RANTING/VENTING MEGATHREAD 3.0

.... at Daiso yesterday.
I love Daiso.

 

Just don't mention it to a Korean.  Just now, I was in the main teacher's room.  My co-teacher mentioned about my newish sweater, and where I bought it.  I said 'Uniqlo'.  Wow!  Cue about 10 teachers all putting in their two cents about how I shouldn't be shopping in Uniqlo.     Weeping Jesus.  The Social Studies teacher even asked if I knew why Uniqlo is not good.  Of course I said, 'Yes', with a shrug.  I took the brunt of the nonsense with quiet aplomb and I'm still  my eyes now.  Adults!  Grown people!!  And, yes, I read about that Uniqlo advert that a small percentage of Koreans reacted to so that Uniqlo pulled it last week.  Blind nationalism really is a stupid thing.   

If someone turned my phone to silent while I wasn't even in the room, I wouldn't even realise it wasn't already on silent. 

I'd also feel embarrassed for being so unprofessional at work that my phone was ringing and shouting Kakao at the top of it's lungs in the teachers office.

Yeah, there is very little reason to have your phone with the alert on. If you're at home? I don't give a shit.

But ANYWHERE else, there are very, very few reasons. You're a doctor? Alright. Some sort of emergency professional? Alright.

But, no, sorry. Working in the VPs office? Hell no. Phones screens turn on when they get a message. Just leave the phone face up, FFS.

You leave to go to the bathroom?  PHONES HAVE A LIGHT ON THEM WITH DIFFERENT COLOURS TO ALERT YOU WHAT KIND OF THING HAPPENED FOR AN ALERT.

Hell, there's no real reason to even have it on vibrate most of the time. If I had a little machine on my desk that said a random English word at a decent decibel level every four minutes, everyone around me would tell me to get rid of the f-ing thing, a phone is no different.

I usually keep my phone on vibrate.
I rarely get calls, and message vibrations are short, but last long enough to notice them.
I also keep my phone on a book on my desk, or in my pocket, so it makes very little noise.

.... at Daiso yesterday.
I love Daiso.

 

Just don't mention it to a Korean.  Just now, I was in the main teacher's room.  My co-teacher mentioned about my newish sweater, and where I bought it.  I said 'Uniqlo'.  Wow!  Cue about 10 teachers all putting in their two cents about how I shouldn't be shopping in Uniqlo.     Weeping Jesus.  The Social Studies teacher even asked if I knew why Uniqlo is not good.  Of course I said, 'Yes', with a shrug.  I took the brunt of the nonsense with quiet aplomb and I'm still  my eyes now.  Adults!  Grown people!!  And, yes, I read about that Uniqlo advert that a small percentage of Koreans reacted to so that Uniqlo pulled it last week.  Blind nationalism really is a stupid thing.   

Long after you and your "The rest of the world should just think like me" butt are gone, the Koreans will still be dealing with the Japanese.

Long after you and your "The rest of the world should just think like me" butt are gone, the Koreans will still be dealing with the Japanese.

The way how China is aggressively expanding it's zones of control and influence, maybe not. 

.... at Daiso yesterday.
I love Daiso.

 

Just don't mention it to a Korean.  Just now, I was in the main teacher's room.  My co-teacher mentioned about my newish sweater, and where I bought it.  I said 'Uniqlo'.  Wow!  Cue about 10 teachers all putting in their two cents about how I shouldn't be shopping in Uniqlo.     Weeping Jesus.  The Social Studies teacher even asked if I knew why Uniqlo is not good.  Of course I said, 'Yes', with a shrug.  I took the brunt of the nonsense with quiet aplomb and I'm still  my eyes now.  Adults!  Grown people!!  And, yes, I read about that Uniqlo advert that a small percentage of Koreans reacted to so that Uniqlo pulled it last week.  Blind nationalism really is a stupid thing.   

Long after you and your "The rest of the world should just think like me" butt are gone, the Koreans will still be dealing with the Japanese.

"dealing with the japanese" and acting like an adult aren't mutually exclusive

.... at Daiso yesterday.
I love Daiso.

 

Just don't mention it to a Korean.  Just now, I was in the main teacher's room.  My co-teacher mentioned about my newish sweater, and where I bought it.  I said 'Uniqlo'.  Wow!  Cue about 10 teachers all putting in their two cents about how I shouldn't be shopping in Uniqlo.     Weeping Jesus.  The Social Studies teacher even asked if I knew why Uniqlo is not good.  Of course I said, 'Yes', with a shrug.  I took the brunt of the nonsense with quiet aplomb and I'm still  my eyes now.  Adults!  Grown people!!  And, yes, I read about that Uniqlo advert that a small percentage of Koreans reacted to so that Uniqlo pulled it last week.  Blind nationalism really is a stupid thing.   

Long after you and your "The rest of the world should just think like me" butt are gone, the Koreans will still be dealing with the Japanese.

"dealing with the japanese" and acting like an adult aren't mutually exclusive

Sometimes, I think 'Maybe, I'm a bit tough on little Martin', then I see his stupid hackneyed nonsense like this, and then I think, 'Nah!'. 

These are adults who been to Japan, many of them a number of times.  My VP was a Japanese teacher.  I was asked how much my sweater cost, like that was important.  Was it in the sale?  The Social Studies teacher, as I said, grilled me about if I knew why they don't like Japan at the moment.  Like I said, I took it.  No problems.  I don't think less of them, that's cool.  I get it that Martin in his Korean/Americaness has stupid nationalism flowing through him.  I, however, don't.  When this is all finished and things go back to 'normal', we'll still be shaking our heads at how nationalist fervour can remove the logic and rationality from someone in one fell swoop. 

.... at Daiso yesterday.
I love Daiso.

 

Just don't mention it to a Korean.  Just now, I was in the main teacher's room.  My co-teacher mentioned about my newish sweater, and where I bought it.  I said 'Uniqlo'.  Wow!  Cue about 10 teachers all putting in their two cents about how I shouldn't be shopping in Uniqlo.     Weeping Jesus.  The Social Studies teacher even asked if I knew why Uniqlo is not good.  Of course I said, 'Yes', with a shrug.  I took the brunt of the nonsense with quiet aplomb and I'm still  my eyes now.  Adults!  Grown people!!  And, yes, I read about that Uniqlo advert that a small percentage of Koreans reacted to so that Uniqlo pulled it last week.  Blind nationalism really is a stupid thing.   

Long after you and your "The rest of the world should just think like me" butt are gone, the Koreans will still be dealing with the Japanese.

It's the Koreans who expect everybody else to think and act their way over Japan. Not everybody in Korea wishes to join their mob, but they will bully those who don't. People have a right to shop where they wish and not be harassed over their consumer choices.

Also, Korea started this whole drama by violating the 1965 treaty between Japan and Korea with the court ruling last year.

.... at Daiso yesterday.
I love Daiso.

 

Just don't mention it to a Korean.  Just now, I was in the main teacher's room.  My co-teacher mentioned about my newish sweater, and where I bought it.  I said 'Uniqlo'.  Wow!  Cue about 10 teachers all putting in their two cents about how I shouldn't be shopping in Uniqlo.     Weeping Jesus.  The Social Studies teacher even asked if I knew why Uniqlo is not good.  Of course I said, 'Yes', with a shrug.  I took the brunt of the nonsense with quiet aplomb and I'm still  my eyes now.  Adults!  Grown people!!  And, yes, I read about that Uniqlo advert that a small percentage of Koreans reacted to so that Uniqlo pulled it last week.  Blind nationalism really is a stupid thing.   

Long after you and your "The rest of the world should just think like me" butt are gone, the Koreans will still be dealing with the Japanese.

It's the Koreans who expect everybody else to think and act their way over Japan. Not everybody in Korea wishes to join their mob, but they will bully those who don't. People have a right to shop where they wish and not be harassed over their consumer choices.

Also, Korea started this whole drama by violating the 1965 treaty between Japan and Korea with the court ruling last year.

I have a huge amount of respect for my CT, not because she agrees with me, but because she's developed a critical brain in a place which doesn't encourage it and got very irate when this whole mess re-surfaced... AGAIN. She told me, though I knew before, that Korea and Japan reached a final settlement in the 60s. Once you've settled, it's final, you can't demand settlement again.


When a student got heckled, in class, for admitting that he wanted to travel to Japan, she fiercely defended him.

The old mindset still wrestles with the tenants of Democracy and free speech.  I need some fresh, plain t-shirts and I'm off to Uniqlo on Saturday. If Koreans want me to buy their clothing, improve the quality and drop the price, simple.

"dealing with the japanese" and acting like an adult aren't mutually exclusive

Just because YOU think it's a trivial issue doesn't mean it is one. We have a multitude of various boycott novements going on around the world, some on far more trivial issues thsn the admittedly politically roused issue of wartime sexual slavery.

It's the Koreans who expect everybody else to think and act their way over Japan. Not everybody in Korea wishes to join their mob, but they will bully those who don't. People have a right to shop where they wish and not be harassed over their consumer choices.

Also, Korea started this whole drama by violating the 1965 treaty between Japan and Korea with the court ruling last year.

I don't think what was described constitutes harassment. I think it more describes an opinionated conversation.

I think at least 50% of started this goes to the country that invaded the other snd occupied it for decades. Agreed that MoonCo. has some responsibility for this as well. Finally the treaty doesn't have the greatest level of legitimacy considering it was agreed to by a military dictatorship. Not that I agree with what's going on.

I just think it's equally juvenile for a bunch of people who might be here only temprarily or have every intention of leaving to criticize the actions of people who will be dealing with this long after they're gone. The Japanese are not some completely innocent party. I think a reasonable look at this has to at least partially consider the nationalism of the Abe government as well as that of Korea.

I mean, complainjng about Korean nationalism when it comes to an Abe-lead Japan is a bit odd.

I have a huge amount of respect for my CT, not because she agrees with me, but because she's developed a critical brain in a place which doesn't encourage it and got very irate when this whole mess re-surfaced... AGAIN. She told me, though I knew before, that Korea and Japan reached a final settlement in the 60s. Once you've settled, it's final, you can't demand settlement again.

As I said, for many Koreans they don't feel like "they" settled it. The agreement was made by Park Chung-Hee whom roughly 1/3rd-1/2 regard as an illegitimate dictator who was also a collaborator during the Japanese occupation.

It would be akin to asseting the legitimacy of a treaty made by Franco. Technically legitimate it may be, but you can see where the problems are.

  I get it that Martin in his Korean/Americaness has stupid nationalism flowing through him.  I, however, don't. 

My opinion about Korea is tinged with nationalism because I'm ethnically Korean.  Or what because I'm American?

And I'm the one with stupid nationalism flowing through them.

I'm talking about people having long-trm skin in the game and the degree of loyalty, heritage, and investment they have in the country and community. Korea may just he snother country to you, one to which you have zero loyalty and minimal concern for, bug it's quite a different matter for others.

Now if you're a long-termer who anticipates dying here and your kids growing up and living here, that's a different matter. You have real skin in the game then. You will actually have to deal with the consequences then.

I have a huge amount of respect for my CT, not because she agrees with me, but because she's developed a critical brain in a place which doesn't encourage it and got very irate when this whole mess re-surfaced... AGAIN. She told me, though I knew before, that Korea and Japan reached a final settlement in the 60s. Once you've settled, it's final, you can't demand settlement again.

As I said, for many Koreans they don't feel like "they" settled it. The agreement was made by Park Chung-Hee whom roughly 1/3rd-1/2 regard as an illegitimate dictator who was also a collaborator during the Japanese occupation.

It would be akin to asseting the legitimacy of a treaty made by Franco. Technically legitimate it may be, but you can see where the problems are.

You either think treaties are binding or you dont. How many treaties were signed by absolute autocrats? The treaty of Utrecht was signed by Louis the 14th, 300 or so years ago. The Spanish can't just come claim Gibraltar back because some inbred French king signed it over to the British hundreds of years ago and they don't like.

Also, the previous administration signed another agreement with Japan less than 5 years ago and people want to bin that as well. Didn't Moon try to return that money to Japan? It really is silly.

The Spanish can't just come claim Gibraltar back because some inbred French king signed it over to the British hundreds of years ago and they don't like.

They can't do that because the British would fight them militarily over it and likely prevail. That and the principle of popular sovereignty. If Spain had the upper hand in terms of power they'd simply declare the treaty invalid and reclaim it.

Now that's not to say they'd be right in doing so or to answer one way or another the validity of treaties signed by despots. I mean, we certainly wouldn't have an issue with countries not recognizing any treaties signed by Mussolini or Pol Pot. On the other hand agreements signed in good faith can't just be discarded simply because of a change in government, which is to say, it's complicated.

But the point was that to 1/3rd to 1/2 of the people "they" didn't sign anything and they do have something of a point there. Park Chung Hee was not Vichy France but there are still some issues. I mean a collaborationist dictator's treaty is pretty darn close.

Just because YOU think it's a trivial issue doesn't mean it is one. We have a multitude of various boycott novements going on around the world, some on far more trivial issues thsn the admittedly politically roused issue of wartime sexual slavery.

never said it was trivial. just said you don't have to act immature by having a go at your co-worker who happened to buy a japanese sweater.

never said it was trivial. just said you don't have to act immature by having a go at your co-worker who happened to buy a japanese sweater.

Well it depends how much of a real "go" this was. I know some might have gone way overboard. But it also couldn't have been anymore than someone saying "Oh you should stop playing Overwatch because Blizzard caved to China" and then explaining what went down.

  I get it that Martin in his Korean/Americaness has stupid nationalism flowing through him.  I, however, don't. 

My opinion about Korea is tinged with nationalism because I'm ethnically Korean.  Or what because I'm American?

Both.  Both countries that people get all bent out of shape at the meerest negative comment aimed at them.  Your posting history highlights this in buckets.  I have no 'stupid nationalism' flowing through me as I don't think I, or my country, are any better than anyone else.   

  I get it that Martin in his Korean/Americaness has stupid nationalism flowing through him.  I, however, don't. 

My opinion about Korea is tinged with nationalism because I'm ethnically Korean.  Or what because I'm American?

Both.  Both countries that people get all bent out of shape at the meerest negative comment aimed at them.  Your posting history highlights this in buckets.  I have no 'stupid nationalism' flowing through me as I don't think I, or my country, are any better than anyone else.   

Your comments seem to indicate that subconsciously you do. It's not my fault you aren't aware or self-honest enough to realize it.  Why else would you bring up my ethnicity and my nationality? Seems like something a nationalist would do.

I have a huge amount of respect for my CT, not because she agrees with me, but because she's developed a critical brain in a place which doesn't encourage it and got very irate when this whole mess re-surfaced... AGAIN. She told me, though I knew before, that Korea and Japan reached a final settlement in the 60s. Once you've settled, it's final, you can't demand settlement again.

As I said, for many Koreans they don't feel like "they" settled it. The agreement was made by Park Chung-Hee whom roughly 1/3rd-1/2 regard as an illegitimate dictator who was also a collaborator during the Japanese occupation.

It would be akin to asseting the legitimacy of a treaty made by Franco. Technically legitimate it may be, but you can see where the problems are.

If the dictatorship was foreign, they'd have a case, as it stands, the dictator was one of Korea's own. So, tough luck, like any other country, Korea is responsible for its own past and mess.

Furthermore, I'm going to play devil's advocate and say that I find it a bit of a stretch to believe that one of the most experienced nations in warfare makes it logistically possible to kidnap, house, feed and guard 200 000 non-combatants, while fighting a losing war. Doesn't it also raise an eyebrow to assume that the husbands, brothers and sons of these 200 000 non-combatants served in the japanese army and did diddly squat to sabotage their "masters", resist or rescue the "comfort woman"?

I've yet to make a decision on what really happened, but so far, logic dictates that those 'comfort women' were in fact, just prostitutes.

Alternatively, it must have been Koreans themselves who kidnapped their own women and sold them off as comfort women. Why not? Many Africans did this during the slave trade.
After the Allied WW2 tribunals, which convicted 146 Koreans of war-crimes, Korea makes up it's own little commision under Roo Moo-Hyun to exonerate 83 of these 146 individuals as being "victims of Japanese pressure"

- The Japanese made us kill all the Korean tigers to kill our national identity
- The Japanese made us chop down all our trees
- The Japanese made our women wear the 'breast exposed Hanbok'
- The Japanese made us commit war crimes

notice a pattern?

Reports and testimonials listed bellow state that Koreans themselves were largely responsible for rounding up comfort women, gangs of Koreans targeted women from poor peasant families and even managed the comfort women stations. Comfort women themselves claimed that comfort women gave Korean men a socially acceptable way to satisfy their carnal desires outside of wedlock.

https://www.e-ir.info/2019/03/07/inconsistencies-in-the-korean-comfort-women-narrative/

Again... there's no concrete evidence for either narrative. What I can say is that Korea right now gives us a clue to how Korea was in the past:

- Korean men make up the largest percentage of 'sex tourists' in SE Asia for underage prostitution.
- More than half of Korean men have cheated on their spouse and 40% believe paying for sex isn't cheating
  http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20160801000806
- Korea is one of the most patriarchial societies on Earth

Finally, a look to the other half of Korea to the North also gives us a clue to how Korea might have been in days gone by.
*Hint, make sure you're sitting down before you watch this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jINTJVK1REk&t=475s

  I get it that Martin in his Korean/Americaness has stupid nationalism flowing through him.  I, however, don't. 

My opinion about Korea is tinged with nationalism because I'm ethnically Korean.  Or what because I'm American?

Both.  Both countries that people get all bent out of shape at the meerest negative comment aimed at them.  Your posting history highlights this in buckets.  I have no 'stupid nationalism' flowing through me as I don't think I, or my country, are any better than anyone else.   

Your comments seem to indicate that subconsciously you do. It's not my fault you aren't aware or self-honest enough to realize it.  Why else would you bring up my ethnicity and my nationality? Seems like something a nationalist would do.

Ohhhhh edgy, but incorrect.  It shows I can read.  My posting is not indicative of someone who would be considered a 'nationalist', whereas yours most definitely does.  Seriously, if you got less bent out of shape about the slightest negative comment about either Korea or the US, you'd have about 150 posts. 

I don't think I, or my country, are any better than anyone else.   

I think my country is better than say, Somalia. Does that make me a stupid nationalist?