| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Knappstar
Joined: 05 Jan 2005
|
 Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2005 5:46 am Post subject: Lets be honest.. |
 |
|
I'm sure this question is going to draw some fire, but that honestly isn't my intention. I am just trying to see if other people share the same likes and peeves about Korea as I do.
The old PC saying goes "There is no such thing as better or worse habits in a culture, only different." While that holds true sometimes, there are some things that I honestly feel us Westerners( Or Aussies/Kiwis/South Africans) have a better handle on. On the other hand, there are also some things that I think Koreans have down better than we do...not just culture, but everyday things, too.
Here is a short list of mine:
We do it better:
-Driving...USA/England/Canada/Europe/Oceania driving is somewhat sane. Can't say the same for driving here.
-Courtesy in public places: such as the concept as letting people off a subway or out of a room before pushing through them
-Hygeine: Referring specifically to spitting: I much prefer blowing my snot into a tissue then hawking it onto the floor. (ESPECIALLY indoors!!)
-Leaving the headlights on at nite at a red light..your not saving any battery life or gas, mr taxi man.
They do it better:
-Respect for elders..something that is all but gone in America
-Street Food...much more variety, cheaper
-FREE POOL in the bars..cant get enough of this one
-Also, that thing they put under the rack in bars so you can just pick the balls up
-If you press an elevator button by mistake, you can press it again, and it will unlight.
-My all in one bathroom..who needs a shower curtain? I wash down my bathroom everytime I shower!
So please, flame me if you must about how much of an ignorant jerk I am, but it would be a lot more fun if you would join in! Whats your list?
Andy |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Dispatched
Joined: 08 May 2004
|
| Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2005 6:19 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
We do it better:
-Driving...USA/England/Canada/Europe/Oceania driving is somewhat sane. Can't say the same for driving here.
-Courtesy in public places: such as the concept as letting people off a subway or out of a room before pushing through them
-Hygeine: Referring specifically to spitting: I much prefer blowing my snot into a tissue then hawking it onto the floor. (ESPECIALLY indoors!!)
-Leaving the headlights on at nite at a red light..your not saving any battery life or gas, mr taxi man.
They do it better:
-Respect for elders..something that is all but gone in America
-Street Food...much more variety, cheaper
-FREE POOL in the bars..cant get enough of this one
-Also, that thing they put under the rack in bars so you can just pick the balls up
-If you press an elevator button by mistake, you can press it again, and it will unlight.
-My all in one bathroom..who needs a shower curtain? I wash down my bathroom everytime I shower!
|
Not a flame in the least...
I disagree about the driving, it's a different mentality for sure. Skill wise I've seen ajummas driving within millimetres of other cars on a narrow lane and I marvel at the skill and confidence they exhibit. I enjoy travelling in taxis and the way they drive but that's not to say I'd ever drive on these roads, my mindset is simply not in tune with the Korean driving mindset.
Courtesy, I really haven't experienced the pushing and shoving people talk about, admittably I don't live in a major city but I do take the train every weekend and the people stand aside and let people off before boarding. At home no better or worse, in my experience.
Hygeine: ok, I agree.
Most of the things ya said you like aren't really cultural are they?
Some of the things I like, not really cultural either... the lack of graffiti, the lack of menacing teenage youths hanging around doing nothing in particular, the excellent and cheap transport system. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Moldy Rutabaga
Joined: 01 Jul 2003
Location: Ansan, Korea
|
| Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2005 7:01 am Post subject: |
|
|
[Edit]
Last edited by Moldy Rutabaga on Wed Jan 01, 2014 9:11 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Mr. Literal
Joined: 03 Jul 2003
Location: Third rock from the Sun.
|
| Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2005 3:08 pm Post subject: Re: Lets be honest.. |
|
|
| Knappstar wrote: |
We do it better:
-Driving, courtesy in public places |
Have you ever been in the States?? This is laughable.
However, I will give you the hygiene and headlights off thing. Both gross and stupid. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
desultude
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Location: Dangling my toes in the Persian Gulf
|
| Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2005 3:20 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Driving skills?
In a word:
Miami   
My friends here wonder why I am so cool and unconcerned when I ride in the front seat of a taxi here. After living in Miami, I have long since given up any serious attachment to arriving alive. It's all in the hands of the gods. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Daechidong Waygookin
Joined: 22 Nov 2004
Location: No Longer on Dave's. Ive quit.
|
| Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2005 3:27 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| The reason why people turn off the headlights at red lights is to avoid flashing them in the eyes of drivers in the opposite lane. Its not so stupid. Actually, I do it myself and I appreciate when other drivers do it. So it really isnt as stupid as you think. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Homer
Guest
|
| Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2005 4:04 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
We do it better:
-Driving...USA/England/Canada/Europe/Oceania driving is somewhat sane. Can't say the same for driving here.
-Courtesy in public places: such as the concept as letting people off a subway or out of a room before pushing through them
-Hygeine: Referring specifically to spitting: I much prefer blowing my snot into a tissue then hawking it onto the floor. (ESPECIALLY indoors!!)
-Leaving the headlights on at nite at a red light..your not saving any battery life or gas, mr taxi man. |
I agree about the hygene to some degree.
The driving is really a question of perspective and where you are from. It is also a question of how long cars have been available on a mass quantity scale. This is where the comparison falls appart in my opinion. Cars are relatively recent here, hence the driving culture is young. They do drive on the edge but whats more excusable (another bad comparison but why not...  ) ? On the edge Korean drivers in a country still young to car culture or bad drivers in North American cities in a place with a much older car culture?
The headlights things is also a question of knowing why they do it. It is simply (as it has been stated here) to avoid shining the lights in the eyes of the drivers in the oncoming lanes. It is actually a decent idea.
Courtesy in public places: I too have not encountered much of what you say (or perhaps I have simply gotten used to it after 7 years!).
What North Americans do better according to me:
The sanitation department: they pick up the trash in a much easier way. Here it can be a pain.
Public Trash cans.
Banking.
What Koreans do better:
Take care of their elders (This is really no contest)
Helping each other on a neighborhood basis (more community sense here I feel).
Public baths (no contest again).
Public transit (comes more often and is more efficient)
Service: better, more of it and clerks are much more courteous here then back home. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Grotto
Joined: 21 Mar 2004
|
| Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2005 4:13 pm Post subject: |
|
|
What we do better?
1. Any restaurant that isnt Korean. Italian, Chinese, Indian etc are great as long as they are not being made by a Korean.
2. Bread and cheese.
3. Obeying traffic laws.
What do Koreans do better?
1. Korean food!
2. Affordable health care
3. Public transportation. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
kangnamdragon
Joined: 17 Jan 2003
Location: Kangnam, Seoul, Korea
|
| Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2005 4:14 pm Post subject: Re: Lets be honest.. |
|
|
| Knappstar wrote: |
-Hygeine: Referring specifically to spitting: I much prefer blowing my snot into a tissue then hawking it onto the floor. (ESPECIALLY indoors!!)
|
How is this a hygene problem? Are you licking the spit off the floor? Koreans are very meticulus about cleaning their homes. Have you heard of saunas? Koreans use them all the time for hygene. Koreans are constantly grooming themselves.
Last edited by kangnamdragon on Wed Apr 27, 2005 4:20 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
eamo
Joined: 08 Mar 2003
Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.
|
| Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2005 4:17 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| Helping each other on a neighborhood basis (more community sense here I feel). |
No way. If neighbors are friends in Korea it's an accident. Definitely not a product of any community spirit. I've been assured that the reason my neighbors ignore me when I say hello is because neighbors in Seoul usually are not social. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Swiss James
Joined: 26 Nov 2003
Location: Shanghai
|
| Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2005 4:18 pm Post subject: |
|
|
another couple
what koreans do better:
24 hour culture- not even in NYC can you find so many places open at 5am- food, drinks, floppy disk, pair of socks- whatever, it's all there
Sociable meals- no sitting around waiting for the last person to show up before you order, Dan's going to be an hour late? Well we can just get some more meat when he shows up "Ajumma!! Soju han byeong to jusaeyo!!!!"
what people back home do better:
Beer- it's supposed to taste of something. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Homer
Guest
|
| Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2005 4:42 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| No way. If neighbors are friends in Korea it's an accident. Definitely not a product of any community spirit. I've been assured that the reason my neighbors ignore me when I say hello is because neighbors in Seoul usually are not social. |
Lived in 5 neighborhoods since 1997. Every where I lived people knew each other and helped out their neighbors.
Perhaps its a Seoul thing...  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
eamo
Joined: 08 Mar 2003
Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.
|
| Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2005 4:47 pm Post subject: |
|
|
What Korea does well? Most of all?
Lack of crime.
Man is it safe here! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
fidel
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
Location: North Shore NZ
|
| Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2005 4:59 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| The reason why people turn off the headlights at red lights is to avoid flashing them in the eyes of drivers in the opposite lane. Its not so stupid. Actually, I do it myself and I appreciate when other drivers do it. So it really isnt as stupid as you think. |
Perhaps if they turned their highbeams off they wouldn't be shining it into other peoples eyes. It is as stupid as I think! Countless times I have driven up to an intersection late at night and had the nasty surprise of a car lurking in the darkness with it's lights off! Too often the morons forget to turn them on again and spend the rest of the night driving around causing a hazard. It's a stupid habit for stupid people. How often do lights back home that aren't on high beam shine into your eyes? Common, what a load of bollocks!
As for neighbors, mine are great. We often get food given to us and they are way more friendly than back home. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Daechidong Waygookin
Joined: 22 Nov 2004
Location: No Longer on Dave's. Ive quit.
|
| Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2005 5:38 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| fidel wrote: |
| Quote: |
| The reason why people turn off the headlights at red lights is to avoid flashing them in the eyes of drivers in the opposite lane. Its not so stupid. Actually, I do it myself and I appreciate when other drivers do it. So it really isnt as stupid as you think. |
Perhaps if they turned their highbeams off they wouldn't be shining it into other peoples eyes. It is as stupid as I think! Countless times I have driven up to an intersection late at night and had the nasty surprise of a car lurking in the darkness with it's lights off! Too often the morons forget to turn them on again and spend the rest of the night driving around causing a hazard. It's a stupid habit for stupid people. How often do lights back home that aren't on high beam shine into your eyes? Common, what a load of bollocks!
As for neighbors, mine are great. We often get food given to us and they are way more friendly than back home. |
I hate lights shining into my rear view mirror and I dont like them shining into my eyes when Im waiting at a red light. Its not a stupid habit, it makes sense. I wonder how many of you guys who complain about driving here have actually done any driving in Seoul or in Korea. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
