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John Junior
Joined: 31 Jan 2012 Location: Somewhere
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Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 4:25 pm Post subject: Is it just me or are other males experiencing this? |
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This is not paranoia nor is it a troll. Everytime I am in public chatting to a Korean woman, I get demonic stairs or intense gazes from Korean men. Korean women gaze at me when I am chatting to other women too.
At my school all the teen girls initially made flattering comments about my appearance. That has stopped now that I am part of the furniture.
The intense stairs by males is very frustrating, is any other expatriate male experiencing this? I am avoiding confrontation but it grates on my nerves. Infact, I was in Kangnam on the weekend and a complete stranger and his girlfriend too a photo of me where I was sitting. WTF?
Last edited by John Junior on Sun Jun 03, 2012 6:34 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Underwaterbob

Joined: 08 Jan 2005 Location: In Cognito
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Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 4:46 pm Post subject: |
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Maybe they've discovered your disturbing lack of coherency. |
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happiness
Joined: 04 Sep 2010
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Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 4:50 pm Post subject: |
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dude, it may happen, but you need the bigger kahunas. in my years here, if you show your teeth a bit, they back away.
as for the pic thing, i let it go, hey man, im out to meet a nice lady, if they want to snap a foto, its cool. I have confronted a couple times, and let me tell you, they fold like little kittykats real quick.
korea makes you a man, chicks like that,
just my 2cents. |
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Scorpion
Joined: 15 Apr 2012
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Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 5:11 pm Post subject: |
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As a nation and a culture Korea has a lot of growing up to do. |
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Leon
Joined: 31 May 2010
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Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 5:31 pm Post subject: Re: Is it just me or are other males experiencing this? |
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John Junior wrote: |
This is not paranoia nor is it a troll. Everytime I am in public chatting to a Korean woman, I get demonic stairs or intense gazes from Korean men. Korean women gaze at me when I am chatting to other women too.
At my school all the teen girls initially made flattering comments about my appearance. That has stopped now that I am part of the furniture. Speaking humbly, I look like 101 film characters and entertainers mashed in to one.
The intense stairs by males is very frustrating, is any other expatriate male experiencing this? I am avoiding confrontation but it grates on my nerves. Infact, I was in Kangnam on the weekend and a complete stranger and his girlfriend too a photo of me where I was sitting. WTF? |
These stairs sound quite intimidating, maybe they are gazing at you wondering why you don't just take the elevator. |
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treehouse
Joined: 17 Jul 2010 Location: Seoul
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Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 5:37 pm Post subject: |
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Nice one. I was trying to think of something along those lines as soon as saw it in the OP. lol. |
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fermentation
Joined: 22 Jun 2009
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Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 5:51 pm Post subject: |
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There's actually quite a number of pictures on the internet of foreigners randomly taken by Koreans. You might be on a blog somewhere with a caption that says, "Look at this foreigner on the subway!" |
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sml7285
Joined: 26 Apr 2012
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Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 8:02 pm Post subject: Re: Is it just me or are other males experiencing this? |
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John Junior wrote: |
At my school all the teen girls initially made flattering comments about my appearance. That has stopped now that I am part of the furniture. |
Trust me. You have to take comments from Korean women about looks with a grain of salt. I grew up thinking that I was the best looking guy in the world with all the comments I got from my mom's Korean friends about how "handsome" I was and various comments of that nature. It wasn't until later that I realized they say the same thing to all boys and men who aren't married... yet another cultural thing. |
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John Junior
Joined: 31 Jan 2012 Location: Somewhere
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Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 8:43 pm Post subject: |
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I never post anything on Dave's and when I do I get replies from the usual three stooges, Underwater Bob, Leon and Treehouse. I was trying to make an honest discussion about a cultural issue and get constructive replies. Thank you three stooges, but more seriously thank you to the serious comments.
Yes I am taking a lot of comments from the teenagers with a grain of salt, I am learning. But when adults take photos in public, unbeknown to me, that is different. That has happened twice. I am understanding the cultural comments of positive affirmations as just that, cultural affirmations.
Genuine regards
Single asever. |
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PeteJB
Joined: 06 Jul 2007
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Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 9:01 pm Post subject: |
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The ratio of 'stares' goes up a lot when you are with a Korean or Korean-looking girl. Normally quite harmless but it can be a tad uncomfortable. As my partner once said, don't be a coward and fight it. Stare back and win. You'll feel better for it. No need to get hostile. Just give them the zombie look. |
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jmadtownweb
Joined: 13 Dec 2011 Location: Wisconsin
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Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 9:17 pm Post subject: |
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PeteJB wrote: |
The ratio of 'stares' goes up a lot when you are with a Korean or Korean-looking girl. Normally quite harmless but it can be a tad uncomfortable. As my partner once said, don't be a coward and fight it. Stare back and win. You'll feel better for it. No need to get hostile. Just give them the zombie look. |
Exactly. You have eyes too. Use them. |
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Captain Corea

Joined: 28 Feb 2005 Location: Seoul
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Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 9:44 pm Post subject: |
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fermentation wrote: |
There's actually quite a number of pictures on the internet of foreigners randomly taken by Koreans. You might be on a blog somewhere with a caption that says, "Look at this foreigner on the subway!" |
I wonder what those bloggers think they are accomplishing. |
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Zackback
Joined: 05 Nov 2010 Location: Kyungbuk
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Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 10:33 pm Post subject: |
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Oh yeah I experience this quite a bit but it is probably because I am twice their age which in Korea is pretty much a no-no. But hey I'm not gonna let that stop me. Just roll with it smile and wave. When the old women (my age) give me that dirty look I just wink at em.  |
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The Cosmic Hum

Joined: 09 May 2003 Location: Sonic Space
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Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 10:38 pm Post subject: |
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John Junior wrote: |
But when adults take photos in public, unbeknown to me, that is different. That has happened twice. |
If the pictures were taken unbeknownst to you...then how did you know they were taken...and twice at that?
Sorry...I know you are trying to have a serious discussion...but it's also good to see the humor in some things.
(yes...it is quite likely he meant the adults were unbeknownst to him...but the modifier was placed such that more than one meaning could be inferred) |
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12ax7
Joined: 07 Nov 2009
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Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 10:38 pm Post subject: |
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PeteJB wrote: |
The ratio of 'stares' goes up a lot when you are with a Korean or Korean-looking girl. Normally quite harmless but it can be a tad uncomfortable. As my partner once said, don't be a coward and fight it. Stare back and win. You'll feel better for it. No need to get hostile. Just give them the zombie look. |
And give them the satisfaction of having made me feel like I don't belong here? Never.
Do some people stare at me? Maybe. But, I've got bigger and better things on my mind to notice or care, such as the pleasant time I'm sharing with my family, the meal I'm having, the bright sunny sky, that great book I've just read, the great conversation I'm having with my buddies over a couple of cold ones, that annoyingly catchy song I heard that I can't get out of my head,...
Besides, ignoring someone is one of the greatest signs of contempt.
So, here's a word of advice: stop checking over your shoulder all the time. Remember, the only person that you need to convince that you are rightfully here is yourself. |
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