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Adventurer
Joined: 28 Jan 2006
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 Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2011 2:30 am Post subject: this kind of bad behavior from kids which seems racist okay |
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I was waitin' for a cab next to where I live and three boys were walking opposite of me. One of the boys was pointing at me and laughing. I am not sure why. I have a crew cut, very short hair. It could be the reason. I don't know why, so I pointed back and looked at him. Then when they were walking down, I kept looking at them with a dirty stare while also waiting for my cab. However, later, I decided I was going to wave to them to sort of send the message, that was done wasn't okay, but I have no hard feelings toward them and not to do it again. Anyway, they later waved. I just wanted to make a point. I didn't get very upset. I just thought it wasn't appropriate behavior. If I had kids behaving that way, they would be grounded for a couple of weeks and taken to places where there are other cultures and have to volunteer with me.
Has anyone experienced something like this? It isn't smart anyway to behave that way towards an older adult. It's not safe behavior. He didn't exercise common sense. And, no, I don't think most of the kids are like that. I have had kids point at me before, not this way before. That's why I gave the boy a very cold stare, but then gave the boys later a peace signal by waving. |
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hossenfeffer
Joined: 07 Oct 2006
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| Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2011 3:38 am Post subject: |
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I was walking to work one day (in a shirt and tie) and two kids yelled from their apartment window, "Yankee Go Home!!" That kinda got up my nose.
I'm always surprised at the number of VERY little kids who point at me and say to their mother, "waygookin!" It seems like "foreigner" would be a low frequency word given the scarcity of foreigners in Korea, but surprisingly MANY kids seem to know this word. Any insights as to why a three or four year old child has added this to his/her lexicon at such an early age?
Hoss |
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Mix1
Joined: 08 May 2007
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| Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2011 4:33 am Post subject: |
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In and out before the apologists...
But I'll save them some time:
1. All kids everywhere can be jerks; there's no difference at all here in how foreigners are respected/treated and they would almost always do exactly the same to a Korean adult.
2.There is/was more racism in western countries either now in selected areas or in the past 50 years, therefore end of discussion.
3.This was just one incident. This behavior doesn't happen as often as people say it does because they are just imagining things or if it did happen it must have happened in the countryside or in a poor neighborhood.
4. You're just a whiner. Grow thicker skin. Being dissed and pointed at is no big deal at all. Happens all the time. Take it and move on. No reason to be angry at all.
5. It's not racism at all. Koreans aren't capable of racism, since Korea is a small country that historically isn't used to foreigners so it's either curiosity or confusion on how to properly act towards a fellow human that looks a bit different.
Actually, one thing that seems to be going on is that the teens here have little to no street smarts regarding behavior that would get you punched in the face anywhere else. For example pointing at and laughing or yelling at random adults, notably foreigners. (Cue the vid where someone posts a teen from another country dissing a foreigner. "FAIL") I suppose it "could" happen to a regular Korean adult, but probably a lot less frequently. The plus side is that when confronted they fold instantly.
Last edited by Mix1 on Sat Nov 05, 2011 4:48 am; edited 1 time in total |
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T-J
Joined: 10 Oct 2008
Location: Seoul EunpyungGu Yeonsinnae
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| Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2011 4:48 am Post subject: |
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Ha. Yea, this used to bother me too circa 1994. It's something you will get past or you won't. Good luck.
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northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2011 5:58 am Post subject: |
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| Mix1 wrote: |
In and out before the apologists...
But I'll save them some time:
1. All kids everywhere can be jerks; there's no difference at all here in how foreigners are respected/treated and they would almost always do exactly the same to a Korean adult.
2.There is/was more racism in western countries either now in selected areas or in the past 50 years, therefore end of discussion.
3.This was just one incident. This behavior doesn't happen as often as people say it does because they are just imagining things or if it did happen it must have happened in the countryside or in a poor neighborhood.
4. You're just a whiner. Grow thicker skin. Being dissed and pointed at is no big deal at all. Happens all the time. Take it and move on. No reason to be angry at all.
5. It's not racism at all. Koreans aren't capable of racism, since Korea is a small country that historically isn't used to foreigners so it's either curiosity or confusion on how to properly act towards a fellow human that looks a bit different.
Actually, one thing that seems to be going on is that the teens here have little to no street smarts regarding behavior that would get you punched in the face anywhere else. For example pointing at and laughing or yelling at random adults, notably foreigners. (Cue the vid where someone posts a teen from another country dissing a foreigner. "FAIL") I suppose it "could" happen to a regular Korean adult, but probably a lot less frequently. The plus side is that when confronted they fold instantly. |
Actually, I'm pretty sure none of the "apologists" will beef with this, as the OP is acknowledging the possibility that there might be some dynamism within Korean society. |
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Adventurer
Joined: 28 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2011 7:17 am Post subject: |
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| T-J wrote: |
Ha. Yea, this used to bother me too circa 1994. It's something you will get past or you won't. Good luck.
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I never encountered that before, and the kid engaging in that behavior was being rather stupid. I could have hurt him, he was just a child. He should have used common sense. Of course, I wouldn't have hurt him. I did give him a cold stare, and I think he and his friends learned a lesson, and the fact that I responded by giving a friendly wave at the end on purpose to say that hositility to others is not the correct way to behave.
This has only happened to me once in all my years in Korea for the record. I think it could be because of my military style hair cut that I got recently. Could it have been that? I never had a military style hair cut in Korea before. Many people think it looks nice including Koreans, but one boss said, "Are you joining the army?", but she is kind of older and probably old-fashioned. However, she is very sweet and competent and does a good job. I have no complaints there. |
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Chet Wautlands
Joined: 11 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2011 7:22 am Post subject: |
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| hossenfeffer wrote: |
I was walking to work one day (in a shirt and tie) and two kids yelled from their apartment window, "Yankee Go Home!!" That kinda got up my nose.
I'm always surprised at the number of VERY little kids who point at me and say to their mother, "waygookin!" It seems like "foreigner" would be a low frequency word given the scarcity of foreigners in Korea, but surprisingly MANY kids seem to know this word. Any insights as to why a three or four year old child has added this to his/her lexicon at such an early age?
Hoss |
They have TV. "That guy doesn't look like anyone I know.." "He's a foreigner." |
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zappadelta
Joined: 31 Aug 2004
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| Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2011 7:53 am Post subject: |
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| Adventurer wrote: |
| T-J wrote: |
Ha. Yea, this used to bother me too circa 1994. It's something you will get past or you won't. Good luck.
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I never encountered that before, and the kid engaging in that behavior was being rather stupid. I could have hurt him, he was just a child. He should have used common sense. Of course, I wouldn't have hurt him. I did give him a cold stare, and I think he and his friends learned a lesson, and the fact that I responded by giving a friendly wave at the end on purpose to say that hositility to others is not the correct way to behave.
This has only happened to me once in all my years in Korea for the record. I think it could be because of my military style hair cut that I got recently. Could it have been that? I never had a military style hair cut in Korea before. Many people think it looks nice including Koreans, but one boss said, "Are you joining the army?", but she is kind of older and probably old-fashioned. However, she is very sweet and competent and does a good job. I have no complaints there. |
A kid being stupid? No way, I can��t believe that! |
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Zyzyfer
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Location: who, what, where, when, why, how?
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| Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2011 8:03 am Post subject: |
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| Dude seriously? As long as you've been posting here? This is what you've got going? |
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Julius
Joined: 27 Jul 2006
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| Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2011 8:15 am Post subject: Re: this kind of bad behavior from kids which seems racist o |
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| Adventurer wrote: |
| I kept looking at them with a dirty stare while also waiting for my cab. |
You overreacted. Lots of children are curious, you would be too if you were only 5 years old and never saw a foreign person before.
| Quote: |
| Has anyone experienced something like this? |
Most koreans in seoul are used to foreigners already and most kids have been to english hogwons. Incidents like this are rare. They must be if this is the first time its happened to you in 6 years.
| Quote: |
| then gave the boys later a peace signal by waving. |
Well at least you ended on a positive note but next time remember you are an ambassador for your country. Be nice! |
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Adventurer
Joined: 28 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2011 8:25 am Post subject: Re: this kind of bad behavior from kids which seems racist o |
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| Julius wrote: |
| Adventurer wrote: |
| I kept looking at them with a dirty stare while also waiting for my cab. |
You overreacted. Lots of children are curious, you would be too if you were only 5 years old and never saw a foreign person before.
| Quote: |
| Has anyone experienced something like this? |
Most koreans in seoul are used to foreigners already and most kids have been to english hogwons. Incidents like this are rare. They must be if this is the first time its happened to you in 6 years.
| Quote: |
| then gave the boys later a peace signal by waving. |
Well at least you ended on a positive note but next time remember you are an ambassador for your country. Be nice! |
I am not in the Seoul area. That never happened in the Seoul area. I am in Gwangju. No, this wasn't curiousity. One of the kids was pointing at me not out-of-curiousity. He was being rude; he was laughing. I assume because I have crew cut, your normal very short hair cut which Koreans only have when they're in the army. That's my only explanation.
Again, it's not in the Seoul area. Jeollanamdo isn't like the Seoul area.
Yes, I'm an ambassador to my country. I simply stared at the particular kid for a while for his rude behavior, and, then, gave him and his friends a friendly wave to sort of say, "I didn't like the behavior, but it's okay. It's better to be friendly". My focus was on teaching them that one of the three kids behaved inappropriately. I think it was somewhat understood.
Did I react incorrectly? I said nothing, didn't react with anger or yell.
I gave that kid a dirty stare. What would have been the appropriate behavior? To pretend I didn't notice?
Anyway, I am venting. I am not saying anything about the majority of kids in Mars, Korea, or America. I am just remarking on something I never experienced in Korea before. That's all. |
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zappadelta
Joined: 31 Aug 2004
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| Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2011 8:36 am Post subject: Re: this kind of bad behavior from kids which seems racist o |
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| Adventurer wrote: |
| Julius wrote: |
| Adventurer wrote: |
| I kept looking at them with a dirty stare while also waiting for my cab. |
You overreacted. Lots of children are curious, you would be too if you were only 5 years old and never saw a foreign person before.
| Quote: |
| Has anyone experienced something like this? |
Most koreans in seoul are used to foreigners already and most kids have been to english hogwons. Incidents like this are rare. They must be if this is the first time its happened to you in 6 years.
| Quote: |
| then gave the boys later a peace signal by waving. |
Well at least you ended on a positive note but next time remember you are an ambassador for your country. Be nice! |
I am not in the Seoul area. That never happened in the Seoul area. I am in Gwangju. No, this wasn't curiousity. One of the kids was pointing at me not out-of-curiousity. He was being rude; he was laughing. I assume because I have crew cut, your normal very short hair cut which Koreans only have when they're in the army. That's my only explanation.
Again, it's not in the Seoul area. Jeollanamdo isn't like the Seoul area.
Yes, I'm an ambassador to my country. I simply stared at the particular kid for a while for his rude behavior, and, then, gave him and his friends a friendly wave to sort of say, "I didn't like the behavior, but it's okay. It's better to be friendly". My focus was on teaching them that one of the three kids behaved inappropriately. I think it was somewhat understood.
Did I react incorrectly? I said nothing, didn't react with anger or yell.
I gave that kid a dirty stare. What would have been the appropriate behavior? To pretend I didn't notice?
Anyway, I am venting. I am not saying anything about the majority of kids in Mars, Korea, or America. I am just remarking on something I never experienced in Korea before. That's all. |
Just seems like a bit of an overreaction for someone who's been here so long. After reading the title to your post, was definitely expecting something much more extreme/unusual. |
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Julius
Joined: 27 Jul 2006
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| Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2011 8:43 am Post subject: Re: this kind of bad behavior from kids which seems racist o |
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| Adventurer wrote: |
| Julius wrote: |
| Adventurer wrote: |
| I kept looking at them with a dirty stare while also waiting for my cab. |
You overreacted. Lots of children are curious, you would be too if you were only 5 years old and never saw a foreign person before.
| Quote: |
| Has anyone experienced something like this? |
Most koreans in seoul are used to foreigners already and most kids have been to english hogwons. Incidents like this are rare. They must be if this is the first time its happened to you in 6 years.
| Quote: |
| then gave the boys later a peace signal by waving. |
Well at least you ended on a positive note but next time remember you are an ambassador for your country. Be nice! |
I am not in the Seoul area. That never happened in the Seoul area. I am in Gwangju. No, this wasn't curiousity. One of the kids was pointing at me not out-of-curiousity. He was being rude; he was laughing. I assume because I have crew cut, your normal very short hair cut which Koreans only have when they're in the army. That's my only explanation.
Again, it's not in the Seoul area. Jeollanamdo isn't like the Seoul area.
Yes, I'm an ambassador to my country. I simply stared at the particular kid for a while for his rude behavior, and, then, gave him and his friends a friendly wave to sort of say, "I didn't like the behavior, but it's okay. It's better to be friendly". My focus was on teaching them that one of the three kids behaved inappropriately. I think it was somewhat understood.
Did I react incorrectly? I said nothing, didn't react with anger or yell.
I gave that kid a dirty stare. What would have been the appropriate behavior? To pretend I didn't notice?
Anyway, I am venting. I am not saying anything about the majority of kids in Mars, Korea, or America. I am just remarking on something I never experienced in Korea before. That's all. |
OK so i was just trolling you. 
But now I feel bead because it seems you have a genuinely good heart.
Seriously these incidents are fairly common to me, in seoul, especially if I am with a woman, and yes they are really irritating.
How to handle it? who knows. depends on how old they are, if they are with their parents, how persistent they are, etc. usually a glare is enough. |
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nukeday
Joined: 13 May 2010
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| Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2011 4:13 pm Post subject: |
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Another spellbinding Korean tale by Adventurer!
First he saw a black dog, and this time children are talking to him on the street!
What will happen next???? |
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sirius black
Joined: 04 Jun 2010
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| Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2011 4:34 pm Post subject: |
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I think in Korean society kids have a double standard. They are very respectful to Korean adults and almost always are submissive but not with foreigners oftentimes. I've experienced it as well. I'm not sure if its a combination of having foreign teachers that they don't have to pay the same respect to as their korean counterpart or cues they get from their parens and the larger society that you don't have pay the same respect to foreign adults. We often foster the behavior in our classrooms.
Saying its racist is a bit far off though. |
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