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twg
Joined: 02 Nov 2006
Location: Getting some fresh air...
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 Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2007 4:57 pm Post subject: |
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| Yeah, the drivers usually have their "turf" they patrol and rarely leave. I would assume it's part not knowing the rest of the city, part territorialism (you know, guys in another part of town may not like that someone has come in to take their fares), and part not wanting to waste money on gas getting back to the area they usually work. |
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crazy_arcade
Joined: 05 Nov 2006
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| Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2007 5:19 pm Post subject: |
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I agree with PGF on this one.
Imagine that you're a monolingual taxi driver in New York and three drunks get in your cab...they speak Korean (which you understand none of) and they're saying, "Newuh Johseyuh.....Newush Johseyuh"
My friends have had the same experiences as you but strangely I haven't.
Being able to speak in decent Korean about your destination is a good start and being able to shoot the shit a little can only help. If they attempt some English I always compliment their English skills.
I've had negative experiences too but
I think Korean cab drivers are generally awesome. |
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PBRstreetgang21
Joined: 19 Feb 2007
Location: Orlando, FL--- serving as man's paean to medocrity since 1971!
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| Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2007 6:14 pm Post subject: |
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The whole point about cabs passing you based on a language barrier I can see. Especially since even though there are cabs that post "free translation" its not exactly hassle-free, especially compared to the fact that Korean require no help at all and well--- there isnt exactly a dearth of Koreans needing cabs in Seoul.
My only complaint to this though would, that while I am far from being even conversationally fluent in Korean, my korean is definetly good for practical purposes and a little extra. So I was talking to all the cabbies in Korean.
Maybe its is the whole juiced thing. I mean Hongdae has its fairly high quota of ridiculousy soused and stupid waygooks, who always managed to act as wonderful cultural ambassadors. |
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gangpae
Joined: 03 Sep 2007
Location: Busan
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| Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2007 6:48 pm Post subject: |
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| butlerian wrote: |
| Taxi drivers all over the world are the unscrupulous sort. Wake up to reality. |
Driving a Taxi is notoriously dangerous occupation. Robbery, beatings, and murder are common. Hence drivers tend to be cautious, and denial of service is a prerogative they deserve.
Further caution: Recently in Seoul a gang of boneheads had this plan: Let's kidnap female passengers in our unlicensed cab, force them to empty their bank accounts, and then murder them. |
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Ilsanman
Joined: 15 Aug 2003
Location: Bucheon, Korea
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| Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2007 7:55 pm Post subject: |
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So it's okay to deny club-goers but why in the world would you park your car right in front of a clubbing area? Are they expecting to pick up a sober christian?
| PGF wrote: |
The only time I had trouble in a cab was when I was with my korean wife. The taxi driver was obviously taking a long way to our building. I started to point this out and my wife just shushed me. When we got home she quietly told him that he deliberately took an out of the way route and that she was only going to pay him 2000 w. His reply, "your mind". No argument. He knew he was wrong.
I was surprised that he did this with her in the car. I've never had problems on my own and I frequently use taxis-almost everday. Usually I jump in the front seat, say hello, ask the driver where he's from, tell him his picture is very handsome, etc. This always gets him in a good mood and he tries to practice his broken english-e on me. We always part happy and I always let the driver keep the change. If the guy goes out of his way to drive fast and get me to my destination quickly I fork over a 1000 w tip.
As for Miss Seoul--> there have been tv news segments on airport taxi drivers ripping off foreigners--> running a fast meter, etc. Your argument that taxi drivers never rip off foreigners is insane. It's wodely publicized.
They even rip off your children. One of my students left all his books at home. I handed her 5000 w and told her to take a taxi. She said that evenn thoguh she lived two blocks away, the taxi driver would take her around the block and run the meter up because she is a kid. She opted to run home and back.
Taxis denying foreigners around club areas is ok IMO. Club goers are usually juiced. They almost never speak Korean. And, the whole affair can be a headache for the poor working slob. If I was a taxi driver and someone who did not speak my language jumped in my cab and I could not understand her directions, I would deny her the service. If this happened several times, i would stop even trying to pick up foreigners. Not racist, just practical business. |
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Young FRANKenstein
Joined: 02 Oct 2006
Location: Castle Frankenstein (that's FRONKensteen)
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| Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 12:52 am Post subject: Re: A perennial favorite-- racism in Korea |
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| PBRstreetgang21 wrote: |
| I want to ask a legitimate question-- How racist are the taxi drivers? |
In general, not very. I take taxis twice a day, and I can count the number asshats behind the wheel that I've gotten on one hand (per year). That's 1% or thereabouts.
| MissSeoul wrote: |
| I don't think korean taxi drivers try over charge just GI's, I've never read any incident over taxi fee with another foreigners in korea ( including native teachers ) |
Just because YOU don't hear about it, or it doesn't make the daily rags, doesn't mean it doesn't happen. It's happened to me several times over the years, but I didn't feel the need to cry about it to the newspapers. |
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Mix1
Joined: 08 May 2007
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| Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 1:33 am Post subject: |
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| MissSeoul wrote: |
OP,
Do you look like a GI ?
Once every while GI's in korea make news on local newspapers. GI's try not to pay fee after ride taxi and got involve physical fighting with korean taxi drivers, often the GI's are grounp of 2-4 guys and korean taxi driver is by himself, so guess how the fighting end up. The korean taxi driver was blooding on ground and the GI's are gone without pay.
YOU GOT IT NOW ?????
Oh well, sometimes another korean join to fight, then it can be..kinfe and more knives...  |
MissSeoul!!!
I love how your English level fluctuates drastically from post to post.
I WONDER WHY THAT IS? |
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kiwiduncan
Joined: 18 Jun 2007
Location: New Zealand
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| Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 5:27 am Post subject: |
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| Very rarely have I had a bad taxi driver. Sometimes they can be rather taciturn and indifferent but a lot of the time they are very friendly and chatty. Last night's taxi driver had his hand on my thigh for most of the trip, patting my knee to give emphasis to his chat about what a nice place NZ was compared to Korea. A little disconcerting but I thought 'well, it's what guys do here'. |
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crusher_of_heads
Joined: 23 Feb 2007
Location: kimbop and kimchi for kimberly!!!!
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| Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 5:29 am Post subject: |
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| cibomatto wrote: |
MissSeoul's argument isn't insane when you consider the fact the she is biased against service members.
Its hard to read other incidents when the only thing one googles is "Crime DIRTY GIs COMMIT in Peaceful South Korea" |
Why does Seoul smell so bad? |
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