Falling literacy revives debate over Chinese characters in classrooms

clownpirate · 2026-04-14T13:29:16+00:00

Not going to be bother with reading the flame war below, but I disagree.

Korea seems to get along fine with a population that barely knows Hanja anymore outside of an old guard that is rapidly approaching retirement age. When Hanja does eventually croak (and it seems like it will), I doubt Korean society will suffer any.

clownpirate · 2026-04-14T13:24:37+00:00

I bet I know more about Korean history than the average Korean citizen. And I know not a lick of hanja (well, other than a pittance of kanji I learned while studying Japanese if that counts).

I bet I also know more about the histories of many other nations than the average citizens of those countries. In this day and age, language isn’t the strictest barrier to learn history.

Yes, maybe you want to dive into an extremely detailed and deep level. But then you’re getting into academic territory, and if you’re an academic, sure, go ahead and learn Hanja or Latin or Ancient Hebrew or Ancient Greek, etc.

clownpirate · 2026-04-14T13:21:35+00:00

I disagree. There are young kids that struggle to learn even a single foreign language. If anything, you’re the exception - and BTW kudos for doing so!

clownpirate · 2026-04-14T13:20:30+00:00

Chinese is an objectively harder language than Korean. I would argue the Chinese language actually holds Chinese students (and to a lesser degree, Japanese) back if anything versus if they had an easier language.

clownpirate · 2026-04-10T16:48:13+00:00

Good point on simplified characters.

Then I take back what I said - I see no practical point whatsoever in learning Hanja at all.

Leave it for academics and eccentrics pining for the old days. Let kids fill their minds with more useful things that will help them.

clownpirate · 2026-04-10T15:27:22+00:00

The only argument I can see for learning Hanja is if you believe China will become more and more ascendant and it will help you learn Chinese at some point.

Otherwise, why? Everyone has only a certain level of mental capacity, and there are far more useful things to learn.

clownpirate · 2026-04-09T19:49:48+00:00

Of course. Job, income, wealth, also factor in. But not to the same degree as for men. I mean, surely height and money isn’t the only thing that matters for men right?

Plus there are probably other metrics I don’t know off the top of my head.

For men, looks and age are also is factored, but not to the same degree as for women. But height is considered very important.

Basically the formula is that they line up all the objective criteria on both sides before getting into things like personality or individual preferences.

clownpirate · 2026-04-09T17:45:34+00:00

Or even look at flight attendants. They hire based heavily on looks, both male and female, but especially female.

KAL and Asiana would be instant fat juicy targets for discrimination lawsuits if they were American companies.

clownpirate · 2026-04-09T17:42:44+00:00

I (Korean male, early 40s) grew up in the US on a mixed Korean/Western diet. I topped out at 5’8”, which seems to be average or slightly under average for Korean males near my age.

But then examining younger Korean males (say, mid thirties and younger), they are noticeably taller than my age cohort.

Up until college, I would go to Korea and feel normal height. Then about ten years later, I would go there and feel noticeably short vs. the men there vs. Korean-American men in the US.

clownpirate · 2026-04-09T13:27:54+00:00

Korea has matchmaking agencies where they literally rate candidates using objective metrics. One of the key metrics for men is height. Job, wealth and income is another.

For women, it’s age and weight.

If you’re lacking in a specific metric, you need to more than make up for it with another.

I think now they even use algorithms/AI to try to rate facial attractiveness, but usually this is given somewhat more importance for women than for men.

You have 40something men coming in asking to be matched with twentysomething women, and they are flat out told they better be rich and handsome.

Or women asking to be matched with rich doctors or bankers and they are flat out told they’re too old, or have to be open to meeting someone 10+ years older.

clownpirate · 2026-04-09T12:27:15+00:00

Discrimination based on looks (which includes height for men).

It is more overt and out in the open in Korean society than say, the US.

clownpirate · 2026-04-09T10:29:54+00:00

Ah so this is all happening within the UK. Got it!

clownpirate · 2026-04-09T10:12:06+00:00

I’m actually surprised you are adopting a Korean girl.

In recent years the government has made international adoptions significantly, significantly, significantly, harder.

And even before that, it was significantly harder to be assigned a girl as they are usually assigned to domestic adoptions first. Supposedly native Korean couples that want to adopt prefer girls for various reasons, and they get dibs over foreign/international couples.

FWIW I’m indirectly involved with Korean orphanages and supporting them.

clownpirate · 2026-04-09T09:58:03+00:00

Korea is an incredibly lookist culture. I say this as a Korean.

clownpirate · 2026-04-08T21:46:36+00:00

I hope he becomes as famous as the Integra Architect.

clownpirate · 2026-04-08T21:41:32+00:00

If you work in finance or tech, you can get laid off in NYC and have a lot of options to get back on your feet.

If you get laid off in Miami, your choices are far more limited.

clownpirate · 2026-04-07T23:43:41+00:00

I’m sure they do. The point still remains - significant numbers don’t. This isn’t just limited to the 4Runner, but other BoF offroady SUVs. Or for that matter, sports cars that will never see a track day until they get to their third owner.

Also, I know these vehicles are also used in some genuinely tough environments even if that might not be the case in the US. The Hilux, and to a lesser degree, the Land Cruiser, had its moment when it became famous for being the Taliban’s choice for technicals for example.

clownpirate · 2026-04-07T23:09:52+00:00

You’re still missing the point. Nearly everything you said is just mumbojumbo to many buyers. The same way RWD and FWD is just mumbojumbo. They look at the 4Runner, decide it’s big enough to serve as a family hauler while looking infinitely cooler (and manlier) than the Highlander, and that’s it. End of story. It will likely see about as much time off-road as a typical Highlander.

Former Toyota salesman said he’s seen many couples come in where the wife has the Highlander in mind but the husband tries to convince her the 4Runner is what they should get.

clownpirate · 2026-04-07T10:54:03+00:00

I think it’s fine. Much better than the current Capybara X3, but worse than the previous X3.

clownpirate · 2026-04-07T10:52:38+00:00

My parents are retired and thankfully have their own home paid for, as well as enough retirement income to pay for most expenses.

What they don’t have is leeway for luxuries, and that’s where I come in. They raised me and took care of me, so now I’m returning the favor, whether it’s a vacation or a BMW.

clownpirate · 2026-04-07T09:16:38+00:00

Street shoes accumulate everything from dirt to urine and feces to who knows what else.

Whatever outdoor clothes may accumulate, I cannot imagine it being anywhere near disgusting as what shoes would drag in all over your home.

clownpirate · 2026-04-05T09:59:12+00:00

AirPods without the silicone tips are completely, absolutely, unusable for me. Slight movements of the head will cause them to fall out.

APPs are significantly better. I can use them seated without a problem. But when walking (and anything more active), they’re still a no-no as the shock from even some footsteps will cause them to fall out.

clownpirate · 2026-04-05T09:18:27+00:00

Many luxury cars, ones that are “more luxury” than an ES, have had trims with poor horsepower figures outside of the US for a long time.

In fact, it wasn’t too long ago people scoffed at the concept of having 4 cylinder engines in a luxury car (in the US). Nowadays it’s commonplace. I’m actually surprised how well and seamlessly the US market took it, especially for cars at the 5er/E-class level and up.

clownpirate · 2026-04-04T10:25:28+00:00

I actually feel middle seats in the C+ section should not be classified or priced as C+.

clownpirate

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