Korean Job Discussion Forums :: View topic - Top 10 myths in K

Speak Korean Now!

Teach English Abroad and Get Paid to see the World!

Korean Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"

FAQ

Memberlist

Usergroups

Profile

Top 10 myths in K - 1. Fan death 2. ....
Goto page Previous 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Next

Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> General Discussion Forum

View previous topic :: View next topic

Author

Message

Ginormousaurus

Joined: 27 Jul 2006
Location: 700 Ft. Pulpit

Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2013 5:42 pm Post subject:

wishfullthinkng wrote:

Mr. BlackCat wrote:

wishfullthinkng wrote:

Mr. BlackCat wrote:

-Seoulites spend more time commuting than anyone else on the planet

if you are going by city and not by nation then this has a high chance of being true. the only other city in the world that would have seoul beat here is tokyo.

I still don't agree. Sure, Seoul is huge but many people I know in Canada commute 1-2+ hours to their job. Our cities might be smaller, but they're more spread out with less public transport infrastructure.* I have had many Koreans, including official guides to Korea, tell me Koreans sleep on the subway because they commute so far. An hour trip is just as long in Seoul as it is in Toronto or Chicago. At my first PS job here I was told by several different teachers that they were tired because they had to commute so far. Then they found out that I had an hour commute each way, more than most of them, and I found it to be normal. It's not a peeing contest, it's just one of those things that Koreans are told their whole lives without actually knowing what's going on in the rest of the world. And thus a commonly accepted 'myth'.

*Public transport. I have no idea why Koreans don't seem to be as proud and/or actively supportive of this. It's simply great all over the country, Seoul in particular. When I gush over it to my Korean co-workers and friends they're surprised to hear how much foreigners love it. Cheap, clean, safe, efficient and extensive. Just wish they'd have bathrooms on the intercity buses!

blackcat, it's numbers, sheer and simple. seoul has 11 million people in the city proper and the biggest city in canada, toronto, has 5.5 million. if the average seoulite travels one hour and the average torontonite travels one hour the math speaks for itself. even if seoulites travel for 31 minutes on average they still beat a torontonite clocking in at an hour. the only other cities that would top seoul is tokyo which has in at 13.2 million people, mumbai at 18 million, and shanghai at a staggering 24.3 million. (i might be missing a few but you get the point)

wishfulthinking, I'm not following your math. I don't see how you can say that an average Seoulite commute of 31 mins can somehow be longer than a Torontonian's commute of 60 mins. 31<60

It seems like your comparing total man-hours spent travelling, which is irrelevant.

To be clear, the comparison is the average commute time of a Seoulite versus that of another city's citizen.

It is NOT the combined commute times of everyone going to work.

Captain Corea

Joined: 28 Feb 2005
Location: Seoul

Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2013 6:00 pm Post subject:

I think his math is TOTAL commuting hours of the ENTIRE population. Which is possibly the oddest way of looking at it.

wishfullthinkng

Joined: 05 Mar 2010

Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2013 6:40 pm Post subject:

Mr. BlackCat wrote:

-Seoulites spend more time commuting than anyone else on the planet

wouldn't this imply that seoulites as a whole spend more time communiting than other peoples as a whole? this is the way your english would be interpreted...

if that's not what you meant then my apologies but it'd be silly to say that you think it's a myth that individually they travel less/more because there's really no way of knowing. for example some of my co-workers travel from incheon every day 2 hours each way to get to work.

Ginormousaurus

Joined: 27 Jul 2006
Location: 700 Ft. Pulpit

Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2013 7:01 pm Post subject:

That's why average commute times are compared.

Hatcher

Joined: 05 Jan 2007

Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2013 9:36 pm Post subject:

The one myth no one has posted yet is that Korean men never attack western or non-Korean men. Three K men jumped me and one of them spent 10 months in jail. When I tell Koreans, they dont believe me. I ask, do K men fight each other? Yes... do western men fight each other? yes... then why wouldnt K men attack a western man?

Mr. BlackCat

Joined: 30 Nov 2005
Location: Insert witty remark HERE

Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 1:54 am Post subject:

wishfullthinkng wrote:

Mr. BlackCat wrote:

-Seoulites spend more time commuting than anyone else on the planet

Yes, I meant the average Seoulite vs the average Westerner or whomever. I'm sorry I wasn't more clear, but I'm also perplexed at how you would interpret it to mean total commuting time, especially after my other post talking about individuals. People say all the time "Korean kids study more than American kids." Well, the US has about 6x more people, so that statement would necessarily be false if we didn't understand that it meant individuals. I'm honestly surprised that anyone would interpret my words that way. I don't think anyone else would be so confused by what I wrote.

Anyway, you're right, it's impossible to tell and it comes down to the individual as was my point.

Mr. BlackCat

Joined: 30 Nov 2005
Location: Insert witty remark HERE

Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 1:58 am Post subject:

Captain Corea wrote:

Great post. This is why I wish this forum had a Like button. I really agree with what was said here, but have to quote the whole thing to say that.

Thanks!

Newbie

Joined: 07 Feb 2003

Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 4:52 am Post subject:

Mr. BlackCat wrote:

Newbie wrote:

2. Western people can't eat spicy food: I can guarantee you there are MANY western people who can't. And generally, Koreans like to generalize (yes, I see the irony there!). So they meet 10 Westerners who don't like it, and they assume all don't.

Well, I'd say that while many foreigners actually don't like spicy food, many tell Koreans this to avoid Korean dishes without offending the Koreans they are with. It's silly that we have to be that ultra-sensitive, but I've done it many times. Not only that, but Korean food generally has one specific type of 'spiciness'; I know many foreigners who don't like Korean spicy food, but love Mexican, Indian, etc. Meanwhile, I know many Koreans who take pride in the spiciness of Korean food (for some reason) but cannot handle a burrito or Indian curry. Lastly, I have eaten with lots of Koreans who cannot tolerate the spiciness of the Korean dish we're having while the foreigners at the table are lapping it up. So, basically, I think this whole "Foreigners can't handle Korean food because it's too spicy" is more to do with what they've been told all their lives rather than actual experience (we can see this with many myths already listed here).

Quote:

3. Kpop is popular all over the world: First, it's insanely popular in Asia, so they thinks it's world famous* Seems to have a small but growing fan base in South America and Europe. But, it's nowhere near as popular as Koreans think. Blame the media here. They exist to stoke the nationalist ego of the country. (*Canadian media is guilty of this too: someone like Avril Lavigne might be popular in the US, and suddenly she's "World famous". Is it really the whole world?)

When my students learned I was from Canada in my first year here many of them asked me about Avril Lavigne. A few of them had her stickers/name on their books and bags. Her popularity may be fading, but I have heard her songs playing in several Korean establishments up until last week. How many Canadian, American, French, etc., kids do the same with Lee Hyori? Or Girls Generation? Or even Psy? Maybe you'd still hear Gangnam Style in a pub in North America/Europe/South America/etc. now, but I doubt you'll hear anyone else from Korea. Lastly, Canadians don't attach their identity to Avril Lavigne. When I meet Koreans I don't demand that they compliment Canadian music and list their favourite Canadian bands (which happens often here). Maybe if a band is from your hometown you'll mention it, but would you get angry at someone who says they don't listen to them, or, GASP!, doesn't like them? Have you ever told a Korean that you don't like Korean music? Not all of them, but in my experience a lot of them would have gotten very upset.

I don't mean to argue with you, it's just two points I have had many disagreements with various people over the years so I wanted to present the other side.

Damn.

Y'know... after I posted that one, I thought, "Hmmm. I guess Avril Lavigne actually is a world star. Someone's going to call me out on that. I should go change that to one of the other many Canadian bands that our media tells us is taking on the world."

So, yes, you're right about Avril. BUT, our media does do it. Sell a few albums in the US and do a few big shows, and suddenly you're taking on the world. I think of Barenaked Ladies, Tragically Hip, Sarah Mclachlan, Marianas Trench, etc.

Anyway, my point about Korean pop music is it's big in Asia, digging out a little niche in Europe and South America, and can only stand to get more popular in North America. Not "British Invasion" popular. But more popular than the 0 it was at 5-10 years ago.

Mr. BlackCat

Joined: 30 Nov 2005
Location: Insert witty remark HERE

Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 1:00 pm Post subject:

Newbie wrote:

No, that's ok. Like I said in another post here I knew what you meant, you were just giving one example. However, the point still remains. I think most Canadians understand that the BareNaked Ladies are/were popular in the US, but maybe not world famous. I would be surprised if one of my students or CTs asked me about them. Obviously, I travel the world but even my friends back home were surprised when I told them of Avril's or Celine's popularity here. If they were taken aback by that, BNL or Sum41 would have been even more shocking.

The point is, Canadians, or most other nationalities, don't attach their identity to the popularity of homegrown talent, especially pop music. Koreans generally take pride that Psy is the most viewed video on youtube, but most Canadians wouldn't even know that Beiber was competiting with him (as was Avril a few years ago). In fact, it would be embarrassing for most of us.

If you walk up to the average Canadian (for example, since it was brought up) and say, "I don't like Canadian pop stars", most of them would either agree or just say they're American copycats, so why are you singling them out? If you walk up to the average Korean and say, "I don't like Korean pop stars", most of them would take offence. And this carries over with many aspects of their modern culture, be it food, TV programs or movies. You don't like poutine? Fine, more for me.

Just for the record: besides Mr. DressUp. The world missed out on that one and I will fist fight anyone who disrespects his memory.

Steelrails

Joined: 12 Mar 2009
Location: Earth, Solar System

Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 3:28 pm Post subject:

I have to say that arguing over commuting is such an old fuddy-duddy argument. Might as well start arguing over which way is fastest to get into town. "You see, you gotta take I-95 into town, but only from 5AM-630, otherwise its not good. After that you're better of with taking the Jeffries to Clark Rd. and then..."

ironjohn

Joined: 25 Nov 2009

Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 11:49 pm Post subject:

That Italian food means spaghetti. That pasta means spaghetti. That asking for milk (since there's no half and half) in your coffee means you want a latte. That cold weather causes colds (really gets me, but people back home believe it too) That reading hangeul is difficult. (I've only spoken Korean with some friends and they still seem surprised when I read a coffee menu with no English) To whoever said being at work is working, plus one.

wishfullthinkng

Joined: 05 Mar 2010

Posted: Wed Aug 14, 2013 1:13 am Post subject:

ironjohn wrote:

That cold weather causes colds (really gets me, but people back home believe it too)

how are you sure this is a myth? the science world can't agree on an exact reason why people get colds more often in cold weather but there are facts that you can examine:

1. viruses that attack humans have a very tight threshold of temperatures at which they thrive. the optimal temperature for rhinoviruses (the common cold) to replicate is 33-35C (91-95F, peaking at 92F). RV viruses do not efficiently replicate at normal human body temperatures or above. that is why the body induces fever when it has been compromised. the raising of the body heat is essentially burning away the viruses. so if you put two and two together it's only common sense that yes, cold weather does indeed play a large hand in helping people catch colds because it can lower your core body temperature, especially if you are weak and or ill with something else already.

2. RV viruses replicate particularly well when nasal passages and the upper tracheobronchial tree are cold and not as well in the warmer lower respiratory tract. this again, is related to the temperature in which the RV virus optimally replicates and also happens to be two of the main areas humans are introduced to their unwanted guests.

3. Cold air can reduce the movement of cellular pili (used to move foreign bodies out) in the respiratory tract.

4. Cold-induced reduction of blood flow in some parts of the body can weaken the immune response in those areas (the body tries to preserve heat in the brain and internal organs subtracting blood from the rest of the body).

5. Dry air can reduce the layer of mucus which serves as protection in the respiratory tract.

with a little critical thinking there is obviously a correlation as to why colds happen more in cold weather. while cold weather doesn't CAUSE colds, it sure doesn't help them from not happening.

plus if you look at it critically it is at least rooted in science instead of conjecture like how some people think that people get colds because in the winter people are huddled together more often. i think that's a bit of a reach because i stay indoors during crazy heat/humidity like today WAY more than in the cold and i know many others who do too.

ironjohn

Joined: 25 Nov 2009

Posted: Wed Aug 14, 2013 1:41 am Post subject:

wishfullthinkng wrote:

ironjohn wrote:

That cold weather causes colds (really gets me, but people back home believe it too)

All valid points, which I don't argue with. But yeah I guess you could say the myth is that its cold air (as opposed to rhinoviruses) that causes colds. And it would be nice to hear people say to remember to wash your hands, not touch your eyes and nose, and cough into your arm instead of just 'wear a scarf.'

fermentation

Joined: 22 Jun 2009

Posted: Thu Aug 15, 2013 5:49 am Post subject:

ironjohn wrote:

That Italian food means spaghetti.
That pasta means spaghetti.

That cold weather causes colds (really gets me, but people back home believe it too)
That reading hangeul is difficult. (I've only spoken Korean with some friends and they still seem surprised when I read a coffee menu with no English)

To whoever said being at work is working, plus one.

Haha, I have had people ask me, "What's the difference between pasta and spaghetti?"

Drinking alcohol because it has ginseng extract in it is healthy.
Water makes you fat (although I think this myth seems to have disappeared nowadays).

If you're mentioning myths that aren't exclusive to Korea, I can add: lifting weights means you get bigger. Lifting heavier means you get bigger. Doing bicep curls with crappy form means you're getting stronger and jacked.

atwood

Joined: 26 Dec 2009

Posted: Sun Aug 18, 2013 1:05 am Post subject:

wishfullthinkng wrote:

atwood wrote:

wishfullthinkng wrote:

oh and let's add the myth that samgetang is good and refreshing for you in hot summer weather.

um, heat up my already miserable body even more with hot liquid? no thanks.

the science (or the lack thereof) with this myth is astounding.

Actually hot fluids should theoretically cool your body. Something to do with dilating the blood vessels if I remember correctly and the opposite goes for drinking cool or cold drinks in the winter.

Not that I usually follow that advice.

this article (http://www.salon.com/2010/08/16/chicken_soup_for_sweltering_soul/) tries to find the reasoning why koreans think that hot soup and "beating the heat with heat" work. they boil it down to the garlic and ginseng (to dialate the blood vessels to increase blood flow which is perfectly reasonable) and the heat of the soup. the issue is, when i've just walked 5 blocks to a restaraunt in this summer heat with the humidity at pretty much the maximum level it can be before i'm literally swimming instead of walking, i'm already quite sweaty and have no need to sweat more. this article doesn't take into consideration the already existing sweat and seems to think that people eat samgyetang when they are merely hot but not yet sweating (in which case the sweat from raising your core body temperature via hot liquids would work but not nearly as well as a simple glass of cold water).

no matter what though, the change of entropy in the human body by adding heat when it's already too hot and sweating is not a good thing. there's a reason why universities and laboratories have designed gauntlets that athletes can wear to hyper cool their blood.

Research at the University of Ottawa and Cambridge showed that drinking hot liquids did cool people down due to the sweating such drinks caused, but the Cambridge study added that the sweat has to evaporate to cool you down.

I understand your points, but everyone's bodily response is not the same, i.e., maybe they don't sweat as much or as readily as you do and thus the hot soup works for them. Of course, it seems these days the popularity of kong guk su, shows most people want something cold to eat.

But with that much scientific evidence, I don't think you can classify it as a myth.

Display posts from previous:

	Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> General Discussion Forum	All times are GMT - 8 Hours Goto page Previous 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Next
Page 4 of 5

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

TEFL International Supports Dave's ESL Cafe