Korean Job Discussion Forums

[lastat06513]

I am sorry to say this, but if this were to become an open forum, it would become a battleground that will eventually spill over into the media.

The same happened on the Chinese Off-Topic forum.
There were tons of posts there that were more off-the-wall than what is found here and it was mentioned on Chinese Television. I think the government threatened to ban Dave's in China unless it was cleaned up.

What did Mr. Sperling do? He made it that only people with usernames and passwords could access it--- I think that was a very smart move......

I mean no disrespect- But people are in contact with Koreans day-in and day-out and they need a place to release their negativity and Dave's is that particular place. This is the fringe benefit of being a member of an anonymous message forum- it allows you a place to vent and rant about your life in 'the land of the morning snore'...........and there are always going to be people who side with you on your opinion and there will be people who are against you.

Can a Korea-basher on this board actually be an apologist in real life? Yeah........The reason people have usernames is so they don't have to reveal their true identities to other users.......and they can unleash their negative vibes here so they can relieve themselves of that 'heaviness' and not have to worry about it in the 'real world'............

In some ways, I am happy I don't speak or read enough Korean to read the Korean blogs or else I would feel deeply offended all day everyday.....I guess you can say 'ignorance could be bliss'.........so there are also Koreans who might feel the same way..........

There might be a director, a co-teacher, or even a secretary who feels deeply annoyed at some of our antics, so they post their rants on sites like Daum or Navar and then they go back to work with us as if nothing has happened............

I guess the point is to take it all in stride and not be offended by everything a person says, especially on an anonymous newsgroup like Dave's........mellow the fuck out!!!!!..................................

This is our place, it has all types of people with all types of opinions...........you don't have to agree with them if you don't want, but thats the balance this place has.............we really don't need the presence of a certain person to make people change- if people want to change, they will change on their own.

But my question will be; why do we want people to change?

[in_seoul_2003]

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[TheUrbanMyth]

[TheUrbanMyth]

[sojourner1]

I'm sure this site is monitored by the higher ups in the EPIK program, the government, hagwon associations, hagwons, head teachers, and others. They can pick you out if you disclosed where you are or what school you're at or even track your IP so it's best to say really sensitive things in person to someone who needs to hear about it or just refrain.

I'm sure there are discreet Koreans on here...

[lastat06513]

Would it be a good idea if Mr. Sperling did the same for the Korean forums as he did for the Chinese Off-Topic Forum?


I think that would be a good idea because it would allow for more anonymity and freedom for the posters to write whatever is on their mind and such.......Also, it would make it harder for non-members to read things that would be considered sensitive to society.....

One of the alternatives to that would be to keep those bitter feelings bottled up and our society doesn't teach people to be that way- People in places like the US and Canada are taught to be individuals and to express whats on their mind.....because if people don't, the only alternative is more grim to think about....and a possible psychosis could develop (I know it sounds funny, but it is VERY true........)

But the other side of the argument is that a Korean can view these comments as a slight against his/her home and against their ethnic identity.........They can misconstrue these comments to the point that it can cause misunderstandings between the Korea public and the foreign expatriate community...........to hell with 'might', alot of things are being posted on the Korean blogs and they are being grossly distorted to give foreign teachers a bad image............

So there is a choice a person has to make when deciding what to post here; Do they want people to know what is going on and let people learn from their experience and possibly get advice OR do they consider the situation they are in and try to keep the situation on a personal level as not to "bite the hand that feeds you"?

Foreigners are neither asked nor encouraged to join in any Korean chat forum as Koreans feel that their situations are 'beyond the ralm of understanding for a foreigner' (a reference of what was said to me once during an office meeting that included all teachers, but the material only pertained to the Korean staff)

For us to ask Koreans to join would be like to have babysitters watch over what we say and how we think.........I think that is utterly childish.......
If they want to join, let them join and let them contribute constructively to the forums........


.........................But to ask them to join for the sake of silencing the opinion of a vocal minority is not right, IMHO...........................

[MissSeoul]

[mrgiles]

lmao!!! the previous post is what the (tr)O(ll) P was wishing for! it took a while, but now let the fun begin...

[merkurix]

[in_seoul_2003]

[nateium]

[nateium]

[Temporary]

[aka Dave]