Korean Job Discussion Forums

[kiwiduncan]

Recently I've been exchanging emails with good Korean and expat friends in Korea, reading and posting messages on various Korean websites, and getting my Korean students here in the UK to check my paragraphs for me. I've been feeling happy, excited and optimistic about my return to Korea later this year.

Then, during the process of posting up a couple of pretty harmless questions here, I've been sadly reminded of how this forum is dominated by immature, spiteful plebs.

How about some kind of forum where people are obliged to post under their own real names and everyone treats others with respect? It wouldn't mean we'd have to walk on eggshells about every issue, but we would at least be required to exercise a great deal more restraint and tact.

Forums like this have the potential to be a valuable source of information for people new to Korea and even for those who have been here for years (perhaps even Koreans themselves, shock horror). But perhaps we really do need some kind of real-name members only group. Has anyone ever considered getting something going?

Finally, for the prats reading this and already concocting puerile and spiteful little replies; I don't want to be flamed when I ask for advice about things such as volunteering. I'm not interested in how many 'language exchange' partners you've seduced in noraebang, and I'm tired of hearing how 'racist' Koreans are when the average Korean would experience more racism in New Zealand in five weeks than I've experienced in Korea in five years.

All I want to know is are there many people out there who would like to be involved in a more civilised and useful forum.

Cheers,

Duncan Davidson

[unknown9398]

[tomato]

Is Mithridates' forum still up?
I forgot the URL address.

[in_seoul_2003]

...

[tomato]

I concur with kiwi on #1.
Some volatile topics are:

--religion vs. skepticism

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=89698&highlight=
http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=86702&highlight=
http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=88589&highlight=

--Creationism vs. Evolution

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=59990&highlight=

--those who resent Koreans speaking to foreigners in English vs. those who do not

I would give you the URL address for the most recent thread on this topic, but the mods erased it--and with good reason.

--those whose attitude toward Korea is generally positive vs. those whose attitude is generally negative

These two camps came to be known, respectively, as the "apologists" and the "whiners." This battle seems to have died down, but at one time was raging furiously.

[Demophobe]

There is no way I would post under my real name on a forum for teachers here in Korea. Far too many sociopathic freaks out there to be doing that craziness.

It would be better if people didn't allow their pseudonyms to be so radically different from their real selves, but that is part of the sickness that permeates the internet. A form of split personality mixed with a desire to be something they are not. Fight-clubby; the online Tyler vs. the real one. One could probably argue that the internet representation of themselves is the true self; like one when they are drunk, the truth emerges.

People are generally quite disappointing, and on the net, it is exponentially true. I look at this place like a bad TV show and take it about as seriously.

[Wangja]

[desperation]

I had a guy PM me several times, offered to help me....Flattered me....sent me a listing that was totally average for a job.......I applied, the recruiter told me it was only for in-country people. I told that to the Dave-poster. He assured me he'd call and visit to help me out....Then I started getting INSANE THREATS from him telling me he saved all my posts on here to his computer and he was going to put me on a blacklist for employees with my resume and my posts and my emails to him "if I ever identified him" (what?) and he demanded $4,000 US over 4 months and that I sign a contract to that effect, IF he was going to give me a reference!!!!!!!! WHAT??? Not only that, he told me his reference was "worth its weight in gold and the gold paperweight on top of it". He's a jewish american university professor in Korea and he is reading this now, deliberating if I have violated his anonymity and should be blacklisted! You want know what's out there? Now you do, there's a reason people hide: Some are sharks some are the food. Both hide for opposing reasons.

[ajgeddes]

Kiwi Duncan, I was curious about what you were talking about and went through your posts and nobody has been mean to you or left mean replies. So, what exactly is the problem?

[The_Conservative]

[RACETRAITOR]

Speaking as the board's official troll magnet, I think some degree of anonymity is useful. In my case anyone can do a search on me and find pictures of myself, my wife, my friends, and where I live. It would be enough for you to stalk me. All I maintain is an outer layer of anonymity for the casual observer.

Saying stuff on the Internet really doesn't do a lot of harm. Worst case scenario is it will really get someone angry. If they have your name and where you live, it gives them more options about what to do. I don't think using your real name would help. Most of the things that I've written on this board that have gotten troll bites are the more harmless comments, and most of the direct insults and rude things resulted in nothing substantial. You can't know in advance what will set people off, so why force everyone to put their names down? I think it should be a choice.

[knee-highs]

Thank God I never posted my real name. I have been stalked and harassed all over this board because I honestly revealed that my grandfather was rich and famous.

The most ridiculous accusation against me was that I misrepresented myself in my avatar.

Huh? I should post my real photo, or link to my website?

Okay, Flame me now, here if you like; but stop with the PM's please. I stopped reading them a month ago.

[Demophobe]

[jinju]

I love newbies trying to throw their weight around. Dude, you just joined.

[Qinella]