Yesterday in the Bangkok Post I saw an article about the Delhi dogs and Korean soup, and almost posted about it — of course The Marmot had already beat me to it. Then I read another snippet about People in Port Moresby apologizing to Fiji for their ancestors killing and eating some missionaries in the 19th Century. “Sorry we ate your parents!” or something like that…
When I met my super gorgeous fantastic Korean wife, she had never been out of Korea. I’ve been deliberately taking her on overseas trips, so that she can see how the rest of the world behaves, and looks like.
She has been comparing Korea, and the behavior of Korean society to what she has seen elsewhere. Her conclusion, “I’m embarrassed to be Korea”.
Then again I’m embarrassed by all the fat people back home.
I liked it better when the “recent comments” listed the recent comments from the most recent posts. Right now, a heated discussion about one post will wipe out comments listed from other posts.
Actually, the Missus rescued me!!! (I’m a schmuck, so I married up!) When people think their society is Number 1, then nothing changes, nothing improves. If more people in Korea were embarrassed like my wife, then maybe things would improve. I like the British, they always complain — About Themselves!!, self reflection leads to changes, hopefully for the better. Yes, I have taken her to South East Asia!!!
Here’s a question for everyone (and hopefully sir Marmot will chime in):
This blog has been graced by a series of guest posters for about a year now. Everyone will remember the debates about Shelton. Now we’ve got metropolitician doing his hyper-excessive rambling here rather than his own verbose blog (see recent PR for the new pulp fiction movie, and the poster’s oh-so-hurt response to the criticism).
Personally, I have a lot of respect for Robert’s laid-back approach to the whole thing. Clearly he understands the value of diversity in creating a vibrant online community. I’d like to ask, in the most general sense possible, how do people feel about guest posters?
It’s not like there’s a limit on the number of threads these guest “posters”?, is that what they are, can bring in. I believe Robert hasn’t slowed down that much. We just seem to have some additional topics.
I got one. Since I read the piece about three months ago about the governments rationalizations on fewer and fewer trash cans, I’ve seen subways losing their trashcans. Empty spots where they used to be.
There was some counter logic about if there are less trashcans, there will be less trash. Huh? I guess only ex-pats are complaining. I haven’t heard a word from the Korean community.
One thing is certain, less trash cans will only mean less trash in trash cans, not less trash. I realize that some government officials here and, well, anywhere, haven’t got two braincells communicating with each other in their entire bodies but even they are not that stupid. A consumer society will keep consuming. Until the products are put out in recyclable or biodegradable packages it’s simply going to end up on the ground instead of in trash cans.
The only thing I can think of is that somebody in the system has a friend who makes those official trash bags which are twenty times more expensive than the same ones without the markings. They’re probably hoping that more people will cart their trash home which, of course, is perhaps happening a little more. I’m sure it adds up. But do these guys ever stick their noses out the window and get a whiff. It’s getting ripe on the streets.
Sometimes I just stare in stunned awe at how much trash there is on the streets of Greater Seoul. Everytime my inner mother pressures me to be considerate about the empty coffee cup I know not what to do with it is quickly quieted by the unavoidable recognition that, yes, I am indeed in “The Garbage Dump of Asia”TM.
Does the elimination of trash cans in public places (e.g., subways) have anything to do with “terrorist-proofing,” the rationale that was given for similar actions in U.S. cities?
The “official trash bags which are twenty times more expensive than the same ones without the markings” are the way they charge for garbage pickup, which I actually found pretty ingenious when I first encountered it upon moving here. Charging households for waste disposal based on the amount of trash they generate rather than an arbitrary fixed fee? Brilliant!
You know better to post that kinda stuff and expect a reply. Most people here want to believe that Korea is the source of all the horrible things that ails humanity and they want to retain that belief no matter what. It reminds me of some bizarrly clinging on to of some type of fundamentalism and orthodoxy.
Do not attempt to instill balance here. You’ll have a bunch of professional Korea haters gang up on you. If not here, then in some other post, any chance they get. They have nowhere else other then cyber space to vent their frustrations. Don’t take that away from them.
“hmm…Korea treats foreigners badly. Must be due to Japan.”
wjk, you’re looking for a problem when it’s not there: “All foreigners must be members” doesn’t mean foreigners must be members to enter. It means that the restaurant wants to make every foreigner a member.
Seriously though, Japan’s xenophobia is no excuse for Korea’s xenophobia.
#30, yes, bombs in parks are not unprecedented - remember the case in Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta where Eric Rudolph was much later convicted of killing one woman and injuring 111 other people with a bomb. Of course this bomb was placed in a backpack under a park bench, not in a trashcan. No word as to whether they removed all the benches as a terror risk….
Has anyone else had his/her browser hijacked while reading American news sites by an ad from performanceoptimizer dot com? (Believe me, if you have, you’d know it.)
Generally speaking, I prefer guest posters’ contributions over the “contributions” of those who, seemingly with a vendetta against certain guest posters, flame said guest posters.
I don’t read every post and comments. I just the ones that interest me and move on.
for the future of South Korea, and for the wellfare of USFK and disgruntled expats in Korea,
May Lee Myung Bak defeat Okamoto’s daughter, who has waged nothing but mud slinging politics in the past couple months, and emerge as the winner of the Han Nara candidate for Presidency.
If he loses, it’s because of idiots who worship Okamoto as god.
My Korean dentist: Your crown is in bad shape, but since you are not Korean it might hold out for another few years.
Me: Come again?
Dentist: Koreans tend to chomp straight up and down, putting more pressure on teeth. Foreigners, who like to keep their mouths closed when eating, tend to chew more from side to side.
I should have asked him to explain the shouted sneeze.
Hate to interrupt the pity party, but no one (okay, almost no one) here thinks that “Korea is the source of all the horrible things that ails (sic) humanity.” Now, maybe if you’d posted this at Occidentalism I could see your point…
As for the videos… yeah, that sucks. I’m sure you could find similar racist crap in my homeland, the good ol’ U.S. of A., not to mention just about any other country. Asshole is cross-cultural. Profound revelation there.
The reason wjk might—and not unjustly—get slammed for posting those videos is because of an aversion to balance as you claim, but rather because it appears to be the tired old tu quoque “defense” that seems to be the only tactic in the arsenal of so many Korea defenders. Wrong is wrong, whether it happens in the U.S., Japan, or Korea. Thing is, this is a Korea blog, so it follows that many of the wrongs that are pointed out here are going to be Korean ones. And granted, some of the people who point out Korea problems here may do it out of bitterness or schadenfreude. But the vast majority, it seems to me, do so because they genuinely want to see this great place become even better.
The reason wjk might—and not unjustly—get slammed for posting those videos is because of an aversion to balance as you claim, but rather because it appears to be the tired old tu quoque “defense” that seems to be the only tactic in the arsenal of so many Korea defenders. Wrong is wrong, whether it happens in the U.S., Japan, or Korea. Thing is, this is a Korea blog, so it follows that many of the wrongs that are pointed out here are going to be Korean ones.
And granted, some of the people who point out Korea problems here may do it out of bitterness or schadenfreude. But the vast majority, it seems to me, do so because they genuinely want to see this great place become even better.
Korea rocks!
I dare say many of us foreign posters here, even the critical ones, have a higher opinion of Korea and its potential than many Koreans do.
The reason there aren’t any garbage cans around is the shop ajummas used to put there trash in them and fill them up (thereby scoring free rubbish removal service). It has nothing to do with terrorism.
Guys, this place is 100% perfect and doesn’t need to change one iota, so stop criticizing it! Uhh… if anything is wrong, not that there is, it’s the Nips’ fault.
Something happened with the formatting in comment #40, so I’m going to try again.
The reason wjk might—and not unjustly—get slammed for posting those videos is because of an aversion to balance as you claim, but rather because it appears to be the tired old tu quoque “defense” that seems to be the only tactic in the arsenal of so many Korea defenders. Wrong is wrong, whether it happens in the U.S., Japan, or Korea. Thing is, this is a Korea blog, so it follows that many of the wrongs that are pointed out here are going to be Korean ones.
Yes, very true.
And granted, some of the people who point out Korea problems here may do it out of bitterness or schadenfreude. But the vast majority, it seems to me, do so because they genuinely want to see this great place become even better.
Half-right. Most commenters here do like Korea, but I don’t think anybody is foolish enough to think that our comments in English on this blog are going to spark change. It’s just electronic chatter akin to conversations in cafes or bars.
Would anyone happen to know of a certain freelance American K/E translator who would be in his mid-50s know who has done a ton of work for Samsung? Fell out of touch about 7 years ago and am curious about his well-being. If so, please contact mezurashi2001@yahoo.com with information. Thanks much.
Let me get this straight, they removed the trashcans from subway stations and parks because ajummas were hauling their trash there to dispose of it? I figure they earned the free service.
50 Comments
Ah… First?
Yesterday in the Bangkok Post I saw an article about the Delhi dogs and Korean soup, and almost posted about it — of course The Marmot had already beat me to it. Then I read another snippet about People in Port Moresby apologizing to Fiji for their ancestors killing and eating some missionaries in the 19th Century. “Sorry we ate your parents!” or something like that…
When I met my super gorgeous fantastic Korean wife, she had never been out of Korea. I’ve been deliberately taking her on overseas trips, so that she can see how the rest of the world behaves, and looks like.
She has been comparing Korea, and the behavior of Korean society to what she has seen elsewhere. Her conclusion, “I’m embarrassed to be Korea”.
Then again I’m embarrassed by all the fat people back home.
Let me annoy everyone by doing some 팔불출 thing -
What always happens when my girlfriend appears (whether she appears with me or comes to my table) in a public place where there are tables:
1. Everyone looks at her;
2. Non-gay couples immediately leave the place for being threatened; and
3. Non-gay guys who appear after us sit AROUND our table, and most of them stare at my girlfriend.
#2,3
isn’t that what the locals call a dwaen jang nyuh?
blah, blah, blah, I rescued this Korean girl, now she thinks Korea sucks, blah, blah, blah, I am a white guy in Korea. But I hate Korea.
tsk tsk
no sane person would say I went to Poland and rescued this Polish girl and now this Polish girl thinks Poland is shit.
You guys do it.
all the time.
> 2. austin
Hell, take here to China, any part — or even more extreme, South Asia — She’ll be damn proud of Korea, and to be Korean…
I liked it better when the “recent comments” listed the recent comments from the most recent posts. Right now, a heated discussion about one post will wipe out comments listed from other posts.
Whatever happened to that dude who was the center of a brief scandal a while back for posting photos of naked women (hookers?) on his blog?
Oh yeah, and writing about his exploits.
#4
wjk, my girlfriend is a (model-like) Brazilian and a resident in one of the best hospitals in the U.S.
austin & French Quarters
That’s it. Rub it in for the rest of us poor singles. T.T
In other news…
http://movies2.nytimes.com/200......html?8dpc
Awesome, awesome movie. I haven’t laughed like that since The Aristocrats or Harold & Kumar.
I didn’t take you for a Lionel Richie fan, Robert
Next it’ll be Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney.
Actually, the Missus rescued me!!! (I’m a schmuck, so I married up!) When people think their society is Number 1, then nothing changes, nothing improves. If more people in Korea were embarrassed like my wife, then maybe things would improve. I like the British, they always complain — About Themselves!!, self reflection leads to changes, hopefully for the better. Yes, I have taken her to South East Asia!!!
This used to happen to me, in Australia, 5 years ago. Now only the the loneliest of ajjoshis bother to oggle my wife while I’m around… ㅜㅜ
Words, words, words, I want pictures!!!
In other news I am back in the USA (screw you, PRC) and am loving clean air, free speech, and my iPhone (bitch!)
Here’s a question for everyone (and hopefully sir Marmot will chime in):
This blog has been graced by a series of guest posters for about a year now. Everyone will remember the debates about Shelton. Now we’ve got metropolitician doing his hyper-excessive rambling here rather than his own verbose blog (see recent PR for the new pulp fiction movie, and the poster’s oh-so-hurt response to the criticism).
Personally, I have a lot of respect for Robert’s laid-back approach to the whole thing. Clearly he understands the value of diversity in creating a vibrant online community. I’d like to ask, in the most general sense possible, how do people feel about guest posters?
It’s not like there’s a limit on the number of threads these guest “posters”?, is that what they are, can bring in. I believe Robert hasn’t slowed down that much. We just seem to have some additional topics.
I got one. Since I read the piece about three months ago about the governments rationalizations on fewer and fewer trash cans, I’ve seen subways losing their trashcans. Empty spots where they used to be.
There was some counter logic about if there are less trashcans, there will be less trash. Huh? I guess only ex-pats are complaining. I haven’t heard a word from the Korean community.
One thing is certain, less trash cans will only mean less trash in trash cans, not less trash. I realize that some government officials here and, well, anywhere, haven’t got two braincells communicating with each other in their entire bodies but even they are not that stupid. A consumer society will keep consuming. Until the products are put out in recyclable or biodegradable packages it’s simply going to end up on the ground instead of in trash cans.
The only thing I can think of is that somebody in the system has a friend who makes those official trash bags which are twenty times more expensive than the same ones without the markings. They’re probably hoping that more people will cart their trash home which, of course, is perhaps happening a little more. I’m sure it adds up. But do these guys ever stick their noses out the window and get a whiff. It’s getting ripe on the streets.
Sometimes I just stare in stunned awe at how much trash there is on the streets of Greater Seoul. Everytime my inner mother pressures me to be considerate about the empty coffee cup I know not what to do with it is quickly quieted by the unavoidable recognition that, yes, I am indeed in “The Garbage Dump of Asia”TM.
If I see that stupid “Rushy and Cashy” commercial on TV one more time I’m gonna bitch slap a taxi driver.
#13 -
Ever hear the Richard Cheese & “Stephen Hawking” cover of “The Girl Is Mine”? Priceless.
#18 -
A couple points:
Does the elimination of trash cans in public places (e.g., subways) have anything to do with “terrorist-proofing,” the rationale that was given for similar actions in U.S. cities?
The “official trash bags which are twenty times more expensive than the same ones without the markings” are the way they charge for garbage pickup, which I actually found pretty ingenious when I first encountered it upon moving here. Charging households for waste disposal based on the amount of trash they generate rather than an arbitrary fixed fee? Brilliant!
hey, guys, I think this Yesu thing and aid work thing is popular in Europe, too.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/200.....fghanistan
Curse the Taliban.
hmm…Korea treats foreigners badly. Must be due to Japan.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....mp;search=
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....mp;search=
this looks like Fascist propaganda mobiles in the 1930s to 1945.
how odd.
Short of Purple Hearts, Navy tells Korean War vet to buy own:
http://www.chron.com/disp/stor.....;width=800
# 24 and #25,
You know better to post that kinda stuff and expect a reply. Most people here want to believe that Korea is the source of all the horrible things that ails humanity and they want to retain that belief no matter what. It reminds me of some bizarrly clinging on to of some type of fundamentalism and orthodoxy.
Do not attempt to instill balance here. You’ll have a bunch of professional Korea haters gang up on you. If not here, then in some other post, any chance they get. They have nowhere else other then cyber space to vent their frustrations. Don’t take that away from them.
#27
I second that.
“hmm…Korea treats foreigners badly. Must be due to Japan.”
wjk, you’re looking for a problem when it’s not there: “All foreigners must be members” doesn’t mean foreigners must be members to enter. It means that the restaurant wants to make every foreigner a member.
Seriously though, Japan’s xenophobia is no excuse for Korea’s xenophobia.
They are also removing trashcans from parks. Is some terrorist going to blow up a park?
#30, yes, bombs in parks are not unprecedented - remember the case in Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta where Eric Rudolph was much later convicted of killing one woman and injuring 111 other people with a bomb. Of course this bomb was placed in a backpack under a park bench, not in a trashcan. No word as to whether they removed all the benches as a terror risk….
Has anyone else had his/her browser hijacked while reading American news sites by an ad from performanceoptimizer dot com? (Believe me, if you have, you’d know it.)
That wasn’t just an ordinary partk. That was a park in the midst of the olympics. How is that comparable?
@17
Generally speaking, I prefer guest posters’ contributions over the “contributions” of those who, seemingly with a vendetta against certain guest posters, flame said guest posters.
I don’t read every post and comments. I just the ones that interest me and move on.
for the future of South Korea, and for the wellfare of USFK and disgruntled expats in Korea,
May Lee Myung Bak defeat Okamoto’s daughter, who has waged nothing but mud slinging politics in the past couple months, and emerge as the winner of the Han Nara candidate for Presidency.
If he loses, it’s because of idiots who worship Okamoto as god.
German captive of Taliban freed. Great police work.
My Korean dentist: Your crown is in bad shape, but since you are not Korean it might hold out for another few years.
Me: Come again?
Dentist: Koreans tend to chomp straight up and down, putting more pressure on teeth. Foreigners, who like to keep their mouths closed when eating, tend to chew more from side to side.
I should have asked him to explain the shouted sneeze.
#27~28 -
Hate to interrupt the pity party, but no one (okay, almost no one) here thinks that “Korea is the source of all the horrible things that ails (sic) humanity.” Now, maybe if you’d posted this at Occidentalism I could see your point…
As for the videos… yeah, that sucks. I’m sure you could find similar racist crap in my homeland, the good ol’ U.S. of A., not to mention just about any other country. Asshole is cross-cultural. Profound revelation there.
The reason wjk might—and not unjustly—get slammed for posting those videos is because of an aversion to balance as you claim, but rather because it appears to be the tired old tu quoque “defense” that seems to be the only tactic in the arsenal of so many Korea defenders. Wrong is wrong, whether it happens in the U.S., Japan, or Korea. Thing is, this is a Korea blog, so it follows that many of the wrongs that are pointed out here are going to be Korean ones. And granted, some of the people who point out Korea problems here may do it out of bitterness or schadenfreude. But the vast majority, it seems to me, do so because they genuinely want to see this great place become even better.
D’oh!
… is not because of an aversion to balance as you claim…
And granted, some of the people who point out Korea problems here may do it out of bitterness or schadenfreude. But the vast majority, it seems to me, do so because they genuinely want to see this great place become even better.
Roger the last!
Korea rocks!
I dare say many of us foreign posters here, even the critical ones, have a higher opinion of Korea and its potential than many Koreans do.
The reason there aren’t any garbage cans around is the shop ajummas used to put there trash in them and fill them up (thereby scoring free rubbish removal service). It has nothing to do with terrorism.
D’OH! “their trash”
Guys, this place is 100% perfect and doesn’t need to change one iota, so stop criticizing it! Uhh… if anything is wrong, not that there is, it’s the Nips’ fault.
Something happened with the formatting in comment #40, so I’m going to try again.
Yes, very true.
Half-right. Most commenters here do like Korea, but I don’t think anybody is foolish enough to think that our comments in English on this blog are going to spark change. It’s just electronic chatter akin to conversations in cafes or bars.
Chatter like in cafes or bars? Right, but minus the civility.
#46 -
Who said anything about sparking change? I was speaking strictly to motive, not to efficacy.
So was that you or your visitor talking, Sonagi?
Would anyone happen to know of a certain freelance American K/E translator who would be in his mid-50s know who has done a ton of work for Samsung? Fell out of touch about 7 years ago and am curious about his well-being. If so, please contact mezurashi2001@yahoo.com with information. Thanks much.
Let me get this straight, they removed the trashcans from subway stations and parks because ajummas were hauling their trash there to dispose of it? I figure they earned the free service.