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Another old blog post of mine has been edited and published in Yahoo! Finance Singapore.
Link here: http://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/debt-always-bad-071329360--sector.html
The original blog post (unedited):
Good debt is always good?
For sure, my way is not the only way and, indeed, it could even be unsuitable for some. I have always said that there is room for diversity in this world. As long as people are taking action to improve their financial health in a legitimate and effective way, can we say that they are wrong? No but we could possibly say they are not doing enough which becomes more subjective an exercise.
I only find those who wallow in self pity and entrap themselves in holes of their own making, blaming everyone else for their problems, unforgiveable. Worse, they might find comfort in the company of their own kind, going in a downward spiral. Could they help themselves? Yes, I believe.
I like to help myself by keeping an open mind and listening to what others have to say before I draw my own conclusions about things although I cannot guarantee that my personal bias would not color my decisions. This is probably as good as it gets.
Still, dare I hope that the response to this article would be more positive and civil than the last one?
Related post:
Article published in Yahoo! Finance Singapore.
Bloggy Award
22 comments:
Hi AK
Comments from the public, especially in Yahoo are never going to positive, at least for the majority part.
I have my articles published recently as well from yahoo and the comments are mostly negative.
So some people absorb while the others comment crudely.
B
Hi B,
Et tu? Hope you won't mind providing the link to an article of yours that was published in Yahoo. I would like to read. :)
Hi AK
It's actually in the same link to the yahoo page as yours which you have provided above :). It's titled as "The importance of dividend paying shares..." in the related article.
I hope that we can see you live on tv one day, maybe someone would interview you really soon :)
B
Hi B,
Thanks for letting me know. I will go read. :)
As for a TV interview, I was asked by a production house doing a program for CNA before but I declined. I recommended MusicWhiz instead but I think he recommended Alvin of BigFatPurse. Hahaha.. I am camera shy. :)
If my blog were a money making effort, then, it could make sense to give up anonymity and become more popular but since I am blogging primarily as a hobby, nah. ;)
Hi AK,
Just a few comments on my side...
1. I've read e comments on yahoo, just wish to vouch for the 6k laying cables claim, its true (its called networking, not just laying cables LA... I came from IT sector too, you see, but I was only earning 1-3k myself those years)
2. I think its healthy to question claims on e internet... Those that are shaky will not stand the test of time...
3. I also remember calculating how much it would cost to borrow for a 1 million dollar home when in college.... And was thinking to myself its impossible! The monthly installment for 800k loan then was 3.6k! How times have changed over the years!
4. I also transferred some of OA to SA.
5. When I was feeling down and out during e US credit downgrade and a lot of other corrections, this blog is one of e very few that says Buy!! Anyone else remembers those times? The best statement from that time is: if you stay out of the market now, you will be one of those who whine that the boat has sailed when the market eventually recovers.
Tree
Hi Tree,
1. Yes, networking. To a lay person like me, I thought it was just laying cables. Haha... He had so many certificates. He told me each certificate he got, his earnings would increase. Microsoft etc. $6k. I was impressed. That was more than what I was making. Maybe, I was even a little jealous which was why the number stuck in my mind. ;p
2. I don't mind people questioning claims at all. I think they should. After all, why should they trust some AK71 whom they don't know from Adam? However, doing so in a civil manner is quite different from being cocky and rude...
3. Cheap money is now everywhere. Caution is still required today just like it was required in yesteryears when interest rates were much higher. It is just required for different reasons now. ;)
4. Let time and the government help us meet the minimum sum required at retirement. It certainly works for me.
5. Thank you for remembering. :)
You have no idea what this comment of yours means to me. I am very touched. Thank you.
Tree . Don;t mind my curiosity. Your nick , d34af78e-43ac-11e2-aa43-000bcdcb5194. Some sort of IMEI number ?
Hi Snoopy,
I don't really know about that... I got an aim account as AK disabled anonymous postings... Somehow the postings always comes out like this 8P. I'm not purposely trying to look sophisticated. Really!
Tree 8P
Hi AK,
I hope our frivolous exchanges today have kept you busy enough to stay away from being stirred by the not-so-civil comments on your guest post on Yahoo!.
Remain zen - this is my pet phrase. Confucius said, '穷则独善其身，达则兼济天下'. When the circumstances are difficult, we just focus on cultivating ourselves. :)
Cheers,
Endrene
Hi EY,
I just went to see the comments. I am more amused now than sad like I was after the first post. Thanks for showing concern. :)
I watched a Chinese period drama about the Han Dynasty. The royals were debating about 無爲, a Taoist concept.
Wu wei refers to the cultivation of a state of being in which our actions are quite effortlessly in alignment with the ebb and flow of the elemental cycles of the natural world. It is a kind of “going with the flow” that is characterized by great ease and awake-ness, in which - without even trying - we’re able to respond perfectly to whatever situations arise.
Source:
http://taoism.about.com/od/wuwei/a/wuwei.htm
Nice! I rather like this. :)
Hi AK,
Yes. Important that we can '随遇而安'. Learning to be emotionally disengaged is certainly part of self cultivation too. :)
Thanks for sharing this Taoist concept. I have a friend who studies 易经. She shares some of these gems on FB now and then too. I like how Taoism focuses on managing our thoughts and translating them into actions and I can very much connect them with the Confucian teachings that I embrace. :)
Cheers,
Endrene
Hi Endrene,
In my golden years, when I am retired and I no longer have to care for my parents, one thing I intend to do is to stay on Wudang Mountain for a few weeks or months if I am still alive and healthy by then. Really. :)
Hi AK/ Endrene,
Indeed the concept of 无为 is really interesting, many a time people are too eager to act on something when the best thing to do may actually be nothing. It takes wisdom to know when to/ not to act and to act appropriately when necessary.
It's something like one is there yet not there haha.
Best wishes,
Eugene
P.S. Endrene - 穷则独善其身，达则兼济天下 is from 孟子 Mencius :D
Hi Eugene,
You are a scholar of the Chinese classics too? Oh my. Mencius. Haha.. I only remember Mencius and filial piety. I wasn't paying much attention in class, I guess. :(
As for 無爲, it possibly appeals to me because I am such a lazy person. ;p
Hi Eugene,
Thanks for pointing this out! I remember it as part of the Confucian teachings (儒家思想). Should have studied harder to remember its origins so that credit be duly given to the deserving thought master!
Have a great weekend - to both you and AK! I'll be making myself scarce for now, after hoarding AK's virtual space for the past 2 days. Just checking to ensure there aren't anymore comments that I need to reply for my guest post.
Hey AK, maintaining a blog is really a lot of work! *SALUTE*
Really glad that you have the stamina. Keep it going! Men who have gone through NS are a steady lot. Really honour to have known you online. :)
Cheers,
Endrene
Hi Endrene,
When I was teaching, I used to tell students that if they were interested in learning, that would keep me going. How would I know? I would need feedback. It kept me interested too.
Now, with blogging, it is pretty much the same. Interaction with readers keep me interested. The comments provide the fuel for me to keep going. My readers give me the stamina to go on! Nothing to do with 2.5 years in NS! ;)
So, don't you do a disappearing act on us here. Come back again anytime. :)
Hi AK,
You are a good teacher. :)
I'll certainly still drop by ASSI frequently. But trying to be mindful that I don't hoard the comments section and become a nuisance.
We can keep our conversation going through email. If there are interesting stuff I come across, I'll share it with you. And also, I'll drop by SMOL's blog now and then and perhaps we can join hands to inspire (or maybe irk) him. I love being irritating sometimes! :P Guess that's also a more liberated platform to channel my 'Lian-ness'. Need to help you maintain a professional and cultured image here. ;P
Cheers,
Endrene
Hi Endrene,
SMOL's blog is indeed a more liberated platform. Hahahaha... I always enjoy visiting his blog although I might not always leave comments.
ASSI is not a professional and cultured blog because AK71 is not a professional and neither am I cultured. So, not to worry about doing any maintenance work. ;)
I look forward to hearing from you again in the near future. :)
Haha no not a scholar, just some interest in chinese classics.
But indeed it's the comments section that allow dialogue between you and your readers that will throw up something useful (or entertaining!) from time to time.
Best,
Eugene
Hi Eugene,
Oh yes, I agree. The comments sections are the most precious parts of ASSI. No doubt about it.
I can only hope that more readers will contribute their thoughts over time. This is a blog, not a newsletter, I always say. :)
Ha choo!
Eh?
Aiyoh, bless you, SMOL... ;)
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