I am now buying tissue packs from aunties

It is not uncommon for any person living in Singapore to be approached by some students on a street or to be approached by some uncles/aunties in a foodcourt, both asking for donations. I believe that it is the inner core in all of us to care. It is within our reach and we generally would not hesitate to donate small changes, 10/20 cents, 50 cents, a dollar or two.

But I noticed myself that while I frequently donate to students with tin cans, I tend to be pulled back when it comes to buying a packet of tissue (well, now they give three) from an aunty for one dollar. I think I never bought one during my first two or three years in Singapore. Well, of course, their tissue packs are vastly overpriced but they aren't selling tissues, are they? They are asking for donations while doing something useful for me in return. Very often, it is not only me who do not buy from the uncles/aunties; I would see them winding their way around the tables only to receive hand gestures, polite or inpolite, until they are out of sight.

There can be a lot of possible explanations to it. One obvious reason is that we simply don't like to be begged when we are eating. But, some time ago, I read an interesting alternative. When we are asked for donation without so-called "a token of appreciation", our minds are dominated by social norms. In social norms, donating a few coins or even some dollar notes is not really a big amount. However, when we are confronted with an item of some economic value, our market norms kick in. Monetarily, it is the same amount, one dollar. But, it seems a lot more than the one dollar I slotted into a tin can, simply because the market value of a tissue pack is much less.

Nonetheless, it is fairly commonplace in Singapore to sell all sorts of items from chopsticks to cookies for charity. I once offended a close friend by hesitating to buy a cookie. It was just because of the market norms in my subconscious mind; I am sure I would not have hesitated to donate the same amount or even more if there were no cookies. But, I understand that sometimes, I just have to follow the crowd. If something doesn't come to me naturally, I will just have to force it with my conscious mind. I am now buying tissue packs from aunties in foodcourts.