Korean Job Discussion Forums

[The Man known as The Man]

[The Man known as The Man]

[peppermint]

Is there something in the water in this country lately- why are so many blatant trolls appearing?

Buddy- you have my sympathy. It's pretty clear that with the lack of social skills that you've displayed here, you won't get to know many people.

edit: Every child in Korea who grows up dreading this day and the family of the girl mentioned in the OP have my sympathy too- of course.

[crazylemongirl]

[GirlFromMars]

no man is an island... although it would be nice to live on an island, with a nice man

empathy is instinctive. ignorance is a choice even if it isn't self-recognised as such.

GFM

[buddy bradley]

What's with all the hostility in this thread?

Love. Faith. Hope.
That's all I'm saying.
Peace.
O - U - T.

[gajackson1]

Ok, first things first: (mod hat on)

Katy, I don't know what you think about BB or hos posting in general, but I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, looking at the question he posed. The truth of the matter is that there are any numbers it could have been meant, and not all of them are heartless, as you apparently took it.

Understandably, that would put someone on the defensive right away.

BB, I respect your right to NOT give a flip about that student, if that is how you feel and really aren't setting up a bonfire. Thisis, after all, a Discussion Forum, and you are ENCOURAGED to express your opinions within the framework of the rules that are set up.

TMKaTM, sometimes I feel the same way when I read the things people post. But threats of physical violence don't really serve any practical purpose here.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(User hat on)

The pressure here is bad (and even worse in Japan, if you follow the news/stats). In fact, pressure like that on any level is just plain crummy, IMHO. What about all the 'White Horse' girls, or those businessmen-fathers who killed themselves during the Korean crash/IMF bailout???

I guess the best we can do is deplore it, and try to make sure we don't put that kind of pressure on others. I don't think I any of us, as an individual, is capable of changing the entire system.

But, we CAN change our own little part of it.

Hopeful still,

Glen

[Mr. Pink]

http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200311/200311050014.html

http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/SITE/data/html_dir/2003/11/06/200311060046.asp

You can read about it here in English incase you missed KBS news last night.

Pretty sad you guys gotta argue about petty stuff like to sympathize or not...IMO if you don't care, DONT POST.

The results come out in December, and I am pretty sure this wont be the only suicide this year.

[helly]

CLG, you are correct in pointing out that the chain connection of early schooling to future professional success is not limited to Korea. Pressure to excel and pressure to be accepted to the top schools, clubs, and companies happens in many countries around the world.

I think one of the differences, though, is that (at least from my experience in the states) it is a socio-economic phenomenon that isn't necessarily portrayed in Korea. The New England bluebloods and their offspring around the country are probably most guilty of pressuring their children with ridiculously expensive and exclusive private schooling (from kindergarten on up). 5 generations of Harvard or Yale grads in your family is hard to fight. When you do see a middle-class student accepted to the Ivy League, it is often by the sweat of his/her labor, not necessarily the push from his parents, who very likely didn't even go to university.

I'm not sure about here in Korea. I wonder if we see a class difference affected by the test pressure. Yes, SNU or Yonsei or Ewha or die, but does this really represent the reality. Is this simply a case of some Koreans saying, "Well, in Korea....." or "Koreans think....." Yes, the student suicide is a news event (or is it, I mean it happens every year??) and will be picked up by the media. To what extent is the media making this a country-wide phenomenon?

I think the lack of diversity, not racial but in terms of values and goals, is a major player. The all-or-nothing mentality puts too much pressure on all. Let's face it, not everyone is going to be a successful lawyer or businessman. A commercial high-school grad should not be relegated to a life of being a secretary or factory worker. Education should be providing a platform that allows each student to identify his/her skills, values and goals and help them down a chosen path. That doesn't seem to exist here, too much of a road-map already is defined for them.

To address the empathy question: Most of us here are probably teaching Korean students (I am not but I did in the past). We are connected to the test syndrome simply because our students will at one time be subject to the pressure. It is possible that one of your students will commit suicide because of this pressure and the idea that sweet litte So Young in your morning kindy class will take her own life, a life that you see as full of hope and curiosity, probably doesn't sit well with most people. THAT, BB, is why I think you should care. But it is your right to disagree with that.

[Drakoi]

Granted that it's tradgic when any kid dies, but given the choice would you rather have kids commit suicide or shoot up their schools ala Columbine etc.?????????????????????

[Zyzyfer]

[buddy bradley]

How about you punching me in the head instead Zyzyfer?

[Zyzyfer]

You've gotta grope me first. I'm not that easy!

[nocturno culto]

buddy bradley why is a mod threatening you? You are too good for that!!!

[Zyzyfer]

buddy bradley why is nocturno culto your sock puppet? You are too good for that!!!