Korean Job Discussion Forums

[been_that_done_there]

I am new to this site and after reading a lot of posts, I am astounded at how downright nasty, sarcastic, flippant, cowardly and mean people are.

There are also some really great posts with lots of useful advice and sympathy for people who are in difficult situations, but mostly people are just plain mean.

Is this what has happened to the human race or do unhappy, cowardly people just use their anonymity to 'bash' other people?

[Tundra_Creature]

That's the internet for you. Just look at Youtube. Internet seems to be a place to vent and no offence, but I doubt it'll change. Like in real life, sometimes ignoring is just the easiest.


On a totally random note, to further my arguement, here's a nerdy video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfpotGVjRW0

[edwardcatflap]

It's obvious isn't it? Unlike face to face conversations, on the internet you can tell people they're talking total crap without dealing with any further unpleasantness or getting into a fight. Isn't that the main appeal of internet forums?

[renrats]

I agree. Some people are extremely helpful, but others just muck up the boards with unnecessary sarcasm and pettiness. It's too bad, but I also doubt it will change. Thanks to everyone out there who has been helpful!

[travelingfool]

Do you think what a person writes on the internet is indicative of their personality in general? I do. I think people who write mean and abusive things are mean and abusive people deep down who are too cowardly to confront others in the real world.

If you wouldn't say it in person, don't say it on the internet, right? In some ways I wish we had to use our real names because at least that way there would be some semblance of accountability. Would you write abusive messages if your real name was attached to them? Your real name which a simple google search would unearth your nasty writing?

The quote the Bible, "Out of a man's mouth come the contents of his heart". I think this is very true concerning mean people on the internet.

[Joe666]

Dave's Korean Forums are a different beast all together. What you are seeing is frustration manifesting itself in anger and sarcasm. Living and working in S. Korea is not easy. Most posters may not want to admit it, but I believe it to be true.

Another point, Alot of what is said (typed) is misconstrued. When reading a message board, you loose the face to face and auditory aspect of communication. Sarcasm gets lost etc. If a thread was actually a social discussion, what was being said might be interpreted differently.

Part of what the OP stated is absolutely true. You are going to have people who are just plain nasty in general. Trying to navigate living and working in the Hermit Kingdom plays a MAJOR role in Dave's inhumanity.

[kiwiduncan]

The people who are happy and content in Korea are usually out there doing fun stuff, meeting friends, getting involved with sports, social actvities, community groups and so on. They're too active and busy to be spending hours of everyday on DavesESLcafe.

Many people who are miserable and unsettled in Korea spend a lot of time on this forum. Misery enjoys company and they can certainly find it here.

Hence the tendency towards petty and nasty comments and observations here.

This is a bit of a generalization of course. Some of the posters on ESL simply appear to be pretty cool and mellow people who just like to read a bit of the gossip and share some advice. I've got a lot of respect for some of the regulars, who seem to have a fairly balanced view of the pros and cons of life in Korea.

Personally, I've been spending too much time here myself recently . Not because I want to gripe about Korea but because I'm back in NZ right now but looking forward to heading back to Seoul for a number of reasons.

I've just got to remind myself though that every hour on ESL cafe is an hour that I could have been studying Korean.

[eamo]

[Pojogae]

[ekul]

The internet is what real life should be like, the ability to speak your mind without fear of repurcussions if someone disagrees with you.

[Chambertin]

Many people are angry and looking for a place to vent.

Many people are completely convinced of their own superiority.

Many people have not developed a sense of empathy.

Often the person with the information wants no confirmation or discussion they simply want to see their opinions out there.

Often important details are left out from either side of the argument leading to misinterpretation.

Often people stop reading after the first few posts because they are too eager to post their expert opinion or they are just lazy.

Often people don�t even try to use some kind of basic format in sentence or paragraph structure, or even fully type a word.

That�s the short list and we haven�t even begun to discuss the failings people have when attempting to argue a point. Communication is about the freedom to express ideas, and the internet is not about communication it is about spreading information however good or bad it may be.
As mentioned with youtube the popular internet spaces are becoming a ranting space for angry, or ignored people. However as the original poster mentioned there are many exceptions here and other places.

We are left with one choice: to filter out the BS and just try to focus on what good information there is out there.

(have I made enough posts to get an avitar yet?)

[Freddypops]

[Pwillig]

Eh...I blame the soju and kimchi.

But I also thank the soju and kimchi.

[Goku]

[milkweedma]

Like other posters have said, Korea is a very difficult place to adapt to. Koreans are duplitious, nasty, racist people. Especially the older ones. To contrast this statement, I've also met some gems here, although they tend to be non-drinkers, christians or non-Korean Koreans. Almost everyone I've met in Korea (foreigners) can see the same B.S going on here as me and we all come from different places so my Korean Dr friend made the comment 'that means it does exist'. Excessively happy people in Korea are usually naive and come from rose tinted spectacle land.