RANTING/VENTING MEGATHREAD 3.0

Relax. Where would humanity be without lying? I guarantee you nobody got anywhere telling the truth. It's a fact of life. Honesty means losing contacts, friends, and even family. So, what's left? Days of being alone. Doing what you want when you want to do it. Actually? it sounds do-able.

I'm not sure what kind of life you live where telling the truth would hinder your existence on a regular basis. Yikes.

Imagine a world without all those little white lies we tell others (and ourselves) so that the social wheels keep turning and folks don't end up murdering one another.

What would happen if you just told your co-worker that they look fat lately and should put down that fourth doughnut? It's the truth, but do you say it? Well, maybe in a Korean workplace ...

Or maybe you tell your best friend that they were actually the one that was wrong in their recent relationship and that that's why their ex broke up with them. Maybe it's the truth, do you say it though? Probably not, you call the ex a scumbag, say everything will be alright and go out for drinks arm in arm...

We all lie to:

A) save face at some point
B) say what others want to/need to hear
C) go along to get along at work

The only difference is the cultural boundary of how and when to lie is different here in Korea than in the "West". So it seems shocking when Koreans lie about something we would never feel the need to. Annoying? Yes. Is it that different from other cultures? No.

Legit do not tell these nonsense lies.

I don't comment on people's weight at all, but if someone asks: "No, that's not a very flattering top, try vertical stripes". I don't care how many doughnuts they eat.

If my best friend was wrong in her last relationship, that's her relationship to ruin, there's no need for me to comment more than, "there's plenty of fish in the sea". If she asks me though, I'm gonna tell her the truth because I want her to have a happy healthy relationship in the future, not ruin the next one the same way.

I don't tell lies that don't have to be told. Now, if my student asks me if my parents are married, I might lie and say that they are. That has nothing to do with saving face, saying what she wants to hear, or going along to get along. That has to do with the fact that it's none of little Minji's business, and if I say "It's none of your business", that's the same as saying "No, they aren't together, Minji".

Super rare occurrance at that. You make it sound like people go through their lives telling lie after lie. Well, maybe they do, but I try to stay away from those kind of people.

I simply don't know how far it goes and that scares me away from things like getting into close relationships with people. From what I see/hear it seems like people are just living in a fantasy world of their own making for the sake of saving face or whatever.

I'm a big fan of never saying never, but that's the reason I wouldn't go local. Before I came here I never really understood the importance of a shared culture. Not lying about every single thing in life is a really important bit of culture for me.

The thing that is really just pissing me off the most is there is simply no need for them to lie about simple little things. "I forgot to blah blah blah. I'm sorry". How simple is that? It's even easier than lying!!!!!!

SAME.

I was so silly and thought that things such as not lying, not cheating (yes prostitutes count), and generally trying to live an honest life were shared among modern cultures. Boy was I wrong.

I also wonder if they think I'm a fool for being honest about things. I don't make up lies to cover my ass at work or inflate my self-worth. If I forgot something or made a mistake, I admit it. Maybe they're like "why isn't this idiot saving face she's so embarrassing!" as I'm sitting here wondering why they are so damn corrupt.

Relax. Where would humanity be without lying? I guarantee you nobody got anywhere telling the truth. It's a fact of life. Honesty means losing contacts, friends, and even family. So, what's left? Days of being alone. Doing what you want when you want to do it. Actually? it sounds do-able.

I'm not sure what kind of life you live where telling the truth would hinder your existence on a regular basis. Yikes.

Imagine a world without all those little white lies we tell others (and ourselves) so that the social wheels keep turning and folks don't end up murdering one another.

What would happen if you just told your co-worker that they look fat lately and should put down that fourth doughnut? It's the truth, but do you say it? Well, maybe in a Korean workplace ...

Or maybe you tell your best friend that they were actually the one that was wrong in their recent relationship and that that's why their ex broke up with them. Maybe it's the truth, do you say it though? Probably not, you call the ex a scumbag, say everything will be alright and go out for drinks arm in arm...

We all lie to:

A) save face at some point
B) say what others want to/need to hear
C) go along to get along at work

The only difference is the cultural boundary of how and when to lie is different here in Korea than in the "West". So it seems shocking when Koreans lie about something we would never feel the need to. Annoying? Yes. Is it that different from other cultures? No.

You wrote all that to just restate the obvious. And yeah where to draw the line isn't a small difference. It's actually a pretty big one when it comes to just about anything. We all lie, but where someone draws the line says a lot about their character in my opinion. If someone asks me my opinion on their clothing & they actually WANT my opinion, I give it honestly. If someone genuinely wants my opinion on their love life, I give it to them!

Haven't you ever known someone who exaggerates their stories or twists them to the point their word can't be trusted? Those people are not fun to be around vs someone who lies and tells you they like your new haircut when they really don't. It's all a matter of degree and the degree to which people lie here is uncomfortable to me. I expect adults to take responsibility for themselves and their actions. It's how I was raised, but "the truth" doesn't seem to be held in high regard here. I really don't feel the need to lie to just get through my day and the people who do feel the need aren't people I'd really like to be around.

I don't really understand the point of responses like this though. I've seen people spit back home a couple of times so does that mean I can't be tired of the hacking I can hear from my window and gobs of phlegm that litter the streets?

No one said Koreans invented lying so... no need to waste your time.

I'm surprised at your moral objection to lying, considering you admit to lying yourself. Is there a specific moral code to lying? What lying is acceptable and what is not? Please enlighten us as to the right way to lie.

I'm surprised at your moral objection to lying, considering you admit to lying yourself. Is there a specific moral code to lying? What lying is acceptable and what is not? Please enlighten us as to the right way to lie.

Simple. Don't tell a lie you can be caught out on.

I'm surprised at your moral objection to lying, considering you admit to lying yourself. Is there a specific moral code to lying? What lying is acceptable and what is not? Please enlighten us as to the right way to lie.

Simple. Don't tell a lie you can be caught out on.

Ah, now there's a strategy.

I'm surprised at your moral objection to lying, considering you admit to lying yourself. Is there a specific moral code to lying? What lying is acceptable and what is not? Please enlighten us as to the right way to lie.

Simple. Don't tell a lie you can be caught out on.

Ah, now there's a strategy.

"Anything's legal, man, as long as you don't get caught."
One of my favourite quotes (although not one I necessarily agree with: I'm not a total sociopath!)

Everybody lies, some more than others. In my personal opinion, a good moral line to draw would be the one Buddhist philosophies like to preach: consider if the lie is harmful in any way. Will your fib harm/inconvenience/utterly destroy another person? Then avoid it. Will the net effect be positive? Spin them yarns! 

Myself, I believe a good moral line to draw is it's ok to lie as long as it helps you, in whatever situation you find yourself. I mean lying for trivial or fruitless purposes or with the intention of causing others harm is wrong.

Forgot to address this.  Is it ok to lie if it helps you but hurts others? No. You should amend your lie in a way as to help you and not cause harm to another. I believe one has a moral responsibility to lie for the good of others too.

Seats on airplanes shouldn't recline. 

It blows my mind that people actually recline their seats when there's someone sitting behind them.  Is there anything more inconsiderate?  Why not just turn around and spit in my meal while you're at it.

Seats on airplanes shouldn't recline. 

It blows my mind that people actually recline their seats when there's someone sitting behind them.  Is there anything more inconsiderate?  Why not just turn around and spit in my meal while you're at it.

I love this. After reading all the comments on the intricacies of lying and then boom your post. It cracked me up!

If they keep taking the seat space away from us I agree maybe they shouldn't recline. Also though, if my flight is longer than 8 hours I am going to sleep and thus recline my chair. But there are polite ways to do that like not while the meals are being served/eaten or within the first 5 minutes of being on the flight or constantly putting the seat up and back.   

Tomorrow is my last day at the school. Back last month, I double checked that all after school classes wouldn't be starting until Sept, like last year. Just got informed I have to teach an after school class today AND tomorrow. And my coteacher wants a curriculum outline.

It's not my freaking class. It's the new teachers class. In what universe does it make sense for me to make a curriculum outline, and then teach the introduction class?! I have 31 hours until my contract is finished!!!!

Seats on airplanes shouldn't recline. 

It blows my mind that people actually recline their seats when there's someone sitting behind them.  Is there anything more inconsiderate?  Why not just turn around and spit in my meal while you're at it.

Eh. I think you gotta just shell out the extra dime for a airline with leg room. Or when you get reclined on, you recline too.

Jus got back from my trip home a few days ago and all my mom did was tell me how shes "not trying to guilt me" but feels like I've abandoned her....hours before getting on my flight back home. The rest of my fam is so cool with me being here. I've been here for 5 years... you'd think she would be over it by now...

Seats on airplanes shouldn't recline. 

It blows my mind that people actually recline their seats when there's someone sitting behind them.  Is there anything more inconsiderate?  Why not just turn around and spit in my meal while you're at it.

Most modern seats that recline have been engineered to not take up more of the space of the person behind you.  Case in point, the seats on both the KTS and Korean buses have the seat part slide forward as the back part tips back. So, you're only shrinking your own seating area marginally if you want to recline. 

If you recently flew on a plane that didn't have this, then I think that's rather outdated.  Hopefully they make the transition soon, since the technology is there and it makes for a much more comfortable ride for all.

Another wannabe western Korean fan-boy has flashed across my Facebook feed - 올리버 쌤.
Why are these guys [why, just guys?] all following the same doting-on-Korea love fest?
Dokdo? Check!
Weird cosplaying? Check
Weird voice acting? Check
Do you know these "unique" manners? Check
Generally annoying face? Check

Some of his content is good but still..annoying face.

Another wannabe western Korean fan-boy has flashed across my Facebook feed - 올리버 쌤.
Why are these guys [why, just guys?] all following the same doting-on-Korea love fest?
Dokdo? Check!
Weird cosplaying? Check
Weird voice acting? Check
Do you know these "unique" manners? Check
Generally annoying face? Check

Some of his content is good but still..annoying face.

I hate all of those guys, i think how much Koreans love them just makes me hate them more

edit: Just watched one of his videos, a large part of me has shrivelled up and died. Why? Just... why? It was the video of him saying words such as 'hard' and 'erection'. Someone put me out of my misery.

17,000 subscribers as well, jesus christ.

Been away on holiday. Have jet lag and a headache. Come back to school. They are drilling in the classroom next door. AND just to make sure I know I am in Korea again, I turn on the aircon to ease this hell hot life sucking heat and 2 minutes, TWO minutes later, they open all the windows... Welcome back!! Just welcome th f*%k back!!!

I never imagined I'd rant about something like this.  The air conditioner in our Teacher's Room is running on a low temp setting, and It's Cold in Here! 

I expected it to be hot/warm as always, and wore a skirt and thin shirt.  Now I wish I'd worn a shrug or cardigan with it.  My legs are freezing, too. 

Not sure if I should complain too much.  It could feel like Hell in here tomorrow.   

 

No AC. Am dying. Can feel the sweat running down my body. Welcome back, Robin Teacher.

They switched up my schedule for this semester, which I normally wouldn't mind but what they want me to do now requires twice as much preparation and I'm afraid I'm gonna have to start using my free-time at home and during the weekends to prepare my lessons again.

And just when I'd finally developed a system that gave me some breathing room.

I'LL NEVER GET TO DO ANYTHING FUN AGAIN

I never imagined I'd rant about something like this.  The air conditioner in our Teacher's Room is running on a low temp setting, and It's Cold in Here! 

I expected it to be hot/warm as always, and wore a skirt and thin shirt.  Now I wish I'd worn a shrug or cardigan with it.  My legs are freezing, too. 

Not sure if I should complain too much.  It could feel like Hell in here tomorrow.   

 

I can't even imagine having the opportunity to complain about having the the AC on too cold.

In our school the office lady has it on 28 degrees. She goes mental if you turn it down. 28 degrees? That's a joke. The disdain I have for this lady is ginormous. 28 ****** degrees, man.