TikTok creator @gavs.rana<\/a>, has drawn nearly 25,000 views and over 200 comments on Reddit and TikTok combined, with discussions about whether Singaporeans are indeed overly critical, overly conformist, or simply practical.<\/p>\nIn his own words, the man said, \u201cI think Singapore is the land of the Karens. There is such a huge culture for judging and complaining, and you\u2019re incentivised to be a bot, to be an NPC.\u201d He then added that while saying this about Singaporeans, \u201cIt\u2019s been so much more rewarding because I feel like an outlier just by doing this. It\u2019s simple, just putting myself out there, and I feel rare. It\u2019s crazy.\u201d<\/p>\n
The man\u2019s remarks spread on the video platform and the Reddit forum, where commenters debated whether Singapore\u2019s culture truly rewards conformity more than individuality.<\/p>\n
What does \u201cNPC\u201d even mean?<\/h2>\n
The term \u201cNPC\u201d comes from video games; it stands for \u201cnon-playable character,\u201d usually referring to background characters controlled by a game\u2019s programming rather than independent decision-making. The term has evolved into slang for people seen as overly predictable, passive, or simply following social scripts without questioning them.<\/p>\n
So when the TikTok video creator said Singaporeans are \u201cincentivised to be a bot, to be an NPC,\u201d he appeared to be referring to the way local society rewards people who closely follow accepted paths. This could mean studying hard, avoiding risk, staying within social norms, and prioritising stability over standing out.<\/p>\n
The man\u2019s comment also mirrors a common criticism usually aimed at high-pressure Asian cities: that efficiency and order can sometimes come at the cost of individuality. Still, some commenters pushed back against the idea that being \u201cnormal\u201d or being conventional is somehow negative.<\/p>\n
One commenter on Reddit argued that conformity exists partly because it works. \u201cWe complain because it works in Singapore. By complaining, things get fixed. It works. The government works, compared to other countries,\u201d the commenter opined.<\/p>\n
Another pointed out the irony of the original video itself. \u201cSo, this guy is complaining about other people complaining. Everything has come full circle,\u201d while another added, \u201cEveryone thinks they\u2019re special.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s OK to be normal\u2026\u201d<\/h2>\n
One of the longer Reddit responses gained attention for defending what many online call \u201cNPC behaviour,\u201d or mindset.<\/p>\n
The commenter wrote that there was \u201cabsolutely nothing wrong with being an NPC,\u201d arguing that ordinary lifestyles provide the safest and most stable route for most people. Therefore, \u201cIt\u2019s OK to be normal.\u201d<\/p>\n
The person added that middle-class stability, worker protections, work-life balance, and the five-day work week were built by large groups of ordinary people, not rebellious outliers.<\/p>\n
The same commenter also argued that Singaporeans have gradually become more open-minded over the years despite the country\u2019s reputation for conformity.<\/p>\n
Seeking balance: People just want stability and a manageable life<\/h2>\n
Debates like this appear in Singapore from time to time because the country sits in a middle ground between structure and self-expression.<\/p>\n
As Singapore rewards order, efficiency, and predictability, this system has helped create public safety, reliable infrastructure, and economic stability. At the same time, younger Singaporeans are increasingly exposed to global internet culture that celebrates individuality, personal branding, and unconventional lifestyles.<\/p>\n
Complaining may be common among Singaporeans, even if not among all. Grumbling about transport, prices, queues, or policies may also be typical among locals, but they also believe public complaints help improve services and accountability when all else fails.<\/p>\n
In that sense, the TikTok creator\u2019s remarks may have resonated with many because they touched on something people, including Singaporeans, already recognise, even if others disagree with his conclusion: one side may want freedom from social expectations, while the other may see those expectations as part of why Singapore functions as smoothly as it does.<\/p>\n
Being different may attract attention in tightly organised societies, but being ordinary is also not the insult the internet sometimes makes it out to be. Most people simply want stability, decent work, and a manageable life, as the earlier \u201cIt\u2019s OK to be normal\u201d commenter wrote, \u201cI am an outlier [as well], and if there is one thing I would tell people, it is that you have to be comfortable being an outlier, otherwise conform,\u201d and perhaps seeking that balance is the way to go without resorting to any form of absolutes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n