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TJ
Joined: 10 Mar 2003
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 Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2005 7:59 pm Post subject: Do some Westerners radiate antagonism ? |
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Do some Westerners radiate antagonism ? I ask this question because I have read many, many times here in 'Daves' comments by people who have got into fights or arguments with Koreans.
I have been here for 4 years and only had one major disagrement with a Korean. That was my first hagwan director who refused to reimburse me in full for my airline ticket as per my contract.
Of course I don't frequent hooker hill and rarely drink in bars so that may be the reason for my rather peaceful life in Korea.
What do others think ? |
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rapier
Joined: 16 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2005 8:08 pm Post subject: |
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Westerners are generally more confrontational than Koreans, and deal with problems more directly.
However, the longer you live in Korea, the less likely you are to conflict with koreans- because you better understand the way they do things and how they think, and form strategies to get your way without fighting.
I think its mostly confused newbies who freak out over here. |
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Blind Willie
Joined: 05 May 2004
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| Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 12:44 am Post subject: |
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| I agree with Rapier for the most part, but a lot of those "Great White Warriors" tales you read also have booze as a big part of the setting. And booze + person = ass. |
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Butterfly
Joined: 02 Mar 2003
Location: Kuwait
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| Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 12:50 am Post subject: |
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| rapier wrote: |
Westerners are generally more confrontational than Koreans, and deal with problems more directly.
However, the longer you live in Korea, the less likely you are to conflict with koreans- because you better understand the way they do things and how they think |
Or you just get a little older, wiser and less dumb. |
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hellofaniceguy
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Location: On your computer screen!
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| Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 4:31 am Post subject: |
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| rapier wrote: |
Westerners are generally more confrontational than Koreans, and deal with problems more directly.
However, the longer you live in Korea, the less likely you are to conflict with koreans- because you better understand the way they do things and how they think, and form strategies to get your way without fighting.
I think its mostly confused newbies who freak out over here. |
I disagree!!! Westerners are more confrontational than koreans!?!? I think not! And anyone who has spent any amount of time in korea...knows this!
Koreans are quick tempered and get into fist fights quickly! Look at all the protesting the country does...I mean the VIOLENT protesting! You don't see many other advanced countries that fight the cops with firebombs, sticks, pipes, etc... Look at all the pushing and violent behavior over traffic accidents between koreans. Look at the TV shows...man beating on women and in real life. Confrontational....koreans are! |
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canadian_in_korea
Joined: 20 Jun 2004
Location: South Korea
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| Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 4:44 am Post subject: |
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Does it depend on where you are in korea? I would agree that westerners are more confrontational than koreans. Koreans have protests that get violent...but I would say that individually westerners are more "quick on the draw" to slug someone if they get in your face.....koreans will push each other but hesitate to hit each other maybe because they will get sued..? Of course in western countries you can sue someone for hitting you...but seriously....how often does that happen? I guess it depends on your individual experience here in korea....I've only been here for about 9 months....not a lot of experience to base things on... |
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The Lemon
Joined: 11 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 5:12 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| You don't see many other advanced countries that fight the cops with firebombs, sticks, pipes, etc... |
I read this and thought, hmm, is this actually true?
Some major riots/civilian-police battles in contemporary Western history:
Oka, 1990.
Waco, Texas, 1993.
LA: Watts (1965), and Rodney King riots (1992).
Kent State, 1970.
Brixton (UK), 1981.
Montreal c.1969/70.
Paris, 1968.
Chicago, 1968.
Halifax, 1991 (!).
Cincinnati: 2001.
And then there's the "anti-globalization" riots:
Seattle, 1999
Quebec City, 2001
Genoa, 2001
.. I'm sure there are lots more. |
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Seoultrader
Joined: 18 Jun 2003
Location: Ali's Insurgent Inn, Fallujah
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| Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 5:18 am Post subject: |
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A couple of weeks ago this whitey bitch slapped a black guy (presumably Nigerian as he was making those "bulle bulle bulle" noises that are supposed to qualify as English) in the Itaewon Burger King because he was being quite rude to the (Korean) staffer (even throwing the tray back at her) who took his order (and apparently forgot to slice his burger in two pieces or something trivial like that).
So Nigerian dude scurries off all embarrassed (prolly wise cuz this white boy was pretty huge-yet-fast). Totally gallant of him, but of course not a single Burger King monkey said "thanks." |
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Zenpickle
Joined: 06 Jan 2004
Location: Anyang -- Bisan
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| Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 6:45 am Post subject: |
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| I guess this is where many of us cowardly passive-aggressive types feel right at home. |
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chotaerang
Joined: 23 Mar 2004
Location: In the gym
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| Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 8:00 am Post subject: |
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| TJ - I'd say you're right. Not a few westerners here lie in wait of being offended. Whether it's the famous 'hellooooo', or an oldie looking at them the wrong way (or too long) on the subway; no slight is too slight for notice. |
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rapier
Joined: 16 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 8:01 am Post subject: |
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| canadian_in_korea wrote: |
| Does it depend on where you are in korea? I would agree that westerners are more confrontational than koreans. Koreans have protests that get violent...but I would say that individually westerners are more "quick on the draw" to slug someone if they get in your face.....koreans will push each other but hesitate to hit each other maybe because they will get sued..? Of course in western countries you can sue someone for hitting you...but seriously....how often does that happen? I guess it depends on your individual experience here in korea....I've only been here for about 9 months....not a lot of experience to base things on... |
i would agree..I've never seen koreans in a fistfight- pushing or open-handed slapping, yes. in the west, the same confrontations would go to fisticuffs in no time, and nobody would lose a fortune getting sued, its not the done thing. I used to sttend court often, and the only assaults that people sue over are:
1) a lone person outnumbered/jumped by several people
2) A fight that causes serious damage requiring expensive medical treatment, and only then if several witnesses say it was an unwarranted attack.
3) A simple unwarranted attack.
4) Attacks by men on women.
But for the most part, brawls and fistfights do not go to court, and are forgotten about the next morning with a couple of bruises. In Korea, unless its foreigner against foreigner, a huge loss of face and chance to make money from your attacker comes into play.
So, the old wisdom of only thump a korean if you have a quick getaway is generally good advice, I think. It sucks though. |
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Swiss James
Joined: 26 Nov 2003
Location: Shanghai
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| Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 10:59 am Post subject: |
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| rapier is it just me or are you getting more and more chilled out every day? |
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itaewonguy
Joined: 25 Mar 2003
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| Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 11:27 am Post subject: |
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| hellofaniceguy wrote: |
| rapier wrote: |
Westerners are generally more confrontational than Koreans, and deal with problems more directly.
However, the longer you live in Korea, the less likely you are to conflict with koreans- because you better understand the way they do things and how they think, and form strategies to get your way without fighting.
I think its mostly confused newbies who freak out over here. |
I disagree!!! Westerners are more confrontational than koreans!?!? I think not! And anyone who has spent any amount of time in korea...knows this!
Koreans are quick tempered and get into fist fights quickly! Look at all the protesting the country does...I mean the VIOLENT protesting! You don't see many other advanced countries that fight the cops with firebombs, sticks, pipes, etc... Look at all the pushing and violent behavior over traffic accidents between koreans. Look at the TV shows...man beating on women and in real life. Confrontational....koreans are! |
every nation has confrontational people! koreans are thats a fact!
but they dont stand alone! |
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poddubny
Joined: 03 Aug 2004
Location: i have NO avatar privileges!
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| Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 11:42 am Post subject: |
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| itaewonguy wrote: |
| hellofaniceguy wrote: |
I disagree!!! Westerners are more confrontational than koreans!?!? I think not! And anyone who has spent any amount of time in korea...knows this!
Koreans are quick tempered and get into fist fights quickly! Look at all the protesting the country does...I mean the VIOLENT protesting! You don't see many other advanced countries that fight the cops with firebombs, sticks, pipes, etc... Look at all the pushing and violent behavior over traffic accidents between koreans. Look at the TV shows...man beating on women and in real life. Confrontational....koreans are! |
every nation has confrontational people! koreans are thats a fact!
but they dont stand alone! |
why is it that the both of you write the same? coincidence? i think not... |
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inkoreaforgood
Joined: 15 Dec 2003
Location: Inchon
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| Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 3:47 pm Post subject: |
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| poddubny wrote: |
| itaewonguy wrote: |
| hellofaniceguy wrote: |
I disagree!!! Westerners are more confrontational than koreans!?!? I think not! And anyone who has spent any amount of time in korea...knows this!
Koreans are quick tempered and get into fist fights quickly! Look at all the protesting the country does...I mean the VIOLENT protesting! You don't see many other advanced countries that fight the cops with firebombs, sticks, pipes, etc... Look at all the pushing and violent behavior over traffic accidents between koreans. Look at the TV shows...man beating on women and in real life. Confrontational....koreans are! |
every nation has confrontational people! koreans are thats a fact!
but they dont stand alone! |
why is it that the both of you write the same? coincidence? i think not... |
I noticed that before.... |
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