Singapore - where trailblazing and tradition live side by side

I recently discovered a little iPhone app called SG Polls. I've come to love this app because it let's you participate in polls on subjects of interest to people in Singapore. Or more importantly it lets you read see the results which makes for very interesting reading.

So I wanted to share with you the results of a a selection of the most popular polls as I think it's a good reminder that Singapore is a wonderfully complex balance of being a trailblazing yet conservative country.

Actually before I reveal the results I would like you to take a guess at what you think the leaning of the results are, and then we'll compare them to the actual result.

Would you be willing to vote for a female politician?

Is Singapore society ready for openly gay MPs?

What is generally your reaction to public displays of affection?

Has the average length of skirts in Singapore reduced?

Would you support the setting up of a nudist beach in Singapore? (a potentially scary thought with all the old aunties and uncles ;)?)

Would you rather your son/daughter be gay/lesbian or marry someone of a different race?

OK so now for the results....

Is Singapore society ready for openly gay MPs?

Yes - 22%

No - 70%

No opinion - 8%

Would you be willing to vote for a female politician?

Yes - 84%

No - 10%

No opinion - 6%

What is generally your reaction to public displays of affection?

I feel uncomfortable - 23%

I feel jealous - 7%

I don't care it's their life - 48%

I stare at them so that they will stop - 4%

I enjoy watching them without their knowledge - 19% (this one made me chuckle!!)

Has the average length of skirts in Singapore reduced?

 

Yes, it's great - 45%

Yes, it's worrying - 14%

Yes, but it's of no concern - 18%

No, it's about the same as always - 10%

I don't look at the length of skirts - 12%

Would you support the setting up of a nudist beach in Singapore?

Yes, with no restrictions -  25%

Yes, but with restricted entry and assured privacy - 40%

Absolutely not - 28%

Only for visitors, citizens and PRs must pay $200 to enter - 7%

Would you rather your son/daughter be gay/lesbian or marry someone of a different race?

Be gay/lesbian - 5%

Marry someone of a different race - 45%

I don't care as long as they're happy - 49%

With roughly 900 - 1000 people  taking part  in each poll mentioned above, we don't know the specific breakdown of participants but we do know that they are iPhone users and in Singapore that could be a wide range of people given the iPhone penetration - 1 in 10 people (the highest globally).

So what picture of Singapore do you think this paints? Comparable with your guesses above? Drop me a comment and let me know what you think...