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Korean elementary kid gang nearly attacked me in Itaewon
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r.



Joined: 06 May 2006

PostPosted: Sun Aug 20, 2006 4:34 am    Post subject: Korean elementary kid gang nearly attacked me in Itaewon Reply with quote

I was waiting for the subway, peacefully listening to my ipod when I looked to my right after hearing some noises from that direction. There were a half dozen kids 30 m away. They all flipped me off and then started yelling what I assume were anti-American obscenities at me. I went back to my ipod but then they all charged my position on the bench. I remembered that you play dead when a bear attacks you, so I ignored them and focused on the music on my ipod as they scampered about. Then they got distracted by the soda machine nearby and I was saved from any injury. This happened at 2pm--BEWARE!
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mithridates



Joined: 03 Mar 2003
Location: President's office, Korean Space Agency

PostPosted: Sun Aug 20, 2006 4:42 am    Post subject: Re: Korean elementary kid gang nearly attacked me in Itaewon Reply with quote

r. wrote:
I was waiting for the subway, peacefully listening to my ipod when I looked to my right after hearing some noises from that direction. There were a half dozen kids 30 m away. They all flipped me off and then started yelling what I assume were anti-American obscenities at me. I went back to my ipod but then they all charged my position on the bench. I remembered that you play dead when a bear attacks you, so I ignored them and focused on the music on my ipod as they scampered about. Then they got distracted by the soda machine nearby and I was saved from any injury. This happened at 2pm--BEWARE!


Could you give a bit more detail? What do you mean by they charged your position? And the bit later on about scampering about? How exactly? I'm having trouble trying to figure out exactly what it is they were attempting to do.
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Corporal



Joined: 25 Jan 2003

PostPosted: Sun Aug 20, 2006 4:46 am    Post subject: Re: Korean elementary kid gang nearly attacked me in Itaewon Reply with quote

r. wrote:
They all flipped me off and then started yelling what I assume were anti-American obscenities at me.


Are you sure it wasn't just "Haaaiiiii" and "Herro"? As for the bird-flipping, maybe they were just doing the peace sign with one finger not perfectly elevated.
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r.



Joined: 06 May 2006

PostPosted: Sun Aug 20, 2006 4:46 am    Post subject: Re: Korean elementary kid gang nearly attacked me in Itaewon Reply with quote

mithridates wrote:
r. wrote:
I was waiting for the subway, peacefully listening to my ipod when I looked to my right after hearing some noises from that direction. There were a half dozen kids 30 m away. They all flipped me off and then started yelling what I assume were anti-American obscenities at me. I went back to my ipod but then they all charged my position on the bench. I remembered that you play dead when a bear attacks you, so I ignored them and focused on the music on my ipod as they scampered about. Then they got distracted by the soda machine nearby and I was saved from any injury. This happened at 2pm--BEWARE!


Could you give a bit more detail? What do you mean by they charged your position? And the bit later on about scampering about? How exactly? I'm having trouble trying to figure out exactly what it is they were attempting to do.


My position on the bench--I was sitting on one of the benches awaiting the subway. Scampering about--imagine baracudas circling their pray before going in for the kill. I have no doubt they wanted to use me as a surrogate to get revenge for some nasty experience with their Hogwon's foreign teacher. Maybe they wanted to turn me into their personal hangman, there is just no telling.
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Demophobe



Joined: 17 May 2004

PostPosted: Sun Aug 20, 2006 5:30 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

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OCOKA Dude



Joined: 04 Oct 2004
Location: Seoul

PostPosted: Sun Aug 20, 2006 5:51 am    Post subject: Re: Korean elementary kid gang nearly attacked me in Itaewon Reply with quote

r. wrote:
mithridates wrote:
r. wrote:
I was waiting for the subway, peacefully listening to my ipod when I looked to my right after hearing some noises from that direction. There were a half dozen kids 30 m away. They all flipped me off and then started yelling what I assume were anti-American obscenities at me. I went back to my ipod but then they all charged my position on the bench. I remembered that you play dead when a bear attacks you, so I ignored them and focused on the music on my ipod as they scampered about. Then they got distracted by the soda machine nearby and I was saved from any injury. This happened at 2pm--BEWARE!


Could you give a bit more detail? What do you mean by they charged your position? And the bit later on about scampering about? How exactly? I'm having trouble trying to figure out exactly what it is they were attempting to do.


My position on the bench--I was sitting on one of the benches awaiting the subway. Scampering about--imagine baracudas circling their pray before going in for the kill. I have no doubt they wanted to use me as a surrogate to get revenge for some nasty experience with their Hogwon's foreign teacher. Maybe they wanted to turn me into their personal hangman, there is just no telling.


Did you skip your meds tonight? Uhuh....thought so.
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n3ptne



Joined: 14 Sep 2005
Location: Poh*A*ng City

PostPosted: Sun Aug 20, 2006 5:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

What are you serious?

Kids?

You should have freaked out, screamed obscenities, turned something over, thrown something at them and then straight knocked the *beep* out of the first little bastard to come close enough.

Why are people so guilty and nonconfrontational?
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fiveeagles



Joined: 19 May 2005
Location: Vancouver

PostPosted: Sun Aug 20, 2006 6:11 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

n3ptne wrote:
What are you serious?

Kids?

You should have freaked out, screamed obscenities, turned something over, thrown something at them and then straight knocked the *beep* out of the first little *beep* to come close enough.


Tough of ya. lol. I could see it now. Taking on a grade sixer. Sorry, I don't mean to offend you, but I find this pretty funny in a sad way.
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Guri Guy



Joined: 07 Sep 2003
Location: Bamboo Island

PostPosted: Sun Aug 20, 2006 6:59 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Some gang of kids give this guy the finger and it somehow is his fault or it is insinuated that he is on drugs or a whiner? Rude behaviour is rude behaviour. Not cool.
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Adventurer



Joined: 28 Jan 2006

PostPosted: Sun Aug 20, 2006 6:59 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

fiveeagles wrote:
n3ptne wrote:
What are you serious?

Kids?

You should have freaked out, screamed obscenities, turned something over, thrown something at them and then straight knocked the *beep* out of the first little *beep* to come close enough.


Tough of ya. lol. I could see it now. Taking on a grade sixer. Sorry, I don't mean to offend you, but I find this pretty funny in a sad way.



Give me a break. Didn't you hear about those middle schoolers in Milwaukee who killed a guy? Granted they were inner city kids. But some kids can be quite dangerous. These guys were probably not even close to being as dangerous, but if some kids are assaulting you, why are you seeming to sympathize with their hooligan behaviour?
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mindmetoo



Joined: 02 Feb 2004

PostPosted: Sun Aug 20, 2006 3:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Guri Guy wrote:
Some gang of kids give this guy the finger and it somehow is his fault or it is insinuated that he is on drugs or a whiner? Rude behaviour is rude behaviour. Not cool.


Lots of kids in Korea don't understand exactly what the middle finger is about. Isn't there some wrestler who gives the middle finger when he marches into the stadium? It's like the "Korean thumb". Ever make the Korean thumb with a Korean friend for an intellectual discussion on its origin and meaning and getting his look of death and "oh my god, don't do that!"

You know intellectually the Korean thumb is offensive but there's not a life long visceral reaction.

But in general, Korean kids when they're not being supervised by a Korean adult turn into loud, hyper savages. Thank god for the occasional gramps on the subway that pipes up. It's funny how quickly these kids settle down. It reminds me a bit of first year university women who have lived at home, with these repressive parents, and suddenly they're on their own in res and the sudden freedom makes them drunk.

A Korean coworker noted kids these days were extremely rude. They spend all their time studying and going to school and have no time to learn basic manners.

The OP did come out of the incident with his iPod so no worse for wear. If he was in Toronto or a big American inner city, he'd be on his knees thanking Xenu they ONLY took his iPod, his running shoes, and his TROOP jacket (are those still cool?).

All, remember the OP is just trying to tell an irritating story in a funny manner. I don't think he's really saying he was attacked by a gang.
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periwinkle



Joined: 08 Feb 2003

PostPosted: Sun Aug 20, 2006 5:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I think if you had affected an authoritarian, teacher-like attitude, you could have put an end to any harrassment. Particularly some Korean phrases would have been effective, I think. I've noticed kids usually back down when you use some Korean. Almost instantly the tone changes to "Oooooh- you can speak Korean!!" Weird that happened in Itaewon, of all places....
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kermo



Joined: 01 Sep 2004
Location: Eating eggs, with a comb, out of a shoe.

PostPosted: Sun Aug 20, 2006 5:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

That's the best subject heading I've seen in this forum for ages. I'm sorry these kids were such creeps to you. I think flipping your lid would *definitely* have been the wrong choice. They would have laughed at the yelling, and charged you with assault if you laid a finger on them. I wonder what would have happened if you had stood up and used your Stern-Teacher Evil-Eye on them?

Another question I had was this: What was so special about the soda machine that it could lure the little barracudas away from easy prey? I imagined it dancing or beckoning or something...
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TheUrbanMyth



Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Retired

PostPosted: Sun Aug 20, 2006 5:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

kermo wrote:
. They would have laughed at the yelling, and charged you with assault if you laid a finger on them. ..



That's why after you smack them, you don't wait around. Laughing

But elementary kids...come on! If there were 50 or so, then I could see being a bit nervous. But half a dozen? Even half a dozen adjoshis aren't much to worry about (unless they are sober) Laughing Laughing Laughing
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Paddycakes



Joined: 05 May 2003
Location: Seoul

PostPosted: Sun Aug 20, 2006 5:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

A half dozen elementary schools kids, hahaa!

What were they going to do, hit you with their Dora the Explorer backpacks?

I weigh 200 pounds... the average elementary school kid probably weighs about 60... I'm sorry I just don't see the threat...

However, if they attacked you -unlikely- you should have just taken off your belt gave them yellow little ******* a good whoop'n.

Remind them of their place in this world...
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