Korean Job Discussion Forums

[PatrickBateman]

their backpacks/messenger bags?

Just curious, I've noticed this a lot.

I'm from the United States and I don't think I've seen anyone with a USA patch on their bag. To be honest, I wouldn't want one on my bag. Not saying I'm not proud to be American, but it just seems a bit strange to me.

I haven't noticed people from other countries doing this(yet).

[lille]

in general, i think most canadians consider flag patches to be a little bit gauche. i've heard rumour, though, that travelling americans will sometimes sew a canadian flag patch onto their packs as it ensures they'll get better treatment from the locals.

[phoneboothface]

This must be a very recent phenomenon because I've never seen a troll posting about this before.

[earthbound14]

It's an attempt to say "I'm not American!"

It used to be so people would be nice to us in Europe (cause we helped them in some war or some such thing).

Now it's just because we don't want "Haji" to think we are the ones searching for fictional WMDs in his homeland...we just want to make that very clear...we have nothing to do with that, nothing.....except for that Afganistan thing...shhhh

[earthbound14]

[schwa]

I'm Canadian & heres my take on it.

The phenomenon originated in the late 60s / early 70s when loads of young North Americans were backpacking Europe, prodded on by travel guides along the lines of "Europe on $5 a Day" (imagine!). The US was mired in the Vietnam War & many Europeans viewed Canadian tourists more favorably. Some travel guides actively promoted displaying Canadian insignia & apparently even some US travellers bought into it to forgo "Yankee go home" sentiment.

It became part of Canadian lore. It probably played into a Canadian sense of inferiority too -- aha! a chance to one-up the Americans. Its a nonsensical gesture anymore but it lingers among young untravelled Canadians as a truism -- show my flag, get better treatment.

It embarrasses me when I see it & if any Canuck reading this has flag-emblazoned gear, please give your head a shake. Whether you're a decent person or a jerk is a question of how you comport yourself. Relying on a flag to prove something about yourself is asinine.

[Zantetsuken]

It would be cool if the flag had some balls....but it looks pretty sissy...a maple leaf..come on.... They should change it to like a skull and crossbones or a head with a dagger going through the eyeball. If they had something like that...then I could see how you be proud to wear that on your backpack.

[saram_]

[PatrickBateman]

[kiknkorea]

[neandergirl]

I've seen people with UK patches, USA patches, Aussie patches and some with an assortment of patches marking the places they'd visited. I've only noticed 2 people with just Canadian patches - one was from Louisianna; the other from Virginia, but they were a (n older) couple. Not sure if they were marking the fact they'd previously been to Canada or were looking to not look American. He'd have been foiled the minute he opened his mouth if that was the plan. Doesn't much bother me, flags (wherever they're from) are no worse than a lot of those band or leaf patches heaps of people have on their kits.

[neandergirl]

hmmm ... doesn't bear repeating

[PatrickBateman]

I wasn't condemning it by any means, I was just curious.

[gangwonbound]

I have a friend at work who is going to visit Korea because his girlfriend is doing an exchange with some K teachers who come over to Canada. Anyway he is putting a Canadian patch on his bag because he doesn't want to be mistaken for a Nigerian or American. He is a black guy. Basically he doesn't want to give of the wrong impression to people who have stereotypes even though he might have some of his own.

[Leafs42084]

ive also heard of the better treatment in Europe... but no experience first hand. Never put a patch on my bag.....

However, i'd feel a lot safer in a foreign country with a canadian flag on my backpack as opposed to an american one.