Post #3: Application Letter Critique

Post #2: Interpersonal Conflict

Marcus and Ryan are not the closest of brothers; they talk but hardly confide in each other. Marcus, being the elder brother, had recently graduated from the National University of Singapore (NUS), where Ryan is currently a sophomore. Both brothers share a car, which was solely paid by their mother – Marcus now pays half since he is earning a salary. Marcus has always had the priority to use the car since he was in NUS and this has raised several disputes between the two brothers. After Marcus graduated, he has been driving to work while Ryan takes the train to school. At home, apart from their parents, Marcus is usually the one who hangs up the washed laundry to dry – to his displeasure, of course. After a dispute (because of the car) sometime back, both brothers came to the agreement that Ryan will hang the laundry on Wednesdays. This was how it all started again:

It was past midnight when Ryan got home. Marcus was just about to go to bed.

“I’ll need to use the car every Friday, from next week onwards,” Ryan told Marcus.

Ryan has gym sessions with the varsity athletic team every Friday evening, after an entire day of lessons from eight in the morning. Without the car, Ryan would have to lug his gym things around campus the entire day.

“No! I’m paying for half the car now so I should have priority in using it. You can use it during the weekends when I don’t need it,” Marcus exclaimed, and shut the door behind him.

“The car is meant to be shared!” retorted Ryan.

Silence.

Over dinner the following Thursday, Ryan casually reminded Marcus that he will be using the car the next day because of his weekly gym sessions.

“No,” Marcus replied, and then went on to reiterate that since he is contributing towards the car, he should have priority over Ryan. He continued, “Without the car, I’ll have to wake up and leave for work a whole half-an-hour earlier. Can’t you just take the train to school?”

Fuming at how selfish Marcus was being, Ryan tried to reason with him, but was instead met with a non-related issue – the laundry, which Marcus always brings up whenever they argue about the car.

“You haven’t been doing your part in hanging up the laundry, why should I be fair when it comes to the car?” Marcus raised his voice.

“It’s an entirely different issue here and I’m just asking to use the car ONCE A WEEK!” Ryan snapped back, before trying to explain – once again – why he has not been able to do his laundry duty on certain occasions.

The argument continued with intense verbal exchanges.

Considering that the family will not get another car (or a maid), how would you solve the dispute between the two brothers for good?

Non-verbal Communication (Gestures)

I scanned this page from my MNO (Management and Organization) textbook. Basically, be mindful of your hand gestures!