Before I write word one, I’m going to admit that this is a pretty petty post. In the grand scheme of things the topic is a trifle less important than laundry lint. Still it’s something I’ve noticed and find to be a continuous source of aggravation – kinda like that squeaky door you never get around to dousing with WD-40. So bear with me as I embark on a brief, Bell-inspired rant.
You see, local phone numbers in Singapore have eight digits. I’m not sure if this is related to the Chinese affinity for the “lucky” number or a complete aversion to area codes, but for whatever reason, seven doesn’t cut it in Sing-land.
On first glance you’d think this would be one of the easier adjustments to make, but actually the concept goes against the natural order of things. Everyone knows that there is a specific rhythm to giving a phone number. You got five-five-five (pause) one-two (slight pause) three-four. It’s all pretty musical. Simply – Ba-ba-ba – dada-dada. Easy right?
Sure some of you are thinking, well dude I throw in a two digit combo on the last four – you know something like: five-five-five (pause) thirty-eight (slight pause) sixty-two. True, but when you think about it, it’s really the same magical beat that allows for easy memorization. Just imagine some hammerhead giving you his number like this: five (pause) twenty-one (long pause) one, fourteen, (even longer pause with an “um” thrown in) two. It sounds like a retarded quarterback spouting his locker combination.
And there folks lies my issue. Without the musical score I can’t remember my own number, never mind someone else’s. Sure I could rely on advanced phone features like well, contact lists and such, but I’m someone whose VCR has been blinking twelve noon since the Regan administration. Yeah, I’m pretty much a back of the napkin kinda guy.
So until someone comes up with a nifty memory boosting idea I’ll continue using the old seven-digit song trick, with the final number encased in a sarcastic sentence. For example, five-five-five (pause) one-two (slight pause) three-four...and ah, two, as in "it is too F-ing ridiculous that I have to remember this extra friggin' number." A bit wordy perhaps, but cheaper than a psychologist.
Ha ha! And I thought you were going to go on about the phone cleaning service in the office. Not sure if they have that in Sing-land but in other Asian destinations I know that is a standard weekly office thing and then you come in the next morning with a nice little paper ring on your phone saying that it has been sanitized for your protection. Just like in those cheap hotels in NJ except those are on the toilet instead. Makes you wonder what those Asians think is going on with the phone.
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