it felt good,' said Emily, 16, a second-year student at Yorktown High School who started a blog on the site Xanga a couple of years ago.
'Once I discovered, like, posting online, it definitely became, 'Why would I write it in a book?' '
Online diaries have become a well-known phenomenon in recent years, with teenagers and young adults attracted to the genre in huge numbers.
Parents, teachers and police constantly urge young people not to reveal too much about themselves online. They warn that disclosures might be read by university admissions officers and potential employers, not to mention stalkers and paedophiles. But a review of major blogging and social-networking websites shows that online diaries remain popular for teenagers, and interviews with experts and young diarists such as Emily help explain the psychology behind going public with what used to be private thoughts.
Of course, it is hard to know how many of these diary entries represent truth, fantasy or something in between.
Ms Rochelle Gurstein, author of The Repeal Of Reticence, a book about the erosion of privacy in the United States, said the blogs seem to reflect an 'unprecedented change' in teenagers' sense of modesty.
'The teenage girl that used to be the most vulnerable, protected member of society is now unsupervised, left to her own devices, with access to the Internet, and what does she do?
'Broadcasts to the whole world to see her in her most vulnerable moments.'
Many young bloggers say they do not think people other than friends are reading their journals.
Professor Gerald Goodman, professor emeritus of psychology at the University of California at Los Angeles, said young bloggers are following a deep human impulse. 'This is practically genetic, this need to be known by another human,' he said.
Emily acknowledged that relating online provides a social buffer. But that is part of the appeal. 'Saying, like, 'Hey, do you like me?' ' she said. 'In person it would be the most awkward thing in the world.' Breaking up online is also OK, she said. Then she reconsidered: 'Breaking up online is so sixth grade. Like, by eighth grade you should at least call them.'
Teenagers and young adults are using online diaries to talk about their innermost thoughts. -- POSED PHOTO
-- The Washington Post
To clarify why I didn't post what the gal actually posted in her blog but described what I read instead. This is because whatever you post on the Net is freely accessible, anyone could have easily search out who she is.
I checked up with a counsellor friend of mine. According to him, from the counselling point of view -> It's difficult to help someone who's unwilling to be help. 
Been following up on her blog. She seems better now; has stopped talking about slashing herself though most of her post still revolved about her relationship woes. I guess she's just pouring her "sorrows". Not a major problem.... just that the whole world gets to read it. And if you see your name/school name up there in the blog...well well well, I won't want to think what kind of confrontation would follow.
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I came across this very depressing blog. It's real, it's not made up or stuff. The writer of the blog was very depressed, upset, emotional. She's apparently giving up her boyfriend to her best friend. She's semi suicidal and she's resorting to slashing herself (at least that's what she claims in her entry) to release her "pain".
What would you do if you were me? A mere stranger who chanced upon such a blog? Can I help her? Or watch her waste away?
Please type your reply in the comments not the tagboard. Thanks.
Don't we all do it at a point or other? Well it happens to me. Misinterpretation, misunderstanding, miscommunication, mistakes. What not? Anyways, just got to do more communication to clear up the misunderstanding, miscommunication & the mistakes. Though it's a little late for Santa but I hope it's not too late for you. *winks*
Had an interesting conversation with two little gals recently (2 of them are sharing a MSN account in this converstion. The different colour represents different people)
-----------------------------------
someone@hotmail.com says:
hi again noth to say la hahahahahaha
someone@hotmail.com says:
huh
someone@hotmail.com says:
funny face
someone@hotmail.com says:
is Miss X
someone@hotmail.com says:
she love u n admire you too!!!
someone@hotmail.com says:
no!
someone@hotmail.com says:
that one is Miss O
www.kermitkhoo.blogspot.com says:
huh???
someone@hotmail.com says:
oh my heart broken...
www.kermitkhoo.blogspot.com says:
huh??
www.kermitkhoo.blogspot.com says:
i'm confused.
www.kermitkhoo.blogspot.com says:
about???
someone@hotmail.com says:
hie hie.... Miss X love u soooo much lol
www.kermitkhoo.blogspot.com says:
???
someone@hotmail.com says:
i joking la
www.kermitkhoo.blogspot.com says:
i love all of u too!
www.kermitkhoo.blogspot.com says:
you all are my little nieces mah!
www.kermitkhoo.blogspot.com says:
BUT, it's a healthy kinship love!
someone@hotmail.com says:
oh ok ok yeah i love u!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
www.kermitkhoo.blogspot.com says:
yes yes, me too!
-----------------------------------
Is it wrong to love/have feelings for another person of the same gender? No way??? Why should it be. I like many girls and women out there with a healthy love. Among them is my mother, sister, granny, nieces, gal friends. Am I a lesbian? Of course not! So please don't go round teasing people lesbians or gays.
Things only get distorted when say a girl like another girl beyond the normal friendship and starts fantasying about being in a special relationship with her. Or worse, having sex with one another. This is sick! Yucks.
Are you entering a new season of your life? Moving on to something NEW? Something you've never done before???? E.g. primary going on to secondary school OR secondary school to JC/poly OR coming out to work after years of studies?
Are you afraid? Excited? Unsure? Lost?? ---> Relax, it's normal. :)
If you feel that you had the best of times in your previous season (say pri school); trust me, the future can only get better (not worse)!!! Armed with all that you've already gain previously; you start to learn more things, make new frens, acquire new skills & grow wiser & more knowledgable! 明天会更好！！！ (Translated as tommorrow is an even better day!)
Click here for lyrics
It's here again. Betcha know what!
| View Show | Create Your Own
I've been trying really hard to locate The Lion King vcd. Looked in all the major video shops HMV, Borders, asked my frens, even trying on YouTube. Do you have it???? Anyone I found this really funny video. Laughed my heads off! Enjoys!!!
These are a really special bunch of gals. They have really grown since they first joined in 2004. The company faced a crisis this year due to the 5 day work week policy. The most frequently spoken sentence this year must be "Gals, officers cannot be with you all the time. It's going to be very tough but all of you can do it k" And my my, each of them have really grown to be a leader.
Take a look at the camp planned by them: Amazing Race @ Sentosa 
Create Your Own!
A game we played:
It's the holidays! Being a youth worker, I have to tune in my holidays with those of the youths in school. Where I work is now a buzz of life and activity.
Where I work (as articulated by a colleague) :
On 5 Aug 2006, a cyber-wellness centre to help youths deal with issues like video game addiction through mentoring and counseling, was opened by Senior Minister of State for Law and Home Affairs Ho Peng Kee. Situated in Bukit Merah, teachers can book the centre to allow their students to experience a healthy and balanced gaming environment, under the supervision of a youth mentor. The centre aims to help youths understand why they are drawn to games, offer healthy alternatives, as well as provide mentorship through a healthy gaming environment.
Our centre has been male-dominated for the longest time but we finally had some balance when the gals came in. We started our weekly "All Gals Female Wellness" just for the ladies. Who says gals don't game. Just that they are drawn to games for different reasons. Haha.
Gals need time to warm up, ice breaker helps!
Continuation from when I first lost my voice check it out here
As of today I got 20% of my voice back. But still can't exert can feel the strain in the throat. Checked out with a doctor friend of mine. Most probably it's acute inflammation due to virus. Usually resolves within 3 weeks. Though it was actually quite fun in the start not being able to talk but it soon turn to exasperation in some occasions. But there were some good & funny stuff that came out of this as well.
**I took a cab on Friday and had to resort to typing my destination on sms to show the cab driver. When I alighted the uncle insisted on taking $10 from me though the meter was reading $10.60. I was really touched. To think that I was still hallucinating what if he drive me to some ulu place & I'm not able to shout for help. Thanks uncle though I didn't manage to see your car plate number. God bless you!
** I'm currently speaking in a whispery voice now not using my vocal cords. Previously I sounded like an orc from Lord of the Rings when I could speak a little. And to my amusement some of my gal-friends replied back in the small little whisper. Some of them really forgot. Funny!
** My mom was really worried for me before she left for holiday with my dad. She was like "You cannot talk still go to work for what!!!!" Much as I tried to hand-signal that though I lost my voice my body could still pretty much function. Anyway I did went for another check on Thursday as I was also getting worried about this sudden lost of voice. To my greatest amazement the doctor gave me 2 days MC. She said that viral infection unlike bacteria infection needs the body immune system to be strong & fight the virus so the body should rest as much as possible. Mommy's right! :p Oh my sister bought me voice gums too. So nice of her!
** And my kind colleagues who covered my duties as well.
** I wondered alot why I lost my voice without any rhyme or reason. I haven't fully understand yet. I shall keep asking I'm sure everything happens for a reason & there is no concidence! TELL ME WHY WHY WHY!
Children Learn What They Live
If a child lives with criticism, he learns to condemn . . .
If a child lives with hostility, he learns to fight . . .
If a child lives with fear, he learns to be apprehensive . . .
If a child lives with pity, he learns to feel sorry for himself . . .
If a child lives with ridicule, he learns to be shy . . .
If a child lives with jealousy, he learns to feel guilt . . .
BUT
If a child lives with tolerance, he learns to be patient . . .
If a child lives with encouragement, he learns to be confident . . .
If child lives with praise, he learn appreciation.
If a child lives with acceptance, he learns to love . . .
If a child lives with honesty, he learns what truth is . . .
If a child lives with fairness, he learns justice . . .
If a child lives with security, he learns to have faith in himself and those about him . . .
If a child lives with friendlienss, he learns the world is a nice place in which to live . . .
by Dorothy Law Nolte
I first saw this poem was I was in primary school and my form teacher gave me a little bookmark, for Children's Day perhaps. At that time the poem was meaningless to me. I was more of like "SO MANY WORDS" kinda attitude.
Saw this again recently and thought about the environment I grew up in and how it has shaped the kind of person I am today. Better able to appreciate it now. A meaningful poem indeed.
What is past we cannot change but the future is for us to create :)
I lost my voice! Hasn't been able to talk since Monday. And I don't even know the cause of it. I didn't shout too much (no lesson these days) nor did I overeat on spicy stuff.
Sunday -> Weak voice
==Went to see doctor==
Monday -> Pain, no voice, got MC
Tuesday -> No pain, no voice
Wednesday -> No pain, no voice
Thursday -> I'm going to see the doctor again :(
Now I can only use my mobile phone to type out a message / write on paper / type on Word document if I want to communicate to others. Also I realized one other thing. When I'm sick I can display a really unhappy & black face. That was Tuesday when I went back to work. Anyway my family and colleagues were still very kind to me so I felt kinda bad after that. Okies 过就过了，明天会更好! (Translated: What is passed is passed, tomorrow is a better day!)
Last Friday we had our first combined Parent's Appreciation with the BB. It was good. A win-win situation! Do less gain more! (Since it's a combined effort each company did less work & end up achieving more)
Here's one of our senior gals sharing how being in GB has helped in her life. Personally I'm touched by her simple little sharing. Knowing these gals they'll never ever say such things. But as the occasion called for -> TA DA!!!!
This is something new to me. Generally the media portray women as the ones that turns psychotic / harbour a broken heart for the rest of their life / do some really weird stuff when the "love of their life" leaves.
See gals! It's possible, it's proven! You can CHOOSE to take a hold on yourself & be strong! The memories & hurt linger the longest because one CHOOSES to hold tightly to the past memories and refuses to let go. It's almost as if you want to try your very best to remember & replay all the past happy moments you had together.
The sad news is this. Until you CHOOSE to release those memories you will remain unhappy for just as long as you try to keep the past.
Some practial steps:
1) Throw away every single gifts you've exchange or remind you of the person
2) Stop listening to the weepy love ballads playing on 93._ station. You'll end up feeling sorry for yourself all over again
3) Share with a trusted mentor who can help you along this journey of recovery. One of them is me. Drop me a mail at kermittee@hotmail.com if need be!
I couldn't sleep after I saw the papers. It's about ten plus years since I was still in secondary school. Back then life was so peaceful, innocent. I wonder if one of the reasons was that I couldn't be bothered to read the newspapers then - the busyness of exams and school was my entire world then. (A pretty small world ya. Hahas)
And I couldn't find the answer which I've been asking myself in the recent years (since I've started working) why things have became so warped so ugly in such a short span of time.
Anyway I saw something which helped a little...
Quoted by Mr Huang Sabin:
* People are never our enemy - evil is. We must love people and fight evil
* We must fight evil using God's power, not our own
The Straits Times (Thursday, October 26, 2006 )
'It's a horrible thing that's happened to my daughter':
* Youth gang in Australia films sexual assault on girl, 17
* Outcry after video is put on Net and shown on TV
A wave of disgust has swept Australia following revelations that a gang of youths not only sexually assaulted a teenage girl but also filmed their acts for distribution on DVDs.
In what began as a meeting arranged through an Internet chat room, the teenager agreed to see two boys at a shopping centre in the Melbourne suburb of Werribee. But when she got there, she was surrounded by about a dozen youths and forced to a nearby river bank where the attack took place.
Note: Full article coming soon, stay tuned.
The Straits Times (Thursday, October 26, 2006 )
From star student to fraudster:
Two National University of Singapore undergraduates - both star students and one of them an accomplished young entrepreneur with an IQ of 160 - went astray when one of them chanced upon a website that detailed how credit cards could be cloned using stolen data cheating local banks out of $80,000 in just two months before they were apprehended by the police.
Note: Full article coming soon, stay tuned.
I usually am not so quick in catching up with technology. Wonder if this is a norm among gals out there. Here's something I found in the papers that pretty enlightened me on the changes in technology in this part of the world. Enjoys.
Singapore's infocomm efforts since the 1980s have led the nation to a digital age, in the way people learn, play and work. (Courtesy of Serene Luo; Digital Life) Create Your Own!