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OnTheOtherSide
Joined: 29 Feb 2008
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 Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 4:23 am Post subject: What exactly is an apologist? |
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Often times, people whine, complain and self-indugently b!tch about Korea. When you call them out on it, they will call you an "apologist", as if this word carries some kind of weight.
So what exactly makes a person an "apolgist"? Is it someone who doesn't hate Korea? Is is someone who doesn't constantly say bitter, negative things about Korea? Is it someones who calls people out when they are whining? Is it someone who legitamitely likes it in Korea and will defend this country? Is it someone who is having a good time in Korea and is happy here? If this is what an apologist is, then you can go ahead and call me one.
The idea of calling someone an apologist is silly to me. The concept of an "apologist" seems illogical. I can't wait to hear someone set me straight on this...... |
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hamlet712
Joined: 16 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 4:29 am Post subject: Re: What exactly is an apologist? |
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| OnTheOtherSide wrote: |
Often times, people whine, complain and self-indugently b!tch about Korea. When you call them out on it, they will call you an "apologist", as if this word carries some kind of weight.
So what exactly makes a person an "apolgist"? Is it someone who doesn't hate Korea? Is is someone who doesn't constantly say bitter, negative things about Korea? Is it someones who calls people out when they are whining? Is it someone who legitamitely likes it in Korea and will defend this country? Is it someone who is having a good time in Korea and is happy here? If this is what an apologist is, then you can go ahead and call me one.
The idea of calling someone an apologist is silly to me. The concept of an "apologist" seems illogical. I can't wait to hear someone set me straight on this...... |
Actually I'd like to know that too, since I was the one called that like ten times on my thread in the last 2 days.
I too am happy to be called an apologist if the people calling me one are any indication of what the opposite of one is. |
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R-Seoul
Joined: 23 Aug 2006
Location: your place
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| Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 4:33 am Post subject: |
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| The mod Homer who was in a recent car accident is the most obvious example. Seemed like a genuinely nice guy but had difficulty separating Dave's and real life for some reason. |
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OnTheOtherSide
Joined: 29 Feb 2008
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| Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 4:37 am Post subject: |
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| R-Seoul wrote: |
| The mod Homer who was in a recent car accident is the most obvious example. Seemed like a genuinely nice guy but had difficulty separating Dave's and real life for some reason. |
That's pretty vague and ambiguous. |
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R-Seoul
Joined: 23 Aug 2006
Location: your place
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| Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 4:39 am Post subject: |
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| OnTheOtherSide wrote: |
| R-Seoul wrote: |
| The mod Homer who was in a recent car accident is the most obvious example. Seemed like a genuinely nice guy but had difficulty separating Dave's and real life for some reason. |
That's pretty vague and ambiguous. |
Read some of his posts then you'll know what i mean, you'll also be bored rigid too. |
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OnTheOtherSide
Joined: 29 Feb 2008
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| Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 4:41 am Post subject: |
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| R-Seoul wrote: |
| OnTheOtherSide wrote: |
| R-Seoul wrote: |
| The mod Homer who was in a recent car accident is the most obvious example. Seemed like a genuinely nice guy but had difficulty separating Dave's and real life for some reason. |
That's pretty vague and ambiguous. |
Read some of his posts then you'll know what i mean, you'll also be bored rigid too. |
Instead of digging through hundreds of pages for an example, I would rather just have someone explain it. If it can be explained. |
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fustiancorduroy
Joined: 12 Jan 2007
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| Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 4:47 am Post subject: |
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I don't know about the mod Homer, but I do know there are some people on this board who are hella jaded and bitter. It's a bit ridiculous. I guess they lash out at Korea because they try to attribute all their problems to it. But really, if they aren't happy with their lives, it's probably mostly their fault.
Anyway, I ignore the haters. |
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aka Dave
Joined: 02 May 2008
Location: Down by the river
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| Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 4:56 am Post subject: |
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I whine, complain, and self-indulgently bitch about a lot of things, back home and here. Am I going to tolerate Bush's insanity? No. Am I going to tolerate the fact that Korean taxi drivers, on a daily basis, endanger the lives of other humans beings, including children I see walking down the street? Hell no! (one of my students was hit by a cab).
Cut the crap. I don't get this vibe where we can't criticize the place we live in, where back home we'd on a daily basis criticize our govenment, our society, and our fellow citizens. Ahnold is governor of my state back home. That strikes me as F*CKING INSANE. There are no sidewalks on my way to work here. That strikes me as F*CKING INSANE. Koreans watch dvds while they drive. That strikes me as.... etc.
Critical thinking is crucial in living in a democracy. I protested, complained, and agitated back home, because generally you need speak truth to power.. I'm sure as shite gonna do so here.
I mean, really. Watch a Daily Show episode or read the Onion.com. Or watch Bill Mahrer. Or even SNL. Are they all "gee America is a flowery wonderland where everyone is a happy leprechaun!"
We don't tolerate this crap back home, why should we do so here? |
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jkelly80
Joined: 13 Jun 2007
Location: you boys like mexico?
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| Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 5:24 am Post subject: |
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| People confuse critical thinking with whining, usually because they have cognitive problems. |
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Scotticus
Joined: 18 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 5:28 am Post subject: |
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| I like how OnTheOtherSide has shifted sides again. When he first got to Korea he posted about how perfect this place was and how happy he was. Then, less than two weeks later, he started posting about what a shithole Korea is and how he's just putting in his time, making his money and not giving a *beep* about anyone here. Now, it seems, he's back to the first extreme. |
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aka Dave
Joined: 02 May 2008
Location: Down by the river
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| Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 5:39 am Post subject: |
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| jkelly80 wrote: |
| People confuse critical thinking with whining, usually because they have cognitive problems. |
Okay, give me an example of Korean "critical thinking" analyzing their society or democracy. Or anything, really. I know there might be a language issue, but whatever. When my students write essays, there really isn't a diversity of opinion. There isn't *ever* an attempt by students to challenge the topic question, to assert its assumptions are flawed or biased, instead they all blandly answer the question mechanically in the way they assume will get them a good grade.
I'm not a Korean hater, I love my students. To conflate "whining" and "critical thinking' is bullshit. "Whining" is the most overused word in internet arguments, and it really needs to stop. It's a facile insult that doesn't address the argument.
My main complaint about Korea is traffic safety. They have the highest death rate for pedestrians in developed countries. How the hell is that whining? I know 5 people, personally, who have been hit by automobiles. Yeah, I do. I was riding shotgun with my boss who very nearly ran down a middle school student on a bike.
Make an argument. Your comment has no content, is a cheap shot, and is worthless as far as I'm concerned.
So, I'm gonna call you a lying, meth addicted scumbag. This comment has as much foundation as your comment, and I'm sticking to it. |
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maddog
Joined: 08 Dec 2005
Location: Daegu
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PeteJB
Joined: 06 Jul 2007
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| Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 5:45 am Post subject: |
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| Maybe we need one of those "describe the person above you" threads where a single word is used to describe that poster. Actually I think it's supposed to go in reverse, but then it wouldn't be true to the colours, would it? |
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bangbayed
Joined: 01 Dec 2005
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 5:48 am Post subject: |
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Regardles, the OP has a point. There is such a thing as whining and there are people who overdo it on here. Take your own poll of expats' opinions about Dave's forums and you'll see what I mean.
And it does seem pretty weak to me to just throw around the word "apologist" as if that was enough proof to invalidate a poster's viewpoint. I'm a big fan of the shows aka Dave mentioned but you never just see them just throw a word around to prove their point. They actually back up their criticisms.
And then of course, there's the big insult on here "gyopo" or "netizen". (As in "You're just a _____".) Nice.  |
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samd
Joined: 03 Jan 2007
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| Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 6:02 am Post subject: |
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It's a loaded term used by the whiners here. Its use assumes that the 'apologist' is wrong by definition, as they have something to apologise for.
'Whiner' is not much better, but I'll continue to use it as long as people scream "Apologist!" whenever anyone defends Korea/Koreans. |
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