Past and Present...

Past: Part-time street surveyors would ask you "Hello Sir/Madam, could you spare 5 minutes for a simple, short survey?"

Present: Now, they ask "Hello Sir/Madam, are you a local or do you have PR status?"

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Past: When you logged onto the Internet and IM-ed somebody, you'd be assured of getting an instantaneous reply.

Present: You have to wait for up to 12 hours for a reply, sometimes even getting no reply at all. The fella just logs off without even replying.

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Past: You could walk in any neighbourhood mall with your eyes closed, and there'd be room for you to walk around without obstructing anybody's path.

Present: People walk deliberately with their eyes closed right into your path, even when your path was clear a moment ago.

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Past: Handphones were held only by men with suitcases and ties.

Present: You see kids who aren't even knee-high sporting the latest models of handphones (Yes, even newer than yours, you loser).

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Past: You could take an enjoyable walk down in the city anytime of the week.

Present: You have to be bothered by people refusing to budge when trying to sell you packets of tissue paper (even when you've politely rejected them), asking for surveys, begging for money (Bugis MRT anyone?) or chewren holding tin cans.

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Past: In any film you could get your hands on (movie theatre, rental or purchase), you'd be grateful if you could see explosions or bloody gunfights.

Present: You can now see tits, or "gyrating/humping action" even in NC16 films in the theatre. You look around the cinema and it's full of kids who don't even seem half your age.

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Past: You could talk to most sales assistants or store owners in English, and they try hard to reply, even if it's Singlish (broken English).

Present: You have problems communicating with them because they only speak Mandarin.