Originally Posted by Unregistered

Obviously not everyone who joins banking is as capable as Darknite and able to achieve $105k in the first year. Nevertheless, the banking industry provides an opportunity for outstanding individuals like Darknite to get their due rewards.

On the other hand, the engineering industry gives everyone including the idiots almost the same pay, regardless of performance. Hence it is very unfair to those who have the ability, drive and ambition. I'm quite sure Darknite above would still be earning around $3k if he had stayed on, or maybe slightly more.

And the worst thing is people calling you "big time comparer". Sometimes it's not that you want to compare, but even if you become a hermit and stop meeting your former classmates, your wife and parents will still compare you with your siblings and relatives.

In fact for more than 10 years I turned down all invitations of gatherings with my former classmates, otherwise it would be really embarrassing if they turn up in their luxury cars and I have to explain why I didn't have a car because the COE cost 3 times my annual income (COE hit $110,500 in Nov 1994).

Then finally the day came, a few years ago, when a former classmate who is a specialist doctor invited me for "house warming" at his Katong bungalow. The first question he asked, after saying "Hi! etc.", was "So have you bought any properties?"