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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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CheeseSandwich
Joined: 02 Nov 2006
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 Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 7:03 pm Post subject: |
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| Pff Tats are nothing, you should see the wide eyed terror my hairy chest gets at the pool or the gym. |
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billybrobby
Joined: 09 Dec 2004
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| Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 7:06 pm Post subject: |
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| OnTheOtherSide wrote: |
| runlikegump wrote: |
| Sounds like the OP just needs some more refined coping mechanisms. I'm covered in tattoos also, have lived in Asia for over six years and in Korea for two, and have never been provoked to confrontation just because someone looked at me funny. If your first reaction is to get defensive or think that "This place needs a swift kick in the a$$ and it's gonna take someone like me to give them the boot instead of putting on a suit and being yet another tool in the shed", then you're in for a frustrating time. |
I've got a thick skin about it and can cope just fine.
The behavior I see here in Korea though.... it just crosses all boundaries of immaturity. But it's all good, i'm here to do one thing.
Pillage and plunder. |
No. You don't have thick skin. I can tell you that. |
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ardis
Joined: 20 Apr 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 7:08 pm Post subject: |
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Kind of weird. I drew a big design on my arm last week and afterwards was like, "I'm an idiot..." since I was still in school for the day. I tried not to draw attention to it but all of my co-teachers called me out on it. However, they actually LIKED it.  They thought I'd gotten a real tattoo and said that it was beautifully done and when I told them that I did it myself, they were incredibly impressed. My coteachers, by the way, are in their 50s. I was really surprised. |
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OnTheOtherSide
Joined: 29 Feb 2008
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| Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 7:11 pm Post subject: |
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| JJJ wrote: |
I'm not going to flame the OP, I'm sure I might have been angry or disappointed in the Korean attitude as well. You just got unlucky that evening that's all. There are idiots everywhere, even at home. Sorry about your bad day.
Me, I have 12, all covered when I wear golf shirts and pants but when I am around the city, or summer camp, the gym, sauna, I wear shorts and most of my students and teachers have seen them. No problems whatsoever. At the sauna, I am left alone just like the "choppo" (spelling??) who frequent the joint. I've seen lots of K-guys with arm work done and a number of K-girls on the street. I watch Korean TV and there a number of guys on there who have tats. Even on the music videos.
I think, generally, the attitude is pretty good regarding tattoos here. Anywho, I'm done. Have a good weekend. |
I did write this post wasted out of my mind at about 4 a.m. Overall this issue doesn't bother me a whole lot. But on an individual level, when I see a person getting all bent out of shape about a tattoo they're looking at, I can't help but wonder why. I just don't understand it.
People say "Hey, in Asia it's just like that, people hate tattoos." Yeah I get it. But not really. I can't relate to, or comprehend that way of thinking.
It's just like the prejudice against dark skinned people around here. I don't understand it. When I look someone in the eye who would say that they think a dark skinned person is dirty I can't understand what they are thinking. I mean, yes I understand what they are saying, but I don;t understand how a grown, intelligent person could still hold such beliefs.
Korea isn't that bad, but some of the small-mindedness here is a bummer. I'm not in Seoul too so i'm sure that's a factor. |
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endo
Joined: 14 Mar 2004
Location: Seoul...my home
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| Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 7:18 pm Post subject: |
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| runlikegump wrote: |
| Sounds like the OP just needs some more refined coping mechanisms . |
I totally agree with this.
The OP has a bit of an insecurity complex going on. Relax dude. |
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Hobophobic
Joined: 16 Aug 2004
Location: Sinjeong negorie mokdong oh ga ri samgyup sal fighting
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| Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 7:43 pm Post subject: |
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| Kimbop wrote: |
| OnTheOtherSide wrote: |
Yeah, excuse me for fighting against totally illogical prejudice. |
But, tattoos are illogical and silly. They are a celebration of vanity and a desperate attempt to express one's self to others. Hey everybody, look at me. I'm 'cultured' and 'cool'.
I too don't mean to flame the OP, especially if he's a rock star.
Nevertheless, in spite of the fact that people use tattoos to boost their appeal in relation to others, I can't see any Koreans looking at a tattoo in disgust unless it is a VERY freaky tattoo. I mean a freaky like a face tattoo from a native tribe in Oceania.
Tattoos on wrists sound sexy and intriguing. Freaky tattoos that completely cover the arms seem... freaky -- not only to Koreans, but to people across the world. |
....  Obviously, thanks for that. |
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Kimbop
Joined: 31 Mar 2008
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| Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 7:55 pm Post subject: |
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| OnTheOtherSide wrote: |
| milspecs wrote: |
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I am a light skinned white guy. So I don't push their buttons as far as racism against dark skinned people. If I were dark skinned, I know I would immediately be hated by them.
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how u gonna call them ignorant when you think this way |
I don't think tis way at all .They do. I just know how it works here and and i'm being honest about it. Personally I think a persons race and entire physical appearance is superficial and it's personality that matters. |
No, you clearly DON'T harbour the beleif that "it's personality that matters", while you hold your personal appearance and superficiality in very high esteem. Thus, your flamboyant tattoos, and your beleif that "looks matter".
I bet this is what you tell people: "I got these tattoos for myself; not for others. I don't care what anyone else thinks."
But you obviously care enough to post a 500-word essay outlining your misdirected frustrations. Be humble. If Koreans are freaked out by your mutilated body (or cheek), then smile, turn the other cheek, and display true sophistication.
Jeffrey Lebowski has no tattoos. He's not desperate enough.
You don't have a 'bean curd' tattoo by any chance, do you?
http://www.zug.com/pranks/tattoo/index02.html |
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hugekebab
Joined: 05 Jan 2008
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| Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 8:15 pm Post subject: Re: Tattoos, prejudice, letting the truth be told. |
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| OnTheOtherSide wrote: |
I think that I am the "ideal foreigner" in the eyes of Koreans in most ways.
I am a light skinned white guy. So I don't push their buttons as far as racism against dark skinned people. If I were dark skinned, I know I would immediately be hated by them.
I am young, in shape and good looking. So I am not a "fat foreigner", whom are hated as well.
However, I do have a fair share of tattoos and every time I let them show I face a ton of bullsh!t about them. People just stare at my tattoos as if they are the most mind blowing thing they have ever seen.
Tonight two women approached me and started talking to me. One of the women saw my tattoos and immediately started doing the typical things Korean people do. Staring right at my tattoos with a look of utter disgust and shock while looking extremely uncomfortable. She was just ruining the entire situation and needlessly bringing a bad vibe with her petty hang ups.
So I said "You don't like my tattoos?" She said "Why did you do that? No!" As she shook her head in a gesture of disgust. I said, "I'm not a racist, bigot, small minded idiot, so I have some tattoos, who cares?"
I went on a bit of a rant. I wasn't angry, but I calmly continued saying things like "Where I come from people don't care too much about tattoos, why are you being so stupid?" "It's just ink on the skin. Why are you letting it bother you?" "You're being small minded and stupid." "There ARE other places besides Korea out there that work differently. Don;t be an idiot."
Basically I was just insulting her and calling her an dumba$$. She was insulting me with her vibe, so I insulted her with my words until both of them just left.
The prejudice people around here have about tattoos is just so damn ridiculous. It's the one thing I really can't stand about this place. It brings peoples ignorance out in the open like nothing else. Peoples reaction to the sight of a tattoo is just a huge indicator of the intense ignorance going on in their heads.
Kind of like the Korean people I was hanging out with who said "Dark skinned people look dirty and poor. I hate them."
If you are a good looking, "normal" white guy who doesn't push any buttons and acts as a "model minority" here in Korea, you might never see this ugly side of Koreans. But if there is something about your appearence that isn't up to code with them. You can just sit back and watch their ignorance as if it were a physical object sitting right there before you. You can practically taste it. You can run your hand through the air and feel its ugliness.
I'm all done. No more Mr. Nice Guy. I realize that Korea is not the only place where this happens. But around here it is just soooooo strong. This place needs a swift kick in the a$$ and it's gonna take someone like me to give them the boot instead of putting on a suit and being yet another tool in the shed. |
Mate, cry me a river, Jesus. |
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DrOctagon
Joined: 11 Jun 2008
Location: Chicago
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| Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 8:33 pm Post subject: |
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| Ravenous dogs. |
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EricaSmile84
Joined: 23 Jan 2008
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| Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 8:39 pm Post subject: |
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| I like showing my tattoos and freaking people out... especially my co-workers. I also like to tan my face by pointing it towards the bright sunlight... that usually suprises other women. Oh and I eat ramen a lot... I'm a rebel. |
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jkelly80
Joined: 13 Jun 2007
Location: you boys like mexico?
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| Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 8:57 pm Post subject: |
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| I didn't know the OP had a thick cock when I started reading this thread. But later, after reading more posts, I've found out that he does. This, my friends, is why the internet makes you stupid. Huzzah! |
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hugekebab
Joined: 05 Jan 2008
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| Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2008 12:28 am Post subject: |
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| DrOctagon wrote: |
| Ravenous dogs. |
How else are we supposed to react to 500 words of narcissistic self pity? |
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wanamin
Joined: 14 Apr 2008
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| Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2008 12:55 am Post subject: |
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| OnTheOtherSide wrote: |
It's just like the prejudice against dark skinned people around here. |
No, its not at all. Tattooed people made a choice, like drug users, alcoholics, etc..
Dark skinned people did not. They were born that way.
It's NOT just in Asia where people have a problem with heavily tattooed people. Many people are uncomfortable when they encounter people covered in tattoos.
I don't agree with their prejudice, but people believe what they believe. To single out Korea, or even Asia in general (Thailand is VERY tattoo friendly, btw) is totally ignorant.
And this fear of the heavily tattooed isn't something new.
In case you didn't notice, such prejudice existed long before you went under the needle.
If you didn't realize this beforehand, you're clearly not smart enough to be teaching others.
I'm only pissed because of the stupid comparison to dark skinned people.
You chose to do something to yourself that screams, "LOOK AT ME, I'M DIFFERENT!!!"
Black people did no such thing. |
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Clemmens
Joined: 25 Jun 2008
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| Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2008 2:21 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
OnTheOtherSide wrote:
It's just like the prejudice against dark skinned people around here.
No, its not at all. Tattooed people made a choice, like drug users, alcoholics, etc..
Dark skinned people did not. They were born that way. |
I actually made the choice to be dark skinned. You can pay for it in salons now days. Good deal. Does that mean that I should take responsibility for the pain I feel when people point and laugh and stare at my tawny brilliance. And it is painful. |
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OnTheOtherSide
Joined: 29 Feb 2008
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| Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2008 4:09 am Post subject: |
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| hugekebab wrote: |
| DrOctagon wrote: |
| Ravenous dogs. |
How else are we supposed to react to 500 words of narcissistic self pity? |
The same way you would react to half the posts here right? |
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