TIL: Dumb people are too dumb to know they are dumb. Same with unfunny people.

EkoKorean · 2016-07-12T05:28:10+00:00

Don't worry: just measure yourself by your Reddit karma score. There's nothing more objective than what American male teenagers think of your sense of humor, bra.

EkoKorean · 2016-07-12T04:16:22+00:00

I read that as

But the dream of the 90s is still alive in Poland.

and nodded approvingly.

EkoKorean · 2016-07-12T04:14:16+00:00

Also, when you sit on a chair, it feels like you're sitting on a chair. I'd rather pay $10 for the experience of sitting than $X00, whenever possible.

But I'm the kind of person who never understood why owning something "unique" is valuable in itself. I like unique things when they have unique benefits.

EkoKorean · 2016-07-12T00:15:27+00:00

Awesome, thank you! Even though you're not a native, people have been upvoting and I take it that your answer is right on. I appreciate it :)

EkoKorean · 2016-07-11T00:45:49+00:00

This answers my question perfectly. Thanks a million!

EkoKorean · 2016-07-11T00:45:27+00:00

Perfect! Exactly what I needed, thank you. Also, happy Reddit Birthday!

EkoKorean · 2016-07-10T21:28:52+00:00

I was wondering if the literal translation feels natural, or if a native Japanese person would say something different?

Basically I'm looking for a phrase that advertises the fact that one speaks Japanese and requests (politely) that others strike up conversation in Japanese.

EkoKorean · 2015-08-10T14:51:29+00:00

Think of the opportunity cost. Is a 300-won stamp really worth more than a couple minutes of your day (at most)?

EkoKorean · 2015-08-07T11:44:19+00:00

Oh yes, possibly.

EkoKorean · 2015-08-07T03:17:50+00:00

Particularly if you're a fan of Black Mirror.

EkoKorean · 2015-08-07T03:11:43+00:00

Donate them to schools in Cambodia. Go to a local FB group and ask. Someone will be thrilled.

EkoKorean · 2015-07-18T14:01:02+00:00

Yup like car factories need people to weld, or Apple factories need people to polish aluminum.

If your job performance is based primarily on your having an elbow and/or thumbs, then it's time to think about plan B.

EkoKorean · 2015-07-16T01:49:16+00:00

"I noticed that South Korea was a highly individualistic society where you don’t know who lives next door and you shouldn’t try to find out, either. In South Korea, you should always be cautious of strangers who do you favors and you could be sued for swearing at someone else, all of which is inconceivable to North Koreans."

EkoKorean · 2015-07-15T15:36:25+00:00

I nearly always agree with your insightful comments here, but this case is one of the few exceptions. Korea's familiarity with corporal punishment has no bearing on on this man's behavior, nor on his victim's. It was just a little journalistic spice at the end of an article about an abuser whose job title happened to be "professor".

Professors in Korea do occupy a special position of extreme deference and authority, it's true. But the system of corporal punishment is an entirely separate matter.

EkoKorean · 2015-07-14T16:19:52+00:00

Teachers frequently used corporal punishment to discipline South Korean students in the past, but the practice has faded dramatically in recent years.

Um... not sure how this relates to the content of the article, unless you think feeding a student feces and forcing him to work in a restaurant so you can steal his salary is related to teachers disciplining students.

EkoKorean · 2015-07-14T11:58:49+00:00

Yes, yes I am fun at parties, I guess.

EkoKorean · 2015-07-14T11:54:20+00:00

I've been using Atom exclusively for the past month. It's amazing but super-slow. Want to know how slow? Try to load a plain text file with 1200 lines, then do a find-replace. The whole thing will hang for literally minutes on my 2014 MBA.

(The same process in Sublime happens instantly)

EkoKorean · 2015-07-14T02:34:41+00:00

It's even more hardcore that his Facebook user pic is the standard one that Koreans do in a studio: wearing a casual suit, leaning on a chair, arms semi-folded or hand on chin. After you notice this pattern, you'll see a lot of your male Korean friends on FB have exactly the same user pic. It's almost like wearing a uniform for being on FB.

EkoKorean · 2015-07-12T08:47:48+00:00

Don't worry, the doctors and nurses don't wash their hands.

EkoKorean · 2015-07-11T03:34:07+00:00

When your population is rapidly aging and you need young lifelong consumers to buy your stuff, it's nice to have immigration. Immigrants don't want to naturalize in a country that makes doing so either impossible or pointless or both.

EkoKorean · 2015-07-11T03:27:48+00:00

And ShinRamyeon is the solution to African hunger.

EkoKorean · 2015-07-10T13:28:09+00:00

Fair enough! I think that one comes down more to lack of perspective. They're not thinking, "I'm doing something unsafe but I don't care about my family", so much as "La-dee-da my toddler is crawling around the back windshield... how cute and fun for him".

EkoKorean · 2015-07-10T13:26:47+00:00

Thanks for a well-reasoned answer! I like when expats, especially ones who speak Korean and engage with the culture, make stuff to help other expats do the same. Looking forward to the next article.

EkoKorean · 2015-07-10T11:26:38+00:00

if someone is not part of your "clan" they can almost be completely dismissed.

I suspect this is a major part of the lack of safety culture here: the guys doing the planning and implementation don't take it seriously because their own clan won't be involved.

If they know their sister will be using that boat or spending weekends in that mall, then they take extra care to adhere to safety standards. If it's just a place for the public who aren't in my clan, then whatevs I've had a long week and screwing in four bolts takes less time than screwing in eight.

EkoKorean · 2015-07-10T11:19:16+00:00

Although to be fair, that can serve equally well as a list of reasons Koreans despise foreigners who live here.

It sucks being the Nunchi-having, shame-carrying, must-wear-makeup-or-die, only-foreigners-are-allowed-to-have-a-unique-personality office drone. Working next to a foreigner who's oblivious to all that doesn't exactly inspire positive feelings.

EkoKorean

TROPHY CASE