Comments on: Congratulations, thanks and a warning http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/12/16/congratulations-thanks-and-a-warning/ Korea... in Blog Format Sun, 12 Oct 2008 19:04:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Seth Gecko http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/12/16/congratulations-thanks-and-a-warning/#comment-59369 Seth Gecko Mon, 18 Dec 2006 18:11:52 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/12/16/congratulations-thanks-and-a-warning/#comment-59369 I like this site a lot, but this giant disclaimer was pretty lame. We're not retards, and no native English speaker would consider "The Marmot's Hole" to be the Korean CNN. Although you denied it, it feels like the whole post was made for the benefit of any idiot Korean netizens (redundancy) that may be lurking. I like this site a lot, but this giant disclaimer was pretty lame. We’re not retards, and no native English speaker would consider “The Marmot’s Hole” to be the Korean CNN. Although you denied it, it feels like the whole post was made for the benefit of any idiot Korean netizens (redundancy) that may be lurking.

]]> By: jp http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/12/16/congratulations-thanks-and-a-warning/#comment-59244 jp Sun, 17 Dec 2006 18:42:22 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/12/16/congratulations-thanks-and-a-warning/#comment-59244 Robert, Thanks for the kind words. Japundit has been inspired by The Marmot's Hole right from the beginning. Keep on keepin' on. JP Robert,

Thanks for the kind words.

Japundit has been inspired by The Marmot’s Hole right from the beginning.

Keep on keepin’ on.

JP

]]> By: besottedtom http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/12/16/congratulations-thanks-and-a-warning/#comment-59220 besottedtom Sun, 17 Dec 2006 13:55:02 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/12/16/congratulations-thanks-and-a-warning/#comment-59220 Thank you. I like my soju straight btw. Thank you. I like my soju straight btw.

]]> By: a-letheia http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/12/16/congratulations-thanks-and-a-warning/#comment-59219 a-letheia Sun, 17 Dec 2006 13:47:27 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/12/16/congratulations-thanks-and-a-warning/#comment-59219 besottedtom: <blockquote>I can’t wait to get back there....I made many many Korean freinds while there..ok, not really my freinds, but my wifes freinds. Doesn’t matter…some are hot!!</blockquote> I'd say you're going to fit right in back here. besottedtom:
I can’t wait to get back there….I made many many Korean freinds while there..ok, not really my freinds, but my wifes freinds. Doesn’t matter…some are hot!!

I’d say you’re going to fit right in back here.

]]> By: besottedtom http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/12/16/congratulations-thanks-and-a-warning/#comment-59211 besottedtom Sun, 17 Dec 2006 13:00:16 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/12/16/congratulations-thanks-and-a-warning/#comment-59211 I like your blog. Granted, the very first 15 or 20 minutes of reading it I thought it was just a bunch of english teachers hating on Korea. I was right, but it's all good. When my wife returned from there (she's from Itaewon. The good part. Past "the hill")she said it was good to be home; meaning the states. Then started complaining about cab drivers, rude Koreans, crazy drivers, the smell of parts of the city, you know, all those things I complained about when living there that pissed her off because I was picking out negative things with her country. I can't wait to get back there. It was interesting, frustrating, and challenging all at the same time. I made many many Korean freinds while there..ok, not really my freinds, but my wifes freinds. Doesn't matter...some are hot!! So yea, to make a long post shorter..I wouldn't sweat it. If I were looking for info before my first trip to Korea, an expat blog would not be my first choice for that info..unless it was where to find the good clubs. I wonder if the Mexican expats in the states feel the same about us? You know, anti-mexican, speak english only, etc. Or do they just go about picking our lettuce and onions? I like your blog. Granted, the very first 15 or 20 minutes of reading it I thought it was just a bunch of english teachers hating on Korea. I was right, but it’s all good.
When my wife returned from there (she’s from Itaewon. The good part. Past “the hill”)she said it was good to be home; meaning the states. Then started complaining about cab drivers, rude Koreans, crazy drivers, the smell of parts of the city, you know, all those things I complained about when living there that pissed her off because I was picking out negative things with her country. I can’t wait to get back there. It was interesting, frustrating, and challenging all at the same time. I made many many Korean freinds while there..ok, not really my freinds, but my wifes freinds. Doesn’t matter…some are hot!!
So yea, to make a long post shorter..I wouldn’t sweat it. If I were looking for info before my first trip to Korea, an expat blog would not be my first choice for that info..unless it was where to find the good clubs.
I wonder if the Mexican expats in the states feel the same about us? You know, anti-mexican, speak english only, etc. Or do they just go about picking our lettuce and onions?

]]> By: cm http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/12/16/congratulations-thanks-and-a-warning/#comment-59205 cm Sun, 17 Dec 2006 12:34:30 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/12/16/congratulations-thanks-and-a-warning/#comment-59205 <blockquote>I realize I could be reading much more into your post than is there,</blockquote> You you are right. You're reading too much into this. <blockquote> Why are foreigners made to feel they need to praise Korea in order to stay on Koreans’ good side?</blockquote> That is not what he said. <blockquote>Why can’t we just discussion issues normally without fear of cast out of the country?</blockquote> Are you afraid of being tossed out of the country for speaking your mind? It doesn't seem like you are.

I realize I could be reading much more into your post than is there,

You you are right. You’re reading too much into this.

Why are foreigners made to feel they need to praise Korea in order to stay on Koreans’ good side?

That is not what he said.

Why can’t we just discussion issues normally without fear of cast out of the country?

Are you afraid of being tossed out of the country for speaking your mind? It doesn’t seem like you are.

]]> By: The King of Blogs at Lost Nomad http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/12/16/congratulations-thanks-and-a-warning/#comment-59191 The King of Blogs at Lost Nomad Sun, 17 Dec 2006 06:34:14 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/12/16/congratulations-thanks-and-a-warning/#comment-59191 [...] First, read this.  Then, go read this. [...] [...] First, read this.  Then, go read this. [...]

]]> By: shakuhachi http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/12/16/congratulations-thanks-and-a-warning/#comment-59188 shakuhachi Sun, 17 Dec 2006 05:43:22 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/12/16/congratulations-thanks-and-a-warning/#comment-59188 <blockquote>Why are foreigners made to feel they need to praise Korea in order to stay on Koreans’ good side? Why can’t we just discussion issues normally without fear of cast out of the country?</blockquote> Good question. The existence of such a question reveals the actual status of foreigners in Korean society, I think <blockquote>By the way, I love kimchi and Korean barbecue.</blockquote> So do I! I also like aspects of Korean culture and can speak Korean. I get good reactions from Korean people for this. However if I was asked about a subject like Dokdo and I was anything less than 100% percent behind Korea, then the <em>kibun</em> goes to hell and it is like nothing else matters.

Why are foreigners made to feel they need to praise Korea in order to stay on Koreans’ good side? Why can’t we just discussion issues normally without fear of cast out of the country?

Good question. The existence of such a question reveals the actual status of foreigners in Korean society, I think

By the way, I love kimchi and Korean barbecue.

So do I! I also like aspects of Korean culture and can speak Korean. I get good reactions from Korean people for this. However if I was asked about a subject like Dokdo and I was anything less than 100% percent behind Korea, then the kibun goes to hell and it is like nothing else matters.

]]> By: gbevers http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/12/16/congratulations-thanks-and-a-warning/#comment-59187 gbevers Sun, 17 Dec 2006 05:17:42 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/12/16/congratulations-thanks-and-a-warning/#comment-59187 Robert, After reading your post I was left with a similar impression as Aletheia. For example, what exactly does the following mean? <blockquote>I was recently involved in a discussion on a certain online forum when I was made aware that some people might be taking this blog for something that it is not. This is in large part my fault, as the About page probably makes this blog seem more than it is.</blockquote> The explanation of your online "discussion" was somewhat cryptic, wouldn't you say? What was actually said? Were you and your blog accused of being anti-Korean? Was an indirect threat made? Did you really feel as if you needed to post a "warning" to "foreign Netizens" that your blog might be giving them the wrong impression of Korea? Do you really believe that the content of your site is so far off the mark that you needed to post a warning? Actually, it appears you are trying to walk a thin line between having to say "Hanguk Saranghae-yo" and, "Screw off! I'll post things as I see them." By the way, I liked the way you squeezed in the "5,000-year history" comment. You were able to win points with Koreans there, but, at the same, you were able to avoid being labelled an "ass kisser" by adding "depending on who you ask." I realize I could be reading much more into your post than is there, but I just get the feeling that there was more to it than your simply worrying that foreigners may get the wrong impression of Korea. Why are foreigners made to feel they need to praise Korea in order to stay on Koreans' good side? Why can't we just discussion issues normally without fear of cast out of the country? By the way, I love kimchi and Korean barbecue. Robert,

After reading your post I was left with a similar impression as Aletheia. For example, what exactly does the following mean?

I was recently involved in a discussion on a certain online forum when I was made aware that some people might be taking this blog for something that it is not. This is in large part my fault, as the About page probably makes this blog seem more than it is.

The explanation of your online “discussion” was somewhat cryptic, wouldn’t you say? What was actually said? Were you and your blog accused of being anti-Korean? Was an indirect threat made? Did you really feel as if you needed to post a “warning” to “foreign Netizens” that your blog might be giving them the wrong impression of Korea? Do you really believe that the content of your site is so far off the mark that you needed to post a warning?

Actually, it appears you are trying to walk a thin line between having to say “Hanguk Saranghae-yo” and, “Screw off! I’ll post things as I see them.” By the way, I liked the way you squeezed in the “5,000-year history” comment. You were able to win points with Koreans there, but, at the same, you were able to avoid being labelled an “ass kisser” by adding “depending on who you ask.”

I realize I could be reading much more into your post than is there, but I just get the feeling that there was more to it than your simply worrying that foreigners may get the wrong impression of Korea. Why are foreigners made to feel they need to praise Korea in order to stay on Koreans’ good side? Why can’t we just discussion issues normally without fear of cast out of the country?

By the way, I love kimchi and Korean barbecue.

]]> By: Robert Koehler http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/12/16/congratulations-thanks-and-a-warning/#comment-59181 Robert Koehler Sun, 17 Dec 2006 03:29:08 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/12/16/congratulations-thanks-and-a-warning/#comment-59181 <blockquote>I apologize if I am wrong, but it seems like you are getting a bit worried that what happened to Gerry and the “Pusan 9″ is going to happen here.</blockquote> Actually, I'm not really concerned about that happening. Or better put, I'm not any more concerned about that happening than any foreign blogger in Korea should be. Frankly, it's not the Korean netizens that worry me, but rather the foreign netizens who might come away from my blog believing, as cm half-joked above, that Korea was a craphole on the verge of a Boxer Rebellion. Most bloggers in the United States don't really worry that what they post will give readers in Botswana the wrong impression of America, and I don't intend to show the same concern here, but given the limited amount of English language material about Korea, it probably behoves me to ensure that readers don't mistake this blog for what it's not.

I apologize if I am wrong, but it seems like you are getting a bit worried that what happened to Gerry and the “Pusan 9″ is going to happen here.

Actually, I’m not really concerned about that happening. Or better put, I’m not any more concerned about that happening than any foreign blogger in Korea should be. Frankly, it’s not the Korean netizens that worry me, but rather the foreign netizens who might come away from my blog believing, as cm half-joked above, that Korea was a craphole on the verge of a Boxer Rebellion. Most bloggers in the United States don’t really worry that what they post will give readers in Botswana the wrong impression of America, and I don’t intend to show the same concern here, but given the limited amount of English language material about Korea, it probably behoves me to ensure that readers don’t mistake this blog for what it’s not.

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