By So says this poll:
One in four Southeast Asians living in South Korea has experienced discrimination, more than triple the corresponding figure for foreigners from OECD countries, according to a poll released on Tuesday.
According to the survey conducted by the Seoul Development Institute (SDI) on 333 foreign nationals living in the capital, 25.9 percent of Southeast Asian immigrants have faced discrimination, compared to 8.2 percent of foreigners from OECD nations, including the U.S., Japan and countries in Europe. [Yonhap]
I wonder if this poll includes Bangladeshis and Sri Lankans as part of southeast Asia?
2:21 pm on January 21st, 2011 1
Clearly cases of excess melanin and improper attire.
2:33 pm on January 21st, 2011 2
"I wonder if this poll includes Bangladeshis and Sri Lankans as part of southeast Asia?"
As I understand how S. Koreans look at people who are "different" than them, different races are in a way graded or are placed on a scale. Even though the "white" face is at the top(most favored) of the scale/list, the Bangladeshis and Sri Lankans are too low on the scale to have been polled according to the S. Koreans who concocted this poll — Hence the DISCRIMINATION. And, why would anyone believe those Yonhap statistics?
3:00 pm on January 21st, 2011 3
It looks like the discrimination rate is far lower in South Korea than in US and Europe.
3:09 pm on January 21st, 2011 4
#2,
I wouldn't go as far as to make the blanket statement that it's how South Koreans view the world, but such notions of Social Darwinism and Eugenics have had some influence on Korean ethnic nationalists in the past. It's certainly how North Korean propaganda still views the world, although it places Koreans on top of the order, which are classified in subcategories.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_Darwinism
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugenics
3:31 pm on January 21st, 2011 5
Only 25% of South East Asians say they felt some discrimination. While the vast majority 75% are't. Now can we say the same about, let's say, the Mexicans and Blacks in America?
4:29 pm on January 21st, 2011 6
Tom #5, Many Koreans don't like darker people, that's just a fact.
5:32 pm on January 21st, 2011 7
#5,
Now you're just being obtuse for the sake of being so. What part of "compared to 8.2 percent of foreigners from OECD nations, including the U.S., Japan and countries in Europe" don't you get?
Besides, the story is from Yonhap! Yonhap, Tom, mofo Yonhap! The South Korean government's news agency!
6:58 pm on January 21st, 2011 8
#6, yup. Koreans don't like anyone dark, but especially Asians that are dark.
8:53 pm on January 21st, 2011 9
It reminds me of tribal behavior. Koreans are a pretty homogeneous lot, they exhibit group behavior and group thought much more than You-Essers or Canucks, whose ethnic backgrounds are far more diverse.
Not saying that there aren't "tribes" or "tribal behavior" in either of those places, but they aren't as much defining factors.
10:44 pm on January 21st, 2011 10
When it comes to discrimination, I don't think South Korea beats the United States nor Europe who are far more discriminatory towards their minorities despite having better anti-discriminatory laws designed to protect the minorities. Please get off the high horse.
11:18 pm on January 21st, 2011 11
Maybe it's just my experience, but as an Asian-American not of Korean descent, I have had to put up with more crap in my 5 years in Korea, then I have in the deep South of the US or Germany, where I spent my high school years. Fortunately, I can blend in over here in Korea till I open my mouth. Immigration officers are notorious here for mistreating third world nationals. Recall the Vietnamese female that got caught on camera being punched in the chest by an immigrations officer. Also, Had a black female friend who told me that while at the bus stop, some Korean ajashee rubbed her skin with his fingers then look at his fingers.
11:45 pm on January 21st, 2011 12
#11, US immigration is far far worse my friend.
12:36 am on January 22nd, 2011 13
In the face of a witness to the contrary, tom still believes his own propaganda. I believe that could be called racism. Not that tom would have a problem with that.
12:51 am on January 22nd, 2011 14
Got any figures, facts or evidence in general to support what you said in #12 TinyMemberTom? I'm not asking for more anecdotes either.
If that's the case TinyMemberTom, then why do so many people dream of going to the US and then stay there? That includes, unfortunately, Koreans like you.
Why do so many go to Korea and then leave? Where are all the refugees Korea has accepted TinyMemberTom? Surely since Korea is more accepting of minorities than the US, there are more refugees accepted by your gov't than by other governments, right?
If Korea is so great, why do most kyopos not go to Korea to stay? If it's so bad everywhere, shouldn't Koreans be returning to Korea in droves? What about the Koreans in Japan, why haven't returned to Korea en masse? Surely Kooreans like you would donate money to get them all back, right?
Also TinyMemberTom, how do you know the status of minority groups in the US? Got proof, or are you just making things up like most of your coutrypeople do?
Here's an anecdote, last time I read and heard, you Koreans in the US have quite the histroy of discriminating against other minority groups in the US. Love those anecdotes!
Why do people like Hineseu Wardeu leave Korea for countries like the US (if possible) if Korea has better immigration policies and less discrimination?
Are you saying Korea is the true paradise for immigrants etc..? Tell us TinyMemberTom, tell us. Please share more anecdotes with us TinyMemberTom.
America ain't no paradise, but to say Korea is better than America in that regard, makes you look like a retard TinyMemberTom. Did you graduate from Yonsei or something?
I guess in the end, it's impossible to argue with a group of people, of which TinyMemberTom is a part, that sees themselves as victims no matter where they live, how good they've got it, or how long it's been since they were victims. TinyMemberTom is a perfect example, people like them will always use the "America (or wherever) is racist too" arguement all the while proclaiming themselve to be morally superior to everyone else in the world.
The joke is really on TinyMemberTom and others of it's ilk, because the other minorities usually disagree with people like it… as already seen in #11.
Small wonder a good lot of people leave Korea hating the place and people
12:53 am on January 22nd, 2011 15
TinyMemberTom should try being a little more Japanese about things, it would be an improvement.
1:27 am on January 22nd, 2011 16
Amnesty International on abuse of migrant workers in Korea…
http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/report…
1:57 am on January 22nd, 2011 17
61% of Hispanics and 52% of Blacks in America say they are being treated with discrimination. (now compare that to 25% of South East Asians in S.Korea)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37263388/ns/us_news-l…
Utg, it's good that you pull up that report from a dubious organization. Now how about pulling up the same Amnesty International report on America this time? Let's compare the reports, and compare apples with apples.
4:35 am on January 22nd, 2011 18
[quote]
52% of Blacks in America say they are being treated with discrimination.[/quote]
Like President Obama? Get a clue, Pew!
5:45 am on January 22nd, 2011 19
Arch, don't you know that if somebody says it, it's true!
I'd say that 52% of minorities in American have no clue what real discrimination is. They've been brainwashed by the MSM into thinking things are as bad as they were in 1950.
6:35 am on January 22nd, 2011 20
Koreans in the USA are generally held in high regard. They have a reputation
for being the best in the schools. In the papers in this region (Wash DC), the racial breakdown has them at the top in academics. The handful of teachers I have been in contact with view Asians in general as a God send to them. Employers are hungry to hire them. They work their butts off and do not complain, never are late to work, seldom call in sick. I was a mailman for 19 yrs in a work environment where it is almost impossible to get rid of ash and trash employees, Asians are valued first and foremost. Lots of crime in the DC area. Rare to ever read of an Asian being arrested. As I think of it now in the context of the racial breakdown as presented in the academic achievements in the newspapers at the end of the school year, the favorable impression of the races by the general pubic tracks those academic listings. Natural human reaction to
favor those races that are the more productive and that are a credit to
society rather than a problem. So is it unfair to stereo type races? No but it is in my opinion a natural human behavioral thought process. We as
Americans are the most sensitive to not be judgmental and have strict laws
against that. The USA is an exceptional country to all others in this regard.
7:13 am on January 22nd, 2011 21
Comparing perceptions of discrimination between the foreign-born in Korea and US minorities who are mostly citizens is apples and oranges. Citizens have more rights and higher expectations. The only real minorities in Korea are mixed-race Koreans. I wonder how many, especially those who are visibly mixed, perceive they've been discriminated against.
7:16 am on January 22nd, 2011 22
Having lived in Korea for 7 yrs, it is my opinion that Koreans are much
more inclined to judge people not only by race but take those prejudices
much further than race. Generally speaking they are class sensitive. How
much money a person has, the job, the clothes, your car, your educational
background. A Korean woman walking with a foreigner is considered to be
most likely a hooker. I she is with a black guy, they really view her as
human debris. The bosses in the work place treat those under them are
treat as underlings. They would not give a non-Korean a job unless they
could hire that person for much less than the going wage or unless the
job performed would add stature, revenue to their business that a native
citizen could not. It is very tricky to do business with them as a
foreigner. Can not trust them to be up front and on the level.
I will be over there on 11 Jun. Meet me in the main snack bar in Yongsan
if you want to discuss this face to face (Tom in particular or anyone in
general. Will be waring my very upper middle class Vietnam Vet hat.
7:26 am on January 22nd, 2011 23
Let's see…
…American minorities crying discrimination… hmmm…
Preference in hiring with reduced standards, preference
for government contracts, university entrance with lower requirements, exclusive race-based scholarships, exclusive race-based government grants/loans/assistance, the ability to counter substandard job performance with threats of claiming discrimination, special legal protection under hate crime laws, the mainstream acceptance of minority-only groups, a history month…. etc… etc… etc…
How do I get some of that discrimination?
Most (all?) of the "discrimination" I have seen in America has not been racial… it has been cultural.
The black or the Mexican didn't get the job because they showed up looking like a thug or a cholo with a matching attitude… and the minorities who dressed appropriately, presented themselves well in an interview and got the job, were ostracized as some kind of race traitors by those who screamed racism the loudest.
The Korean Hierarchy of "Racial" Discrimination is based on perceived national success as much as skin tone… which is why white North Americans and North Europeans rank highly yet equally white Russians rank somewhere near the bottom.
Japanese get much respect yet not-so-different-looking Chinese don't… although Hong Kong Chinese DO get respect.
As for South/Southeast Asians lurking around in Korea, look at the shabby, the stinkers, the strange-acting, the culturally insensitive, etc.
That can be overlooked a bit for those who are from successful countries… with the hopes that some of that country's legacy of success rubbed off on them… but craphole people coming from craphole nations don't really exude much hope of them being any more than the stereotype.
Strangely, though, when the "brown people" from third-world nations dress well, act conservatively, and displays correct actions and manners, Koreans accept them just fine.
So… all the talk of "racial" discrimination is just obscuring the true issue.
Nobody likes someone around who looks/acts third-world shabby.
Me, too, come to think of it.
7:48 am on January 22nd, 2011 24
Jeff,
"It is very tricky to do business with them as a
foreigner. Can not trust them to be up front and on the level."
I think that goes anywhere. Lots of people get screwed over in America, too.
I have worked for a hospital, an engineering company, have run several businesses and loaned-on-a-handshake some rather large sums of money to Korean friends… and I have never been ripped off by employers, suppliers, landlords or friends.
Part of that is just good business practices… but it also is because I maintain a reputation of dealing correctly with others and, most importantly, I try to do business with established people who are connected to someone in my circle of trust… meaning, if I were to have a problem, it would be resolved by those who introduced the problem-maker to me.
I think it is unfair to claim Koreans are particularly tricky… although, if a stranger stumbled into the country with no connections and a big bag of money to invest, he might quickly be parted from it… but, once again, that happens pretty much everywhere.
9:35 am on January 22nd, 2011 25
CHICKENHEAD#24: What you said makes sense to me. You have had more
experiences in the area of doing business in the market place than I
have. I yield to your comments. Thanks
10:40 am on January 22nd, 2011 26
As I already mentioned in my first post I don't believe the Yonhap statistics.
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/opinon/2010/…
"The number of foreign students approaches 90,000, with Chinese accounting for 75 percent or 67,000."
"A survey of 1,220 Chinese students here showed that 41 percent have negative sentiments on Korea. The survey showed that the longer they stay in Korea, the less friendly they become."
I don't believe the Korea Times statistics either, I'd say more than 41% have a negative sentimate on Korea.
12:09 pm on January 22nd, 2011 27
ChickenHead – "Most (all?) of the “discrimination” I have seen in America has not been racial… it has been cultural."
In my opinion, absolutely correct and this idea is universally true across the globe. Racism, for the most part, has always been about everything outside of genetics.
I disagree on your "universal distrust theory". Dirtbag tactics are quite ubiquitious and acceptable in Korea.
Judging a book by it's cover is never really a good idea. The clothes don't make the man, accept in S. Korea.
True story – Had a friend whose father intentionally walked into a Porsche dealership with the intent on buying a 911, in cash, thus expecting to get a superb deal. He specifically dressed like a hobo. He walked in with a old duffle bag, looking scruffy and as expected, the high-brow sales people rode him off as an undesirable.
For some reason, attitutes seemed to change mighty quickly when the sight of plentiful "green backs" presented themselves. He got an excellent deal via "reverse psychology".
3:18 pm on January 22nd, 2011 28
Hmmm.
Even in the States, the clothes make the man… which is why you go to a job interview in a business suit rather than a pimp suit.
It is why salesmen treat a well-dressed customer better… as the vast majority of the time, the well-dressed customer has a better chance of buying. It is why you need fewer forms of ID to write a check when wearing a tie. It is why your comfort level is different when walking past a group of minorities dressed preppy or dressed thug… even more so when their public actions and attitude match their clothes. It is why the defendent shaves, cuts his hair and wears a suit. Etc.
Do you really still think the importance of the book's cover is unique to Korea?
I will add… I have seen a lot of Koreans screw over Koreans… some intentional and some as the poorly-conceived business fell apart. In every case, it was due to investor greed and poor business planning… not something exclusively Korean.
Once again, I don't believe Korea is an exceptionally easy place to get screwed.
4:11 pm on January 22nd, 2011 29
#26. Bad example to use the Chinese who really don't have a stellar reputation. It's their fault if they're not well liked. More than half of the students are illegals, working in factories and rioting during the Beijing Olympics, instead of studying. They even mass rioted in Italy because they say they were discriminated against. So are Italians racists? I think the problem isn't really discrimination. It's the mass media over doing it and Korea media's self flagellation.
4:24 pm on January 22nd, 2011 30
Immigrant spouses overwhelmingly happy, as the majority, or 75% are happy with life in Korea. This is 10 percent more happier than Korean on Korean marriages despite lower social class and higher age gap. Only eight percent of immigrants were unhappy.
http://hanopolis.com/?articleNo=20218&/story/…
I guess all the high publicity headlines have given rise to a lot of negative stereotypes.
I like this conclusion to the article which I think everyone should read:
"Indeed, it may be time we put the stereotype that foreigners face overwhelming discrimination and prejudice and that mixed marriages tend to be train wrecks, to bed. When nearly three-quarters say they are happy despite their menial jobs, tougher economic situations and the everyday difficulties immigrants face, something is evidently right."
9:28 pm on January 22nd, 2011 31
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by KingSejong, Krystal Soojeong. Krystal Soojeong said: RT @KingSejong: Southeast Asians Most Discriminated Against In South Korea: http://bit.ly/fDM0qM [...]
9:30 pm on January 22nd, 2011 32
"Also, Had a black female friend who told me that while at the bus stop, some Korean ajashee rubbed her skin with his fingers then look at his fingers."
Most likely that person had mental problems. Something similar happened to me and my son while we were at the sauna. Some guy poked me son on his shoulder, as if he couldn't believe his eyes what he was seeing. I would have beat his ass if it wasn't for the fact that he was clearly mentally challenged.
In any case, I usually go through Immigration in the line for holders of Korean passports. I really depends on whether I'm in a hurry or not and which line is closest and shortest. But, I try to enter through that line just so people question their own preconceptions. You see, I'm entitled to enter through that line since I have landed immigrant status. It's mostly an uneventful experience, although I did, only once, have to tell another passenger to mind his own damn business when he told me the line was for Koreans and one Immigration agent raised his voice at me when he saw me step forward (I gave him the evil eye and put my passport down with my ID card. "Oh!", he sheepishly said, trying not to make eye contact.)
9:53 pm on January 22nd, 2011 33
So you're a landed immigrant in Korea? That is so common in Korea, how dare he think you were a foreigner! Discrimination!
3:47 am on January 23rd, 2011 34
Teadrinker…
You have perfectly explained why there is racism and culturalism in Korea. You have demonstrated to us all why Koreans might feel irritated toward foreigners.
"But, I try to enter through that line just so people question their own preconceptions."
This is a very Canadian thing, I think. I recall a Canadian guy who would yell in French to little kids who innocently said "Hello" just to "prove to them that not all white people are English speakers." Ooooookay. The only "lesson" the kids learned was that some white people are azzholes… especially the ones who don't speak English.
While I'm sure everyone appreciates your attempt to enlighten them and expand their perceptional horizons, it more likely just makes everyone think the clueless foreigner is in the wrong line… but they are too shy to say anything.
"although I did, only once, have to tell another passenger to mind his own damn business when he told me the line was for Koreans"
Oh, wait… a helpful Korean overcame their shyness and decided to assist the lost foreigner in finding the correct line… in a decision that statistically was the absolutely correct one to make.
But no good deed goes unpunished, does it?
Instead of being rewarded for his effort by a thankful response for his concern and a kind explanation of the actual situation, he was told to "mind his own damn business".
Nice… and somewhat typical of many foreigners in Korea who develop a sense of aloof entitlement… especially the ones with a racial chip on their shoulder who mistakenly think all discrimination is based on race rather than rude actions or crappy attitudes.
So… whatever his preconception was before that, he, and all the other bored Koreans waiting in line and observing the situation, had a new conception about what to think of people who look like Teadrinker…
…and it may negatively shade their future actions when dealing with foreigners. Too bad, really.
"one Immigration agent raised his voice at me when he saw me step forward (I gave him the evil eye)"
Ooooooh… the evil eye. Nothing diffuses misunderstanding like the evil eye.
Instead of humbly presenting correct paperwork and graciously accepting his apology… and positively changing his preconception in the process… the situation had to make awkward and uncomfortable…
…and, instead of him thinking, "Gosh, I feel so bad I yelled at the nice foreigner who was standing in the correct line after all," he more likely thought, "I don't need this shyt from these rude, glaring foreigners who think they own the place. Why do we even give them the same rights as citizens if they are just going to be diicks about it?"
And that's pretty much the way everyone thinks when faced with unnecessary confrontation.
So. Here is the deal. For the most part, there is absolutely no reason to be rude to anyone in Korea. Reserved actions, an easy smile and mild speaking accomplishes far more than any number of evil eyes and instructions on whose business to mind…
…and it goes much deeper than that… meaning, every rude foreigner leaving a trail of irritation behind him makes other foreigners' lives a bit more difficult…
…meaning well-behaved foreigners like me.
Like it or not, foreigners stand out… yes, racially… and there is no better way to fuel the fires of racism than to be an azzhole.
On the flip side, correct action and manners as one flows seamlessly through Korean society, go a long way toward reducing racism, culturalism and a lot of other bad isms.
This actually applies pretty much anywhere.
3:59 am on January 23rd, 2011 35
Chickenhead, I think I fall in love with you even more every time you post. When are you going to come out with your long awaited book "The Wisdom of Chickenhead"?
4:51 am on January 23rd, 2011 36
I cannot speak for other places, but in California, these two things have not been allowed since 1996. Furthermore, even when "affirmative action" was in place, a member of an "underrepresented" group could not be placed in the University of California if they did not meet the same minimum eligibility requirements that every other student had to meet. In other words, they did not have "lower requirements." I believe the Cal State University system had a similar set-up.
And while some Blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans, or Filipinos got into the University of California with SAT scores that were lower than some Whites and Northeast Asians, the same could be said of rural Whites and Whites from poor neighborhoods.
At any rate, I don't know what the point was of ending affirmative action so that Blacks and Hispanics who succeed would be seen as having achieved based on their own merits when they are going to still be treated as if affirmative action is still in place long after it has been removed.
I don't know about you, but I remember loads of scholarships like this one that give preference to various White groups like Irish or even German.
"Special" protection? The FBI lists a White person as the victim in 16.5% of single-bias hate crimes, while 18.5% of the offenders were Blacks.
5:43 am on January 23rd, 2011 37
Teadrinker #32, The first time I went to Germany was in 1979 for Reforger 79 (Reforger is short for Return of forces to Germany), which was a war game. Our unit at Hunter Army Air Field in Savannah, GA went there for six weeks or so. Anyway one night a few of us went to a very small German town where I guess US troops never or seldom went. Outside a German gasthaus a German kid walked up to one of us who was Black & rubbed the skin on his hand. The rest of us were kind of afraid as to his reaction but he started cracking up & so did we. The first night that we were in Germany after we had set up our tents was superbowl night. Our command was pretty cool, they loaded us up in the backs of deuce and a half trucks & took us to the rec center on post. We were in Illesheim. That was really cool.
5:49 am on January 23rd, 2011 38
Sonagi, #35, YES!!!
10:00 am on January 23rd, 2011 39
#34. Give ChickenHead the Korean passport now! He deserves one!
11:49 am on January 23rd, 2011 40
"This is a very Canadian thing, I think. I recall a Canadian guy who would yell in French to little kids who innocently said “Hello” just to “prove to them that not all white people are English speakers.” Ooooookay. The only “lesson” the kids learned was that some white people are azzholes… especially the ones who don’t speak English."
Yes, that guy was an asshole.
"While I’m sure everyone appreciates your attempt to enlighten them and expand their perceptional horizons, it more likely just makes everyone think the clueless foreigner is in the wrong line… but they are too shy to say anything."
Did you miss the part about me being entitled to enter that line? That's the main reason I take those lines when the others are full. I should have emphasized that point a bit more. Besides, I usually travel with my family. My wife's Korean and my son's got dual citizenship. We sometimes travel all together, sometimes I travel with my son only, and sometimes I'm on my own. It makes it faster for everyone, not just us, when we (my family) stick together in line.
"Oh, wait… a helpful Korean overcame their shyness and decided to assist the lost foreigner in finding the correct line… in a decision that statistically was the absolutely correct one to make."
Dude, I was clearly holding my son's very green Korean passport in my hand. Again, don't make too many assumptions from that one small paragraph.
"…and, instead of him thinking, “Gosh, I feel so bad I yelled at the nice foreigner who was standing in the correct line after all,” he more likely thought, “I don’t need this shyt from these rude, glaring foreigners who think they own the place. Why do we even give them the same rights as citizens if they are just going to be diicks about it?”"
Now you're just being insulting. Those aren't his thoughts but yours.
"So. Here is the deal. For the most part, there is absolutely no reason to be rude to anyone in Korea. "
Dude, who are you kidding? You're one of the rudest people here. Go back and read some of your comments.
11:53 am on January 23rd, 2011 41
#36,
Sounds like fond memories.
My son's friends usually end up touching my hands and the hair on my arms when they see me. There's nothing insulting about it. I'm different, that's all.
1:08 pm on January 23rd, 2011 42
Oh, and to further explain the situation with that "helpful" Korean, Chickenhead…He was standing in line behind my son and I. I had been listening to his incessant chattering with his friend for a few minutes. Now, I'm a very perceptive person. He struck me as being someone who is high-strung and impatient. Either way, it only occurred to him to "help us" when the Immigration agent was just about to signal it was our turn. Yes, make no mistake, the only thing in mind was to get us out of the way so he could be the next. He was only intent on helping himself. I smiled and, in a forceful voice, told him, "Haraseoyo", which, for all intents and purposes means to mind your damned business when used in that particular context.
1:09 pm on January 23rd, 2011 43
…Had he been someone calm, standing next to us in the next line, I would have responded in a different manner.
1:29 pm on January 23rd, 2011 44
Perhaps if many of them washed their ass once in a while perceptions of them could improve.
/it's true and you all know it
6:22 pm on January 23rd, 2011 45
"Dude, who are you kidding? You’re one of the rudest people here. Go back and read some of your comments."
Absolutely.
But don't mistake the Internet for Real Life.
The crap I spew here has little reflection upon how I must live my daily life to succeed in society… especially in Korean society where the darker aspects of my humor would neither be appreciated or understood.
While my political and social beliefs are my own, though seldom expressed in real life, when I write…
Hickory Dickory Dock.
This biatch had her lips on my Glock,
She called me a fag
so I emptied the mag.
Hickory Dickory Dock.
I'm not really being serious. You do understand that, don't you?
(I just made that up, by the way, for the purposes of demonstrating this point… instant classic, I think.)
None-the-less, posting here is my outlet for that alternate soundtrack that constantly plays in my mind…
…the one that always has a snappy smartazz answer for everything, can relate any situation to deviant sex, and really wants to scream the Truth… especially when it isn't wanted… etc…
…all of which, as you likely know, are greatly under-appreciated in the Real World.
When I had bars in front of military bases, I could say whatever I wanted and young, drunk GIs lapped it up. Diick and fart jokes go well with beer. I wish I had recorded the hours of snappy dialogue where all of the regulars were at the top of their game and daily average conversation was better than the best one-sided material I write here.
Transitioning back to the real world required an iron will to sever the reptilian brain-mouth link… fortunately made easier by being surrounded by Koreans who wouldn't understand anyway.
My wife, who has her own slightly-more-cutting and painfully truthful internal soundtrack, has great understanding but little appreciation for mine…
…like last night when she asked, "Do you want to split a Guinness?" I said, "Sure. I'll drink the beer, you eat the can." She just gave me the Look and mumbled something about how the once-clever speaking of her foreign Prince Charming sounds more like the croaking of an invasive species frog as the years go by.
So, for good or bad, some of my internal soundtrack plays out here…
…while the other part of my personality that enjoys nice conversations with well-mannered people in a smoothly-functioning society lives in the real world… as it should be.
CraaAAAaazy? Maybe. But functional… and that's important.
Besides… we all know I'm not alone.
6:26 pm on January 23rd, 2011 46
"Dude, who are you kidding? You’re one of the rudest people here. Go back and read some of your comments."
Absolutely.
But don't mistake the Internet for Real Life.
The crap I spew here has little reflection upon how I must live my daily life to succeed in society… especially in Korean society where the darker aspects of my humor would neither be appreciated or understood.
While my political and social beliefs are my own, though seldom expressed in real life, when I write…
Hickory Diickory Dock.
This biatch had her lips on my Glock,
She called me a fag
so I emptied the mag.
Hickory Diickory Dock.
I'm not really being serious. You do understand that, don't you?
(I just made that up, by the way, for the purposes of demonstrating this point… instant classic, I think.)
None-the-less, posting here is my outlet for that alternate soundtrack that constantly plays in my mind…
…the one that always has a snappy smartazz answer for everything, can relate any situation to deviant sex, really wants to scream the Truth… especially when it isn't wanted, etc…
…all of which, as you likely know, are greatly under-appreciated in the Real World.
When I had bars in front of military bases, I could say whatever I wanted and young, drunk GIs lapped it up. Diick and fart jokes go well with beer. I wish I had recorded the hours of snappy dialogue where all of the regulars were at the top of their game and daily average conversation was better than the best one-sided material I write here.
Transitioning back to the real world required an iron will to sever the reptilian brain-mouth link… fortunately made easier by being surrounded by Koreans who wouldn't understand anyway.
My wife, who has her own slightly-more-cutting and painfully truthful internal soundtrack, has great understanding but little appreciation for mine…
…like last night when she asked, "Do you want to split a Guinness?" I said, "Sure. I'll drink the beer, you eat the can." She just gave me the Look and mumbled something about how the once-clever speaking of her foreign Prince Charming sounds more like the croaking of an invasive species frog as the years go by.
So, for good or bad, some of my internal soundtrack plays out here…
…while the other part of my personality that enjoys nice conversations with well-mannered people in a smoothly-functioning society lives in the real world… as it should be.
CraaAAAaazy? Maybe. But functional… and that's important.
Besides… we all know I'm not alone.
7:12 pm on January 23rd, 2011 47
#45 amen brother
7:22 pm on January 23rd, 2011 48
kushibo, how many people are commenting under the name of ChickenHead? What is their motive?
7:24 pm on January 23rd, 2011 49
Glans, I have no idea, but it's nice to know my above comment is finally visible (at least, I assume it is since you addressed me directly).
8:56 pm on January 23rd, 2011 50
kushibo 48, your previous comment (kushibo 36) is visible, but I wasn't referring to it; it's splendid and needs no explication. I was wondering about ChickenHead 45, and your're good at analyzing comments. You see through pose and pretense.
9:16 pm on January 23rd, 2011 51
Glans, I really don't know. I've been a bit busy with real-world stuff, so I haven't been following this or other threads in great detail.
I submit, however, that ChickenHead is an often wise person and a clever writer, so it's possible that this may seem eclectic in such a way that multiple people are writing under his name. Just a thought.
1:19 am on January 24th, 2011 52
"But don’t mistake the Internet for Real Life."
And yet you started assuming all kinds of things about me from that itsy bitsy paragraph…
5:29 am on January 24th, 2011 53
Glans,
"how many people are commenting under the name of ChickenHead? What is their motive?"
Only one, Glans, only one.
I doubt that my writing style or approach to relaying information changes much from post to post… so I assume you are confused by my subject matter which is much more personal than normal.
While I generally prefer to write about others, I may write more about myself in the future.
I have the opportunity to do something worthwhile. If I choose to do that, I have to know exactly who I am at the deepest level, I need to be sure my value structure is solid and consistent, and I must be sure that I'm incapable of bullshyting myself. I also need to improve many aspects of my perception, analysis and communication.
Sometimes writing clarifies thoughts better than thinking… more-so if it is public.
If I choose to do this, I really need wise guidance and experienced assistance to work me through it all… but I don't have it and I don't know where to get it.
Intuition tells me the closest I can come is the encouragement and criticism I might find here from semi-anonymous people who have good bullshyt filters and lack agendas relating to my intentionally-unnamed situation.
This will likely take a couple of years. There is no real hurry… and it isn't as mysterious as it sounds.
Teadrinker,
"And yet you started assuming all kinds of things about me from that itsy bitsy paragraph…"
I can only comment on the information you provided coupled with the online persona you have developed through previous writing. If you feel my interpretation and assumptions are in error, simply fill in the missing blanks in the story and I'll try again.
11:49 am on January 24th, 2011 54
""I can only comment on the information you provided coupled with the online persona you have developed through previous writing. If you feel my interpretation and assumptions are in error, simply fill in the missing blanks in the story and I’ll try again."
I have a persona? Cool!
12:30 pm on January 24th, 2011 55
"But don’t mistake the Internet for Real Life."
OMFG this can't possibly be true. You mean all those things we read and see on the intarwebz isn't true? You mean there is this thing called "real life" that exists outside this keyboard and screen? Please tell me it ain't so, I couldn't bear it if all this "social networking" and chatting and connection was all just a facade for a lack of deeper meaning….
12:36 pm on January 24th, 2011 56
"And yet you started assuming all kinds of things about me from that itsy bitsy paragraph…"
Because you perfectly fit the stereotype of the ugly expat – opinionated with self importance who think he's above the lowly natives who need to be taught a lesson so that you can make some sort of a point to validate how important you are to others.
4:49 pm on January 24th, 2011 57
#55,
Ugly expat? I voted in the last South Korean elections. What about you? You do have the right to vote in South Korea, do you?
5:48 pm on January 24th, 2011 58
Quit it Tom, we all know you're no more likely to be the Queen of England than a South Korean.
4:13 pm on September 12th, 2011 59
Omg. All of you are fricken stupid. I feel dumber from reading all of your comments. Your rationale for arguments posed are so simplistic and one dimensional. Bunch of halfwit pseudo-intellectuals. All of you.