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bogey666
Joined: 17 Mar 2008
Location: Korea, the ass free zone
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 Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 1:08 am Post subject: when in Korea.. don't do as the Koreans do. |
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the guy that posted the motto "when in Rome, don't do as the Romans do" in response to a thread on a saying/motto while in Korea.
I SALUTE YOU 
this actually deserves its own thread.
I've traveled the world over.. and plan on traveling much much more, but one thing I can say is that whenever I am, I inevitably find certain ASPECTS of the local culture appealing and try to incorporate the appealing things I see into my own action, outlook and thinking.
So far, in Korea.. I have found ZERO things about Korean culture, societal norms.. etc etc that appeal to me on almost ANY level.
many things I find distasteful, actually.
- no real nightlife to speak of outside of Seoul. I can't go out anywhere in my hometown. (by this I mean no dance clubs, etc I hate "pubs", and even those don't really exist the way we know them in the West)
(sidenote - getting regularly shitfaced on soju isn't appealing)
oh yeah.. Korean music? HORRID.
- the puppy dog/cutesy courtships of young Koreans and its accompanying rituals.
- I can't think of a SINGLE thing about any Korean male(s) or the male culture here that appeals to me on ANY level at all.
their effeminacy almost shocks me. Certainly nothing I'd care to adapt or imitate.
their love of pallid skin means they must be blind. I've seen a tanned Korean next to non tanned and the tanned looks better every time.
More fat Koreans in my hometown than I would have ever expected too. Perhaps it's because it's a low(er) class working class city.
finally.. the stultufying effect of "group think" and its unshakeable pressure on every Korean I see. Me,... I'm one of those people that when I see myself surrounded by white sheep, I say... this sucks.. I want to be a black sheep.
Korea.. a nation of (how many million is it?) 40 million white sheep?
so please someone.. anyone.. educate me.. I'm willing to be shown the light.... about something Korean I should strive to adopt/imitate/admire, etc. |
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Ruraljuror
Joined: 08 Dec 2007
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| Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 1:57 am Post subject: |
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Not sure what any of your rant has to do the title of this thread.
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finally.. the stultufying effect of "group think" and its unshakeable pressure on every Korean I see. Me,... I'm one of those people that when I see myself surrounded by white sheep, I say... this sucks.. I want to be a black sheep.
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Well you are definitely proving to be a unique individual by posting this rant on this website. There are probably only 2 dozen threads started indentical to this one every single week. Way to shock us out of our conformist thinking.
I remember you bogey666. I remember way back in the old days, about 4 months ago, when you were a bright eyed newbie fresh of the boat. You posted daily unmanly fits about your inability to find Diet Coke and whined about fat people, even while admitting that you are yourself rather chunky. You were strange then and still are.
My advice to you, and the 23 other people who are going to post this exact post this week, is that you are NOT in prison. You can leave AT ANY TIME. If you are so truly unhappy that the money is no longer worth it then there is no reason to be here. If you are unhappy but decide that the money is enough to tolerate being unhappy, then welcome to being an adult. Do you think your parents were happy about waking up early every morning and going to work, then having to come home and listen to you whining about how you didn't want to do your chores, your homework is too hard, and the stockpile of Diet Coke in the refrigerator was insufficient for your Diet Coke intake needs? Well they weren't. And somehow they managed to do it every day and resisted the impulse to whine about their lives to strangers on the internet.
Consider this tough love. Grow up. Be a man. |
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CentralCali
Joined: 17 May 2007
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| Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 2:03 am Post subject: Re: when in Korea.. don't do as the Koreans do. |
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| bogey666 wrote: |
their effeminacy almost shocks me. Certainly nothing I'd care to adapt or imitate.
their love of pallid skin means they must be blind. I've seen a tanned Korean next to non tanned and the tanned looks better every time. |
Who was that Korean man in the news Friday or Saturday (or both days?) wearing the black hat, black sunglasses, black outfit, pasty white face makeup, and dark lipstick? |
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bogey666
Joined: 17 Mar 2008
Location: Korea, the ass free zone
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| Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 2:03 am Post subject: |
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| Ruraljuror wrote: |
Not sure what any of your rant has to do the title of this thread.
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finally.. the stultufying effect of "group think" and its unshakeable pressure on every Korean I see. Me,... I'm one of those people that when I see myself surrounded by white sheep, I say... this sucks.. I want to be a black sheep.
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Well you are definitely proving to be a unique individual by posting this rant on this website. There are probably only 2 dozen threads started indentical to this one every single week. Way to shock us out of our conformist thinking.
I remember you bogey666. I remember way back in the old days, about 4 months ago, when you were a bright eyed newbie fresh of the boat. You posted daily unmanyly fits about your inability to find Diet Coke and whined about fat people, even while admitting that you were yourself rather chunky. You were strange then and still are.
My advice to you, and the 23 other people who are going to post this exact post this week, is that you are NOT in prison. You can leave AT ANY TIME. If you are so truly unhappy that the money is no longer worth it then there is no reason to be here. If you are unhappy but decide that the money is enough to tolerate being unhappy, then welcome to being an adult. Do you think your parents were happy about waking up early every morning and going to work, then having to come home and listen to you whining about how you didn't want to do your chores, your homework is too hard, and the stockpile of Diet Coke in the refrigerator was insufficient for your Diet Coke intake needs? Well they weren't. And somehow they managed to do it every day and resisted the impulse to whine about their lives to strangers on the internet.
Consider this tough love. Grow up. Be a man. |
you're too funny.
I am NOT "that" unhappy. I am well treated at work, the job is very easy (albeit frustrating and unrewarding most of the time, as my kids have little interest or drive to learn anything, much less English)
I will also have ample time to get OUR of Korea, in order not to go crazy while in Korea.. while in Korea.. I'll be fairly content to be left alone and basically live a solitary lifestyle.
in terms of " work" and benefits associated (like 2 long vacations) it can't be beat.
I have also managed to procure a way to get my hands on Diet Coke. My VP will get it for me.
so I am not WHINING about anything...I've never whined in my life and I'm not an acne faced kid just out of school. I got up for years and years very early each morning for a "real job".
I'v it's more of a "commentary". and detached commentary, since the lack of interest in anything "korean" doesn't really affect my daily life ONE BIT.
yes.. critical.. but TRUE. (as disgusting as I find certain aspects of American "culture" (if you can call it that).. there are many good things about it)
so no whining.. just commentary, thank you.
maybe I'm missing something about Korean mores that has escaped my attention, so please help
oh yeah.. and yes I was fat.(though not by "American" standards!) . as I stuffed myself full of every delicious fattening American food I could find, knowing I wouldn't get it here.
I've lost 20 lbs.... quite fit and muscular now, thank you .
but I didn't accomplish that by eating "korean food" (though I suppose I could have, the problem with it is lack of protein) but I've managed to lose the weight while recuperating/putting back on.. muscle)
Last edited by bogey666 on Sun Aug 24, 2008 2:15 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Ruraljuror
Joined: 08 Dec 2007
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| Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 2:14 am Post subject: |
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so I am not WHINING about anything...I've never whined in my life and I'm not an acne faced kid just out of school. I got up for years and years very early each morning for a "real job".
I'v it's more of a "commentary". and detached commentary, since the lack of interest in anything "korean" doesn't really affect my daily life ONE BIT.
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A whine is a whine and I know one when I hear it. Claiming it is actually "commentary" is merely a semantic distinction.
For example, if I assign homework and my students whine in a high pitched voice that they don't want to do any homework, that is obviously a whine. If the students were to claim that it wasn't actually a whine, it was "commentary" about how they don't want to do homework...well that doesn't change the fact that it really was a whine, right?
Nice try whiney666. |
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bogey666
Joined: 17 Mar 2008
Location: Korea, the ass free zone
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| Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 2:18 am Post subject: |
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you're not my juror, and you can call it whatever you want.
I can also tell you to do something I want, right?
capiche?
your analytical skills need some work, since I'm not offering an opinion on anything I've been asked to do (like homework) but merely on things I see around me.... and I don't have to do.. haven't been asked to do.. a thing.
since I don't have probs with a solitary lifestyle, and often prefer it.. these things don't affect me one bit, as noted.
so I can offer a bemused and detached commentary. I have zero emotional involvement in it. |
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RJjr
Joined: 17 Aug 2006
Location: Turning on a Lamp
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| Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 2:23 am Post subject: |
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Due to bogey666's previous avatar of the chick with the nice ass, I think we should treat him with a little more respect around here.
Bogey666, you know how so many bitch on here about Koreans spitting on the sidewalks? Think about when you cough and phlem comes up from your throat and into your mouth. Would you rather spit (like a Korean) or swallow (like a Westerner)? You have to admit that it's really cool on the part of Koreans to spit that shit out and making okay for us to do the same. Many call Koreans "farmers in suits", but as a farmer my damn self, I would rather spit than swallow and drink that shit any mo'phuckin' day of the week.
As an aside, think about the barbershops in the West and the ones in Korea. Which one would you rather go to for a little trim? Yeah, me too.  |
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bogey666
Joined: 17 Mar 2008
Location: Korea, the ass free zone
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| Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 2:29 am Post subject: |
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| RJjr wrote: |
Due to bogey666's previous avatar of the chick with the nice ass, I think we should treat him with a little more respect around here.
Bogey666, you know how so many bitch on here about Koreans spitting on the sidewalks? Think about when you cough and phlem comes up from your throat and into your mouth. Would you rather spit (like a Korean) or swallow (like a Westerner)? You have to admit that it's really cool on the part of Koreans to spit that shit out and making okay for us to do the same. Many call Koreans "farmers in suits", but as a farmer my damn self, I would rather spit than swallow and drink that shit any mo'phuckin' day of the week.
As an aside, think about the barbershops in the West and the ones in Korea. Which one would you rather go to for a little trim? Yeah, me too. |
the comment about the barbershops is apt!
I also "appreciate" the flood of escort ads stuck on my appt door daily (not the fact I always get them stuck there, just the fact they exist and CAN be stuck on there).
Then there are those coffee delivery services that supposedly offer more than coffee. (not sure I have that around my place)
these are indeed things to be LAUDED.
however, the dearth of such options (plus affordability) is just a US problem, in many ways it's a backward Puritan nation. Much less of a problem in Canada and absolutely NO problem anywhere else in the world.
p.s. haven't been to a barbershop here btw.. just have heard stories
I'm a little afraid to go in not knowing any Korean.
p.p.s. the loogies don't bother me that much, unless I step on one. I also don't really mind the Korean loud slurping of their soups, etc.
that reminds me.
I think I HAVE found one thing!
I don't have to say bless you every time everyone sneezes. it's a normal, everyday thing, why should I have to say bless you 10x or more each day???? |
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bogey666
Joined: 17 Mar 2008
Location: Korea, the ass free zone
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| Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 2:51 am Post subject: |
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| it's also possible Korean weddings are much better (since 99% of american weddings suck) |
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Ilsanman
Joined: 15 Aug 2003
Location: Bucheon, Korea
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| Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 2:55 am Post subject: |
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On the same general topic of this thread:
The part that irks me is when someone looks down on me or tells me off for doing the exact same thing that Koreans do. It's like either
a) what's good for the goose is not good for the gander.
b) as a westerner, more is expected of me.
Especially B, it says a lot about how people view Koreans. They see Koreans (especially older ones) as someone who hasn't had an opportunity to learn manners properly, or western laws and customs as somehow 'superior'.
I have taken a few aspects of Korean culture into my everyday life, but I will discard them when I return to my home country. |
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bogey666
Joined: 17 Mar 2008
Location: Korea, the ass free zone
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| Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 2:59 am Post subject: |
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| Ilsanman wrote: |
On the same general topic of this thread:
The part that irks me is when someone looks down on me or tells me off for doing the exact same thing that Koreans do. It's like either
a) what's good for the goose is not good for the gander.
b) as a westerner, more is expected of me.
Especially B, it says a lot about how people view Koreans. They see Koreans (especially older ones) as someone who hasn't had an opportunity to learn manners properly, or western laws and customs as somehow 'superior'.
I have taken a few aspects of Korean culture into my everyday life, but I will discard them when I return to my home country. |
such as?
and have you incorporated them to make your everyday life easier.. or because they in some way appeal to you?
and why will you discard them? (are they completely counter to Western mores?)
by the way.. in terms of a disclaimer.. my travel experience and knowledge is mostly Latin American and European with only some Asian exposure..
the cultural divide with Asia is FAR FAR bigger than anything with Europe or Latin America (in fact, "globalized" Latin culture is vastly superior to everyday North American by a country mile)
btw.. I LIKE the korean 24 hour culture but that also exists in most major US cities. (though it beats Latin America.. on the other hand.. at night Latins like to have sex. |
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CentralCali
Joined: 17 May 2007
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| Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 3:03 am Post subject: |
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| Ruraljuror wrote: |
| Claiming it is actually "commentary" is merely a semantic distinction. |
There's nothing at all wrong with Semantics. |
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A2Steve
Joined: 10 Nov 2007
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| Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 3:23 am Post subject: |
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| bogey666 wrote: |
since I don't have probs with a solitary lifestyle, and often prefer it.. these things don't affect me one bit, as noted.
so I can offer a bemused and detached commentary. I have zero emotional involvement in it. |
Might I recommend a book? it's semi-biographical...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Iceberg_Hermit
there's at least one aspect of Korean I'd like to see in the West. Young Korean women. And some of the middle aged ones too! |
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Lekker
Joined: 09 Feb 2008
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 4:25 am Post subject: |
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| bogey666 wrote: |
| it's also possible Korean weddings are much better (since 99% of american weddings suck) |
Because every wedding in America and Canada I have been to had people showing up late, inappropriately dressed, talking on their cell phones very loudly, impatiently waiting for the ceremony to end just to get a free meal at a buffet, children running around frantically during the ceremony, etc. etc. etc. |
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Lekker
Joined: 09 Feb 2008
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 4:25 am Post subject: |
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| bogey666 wrote: |
| it's also possible Korean weddings are much better (since 99% of american weddings suck) |
Because every wedding in America and Canada I have been to had people showing up late, inappropriately dressed, talking on their cell phones very loudly, impatiently waiting for the ceremony to end just to get a free meal at a buffet, children running around frantically during the ceremony, etc. etc. etc. |
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