The Hello Kitty Syndrome

Long long time ago, in a country far far away which actually is smack right in the corner of South East Asia. There emerge a lifeless cat with short legs, 2 eyes and no mouth and for a set of fast food breakfast, lunch or dinner, customer get to have one lifeless cat of infinity life for a nominal price. The cat name is Hello Kitty and Hello Daniel and they come in 5 different pair with different assortment of costume. But in this country far far away and probably smaller than a Vatican City, a massive Q was formed by the natives to get their hands on the cats, the Q almost rival those at Vatican City where people around the world Q to get blessing from the Pope, at less peacefully.

What started as another MacDonald Value Meal promotion become a National Q-ing phenomean or should I say disaster. Many fanatic from young boys to old Ah Mah relentlessly Q up over the night almost everyday outside every brunch of MacDonald hopping to be the first few to get a hold of the limited stock of Hello Kittys the moment MacDonald opens at 6am in the morning. Waiting and camping outside of MacDonald for at less 6 hours is a norm.

What turn out to be peace and smooth as Vanilla soon brings out the ugly side of the society. Desperate Q cutting, quarreling, fightings and glass breaking. One incident happen between an old uncle and a group of Ah Bengs and Ah Lians. It was 1 vs many in a fight over "Who the hell Jump Q", that eventually required the intervention of the Police. Than there was the other case of the glass wall of the MacDonald outlet shattering due to crowd overpressure and pushing and shoving. Blood was drawn. Soon every Q around Singapore become a waste of tax payer money when Police have to be posted at almost every MacDonald to ensure law and order. So what begins as simply two lifeless cat almost stained the entire society. It brings out the best Kiasuism and Kiasee-sium in Singaporeans. And to see people getting the toys and throwing the fresh food away, I feel we ought to throw this kind of people to Africa.

All this craziness was thanks to a few speculators who mention that the price of a pair of Hello Kitties are going to fetch a high price over the second hand market, some even selling at more than 300% profit. No wonder Uncle and Auntie and even Ah Pek and Ah Mah who don't even know what Hello Kitty still brave the Q just to get their hands on one. Within a few months after the Hello Kitty Syndrome or Craze, this lifeless Cats are worthless in such EBAY ads

Back to the presents in the year 2006 and just for the past couple of days, we see the launch of Sony Playstation 3 and Nintendo Wii, two latest generation powerhouse gaming console from two video games giants. I was wrong when I think only Singaporean have the Q-ing culture. Our good old Americans here do so too! At less its not some lifeless critters but the latest in entertainment system. How the hell can you play with Hello Kitties? Role play them? The Playstation 3 is pretty awesome but I won't be buying it untill the price falls and definately not going to Q overnight for it. Nintendo Wii is pretty neat too for it got controllers with motion sensors and that adds a brand new dimension to gaming. Now I could be playing a tennis game and instead of pressing the buttons till my fingers get numb, I could just swing the controller till I break my arms. Ha ha.



If you have read the news for the past few days, you won't miss the news about the huge crowds around United States and Canada and Japan Q-ing up outside electronic superstore to be the first few to get their hands on this incredible entertainment hardware. However not everyone is buying just because they are in love with it but because of the second hand market rate for the console. What was US$450 in store becomes US$2000 in the Ebay market... Greed scores it points again and with greed comes violence.

Man kanna shot for not giving in to robbers

So what is the "Hello Kitty Syndrome"?

1) It is define as the desperation to buy some worthless stuff hopping to sell it of at a higher market price when the market is still hot like a burning matchstick (which fizzle really fast).

2) The act of sacrificing sleep, humanity, moral values and Values Meals in the garbage bin just two get the lifeless soft toy.