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Bingo
Joined: 22 Jun 2006
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 Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 10:09 pm Post subject: Korean sidewalks - why are they so poorly made? |
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I walk to work each day and, looking down (as there's nothing worth looking at architecturally) I consistently notice two things. Spit. Here, there, everywhere. It's omnipresent. The other is the extremely poor quality of Korean sidewalks. How in heaven's name can they construct them so unevenly, with so many gaps, and with no consistency. It's like a bunch of drunks made them. If I'd a nickle for every time I twisted an ankle and fell because of the crooked sidewalks I'd have a lot of nickles.
For a country that claims it cherishes the elderly, you'd think they'd make sure the sidewalks were even, at least to prevent ajumma falling on her face.
I've never seen such poorly constructed sidewalks. |
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caniff
Joined: 03 Feb 2004
Location: All over the map
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pkang0202
Joined: 09 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 10:25 pm Post subject: |
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I've seen worse. In Richmond, Va we have sidewalks and have all these random bulges, gaps, and cracks. Brilliant idea. Lets plant trees all over the place and not take into account that their roots will warp sidewalks and streets as they grow.
If you walk around you will:
1. Trip and fall
2. Trip and not fall.
3. Either 1 or 2. |
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caniff
Joined: 03 Feb 2004
Location: All over the map
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| Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 10:29 pm Post subject: |
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I like when I see people trip and then go into that brief jog afterwards to try and play it off hoping noone saw that they just tripped and looked stupid.
It's the little things in life that help me make it through the day. |
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The_Conservative
Joined: 15 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 10:34 pm Post subject: |
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| caniff wrote: |
I like when I see people trip and then go into that brief jog afterwards to try and play it off hoping noone saw that they just tripped and looked stupid.
It's the little things in life that help me make it through the day. |
When they break a leg, you must find it absolutely hilarious. |
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caniff
Joined: 03 Feb 2004
Location: All over the map
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| Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 10:41 pm Post subject: |
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| The_Conservative wrote: |
| caniff wrote: |
I like when I see people trip and then go into that brief jog afterwards to try and play it off hoping noone saw that they just tripped and looked stupid.
It's the little things in life that help me make it through the day. |
When they break a leg, you must find it absolutely hilarious. |
I wasn't referring to when people actually fall down, Kill-joy. People often trip without splattering all across the pavement, although it sounds like you might have taken a nasty spill or two. |
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anyway
Joined: 22 Oct 2005
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| Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 11:58 pm Post subject: |
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| The sidewalks were designed that way to discourage people from driving on them. Or kids playing on them. Either that or to deter the north's advance when the time comes. No, wait, they probably were all poured by drunks. |
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rationality
Joined: 05 Jul 2007
Location: Some where in S. Korea
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| Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 12:10 am Post subject: |
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Last edited by rationality on Fri Jul 03, 2009 6:34 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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petethebrick
Joined: 25 Jul 2006
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| Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 3:24 am Post subject: |
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True enough they can be poor but I suppose u have to remember that the low rates of tax here = not as much public funds as other countries.
Thats my theory anyway |
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JAWINSEOUL
Joined: 19 Nov 2005
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| Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 3:28 am Post subject: Re: Korean sidewalks - why are they so poorly made? |
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| Bingo wrote: |
| (as there's nothing worth looking at architecturally). |
You must live in a drab are of Korea, most places I go have tons of interesting architectural sights. |
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caniff
Joined: 03 Feb 2004
Location: All over the map
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| Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 3:35 am Post subject: |
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| petethebrick wrote: |
True enough they can be poor but I suppose u have to remember that the low rates of tax here = not as much public funds as other countries.
Thats my theory anyway |
Actually it's a government public works program. Lay down the sidewalks like crapola so that they have to be re-done 2 years later by the same people.
It keeps people working, kind of like the adjumma teams on the side of the roads during the summer in many communities pulling grass up with their hands and scissors when one guy with a lawnmower could do it in a quarter (tenth?) of the time.
I'm not joking. Korean people I know have attested to this. |
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saw6436
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Daejeon, ROK
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| Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 3:45 am Post subject: |
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| caniff is correct. |
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CeleryMan
Joined: 12 Apr 2007
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 3:53 am Post subject: |
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I think the US prison system employs a similar model? However, I would argue convicted felons get more compensation for their labor plus entitlements like health and dental.
A childhood friend of mine is locked up and can attest to this ... |
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ryouga013
Joined: 14 Sep 2007
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| Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 4:00 am Post subject: Re: Korean sidewalks - why are they so poorly made? |
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| Bingo wrote: |
| It's like a bunch of drunks made them. |
you took the words out of my mouth...
Actually, I don't find the sidewalks so bad. but maybe they were designed for walking on, and then, after many years of scooters and cars still parking/driving on them anyways, the sidewalks have deteriorated. |
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KYC
Joined: 11 May 2006
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| Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 4:06 am Post subject: |
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| anyway wrote: |
| The sidewalks were designed that way to discourage people from driving on them. Or kids playing on them. Either that or to deter the north's advance when the time comes. No, wait, they probably were all poured by drunks. |
or deter walking perhaps. I just tripped outside yesterday on my way to buy a bus ticket. It was so embarrassing falling in front of an ajumma & she had to help me up & find my shoe!! Yes, one of my shoes actually came off. |
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