Korean Job Discussion Forums

PRagic · Joined: 24 Feb 2006

I generally follow the three plus one meeting rule. If I can meet someone out for beers three times, and aren't disuaded for one reason or another from meeting them out for a beer a next time, then I can deal with them at work. If not, then I just mind my own business around them.

Mr. BlackCat · Joined: 30 Nov 2005 Location: Insert witty remark HERE

Pericles77 · Joined: 05 Jan 2006 Location: Daegu

Fresh out of college and continuing the frat party, thinks he knows it all, LOUD, obnoxious, arrogant, laughing at his own "jokes". Anyone else?

Shocked

captain kirk · Joined: 29 Jan 2003

Commonly annoying people are annoyed by you because they realize that you regard them as annoying and stupid. So they've got to be counter- annoyed to let you know you're no-one to them. That you have no right to an opinion and your mere presence, threatening and judgemental they fear, is an annoyance that must be strongly ignored.

So I guess maybe you could cram some chocolates up their nose?

Col.Brandon · Joined: 09 Aug 2004 Location: Seoul

4 years ago my hagwon in Pohang hires this 23 year old Quebecer with a fake degree and English as his second language (everybody speaks English in Canada, right? Rolling Eyes

) They didn't even spell 'university' correctly on the degree certificate!

He was a good looking guy and thought he was God's gift. He kept calling me "old man" (I was 36). This guy was possibly a typical example of his generation; self-centered, opinionated, totally amoral... oh man, I could go on. I had to sit next to him and listen to his mindless twaddle every day. Because he was new, I was obliged to help get him settled in and oriented. I would normally have been happy to do this, but this guy managed to get on my nerves pretty quickly.

Luckily Monsieur Le Flake didn't last too long, as he soon discovered that "there are more parties in Busan", so he flitted his way mercifully out of my life.

nautilus · Joined: 26 Nov 2005 Location: Je jump, Tu jump, oui jump!

[quote="Col.Brandon"]

pauline · Joined: 07 Mar 2005 Location: Incheon, Korea

kermo · Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2006 4:03 am Post subject:

My close and personal friend Strongbad has some good tips for overcoming The Office Dullard.

http://www.homestarrunner.com/sbemail37.html

EFLtrainer · Joined: 04 May 2005

jajdude · Joined: 18 Jan 2003

I want to hear from some of the annoying people. They must constitute at least 10% of us.

------------------------------------------------------------------
Example:

How to work with me:

Leave me alone. I'm a miserable guy with strange moods, dependent on drugs and alcohol. I might say strange things or I might ignore you. I think I'm better for various reasons. My work performance may suffer at times through no fault of my own. Overall I'm not so bad, just stop giving me a hard time already!

Zack_in_Korea · Joined: 16 Mar 2006 Location: Incheon

I have to say something here.

I haven't read the other comments or the main topic.. but just responding to the question in the title.

I think it is really important to treat people fairly. We come from all kinds of backgrounds here etc and experiences too.

When I first came to Korea I had a very bad experience with a few of my co-workers (go figure lol). Basically I was going through alot in my life when I came to Korea, and the last thing on my mind was ridiculous office politics. I was ostracized by a few of them, one girl who in particular who was to me one of the top ten most disagreeable people I have met in my life. I am sure she was a nice girl all in all, but she showed questionable influence over the workplace and I am sorry I never said anything.. in fact I tried to be too nice, even giving Xmas cards to everyone when in fact later on she wound up throwing all of hers in the trash from what I remember.. along with ten won coins.. whatever happened to a penny saved is a penny earned lol..

Anyways, one day my class and her class went to the music room and it wasn't going well. I had just spent the first period trying to get my kindy kids to do a play I had to write and shouting to get them to calm down. I lost half my voice actually. I also just went to the dentist the previous day after having a toothache and my mouth hurt too. Halfway through she decided to stand up and have her class line up. She then proceeds to turn to me and say "You know you should really keep your kids inline better" etc etc. judging me as a bad teacher.

That was a real turning point in my life. I decided from then on I would never let anyone talk to me that way again, and now I marvel whenever I see other people taking any garbage like that either. How different that scene would have been played out if I was then the person I am now. She talked to the boss and wound up getting me demoted at which point I quit, and transferred to another school of the same company in Seoul. The director etc was very taken aback and then worked to spin my leaving into a good thing for the school.. "oh this teacher loves Korea and loves the school.. he just wants to go to Seoul." At one point I changed my mind about even that and they got very antsy about what to tell the parents and new school next, but I wound up going and it was a very positive move.. until unfortunately things went downhill there too 6 months into it after a very positive 6 months in the beginning.. but that's another story.

My point is that no one is going to know what you are going through. And that makes it hard to sympathize with co-workers with whom you don't really talk to. I find the key is to stay and act as positively and non-confrontational as possible. If someone wants to be miserable or be a pain in the *** let them,.,. unless it directly affects you, leave it alone most of the time.. and even then there are creative ways to deal with it. Some people just like drama too. These situations can be very hard at times when u don't look at the big picture,.,. changes in hagwons happen quicker than u might think and people leave too. Sometimes I find sarcasm too irritating from that first experience, and that most people aren't serious enough. We can all be hard to deal with sumtimes. Much as I wish I blew up at that girl 5 years ago, at least I was the better person for keeping the peace and making nice. I am sure her comeuppance, whatever it needed to be, came for her already..

Judge not, lest ye be judged.

TheUrbanMyth · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired

I avoid all such situations by going to schools where I am the only foreigner.

captain kirk · Joined: 29 Jan 2003

That's a good idea, Urban Myth. I was thinking the same thing. Next contract I'd like to be that again (I've been that three times).

VanIslander · Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2006 3:04 am Post subject:

Pak Yu Man · Joined: 02 Jun 2005 Location: The Ida galaxy

What about The drunk and the "God's gift to women"

Hate those two types.