ACE blog prompts

As you annotate The Taximan's story, think about the following questions:

1. What is the irony in the story?
The taximan dislikes teenager nowadys but he makes a living from thhe exact same group of people that he dislikes and disagrees with.

2.What are the themes raised in this story?
- Degeneration of teenagers ( lack of moral values)

3.How realistic is this story?
I personally think that this story is without doubt, very realistic. This is happening in all parts of Singapore! Teenager lying to their parents about goin to school or the library but instead patronise coffee house or hotels. I think the main reason for this is peer pressure or a way for youngsters to distress and hang out with their peers. There are many life examples on these cases.

4.What do you think of the taximan? Do you feel sympathy for him?
I feel that the taximan is very rash and does not think before he acts when he gets infuriated. This is a main reason why people get into fights or conflicts. The ability of controlling ones temper and thinking before one does something is lacking in the taximan. If he thinks before he acts before confronting his daughter, the taximan may have went up and asked his daughter about the matter first rather than hurting her physically. I think that the taximan acted so rashly and violently because he was frequently beaten up by his father during his childhood and early adulthood until it is in his blood. He has the mindset that being strict with children is necessary. I do feel sympathy for him as he has gone through a very tough and harsh childhood. I am sure he felt very disappointed and betrayed when he found out that the daughter whom he trusts had betrayed him and lied to him. However i really feel that he should not act in a moment of anger and should think twice before he does anything.

5.Do you agree wuth his lamenting?
Yes, i do agree with his lamenting. Teenagers and youngsters nowadays are really getting out of hand. It is so common for youngsters to go to coffee houses and pubs after school that peole do not find it a strange sight anymore. I think that the youngsters and teenagers behave in this manner because their parents did not discipline them well. I am not recommending or encouraging canning or hurting the teenagers. I am proposing that parents should inculate a sense of self-discipline and integrity in the children from young. Parents should also be firm with their children and not give in easily. By doing so, I am sure the children will be more responsible when they become teenagers and not cause any trouble.

6.What about the oher characters in the story? Do you feel sympathy for them?
No, i do not feel sympathy for Lay Choo. It is hrt choice about hanging out at coffee houses or hotels after schoool and lying to her parents. It is solely her choice. Even if its peer pressure, a teenager with good moral values and a clear mind should know that those people who take friendship so lightly are not worth befriending. Although I realise and feel that her punishment was very severe, it is understandable that her father gets so angry.