Korean Job Discussion Forums

[pkang0202]

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/03/books/review/Dyer-t.html

[Bloopity Bloop]

Since when did we become a uniform group of people?

I think people back home are often as similar to each other as Koreans and Maori tribesmen.

I'm glad though, for once, to hear something from British folks about Americans that isn't negative and/or ludicrously stereotyped (in a bad way).

[pkang0202]

[Sleepy in Seoul]

How many Britains are there?

[pkang0202]

[beercanman]

Pretty good article.

[kinerry]

The American bashing around this area really does get old after awhile. It seems to be the non-Americans way of bonding.

[eamo]

Writing about 'Americans' without pointing out that Americans are a extremely diverse collection of hundreds of different sub-cultures who vary wildly in their lifestyles, values and opinions, is useless.

[djsmnc]

[Sleepy in Seoul]

[.38 Special]

It's a pleasing article, to be sure. But there are some inconsistencies -- mostly referring to what other posters have all ready said (about abundant diversity) and my own experiences.

First of all, I shall say, no matter where you go, Americans on the whole are very polite. Especially the South.

However, where I come from, many people are carrying guns. The rest have them at home.

As Heinlein said (paraphrased): An Armed society is a polite society.

I like being American.

But like many writers, his ego consumes his world. He views Bush as a reviled, outcast leader who everyone unifies in hating. He was elected by a majority. In my neck of the woods a lot of people liked Bush. His visits to Africa were seldom met with protests but massive parades. He did give more aid on the whole and more physical aid than any other president (malaria nets and condoms won't fit in Swiss bank accounts).

If you think lefty Urbanites hated Bush, you should hear the opinion of Obama around here... It's pretty brutal. And like the lefty Urbanites to Bush, they only talk about the things they disagree with (or aren't perfect enough for them) and never mention the good the president does. They blame him for compromising instead of sticking to an iron-clad conservative political theme. I could only imagine the amount of exploding heads if Obama actually did something they wholly agreed with. It's impossible, though, because they don't even agree with each other. (And nobody agrees with me... I'm too conservative for them .)

A good, light read, all though I was waiting for a point.

It can be summarized as this: "Although the United States is the wealthiest, most powerful, and most successful civilization throughout human history, Europeans still think they're better than them. But, hark!, what is this? Be it true, this mighty thing? They're not all rude, obnoxious, have three eyes, and incinerate the poor with fireballs flung from their arse?"

You have to give the British one thing: They can deliver even an obviously left-handed compliment quaintly and pleasantly. No surprise the NYT jumped all over it.

[JMO]

Except for two gormless girls from upstate New York(they believed literally everything I said), who I knew in University, my first american friends were made in Korea.

At first I thought they were a very fake, then a little fake and then finally settled on just really nice. The americans (and canadians) i've met aren't as cynical, sarcastic or as sharp as brits, irish, aussies or kiwis. They are also not as funny however but that is to be expected.

[calicoe]

[Bloopity Bloop]

[Sleepy in Seoul]