Korean Job Discussion Forums

SPINOZA · Joined: 10 Jun 2005 Location: $eoul

"Just my two cents" has been banned and, consequently, I've not read those insipid words since. Very good.

But now we are to have a complete ban on "saving face". It doesn't exist. It's trite cliche-use and nothing more. It's one of those things that follows this pattern:

read Dave's ESL Cafe --------->some random bullcrap happens to you somewhere --------------->say the incident was an example of "saving face".

like:

read Dave's ESL Cafe ------------>some random bullcrap happens that could happen anywhere ---------->say the incident was an example of [insert cliche].

Banned! There you go.

riley · Joined: 08 Feb 2003 Location: where creditors can find me

sounds like another face saving measure to me.

jaderedux · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: Lurking outside Seoul

Well my 2 cents on that is you are just trying even more face saving measures to inflate some bizarre sense of importance that you have. From now on I shall incorporate these two phrases whenever possible.

Have a nice day!
Jade

doggyji · Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2006 9:24 pm Post subject:

SPINOZA, funny you thought so. I had a similar feeling, too, with the "saving face" ruling all over. I'm like "okay that's bad.. but why does it have to be the result of saving face again? Very Happy

juicyhumdinger · Joined: 03 Jan 2005

me thinks you best save face now and just delete the title of your thread.

Just my 2 cents.

Son Deureo! · Joined: 30 Apr 2003

That used to piss me off too, Koreans would do things to "save face", making it seem like a unique Korean cultural trait and something Westerners must accept, whereas if you phrase it as "avoid embarrassment" it no longer seems so noble.

Nevertheless, it does explain a great deal of what motivates Koreans to behave the way they do, and I think it's fair to say that Koreans will go to greater lengths to avoid embarrassment than we would.

It really isn't that far-fetched.

daskalos · Joined: 19 May 2006 Location: The Road to Ithaca

I'll assume giving face is still okay Question

Satori · Joined: 09 Dec 2005 Location: Above it all

The OP would save what's left of his pasty pommy face simply by thinking more and posting less.

Just my two cents...

flotsam · Joined: 28 Mar 2006

RACETRAITOR · Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Location: Seoul, South Korea

I've never heard a single Korean use the expression "saving face."

Next on the chopping block has to be "Jesus tapdancing Christ." Or maybe it should be "next on the chopping block."

flotsam · Joined: 28 Mar 2006

riley · Joined: 08 Feb 2003 Location: where creditors can find me

on the chopping block will be banned! Banned I say!
(said in histrionic tone with finger waving in air)

bluelake · Joined: 01 Dec 2005

SPINOZA · Joined: 10 Jun 2005 Location: $eoul

jaganath69 · Joined: 17 Jul 2003

Spinoza,

Your observations are usually pretty good and well tempered, but you've been in Asia for all of about 2 minutes. Let me assure you, its a concept that is alive and well here. From China to Indonesia, you get things done better in this neck of the woods if you don't show someone they have F#CKED up royaly and allow them a backdown. Koreans are usually no different in this respect and attempt to save face with what seems like trite explanations to us whiteys, but its just part of the way things are done here. It still infuriates me after being in this part of the world for nigh on 15 years, but nevertheless, is something you have to deal with. That is all.