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cellphone
Joined: 18 Feb 2004
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 Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2005 10:08 pm Post subject: |
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One of the many problems with this thread Simpsons cartoon character is that you have a country which is hostile and negative to foreigners, and such foreigners accurately tell their stories and describe the Korean people they encounter, yet you instead attempt to debase said foreigner(s).
It's also hypocritical that you make a thread with serious implications and a negative focus yet post several hours later "hey everyone I was just funnin." I would think that is the definition of a Troll. |
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cellphone
Joined: 18 Feb 2004
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| Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2005 10:21 pm Post subject: |
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| weatherman wrote: |
| Homer I agree with you basically, but you always come off as being so above it all. |
Nah the only real problem with his posts is that they are so predictable and read like a prepared script, always with one theme. And are aimed at us. Really, come onto a website where foreigners discuss the difficulties that korea serves to foreigners and all he does is tries to belittle them. |
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Mashimaro
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Location: location, location
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| Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2005 1:21 am Post subject: |
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| deleted... (read the rest the thread and it answered my question) |
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jajdude
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2005 1:41 am Post subject: |
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| just because wrote: |
| I think the biggest problem is that we drink too much. |
Bingo!
(and korea is a hard place) |
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tommynomad
Joined: 24 Jul 2004
Location: on the move
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| Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2005 1:43 am Post subject: |
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| Insufficiently worldly/too immature to deal with a place that's really challenging in its differences. |
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Homer
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| Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2005 8:06 am Post subject: |
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| Cellphone...you got problems mate.... |
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Son Deureo!
Joined: 30 Apr 2003
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| Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2005 8:17 am Post subject: |
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No, Cellphone's dead on here.
While you sometimes have some valid points, your OP in this thread makes you come off as a hostile first class *beep*. You're backtracking now that you've been called on your asshattery, and considering your history, saying it was just a joke now doesn't seem particularly credible.
And do you honestly think that teachers, newbie or otherwise, are doing you a disservice by asking for higher wages? They might be a bit unrealistic, but that's better than the opposite extreme of just taking whatever they can get.
Pyongshin Sangja had you pegged. |
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mithridates
Joined: 03 Mar 2003
Location: President's office, Korean Space Agency
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| Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2005 8:26 am Post subject: |
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Just for everybody who wasn't here, there was a thread called "five most common problems with Koreans" that was quite typical, and this thread was a tongue-in-cheek response to that. The first thread got removed and now it looks like Homer just came up with it all on his own, which he didn't.
Looking at one side of things reminds me of this one time back in high school when I was talking with my best friend about blushing. He used to psych himself out when talking to a girl and suddenly find himself red in the face. It became a kind of self-fulfilling prophecy because every time he would go to talk to a girl, even if it was one he had the least bit of interest in, he would think 'am I going to blush again? I don't even want this girl and...I'm blushing again!'
So we were talking about his 'affliction' and I talked a bit about how it would happen to me from time to time but not all that much. One the phone that day, I was talking about how the blood just rushes up without you knowing it:
"I know, sometimes you're not even thinking about it and it just comes up! That's the last thing you want when talking to a girl is to have it come up like that!"
I turned around and right behind me was my dad. Somehow I doubt he suspected I was talking about blushing. |
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The Bobster
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2005 9:42 am Post subject: |
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| Just curious ... why is so much of this thread all about people dumping on the OP? There were some valid points made and I would love to see someone respond to those ideas. |
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Cedar
Joined: 11 Mar 2003
Location: In front of my computer, again.
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| Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2005 5:13 pm Post subject: |
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This is getting me frustrated. the 5 problems with Korea thread was the culture-shocked idjit, Homer was trying to say (in an intellectual way) maybe the problem isn't Korea, but the foreigner...
After reading the first post, I was SOOOO happy to see what Homer wrote. And, for the most part, his points are valid! |
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the eye
Joined: 29 Jan 2004
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| Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2005 6:01 pm Post subject: |
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yeah, it's interesting how these attacks on the OP are extremely off target.
he's right.
i've repeatedly noticed the things he's mentioned in foreigners here. |
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Barking Mad Lord Snapcase
Joined: 04 Nov 2003
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| Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2005 7:01 pm Post subject: |
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| Homer wrote: |
Barking,
Why does Big Brother have a negative connotation in the West? I hope you don't mean because of Orwell...if so, it hardly applies to the use of the term in Korea!  |
If "Big Brother" is used as a term of affection and camraderie, like "mate" in Australia, then that's wonderful.
If "Big Brother" is code for "I am higher than you on the Confucian hierarchy, and this must have a bearing on your life even outside the workplace", then the best one can do is laugh it off. |
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Barking Mad Lord Snapcase
Joined: 04 Nov 2003
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| Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2005 7:24 pm Post subject: |
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| cellphone wrote: |
| weatherman wrote: |
| Homer I agree with you basically, but you always come off as being so above it all. |
Nah the only real problem with his posts is that they are so predictable and read like a prepared script, always with one theme. And are aimed at us. Really, come onto a website where foreigners discuss the difficulties that korea serves to foreigners and all he does is tries to belittle them. |
Here's the real problem (and it's not just with Homer).
Whenever expats face difficulties in Korea, there are three main responses from the opposition:
1: "You're in a foreign culture. Suck it up."
2: "I have been here for X years and I have never experienced what you have just whined about."
3: "If you don't like it, LEAVE!!!"
If those who are trying to defend Korea want to win over new allies, then they have to prove that they are more positive than the very people they are criticising. On that front, they are not doing particularly well. What the "apologists" should be doing is putting more effort into focusing on the positive aspects of Korea. And yes, that may actually include sinful pleasures such as playing bingo in the class every Friday, going to the local expat bar every Saturday, dining wherever you want (Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Western), or hopping on a bus and doing the tourist thing in any traditional or modern site outside of your town of residence. Expats need some kind of emotional "anchor" to keep them where they are.
Another "anchor" would be the sense of pride one feels at having a job and position that, back home, would be considered professional. While the reality is more complex, the ones who take delight in saying "You were just a burger flipper back home, weren't you?" or "You're not in a respected position. Suck it up." are doing nothing to advance their sacred cause.
Furthermore, telling expats to "leave their habits/concerns at home", while often appropriate, may also sometimes breed further resentment. Firstly, you are asking them to change their identity, which would make them feel like even more of a freak (and yes, we all already know that we look like The Joker to the locals). Secondly, you are admitting that their nation of origin is still "home"; while true, this is perhaps counterproductive to your "pro-settling-in" argument. (But then, if you're the "Leave!!" type of debater, maybe not. Don't worry, though; one day the waegook who shares your load in the hagwon may take your advice!  ) |
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Toby
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Location: Wedded Bliss
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| Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2005 7:35 pm Post subject: Re: Five most common problems with Foreign teachers |
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| Homer wrote: |
In the spirit of that other thread assessing the problems of Korea...I will sacrifice myself and tackle that other burning issue.....
Drum roll please...
1 Refusal to accept that different does not mean inferior
Simply put this is the sadly too common habit of Foreign teachers seeing the differences in Korea and automatically switching to an us vs them system where Korean cultural norms and habits are essentially classified as inferior to Western ones.
2 Gross over-estimation of one's worth
This usually manifests itself at the very begining of a Foreign teachers arrival here or during his or her job search. This is basically a trend that sees the teacher ask for the moon with very little to warrant such a claim. Only reason: I deserve it.
3Sweeping judgement of large groups based on nothing more then limited and often very superficial information
Simple trick that leads many Foreign teachers to call all Koreans crap based on one or two personnal experiences. Very nifty trick and if that is applied to their own home country, the shields go up.
4It is their job to adapt, not mine
A very amusing trait that sees some Foreign teachers refuse to adapt to any Korean cultural behavior. It goes further with the teacher expecting Koreans to adapt to him or her. Not very logical but it sees the light of day quite often.
5What? I have to teach (i.e. work)
A very common shock encountered by many Foreigners upon arrival here to their new jobs. It seems they expected to be paid for nothing or to be on some sort of working holiday. When faced with actual teaching duties they balk and suddenly realize they do not really want to be teachers, they were just looking for a chance to travel.
Well thats the top five. It is no more valid then the other top five.
Have a good one fellow teachers. |
You seem to have summed up most of the Canadians and Americans that I know here in Korea... |
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chronicpride
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2005 7:52 pm Post subject: |
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| cellphone wrote: |
| One of the many problems with this thread Simpsons cartoon character is that you have a country which is hostile and negative to foreigners, and such foreigners accurately tell their stories and describe the Korean people they encounter, yet you instead attempt to debase said foreigner(s).. |
That part there is absolutely laughable. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt that you were saying it tongue in cheek. |
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