Korean Job Discussion Forums

[whome?]

I was only commenting on your general stand on things. Your defensiveness, I think, proves my point. As does the fact that I mentioned that people also attack Korea. You seem to have jumped right over that part.

My comment wasn't against Korea and was only about the act in question. I have posted the legal definitions of terrorism for two countries, and if you check the other E2 countries, you'll see that the act in question qualifies as a terrorist act there as well. You calling people hysterical is kinda funny, though, because you seem to be more on edge than anyone.

Just to be clear: I said that you are very defensive about Korea. I said that others always attack Korea. And I made a comment not about Korea, but about the act in question.

Everything was already clear to me, but thank you for taking the time to try to clarify...

[PatrickGHBusan]

Well whome that is not how it read but your explanation is reasonable.

Also....I do not defend Korea (again a really silly position that would be)...who 'defends a nation' like that anyway?

If you stick around and read more posts from more people (including mine) I am sure you will see a variety of opinions and gain some form of perspective.

Finally consider something here...some people react to certain things here for a reason. There are heavy tendencies on this board and things that get voiced that need to be countered at some point...

Just something to ponder.

[TheUrbanMyth]

[TheUrbanMyth]

[Geckoman]

This article and many good articles like it that stand up for foreigners are from The Korea Herald's "Expat Living" section, which is run by editor Matt Lamers.

Interestingly, a little over a year ago Matt Lamers was stabbed in a hate crime.

Some Korean thugs attacked him and another foreigner Korea Herald editor while they were hanging out in a park near Hongdae.

One of the Korean thugs lunged at Matt Lamer's heart with a broken bottle, attempting to kill him. Matt Lamers blocked the object with his arm, thereby saving his life, but leaving his arm slashed and gushing with blood. The arm required stitches.

The whole episode was big news in cyberspace (blogs, etc.).

See the Dave's ESL Cafe thread about it here:

Matt Lamers, Editor of Korea Herald's Expat Page, Stabbed!
http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=125880&highlight=

Also, Matt Lamer's ID on Dave's is "KHerald."

[mc_jc]

I honestly don't think its the loud vocal ones we should worry about if a hate crime is committed against a foreigner or someone associated with foreigners. Its those quiet ones who don't talk about their prejudices who are the dangerous ones.

Examples;

The guy who started the Daegu subway fire that killed close to 200 people. People dismissed him as a simple lunatic until he took a carton of gasoline and lit it on the subway hoping to kill himself and take as many people with him as possible.

The Korean student at Virginia Tech who felt alienated and ostracized by other students and teachers to the point that he snapped, taking 31 people with him on one of the bloodiest school shootings in US history. Again, people dismissed him as harmless until they saw his "suicide" video, talking about his plans to take revenge against all those who did him wrong.

Recently, the psychiatrist at Fort Hood who lost it after hearing racial slurs and hearing stories from soldiers returning from the wars. Although there were TONS of warning signs of his beliefs against the wars and against serving in the military, his behavior was dismissed as erratic and abnormal until he went to the Soldiers-Families Support Center on Fort Hood and shot 12 people dead in an apparent suicidal shooting spree that ended with him only getting wounded.

What all these people had in common was that their attitudes and behaviors were dismissed as being personal flaws and they were considered harmless.

The quiet ones who sit and read all those messages on the Anti-English Spectrum forums are the ones who could end up doing something dangerous, as mentioned with the stabbing of the foreign reporter.



Also TUM- I am happy to tell you that the 534th Military Intelligence Company (CI) is now monitoring the Anti-English Spectrum forum. Everyone on General Sharp's staff is fully aware of the death threats made against the foreign community. If this does impact any member of USFK like it did back in '02, there would be serious discussions about relocating off the Korean Peninsula.
As for civilians, the only thing that could be done is to stay "highly vigilant" of your surroundings.

[Steelrails]

mc_jc you bring up an interesting point and I have to agree with your assessment. The guy who will commit such an act (sadly, it seems inevitable, even to an apologista like me) will probably be the quiet loner.

Its interesting to think- are websites like that actually beneficial in a weird way in preventing such acts- do they give those frustrated loners a place to vent and experience the catharsis of airing their opinions and therefore "reduce the rage"? The real angry nut might be that guy who doesn't type or do anything, but just reads or heck, maybe doesn't go on the site at all but sits in his room plotting or writing delusional 'literature'.

After all Dave's has allowed all of us to 'vent' about things we find frustrating. Maybe if we didn't have a place to vent we might get more angry.

Either way, the death threat guy needs some time in the clink/psych ward.

[shifter2009]

[TheUrbanMyth]

[TheUrbanMyth]

[shifter2009]