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I've got it: Why Korea is such a frustrating country
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le-paul



Joined: 07 Apr 2009
Location: dans la chambre

PostPosted: Tue Oct 07, 2014 9:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

KimchiNinja wrote:
le-paul wrote:
Samsung predicts 60 percent drop in profits soon.

Lets see what that mountain looks like when that happens...


Forecast; it will still look like a mountain. Laughing


I saw a (hypothetical in terms of scale) mountain of shit and trash outside my door this morning, and it feels like trying to climb a mountain every time I try to talk to my boss who is as stupid as a sack of cocks.

But yes, they are still mountains. I concur...
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Steelrails



Joined: 12 Mar 2009
Location: Earth, Solar System

PostPosted: Tue Oct 07, 2014 11:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I dont know about mountains, but I do know that resurrecting an 8-year old thread for venting purposes is the pits.
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le-paul



Joined: 07 Apr 2009
Location: dans la chambre

PostPosted: Wed Oct 08, 2014 12:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Steelrails wrote:
I dont know about mountains, but I do know that resurrecting an 8-year old thread for venting purposes is the pits.


Funny, thats exactly what I thought when I first saw it (contrary to my posting on it...).
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Chaparrastique



Joined: 01 Jan 2014

PostPosted: Wed Oct 08, 2014 12:16 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Steelrails wrote:
I dont know about mountains, but I do know that resurrecting an 8-year old thread for venting purposes is the pits.


i happened on it by accident while doing a search for something else. Then it struck me that in the past 8 years there has been a huge growth in coffee shops. hence my comment.
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Old Painless



Joined: 01 Jan 2014

PostPosted: Wed Oct 08, 2014 1:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Chaparrastique wrote:
Steelrails wrote:
I dont know about mountains, but I do know that resurrecting an 8-year old thread for venting purposes is the pits.


i happened on it by accident while doing a search for something else. Then it struck me that in the past 8 years there has been a huge growth in coffee shops. hence my comment.



What exactly were you looking for? Maybe we can help. Cool
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Roman Holiday



Joined: 22 Sep 2014

PostPosted: Wed Oct 08, 2014 2:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

JZer wrote:
Quote:
In my opinion, you came closest in your sentence about those who have 'accepted the mountain'. It seems to me that those who get the most frustrated are those who haven't accepted that Korea is really a different culture, with everything that entails.


It is the same as back home. If you are one that does not accept some of the crap that goes back home then you will be disgruntled. The only difference is that it is easier to accept that things back home make sense even if they don't since we have spent our lives believing that is how life is "supposed to be".

I think we could bring outsiders into every country who could find ways to improve things. Just because it seems right to us does not mean it is or that it is the only way to do something.

We might even want to question peoples sense of logic. Maybe there is no such thing a an absolute logical system. Everyone's logical system is shaded with gray due to the effects of parents, teachers, and their country.


Yes. When questioning the collective logic of another country, you're also compelled to question the logic of your own. Perhaps the primary benefit of living in another country is that it inculcates what could be called a 'practical existentialism'. Practical in that it is induced not by theory but by the strange concrete circumstances you find yourself in- you can no longer look to 'society' to provide your 'norm'. Along with yourself, the world may then become just that little bit more mysterious. And if you then want to wilfully pursue a personal meaning, you can either look into philosophy, history, religion, poetry, or hang out in cafes, smoke cigarettes, waffle, and read Sartre. Cool


Last edited by Roman Holiday on Wed Oct 08, 2014 4:59 pm; edited 3 times in total
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guavashake



Joined: 09 Nov 2013

PostPosted: Wed Oct 08, 2014 4:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

le-paul wrote:
Steelrails wrote:
I dont know about mountains, but I do know that resurrecting an 8-year old thread for venting purposes is the pits.


Funny, thats exactly what I thought when I first saw it (contrary to my posting on it...).

Some people will scrutinize those who don't use the search function.
Some will scrutinize those who do use the search function.
You can't please everybody.
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le-paul



Joined: 07 Apr 2009
Location: dans la chambre

PostPosted: Wed Oct 08, 2014 5:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Roman Holiday wrote:
JZer wrote:
Quote:
In my opinion, you came closest in your sentence about those who have 'accepted the mountain'. It seems to me that those who get the most frustrated are those who haven't accepted that Korea is really a different culture, with everything that entails.


It is the same as back home. If you are one that does not accept some of the crap that goes back home then you will be disgruntled. The only difference is that it is easier to accept that things back home make sense even if they don't since we have spent our lives believing that is how life is "supposed to be".

I think we could bring outsiders into every country who could find ways to improve things. Just because it seems right to us does not mean it is or that it is the only way to do something.

We might even want to question peoples sense of logic. Maybe there is no such thing a an absolute logical system. Everyone's logical system is shaded with gray due to the effects of parents, teachers, and their country.


Yes. When questioning the collective logic of another country, you're also compelled to question the logic of your own. Perhaps the primary benefit of living in another country is that it inculcates what could be called a 'practical existentialism'. Practical in that it is induced not by theory but by the strange concrete circumstances you find yourself in- you can no longer look to 'society' to provide your 'norm'. Along with yourself, the world may then become just that little bit more mysterious. And if you then want to wilfully pursue a personal meaning, you can either look into philosophy, history, religion, poetry, or hang out in cafes, smoke cigarettes, waffle, and read Sartre. Cool


You edited that 3 times. It would have been a bit more 'good will hunting' (and impressive) if you'd done it off the top of your head.

I dont think you deserve sunglasses...

(maybe next time, type on word, edit and then cut and paste the final copy onto here - that deserves sunglasses) Cool
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KimchiNinja



Joined: 01 May 2012
Location: Gangnam

PostPosted: Thu Oct 09, 2014 7:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Roman Holiday wrote:
JZer wrote:
Quote:
In my opinion, you came closest in your sentence about those who have 'accepted the mountain'. It seems to me that those who get the most frustrated are those who haven't accepted that Korea is really a different culture, with everything that entails.


It is the same as back home. If you are one that does not accept some of the crap that goes back home then you will be disgruntled. The only difference is that it is easier to accept that things back home make sense even if they don't since we have spent our lives believing that is how life is "supposed to be".

I think we could bring outsiders into every country who could find ways to improve things. Just because it seems right to us does not mean it is or that it is the only way to do something.

We might even want to question peoples sense of logic. Maybe there is no such thing a an absolute logical system. Everyone's logical system is shaded with gray due to the effects of parents, teachers, and their country.


Yes. When questioning the collective logic of another country, you're also compelled to question the logic of your own.


Yes, but the majority of Dave's people don't do that, they just do "when will these savages realize they are wrong and we are right. Educating these savages is like trying to move a mountain!!". Might be more interesting if they viewed their block-headed selves as the mountain. Idea
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Weigookin74



Joined: 26 Oct 2009

PostPosted: Thu Oct 09, 2014 11:04 pm    Post subject: Re: I've got it: Why Korea is such a frustrating country Reply with quote

KimchiNinja wrote:
Dan wrote:
Because deep down, we know that no matter what happens, we won't be able to change the opinions, and behavior of Koreans. Living and working in Korea is like a constant effort to move a mountain. You know the mountain needs moving, so you push, but the mountain always wins.

The folks who have given up, or have accepted the mountain, seem to be enjoying themselves more than most.


Welcome to living in other cultures 101.

PS, the mountain DOES NOT need moving.


Yeah it does if others don't want to deal with the palce or live here. Otherwise, it can go back to being the hermit kingdom. Of course thing will never be the same as back home and there will be many things you will have to let go. But, certain things like safety, driving habits, spitting, not washing hands (spreading SARS and the like) can change for the betterment of the people living here and folks travelling here. Add in arrogant ajossi attitude amongst some (though not nearly as bad as it use to be) and the crazy 26 degree rule in summers to get rid of and things would be fine.

Korea has progressed in many ways since the OP first posted here. Much cleaner in comparison, most international food, friendlier people with less frowns, better English levels amongst many locals, etc.
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Chaparrastique



Joined: 01 Jan 2014

PostPosted: Thu Oct 09, 2014 11:19 pm    Post subject: Re: I've got it: Why Korea is such a frustrating country Reply with quote

Weigookin74 wrote:
KimchiNinja wrote:
Dan wrote:
Because deep down, we know that no matter what happens, we won't be able to change the opinions, and behavior of Koreans. Living and working in Korea is like a constant effort to move a mountain. You know the mountain needs moving, so you push, but the mountain always wins.

The folks who have given up, or have accepted the mountain, seem to be enjoying themselves more than most.


Welcome to living in other cultures 101.

PS, the mountain DOES NOT need moving.


Yeah it does if others don't want to deal with the palce or live here. Otherwise, it can go back to being the hermit kingdom. Of course thing will never be the same as back home and there will be many things you will have to let go. But, certain things like safety, driving habits, spitting, not washing hands (spreading SARS and the like) can change for the betterment of the people living here and folks travelling here. Add in arrogant ajossi attitude amongst some (though not nearly as bad as it use to be) and the crazy 26 degree rule in summers to get rid of and things would be fine.

Korea has progressed in many ways since the OP first posted here. Much cleaner in comparison, most international food, friendlier people with less frowns, better English levels amongst many locals, etc.


Korea has a closed door policy to advice or ideas. They won't be told. Any attempt to tell a Korean something will be met with resistance. They only change by copying others ideas.

I could probably improve the efficiency and profits of my workplace by about 30% if they just listened to my advice for 20 minutes.

But for the sake of my sanity I have given up trying to move the mountain. I just shut up and collect my paycheque.
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KimchiNinja



Joined: 01 May 2012
Location: Gangnam

PostPosted: Thu Oct 09, 2014 11:26 pm    Post subject: Re: I've got it: Why Korea is such a frustrating country Reply with quote

Weigookin74 wrote:
KimchiNinja wrote:
Dan wrote:
Because deep down, we know that no matter what happens, we won't be able to change the opinions, and behavior of Koreans. Living and working in Korea is like a constant effort to move a mountain. You know the mountain needs moving, so you push, but the mountain always wins.

The folks who have given up, or have accepted the mountain, seem to be enjoying themselves more than most.


Welcome to living in other cultures 101.

PS, the mountain DOES NOT need moving.


Yeah it does if others don't want to deal with the palce or live here.


Koreans don't care.
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DaeguNL



Joined: 08 Sep 2009

PostPosted: Fri Oct 10, 2014 2:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Steelrails wrote:
I dont know about mountains, but I do know that resurrecting an 8-year old thread for venting purposes is the pits.


finally a comment I can agree on steelrails.

8 year old thread bumper, how far back did you have to go to find an 8 year old thread? Or was it a simple "Korea is frustrating" google search?
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Roman Holiday



Joined: 22 Sep 2014

PostPosted: Fri Oct 10, 2014 2:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

KimchiNinja wrote:
Roman Holiday wrote:
JZer wrote:
Quote:
In my opinion, you came closest in your sentence about those who have 'accepted the mountain'. It seems to me that those who get the most frustrated are those who haven't accepted that Korea is really a different culture, with everything that entails.


It is the same as back home. If you are one that does not accept some of the crap that goes back home then you will be disgruntled. The only difference is that it is easier to accept that things back home make sense even if they don't since we have spent our lives believing that is how life is "supposed to be".

I think we could bring outsiders into every country who could find ways to improve things. Just because it seems right to us does not mean it is or that it is the only way to do something.

We might even want to question peoples sense of logic. Maybe there is no such thing a an absolute logical system. Everyone's logical system is shaded with gray due to the effects of parents, teachers, and their country.


Yes. When questioning the collective logic of another country, you're also compelled to question the logic of your own.


Yes, but the majority of Dave's people don't do that, they just do "when will these savages realize they are wrong and we are right. Educating these savages is like trying to move a mountain!!". Might be more interesting if they viewed their block-headed selves as the mountain. Idea


Still, westerners have a long tradition of thought that stretches further back than modern day rationalism. In theory there was a more harmonious relation between the individual and 'society', and in practice the individual always struggled against collective power. indeed, the rationale for 'society' was the development/ perfection of the individual. Everything outside the individual was a useful fiction. When you consider that even in the west the supremacy of the individual is being lost today then rationalism turns out to be just another form of collectivism.

Unedited.
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Who's Your Daddy?



Joined: 30 May 2010
Location: Victoria, Canada.

PostPosted: Fri Oct 10, 2014 5:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I remember after I visited the south of France my English uncle complained about French arrogance. I replied, "they are right to be arrogant, beautiful place."

I visited Vietnam. My tour guide said something along the lines of "Vietnam is trying to learn from more developed countries." Basically admitting some ignorance, and not being arrogant.

The reason I found Korea frustrating was it was obviously ignorant, but was arrogant at the same time. So they ignorantly thought western cuisine was hamburgers and pizza, but were arrogant enough to think they knew everything. So because their knowledge of foreigners was so simple, they concluded we are simple (and looked down to us)- not that they have much to learn.
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