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TK421
Joined: 05 Aug 2009
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 Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 2:42 am Post subject: Why are Koreans and other east-asians so paranoid of colds?? |
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From my observations, the Japanese and Koreans in particular are obsessed and paranoid with the idea of catching colds are other sicknesses. Not only that, but they believe the weirdest things will cause colds. You always hear them saying "Don't do this, you'll catch a cold", "Don't stay out in the rain! You'll catch a cold".
Not only do I find their paranoia ridiculous, but they have their facts wrong and their ideas about how one catches a cold are ancient and false. The common cold is a contagious virus, and one catches it through exposure to others with the virus. It's also linked to lack of sleep and also vitamin d deficiency. It is NOT linked with actual cold weather. That is an ancient fallacy. They think if you don't dry yourself off quickly from showers or from being in the rain you'll somehow catch a virus, and the idea of that is ludicrous. Is there any point in educating them in this? They also wear those medical masks in fear of swine flu way more than any other cultures I've seen. I just want to know where this intense fear of sickness came from.
I've also wondered, is that why they use umbrellas so prominently, much more so than westerners I've noticed?
If there's another thread about this, I'm sorry. I searched but there are only so many pages of search I can sift through before saying f it. |
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kingplaya4
Joined: 14 May 2006
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| Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 2:47 am Post subject: |
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| Possibly post H1N1, before no way. Kids here seem to think nothing of catching a cold nearly every month, and pre h1n1, not much handwashing, very little covering your mouth or doing anything to cut down on colds. |
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VanIslander
Joined: 18 Aug 2003
Location: Geoje, Hadong, Tongyeong,... now in a small coastal island town outside Gyeongsangnamdo!
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| Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 2:51 am Post subject: |
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I just wish they would cover their mouths when they cough. 
| TK421 wrote: |
| The common cold is a contagious virus, and one catches it through exposure to others with the virus. It's also linked to lack of sleep and also vitamin d deficiency. It is NOT linked with actual cold weather. That is an ancient fallacy. They think if you don't dry yourself off quickly from showers or from being in the rain you'll somehow catch a virus, and the idea of that is ludicrous. |
The idea of preventing your body from getting cold is not ludicrous given decreased body temperature weakens one's immune system making one more susceptible to viruses such as the common cold. |
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The Goalie
Joined: 17 Nov 2009
Location: Chungcheongnamdo
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| Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 3:14 am Post subject: |
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| Given all the advances we've made in medicine/science, the fact that the common cold still persists seems to suggest a reason in itself for the superstitions surrounding it. Western culture apparently has the answers and yet... people keep getting colds. |
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UknowsI
Joined: 16 Apr 2009
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| Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 3:34 am Post subject: |
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I have also heard that being cold supposedly doesn't correlate with getting a cold. However, if I sleep with an open window in the winter I wake up with a cold/soar throat. If I close the window I'm fine when I wake up. Are you suggesting the cold virus comes through the window and that's the reason I'm getting ill?
Personally I think it's a myth that it's a myth that being cold doesn't increase your chances of getting ill. |
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freshking
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 5:18 am Post subject: |
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| Maybe it has something to do with so many people living in such close quarters. I always feel pretty gross after getting off of a busy subway train. |
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redaxe
Joined: 01 Dec 2008
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| Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 6:09 am Post subject: |
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| Because they live in really crowded countries and it's easier to spread germs. Next. |
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Captain Corea
Joined: 28 Feb 2005
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 5:29 pm Post subject: |
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| UknowsI wrote: |
| I have also heard that being cold supposedly doesn't correlate with getting a cold. However, if I sleep with an open window in the winter I wake up with a cold/soar throat. If I close the window I'm fine when I wake up. Are you suggesting the cold virus comes through the window and that's the reason I'm getting ill? |
No. The cold air dries the mucus membranes of your throat, thus allowing easier access to the virus. |
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Sooke
Joined: 12 Jan 2004
Location: korea
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| Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 5:39 pm Post subject: |
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| TK-421, why aren't you at your post? TK-421, do you copy? |
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seonsengnimble
Joined: 02 Jun 2009
Location: taking a ride on the magic English bus
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| Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 5:57 pm Post subject: Re: Why are Koreans and other east-asians so paranoid of col |
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| TK421 wrote: |
From my observations, the Japanese and Koreans in particular are obsessed and paranoid with the idea of catching colds are other sicknesses. Not only that, but they believe the weirdest things will cause colds. You always hear them saying "Don't do this, you'll catch a cold", "Don't stay out in the rain! You'll catch a cold".
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Since when is this an East Asian thing? You're telling me you never heard "Wear a scarf or you'll catch a cold" or "Take off your wet clothes or you'll catch a cold" as a kid? Granted, there isn't much value in this advice, but I've heard much more bizarre medical advice in the land of kimchi than stay warm. |
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Forward Observer
Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Location: FOB Gloria
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| Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 6:51 pm Post subject: |
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IF THEY'RE SO PARANOID ABOUT CATCHING COLDS, WHY DON'T THEY COVER THEIR MOUTHS WHEN THEY SNEEZE AND COUGH ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION?
*Sorry for the caps, just trying to make a point. |
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ThingsComeAround
Joined: 07 Nov 2008
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| Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 7:45 pm Post subject: |
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I always believed it to be a misinterpretation.
Cold to us = cough/sneeze
"Cold" to them = flu symptom
OUR COLD to them = allergy   |
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redaxe
Joined: 01 Dec 2008
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| Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 9:43 pm Post subject: |
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| ThingsComeAround wrote: |
I always believed it to be a misinterpretation.
Cold to us = cough/sneeze
"Cold" to them = flu symptom
OUR COLD to them = allergy |
I thought it was the other way around. Whenever I sneeze or blow my nose in front of a Korean they ask me if I have a cold ("gamgi"). It's usually just from allergies, or if I had hot/spicy soup or something.
Basically Asian languages are less specific than English, so gamgi can mean cold or allergies or anything else that makes you sneeze.
I'm actually not so sure if I've ever had a viral common cold. I get bacterial sinus infections sometimes though. To me it's a sinus infection, but to Koreans it's just a "gamgi." If I translate it literally as "sinus infection" in Korean it's too medical/academic sounding. |
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