The History Of Hoarding Toilet Papers

[RickyWee]

https://mothership.sg/2020/03/toilet-paper-hoarding-history/

The toilet paper mystery is solved!?

Scarcity mindset developed by historic events

In a Facebook post on Mar. 3, Eliza Teoh, a children’s book author and former journalist, explained the historical significance of toilet paper hoarding.

She pointed out that older generations have lived through many cycles of economic expansion and recession, and that from those experiences, they understand that basic necessities such as food and everyday items could become priced beyond their reach.

Here in Singapore, she added, our elders recall the food rationing that occurred during the Japanese Occupation in the 1940s, as well as the scarcity caused by Singapore’s independence from Malaysia.

Between the 1950s and 1970s, Teoh wrote, food production rose greatly, but bad weather in 1972 caused food prices to again rise and become unaffordable for the poor.

All of these global situations, she says, are what caused people to develop a mindset of scarcity, which in turn made them anticipate future food shortages.

Rumour sparked panic-buying

Then, in 1973, the Arab oil embargo occurred, enacted by Arab oil producers to protest American military support for Israel during the Arab-Israeli War.

The embargo disrupted not only the global oil supply, but also food production and that of other everyday items, wrote Teoh.

What happened next, she added, was due to the scarcity mindset mentioned earlier.

After a flyer by a supermarket in Osaka, Japan “gave the wrong impression” that toilet paper was running low, people in Osaka “stampeded” to buy it before the prices increased.

Footage of the incident then sparked similar situations elsewhere in Japan, and many people were injured, wrote Teoh.

Here’s a photograph she included of the toilet paper panic-buying.

You can read Teoh’s full post, which has been shared more than 1.6k times at the time of writing, here:

 

[Windwaver]

She pointed out that older generations have lived through many cycles of economic expansion and recession, and that from those experiences, they understand that basic necessities such as food and everyday items could become priced beyond their reach.

So Ms. Eliza Teoh is saying old people are the ones hoarding toilet paper?

Luckily I'm not that old yet.

 

[BanCoe]

41 minutes ago, Windwaver said:

She pointed out that older generations have lived through many cycles of economic expansion and recession, and that from those experiences, they understand that basic necessities such as food and everyday items could become priced beyond their reach.

So Ms. Eliza Teoh is saying old people are the ones hoarding toilet paper?

Luckily I'm not that old yet.

 

Old means like @RadX ..... since WW2 😆

[Victor68]

Very discriminating,  hope her old is referring to above 90. I have yet to buy any so far. 😞

[Watwheels]

Those who survived WWII are either super old or super dead liao lo.

The super old where got strength to hoard so many stuff?

It's no mystery. It's called kiasu or kiasee. Stop using the old as a shield to defend the kiasu-ism of younger ppl.

Edited March 19, 2020 by Watwheels

[Windwaver]

6 minutes ago, Watwheels said:

Those who survived WWII are either super old or super dead liao lo.

The super old where got strength to hoard so many stuff?

It's no mystery. It's called kiasu or kiasee. Stop using the old as a shield to defend the kiasu-ism of younger ppl.

Young people think they smarter but sometimes I find some comments quite brainless 

[mersaylee]

Don’t discriminate...

Young or old also need to pangsai 

Young or old the sai also stinko cannot smell one

Very young and very old may also need to wear diapers one 

garment gives out mask then sanitizer maybe will give toilet paper next 

dinosaur generation Radx gets diapers 

 

[BanCoe]

[Hamburger]

Hence auntie and uncle abnormality solved

[boonhat_91]

16 hours ago, RickyWee said:

After a flyer by a supermarket in Osaka, Japan “gave the wrong impression” that toilet paper was running low, people in Osaka “stampeded” to buy it before the prices increased.

Footage of the incident then sparked similar situations elsewhere in Japan, and many people were injured, wrote Teoh.

Here’s a photograph she included of the toilet paper panic-buying.

 

Maybe that's why modern Japan got nice bidet everywhere

[inlinesix]

How much toilet paper you need?
https://howmuchtoiletpaper.com/

[Yewheng]

This is a good reminder.. Never be too quick to judge. I admit I am guilty of it.. After reading this post.. I felt ashamed of myself.. 

 

Like I previously been thinking what could be the possible reason why these people buy so many eggs in one go when people started panic buy. I am thinking possible reason could be they are stall owners of hawker centre selling fried kuay tiao, carrot cake and etc. This post confirmed it.. 

 

There is also one post went viral where the Maggie mee was filled to the brim in the Honda shuttle. Now think of it, this guy could also be selling mince meat noodles and etc at stall of the coffeeshop. 

Edited March 22, 2020 by Yewheng

[Sosaria]

On 3/20/2020 at 10:36 AM, boonhat_91 said:

Maybe that's why modern Japan got nice bidet everywhere

No needa bidet actually. Why can't people learn to scrub their backsides??

Surely, for those who are parents, they've done that for their small kids. So the yucky factor is put out of the way already.

Or is it many parents rely on their maids?

[Jamesc]

There is no difference between hoarding toilet paper and if a bank is going bankrupt queuing outside a bank to take all your money out.

If the shop no more toilet paper you better keep some at home.

If the bank no more cash you better keep all your own money at home.

Both also used to be paper products and paper is a necessity.

Face mask also made of paper.

That's why the most important things in life is

scissors, paper, stone.

 

[kobayashiGT]

 

[RickyWee]

On 3/22/2020 at 8:08 AM, Yewheng said:

This is a good reminder.. Never be too quick to judge. I admit I am guilty of it.. After reading this post.. I felt ashamed of myself.. 

 

Like I previously been thinking what could be the possible reason why these people buy so many eggs in one go when people started panic buy. I am thinking possible reason could be they are stall owners of hawker centre selling fried kuay tiao, carrot cake and etc. This post confirmed it.. 

 

There is also one post went viral where the Maggie mee was filled to the brim in the Honda shuttle. Now think of it, this guy could also be selling mince meat noodles and etc at stall of the coffeeshop. 

Yup, most people would just assume they are hoarders just because they bought a lot of eggs. There are actually many jobs out there being affected due to the lock down issues and hoarding. Some hawkers may not be able to get their supplies due to Malaysia lock down as that might be their only supplier. Therefore, they will find other ways to continue their business eg. buying from supermarkets. This article says a lot about us Singaporeans as we just assume things without knowing the actual reason behind it.  

I hope we can take this as a learning experience and help one another in times like these. Thankful for those people who actually help to spread this article so that we can help clear this misunderstanding of our hardworking hawkers.