Korean Job Discussion Forums

funkywinkerbeans · Joined: 17 Feb 2006 Location: seoul

There are many things that irritate me about the American Government and American foreign policy, but I generally find the people to be friendly and sincere.

One thing that drives me nuts is after the Super Bowl and all the players are declaring, "We are the World Champions!" All the teams play in the United States and some how they end out been the World Champions.

They should start teaching world geography in the schools, or teach them the defintion of "World."

Wangja · Joined: 17 May 2004 Location: Seoul, Yongsan

In the immortal words of John Cleese explaining on a US chat show the differences between Americans and British ..... there are 3

1. we speak Englsih
2. when we hold a world series sporting event we invite other countries
3. when you meet our Head of State, you only have to go down on ONE knee ....

ddeubel · Joined: 20 Jul 2005

ChimpumCallao · Joined: 17 May 2005 Location: your mom

i like americans very much, and feel that they are generally the most polite group of people ive met. the men are chivalrous and no one bumps into you. if korea had even an iota of north american manners on the street and subway i'd be a much happier camper.

here is, from personal conversations, what people hate about the yanks. and yes, i think it tends to be white americans.

1) ignorant about the world.

easily refuted. everyone knows about america because it is THE prevalent topic in the media 24-7. so people all over the world know about american geography, history, and recent events even if they may not want to. they then feel a sense of indignation that the yanks don't respond in kind. its absolute horsesh*t.
other countries know a lot about ONE very prevalent country. How can one expect america to know everything about every country.

My analogy is this: It is like a movie fan complaining...."I know EVERYTHING about Tom Cruises...but he knows NOTHING about me! He is so ignorant."

I mean really, I heard all about the ignorant gringos in Peru, but you ask your average chollito the capital of Canada or if Uzbekistan is a real country or not and they would NOT have a clue.

2) Fat
BFD. The world is catching up, and Samoa has surpassed us.

3) Spreading and pushing their own culture on other countries.

a) people have a right to choose where they want to eat and what they listen to. To say that american things are ok for some and not others is both selfish and fascist. the world is not a museum and people have a right to choice.

b) free will exists. if you don't like it...don't partake in it.

4) Loud and boorish.

i never got this. perhaps when drunk or in certain situations. definitely express opinions more readily. but i find koreans much more of both. i actually think americans are very polite and friendly.

5) thinking their country is the best.

you know...in any way you can measure it...it kinda is. GDP, employment opportunities, where most foreigners want to immigrate to, business/economies, natural beauty, military power, world influence, movies, products, olympic medals, nobel peace prizes, inventions......

i am in no ways a nationalist and find all kinds obnoxious. yet, americans do NOT have the monopoly on this. having lived abroad showed me that countries that are more insecure in their world position, tend to be actually MORE nationalistic and more in your face about their accomplishments. I personally think people find americans arrogant because for all the yankee bashing that goes on in the world, americans don't give a f*ck. no outrage, no nothing. i guess being ignored is actually worse than being hated to some. america bashers are bent on getting reactions, and become angrier when everyone in the us is too busy going to work in their luxury sedan to give a damn.

the funniest part is that the people that do anti-americanism the best are....the americans. it's pretty funny when canadians and co. are getting their yankee critiques from The Daily Show.

SO here is a counter question...

do some of you hate americans because

1) they don't really care when they are critiqued (can you think of any other country that would just turn the other cheek at the world-wide dribble that goes on about them?)

2) they critique and make fun of themselves better than you ever could?

bucheon bum · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

honestly, hardly anyone has given a rat's ass when I told them from I was from America. I've actually received more positive responses than negative ones. Favorite one from a Korean: "I love America because it brought Jesus to Korea!" Eh yeah, go USA.

hari seldon · Joined: 05 Dec 2004 Location: Incheon

If Americans are hated it's mostly because of Bush. His voter base was the white evangelicals of the South and Midwest Bible Belt. He won 61% of the vote in Texas, for example.

Njord · Joined: 12 Jan 2006 Location: South Korea

ChimpumCallao · Joined: 17 May 2005 Location: your mom

Bulsajo · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

Nowhere Man · Joined: 08 Feb 2004

A bit about my history:

I'm from the Midwest, but went to school in New England.

I was routinely treated as a bumpkin by people who:

a) thought my state bordered on Arkansas.

b) thought my state was the same size as New Jersey

c) thought I was an idiot because I thought New Jersey was a part of New England.

I'll just say I think we all learned a lot over 4 years, but I learned more by not going to the closest state university where, literally, 98% of my high school class went.

One of my big theories of life: Everyone needs to get out of wherever they grew up. I personally think San Francisco is my favorite US city. However, you will be a bumpkin if you are born there and only remain in this uber-cool place.

You can always return, but everyone needs to get out.

Now, Soohwa, what you're doing is defending stereotypes that favor your background and promoting those that don't.

You want people to like the South but not like the North.

Southern people are polite, but New Yorkers are rude?

How about Southerners are racist and in-bred, but New Yorkers are progressive and worldly?

I support neither, but if you wanna go there...I'll be happy to get as ugly as you.

But no no no.

Let's just say stereotypes are bad.

You suggest that we hated the USSR, not the people, but I could readily buy "kill a commie for mommy" shirt where I lived...

jajdude · Joined: 18 Jan 2003

Nothing irks me about Americans.

It's just that some people are jerks, a global thing, hence some Americans are included.