Korean Job Discussion Forums

[laogaiguk]

Why is Canadian bashing so common place here? I know most of us don't even care, but the hypocricy of it is absolutely amazing. And it's different from the American bashing. The American bashing, while incredibly stupid, tends to focus atleast somewhat on something, like politics, religion or a study or some kind. The Canadian bashing is always just random quips or insults based on nothing more than, well, nothing. THe only reason ever given is some Canadians they had met. But again, the hypocricy... And you also never see the Americans on this board coming to the defence of Canada against stupidity, though you often see the Canadians here blasting the other stupid ones when needed.

Anyways, I wish both would stop, and some people would learn that maturity can be a good thing.

[ajgeddes]

While I do agree with you, and it is usually based on the stupidest things, Chop Chae Joe (or whatever, I think) has defended us, and I think a few others have, as well.

[laogaiguk]

[waggo]

I do it because I enjoy it.

[The Lemon]

It seems that cracks about backpacks and flags never get old.

Besides, it's essentially trolling. The numbers guarantee a response. It's fair to say that America isn't the shining city on the hill that it once was prior to 2000, and is no longer universally admired. Some Americans are actively looking for someone else to dump on, and we're a convenient target. If South Africans were as disproportionately represented in this country on this board as Canadians are, they'd be getting the reactionary bashing.

You'd also hear all kinds of Americans-as-victim stories about South Africans being loudly anti-American in bars/staffrooms.

Ignore it, and certainly don't take it personally. This anti-Canada thing is easier to find on this board than anywhere out in the real world.

*edited by Lemon... I added stuff.*

[laogaiguk]

[flotsam]

Backpacks and flags?

What's this all about?

[The Lemon]

[Boodleheimer]

i'm jealous you've got a national health care system. damn you all!

[flotsam]

[bosintang]

YEah, as The Lemon said its the disproportianate amount of Canadians in Korea. I think it's also the type of Canadian that makes up that disproportion: The young, single mediocre college arts student who just graduated and came over with their friend because they are loaded with student debt and had nothing better to do. The only other country where I seem to meet people with a simular demographic like that are from New Zealand, but since New Zealand is so much smaller, it's not as obvious.

The types who wander over here from other countries, America, Britain, et al (as well as many Canadians), tend to beat to their own drum, for better or for worse, and are not following the frat herd.

[endofthewor1d]

i'll take a crack at this.
the whole world has a pretty good time bashing america. and by america, i mean 'the united states of america'. i clarify that because i've had one colombian man lay into me before because i told him i was american. he instantly retorted with "i'm american too! i'm from colombia! that is in the americas!" all i could tell him was that "united statesian" wasn't a commonly accepted adjective.
for those of you who can remember me as far back as nearly two years ago, you may remember an entertaining thread i started about an english woman i met in japan. she asked me where in america i was from. i said "new orleans". she asked me where that was. i asked her if she knew where the mississippi river was. then she started in with "that's so typically american of you, to assume the rest of us know all about your geography... blah blah blah blah blah..."
i'd like to repeat here that i asked her if she knew where the mississippi river was.
neither of these incidents were the acts of arrogance that they were made out to be. and i don't think either of these incidents are exclusive to me. i've had similar (if slightly less extreme) incidents happen to me, and have heard of it from other americans i've met abroad.
fact is, it's kind of tough being an american overseas.
but what's tougher than that is having our closest neighbor, a nation of people closer in culture to us than perhaps any two nations cultures are close to one another, seem to form their identity as not being one of us. as far as nations go, we should be the closest of friends. hearing america bashing from anyone else is par for the course, but from canadians, it stings a little bit deeper. how different are we, after all?
enough canadians on this forum have owned up to the fact that america has taken a lot of heat to fight for the things that both americans and canadians can happily take for granted. a lot of it hasn't been respectable. some of it has been downright shameful. but it's been effective, and america has taken 100% of the shame, while canada has enjoyed as much, perhaps more, of the freedom fought for (america has fought for it, but hasn't necessarily granted it all the time).
i'm not asking for a thank you.
i'm not fighting for anyone's freedom, and so i'm not asking for anyone's gratitude. i'm teaching english in korea and doing my best to raise a family. all i'm asking for is for everyone to cut me some slack.
i'm not a nationalistic person, but i know a lot of you are, on both sides of this fence. i don't condone the bashing of either. but i have some empathy for the american side, because i can personally see where they're coming from.

[laogaiguk]

[laogaiguk]

Since it came up, I saw 12 Americans with American flag bandanas while in Japan, one in China and one here in Korea. This doesn't reach the number of supposed Canadian flag wearing Canadians, but ...

[cdninkorea]