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Real Reality
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Location: Seoul
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 Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2006 3:38 pm Post subject: Politeness or courtesy: Seoul 32 out of 35 cities |
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Seoul 32nd in Hospitality
Seoul ranked 32nd in politeness among 35 major cities in the world, according to the July issue of the Reader's Digest Magazine.
By Lee Hyo-sik, Korea Times (June 21, 2006)
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/nation/200606/kt2006062117421311960.htm
Image URL: http://photo.hankooki.com/newsphoto/2006/06/21/kt2200606211806580VV.jpg
Uncommon Courtesy
By Neena Samuel and Joseph K. Vetter, Reader's Digest (July 2006)
http://www.rd.com/content/openContent.do?contentId=27599
How Polite Are We?
The Top Three: New York, Zurich, Toronto
Reader's Digest Magazines Canada, FROM THE EDITORS, Wednesday, June 21st, 2006
http://www.readersdigest.ca/mag/2006/07/polite.php
Most Courteous Image URL: http://www.readersdigest.ca/mag/2006/07/images/most.jpg
Least Courteous Image URL: http://www.readersdigest.ca/mag/2006/07/images/least.jpg
Moscow One of World's Least Courteous Cities -- Survey
Moscow qualified among the least courteous cities, with 42 percent of polite citizens, doing slightly better than Seoul, but just as good as Singapore.
Mosnews.com (June 21, 2006)
http://www.mosnews.com/news/2006/06/21/impoliterussia.shtml
A Society that Spares Greetings
Seoul National University Sociology professor Han Sang-jin pointed out that the extremely low level of maturity of people's mindsets, which lacks consideration for others, is associated with a social culture in which people do not exchange greetings. Professor Han said that due to the "rushing modernization," referring to a mad dash to accomplish one's goals such as attaining social success, Korean society is seriously lacking in consideration of other people.
by Yi-Young Cho and Soo-Jung Shin, Donga.com (January 7, 2005)
http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?biid=2005010857368 |
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periwinkle
Joined: 08 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2006 3:50 pm Post subject: |
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Interesting read, R.R.-thanks for that. I know u get slammed sometimes, but I like your links (I'm too lazy to ever read the on-line newspapers). Anyway, I'm not surprised at the low ranking. In regards to customer service, I was just in Mickey D's last night, and the clerk didn't break a smile once. I watched her for awhile, and she didn't smile at her co-workers, either. I've been served by her before, and I dunno, maybe it's just her personality. Same thing with the Lotteria at Gimpo a/p. Staff don't smile there, either. I've worked in fast food, and aside from the shitty money, it's not a bad job. So much for service with a smile! Anyway, not always the case, but it happens more often than not (and I'm friendly and speak Korean, so it's not like I'm giving salespeople a hard time).
=) |
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Hosub
Joined: 17 Apr 2006
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| Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2006 3:52 pm Post subject: |
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5103914.stm
Cities were set three courtesy tests. Many in Mumbai, including the India editor of Reader's Digest, said the criteria were "too Western".
The judges' criteria were whether people opened doors for others in public buildings, whether they helped pick up papers dropped on a busy street and whether a shopkeeper said "thank you" when a purchase - big or small - was made.
Even the editor of the Indian edition of Reader's Digest, Mohan Sivanand, agreed.
"I think the reason Asian cities have performed badly in the survey is because of cultural differences. People here express their gratitude in other non-verbal ways rather than actually saying the word," he told the BBC.
Also, I seriously doubt the survey's conclusion that New York is #1 on politeness. The flaws of such a survey are as apparant as the transparancy of glass.
What are you trying to prove Real Reality?
Last edited by Hosub on Wed Jun 21, 2006 3:54 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Real Reality
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2006 4:10 pm Post subject: |
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| Hosub wrote: |
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5103914.stm
Cities were set three courtesy tests. Many in Mumbai, including the India editor of Reader's Digest, said the criteria were "too Western".... |
Is this article and quotation "too Western?"
"Seoul National University Sociology professor Han Sang-jin pointed out that the extremely low level of maturity of people's mindsets, which lacks consideration for others, is associated with a social culture in which people do not exchange greetings. Professor Han said that due to the 'rushing modernization,' referring to a mad dash to accomplish one's goals such as attaining social success, Korean society is seriously lacking in consideration of other people."
A Society that Spares Greetings
by Yi-Young Cho and Soo-Jung Shin, Donga.com (January 7, 2005)
http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?biid=2005010857368 |
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laogaiguk
Joined: 06 Dec 2005
Location: somewhere in Korea
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| Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2006 4:16 pm Post subject: |
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The study is way to focused to cover a broad word like "politeness". It only studies 3 actions. In Japan, it is polite to slurp some (all) kinds of noodles to show they are delicious. Imagine if a Japanese newspaper did a survey and based it on that and only 2 other things and then said Western countries were the absolute rudest people in the world because they didn't slurp and make lots of noise when eating their noodles. Seriously, this survey is flawed and even a BA in basketweaving with a minor in Klingon should be able to see that 
PS.
Periwinkle, how often do you go to McDonald's ??? |
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Real Reality
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2006 4:31 pm Post subject: |
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| periwinkle wrote: |
Interesting read, R.R.-thanks for that. I know u get slammed sometimes, but I like your links (I'm too lazy to ever read the on-line newspapers). Anyway, I'm not surprised at the low ranking. In regards to customer service, I was just in Mickey D's last night, and the clerk didn't break a smile once. I watched her for awhile, and she didn't smile at her co-workers, either. I've been served by her before, and I dunno, maybe it's just her personality. Same thing with the Lotteria at Gimpo a/p. Staff don't smile there, either. I've worked in fast food, and aside from the *beep* money, it's not a bad job. So much for service with a smile! Anyway, not always the case, but it happens more often than not (and I'm friendly and speak Korean, so it's not like I'm giving salespeople a hard time).
=) |
Periwinkle,
Thank you. :-)
Smile, Please
The most popular sporting event in mankind, the World Cup finals, is just 37 days away, with its opening ceremony to be held at Seoul's Sangam Stadium on May 31.... In short, we Koreans look too serious in the eyes of people from overseas. It is hard to see Koreans smile, not only at foreigners on streets, subways, elevators and elsewhere, but at their fellow citizens as well....
We need to make smiling a daily routine. Now is the time for the numerous civic groups, also called NGOs, to kick off another intensive "smile" campaign for the benefit of visitors during the World Cup period, even though Koreans may restore their usual expressions soon after the international event.... It goes without saying that anywhere in the world, the smiles of local people make foreign guests feel at home.
By Park Moo-jong, Chief Editorial Writer, Korea Times (April 23, 2002)
http://tinyurl.com/loxem |
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periwinkle
Joined: 08 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2006 4:57 pm Post subject: |
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| laogaiguk wrote: |
The study is way to focused to cover a broad word like "politeness". It only studies 3 actions. In Japan, it is polite to slurp some (all) kinds of noodles to show they are delicious. Imagine if a Japanese newspaper did a survey and based it on that and only 2 other things and then said Western countries were the absolute rudest people in the world because they didn't slurp and make lots of noise when eating their noodles. Seriously, this survey is flawed and even a BA in basketweaving with a minor in Klingon should be able to see that
PS.
Periwinkle, how often do you go to McDonald's ??? |
Heh, heh. Not very often, really, but I'm off of Korean food these days, and my only cheap western choices in my area are the fast food joints. Need to start bringing sandwiches to work...
Anyway, the Balsan McDonald's is just weird.... |
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Natalia
Joined: 10 Mar 2006
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| Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2006 5:11 pm Post subject: |
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| Hosub wrote: |
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5103914.stm
Cities were set three courtesy tests. Many in Mumbai, including the India editor of Reader's Digest, said the criteria were "too Western".
The judges' criteria were whether people opened doors for others in public buildings, whether they helped pick up papers dropped on a busy street and whether a shopkeeper said "thank you" when a purchase - big or small - was made.
Even the editor of the Indian edition of Reader's Digest, Mohan Sivanand, agreed.
"I think the reason Asian cities have performed badly in the survey is because of cultural differences. People here express their gratitude in other non-verbal ways rather than actually saying the word," he told the BBC.
Also, I seriously doubt the survey's conclusion that New York is #1 on politeness. The flaws of such a survey are as apparant as the transparancy of glass.
What are you trying to prove Real Reality? |
Okay, you can't dismiss all of this with quotes from an Indian - of course that's what they'll say. Indian service is incredibly bad, no matter what cultural background you judge it from. Have you ever BEEN to India?!
Last edited by Natalia on Wed Jun 21, 2006 5:16 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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RACETRAITOR
Joined: 24 Oct 2005
Location: Seoul, South Korea
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| Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2006 5:14 pm Post subject: |
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| This rating was based on a limited number of tests. New York might not be on top if it took into account other factors. |
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ajgeddes
Joined: 28 Apr 2004
Location: Yongsan
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| Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2006 5:18 pm Post subject: |
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Nobody is saying this survey is a scientifically proven fact that must now go into all the world's record books and be used forever more in every single debate about politeness and courtesy.
It was a survey/experiment done by Reader's Digest, and is just some food for though about general politeness levels regarding 3 little tests.
Why some people get so worked up over this is beyond me. |
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khyber
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Compunction Junction
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| Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2006 5:25 pm Post subject: |
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Why would reader's digest publish this ridiculously retarded study with a sample size of only 60 people. It is ludicrous that they even had the guts to put this in one of their magazine or whatever you call it.
It's beyond a nonissue: It's a question of why they decided to publish garbage like this. |
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Moldy Rutabaga
Joined: 01 Jul 2003
Location: Ansan, Korea
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| Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2006 6:07 pm Post subject: |
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Reader's Digest, that august academic periodical, didn't claim this to be the Kinsey report. It's an informal survey.
| Quote: |
| "I think the reason Asian cities have performed badly in the survey is because of cultural differences. People here express their gratitude in other non-verbal ways rather than actually saying the word," he told the BBC. |
Disputing the survey by trotting out the race card looks cheap. Certainly different cultures express politeness in different ways. But saying that it's all relative goes only so far; my country of Spamavia is exempt because slamming the door in people's faces and glaring at customers is our Spamavian culture?
Ken:> |
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tzechuk
Joined: 20 Dec 2004
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| Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2006 7:02 pm Post subject: |
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| periwinkle wrote: |
| laogaiguk wrote: |
The study is way to focused to cover a broad word like "politeness". It only studies 3 actions. In Japan, it is polite to slurp some (all) kinds of noodles to show they are delicious. Imagine if a Japanese newspaper did a survey and based it on that and only 2 other things and then said Western countries were the absolute rudest people in the world because they didn't slurp and make lots of noise when eating their noodles. Seriously, this survey is flawed and even a BA in basketweaving with a minor in Klingon should be able to see that
PS.
Periwinkle, how often do you go to McDonald's ??? |
Heh, heh. Not very often, really, but I'm off of Korean food these days, and my only cheap western choices in my area are the fast food joints. Need to start bringing sandwiches to work...
Anyway, the Balsan McDonald's is just weird.... |
When I was pregnant, I had this huge McD craving and had to have it once a week. Especially fillet-o-fish. It was very strange.
Back to the OP - I don't think that the criteria are too western. Come ON, people... who likes to have the door shut in their face? It's not just any body they don't hold the door for, they don't even hold the door for someone with lots of stuff, or someone with a pushchair!!!! How many times have I had to struggle with a door because I had Letty in her pushchair and no one would hold the door open for me. I ALWAYS hold the door for people if someone is behind me - not just for commone courtesy, but also if that person gets hurt because I shut the door in his/her face.
I have to say, though, that almost every sales person I encounter says thank you after I make a purchase, so that part comes as a bit of a surprise to me.. of course, sometimes I thank them first as they hand me the stuff (yeah, it's a British thing), so may be they say thank you back as a result, I don't know.. but I always get a thank you out of salesmen/women. |
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laogaiguk
Joined: 06 Dec 2005
Location: somewhere in Korea
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| Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2006 7:08 pm Post subject: |
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| One other thing is not to apply this study to countries. It was done in the major cities of each country (and only one major city of each country). We all know how the major cities are quite different from the rest of the country. I sure know Toronto is, and I have no doubt New York is. Seoul is totally different from where I live (way in the country)... |
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Newbie
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2006 7:32 pm Post subject: |
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I can't believe Seoul made it all the way to 32!!
Who paid for that one. |
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