I am just sick and tired of answering those stupid questions and especially reading the answers.. I try not to answer some of them, but sometimes some of the answers are false and really offensive. I feel so frustrated when people have negative views and post racist statements about Korea, and I constantly end up defending the truth to them. It's like they have absolutely no clue about Korea's deep history and culture.. They are the ones who need to study more history.
2007-10-28 11:19:37 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Travel ➔ Asia Pacific ➔ Korea
What's more disturbing is that some people are really candid when giving such statements. Anyway, in order for some people to understand this question, you just have to be Korean..what may not seem offensive to you, can be very much offensive to me and to many other people who are of Korean descent. I will not give any examples because I think they're really stupid/offensive and I don't want to be in a position where I have to repeat some of them. If you haven't noticed any racially motivated questions/remarks, then so be it...unfortunately.
2007-10-28 19:04:44 · update #1
Claire C: It's okay if you're not sure what's upsetting me..Of course I don't expect everyone to think the way I think..The world is huge and every person is different, but it's just annoying when people are racists/bias.. I didn't ask this question to point out specific racist questions or askers.. that is not the point.. I just wanted to know how frequent users of the y!aKorea section felt. It's simply a yes or no question with an explanation possible. *Plus, you and some other people here should read the additional details I added earlier again, if you guys haven't done so. esp. last line* Thanks.
2007-10-29 10:25:24 · update #2
v-man: If you're not sure if something is a question or not, then please don't bother answering it next time.
Living In Korea: Hopefully, you noticed that not all comments before (nor after) yours here are to your side.. Plus, some of those "stupid/idiotic" questions you see are "racially motivated" and sometimes accompanied by "racist" remarks as well. I think it's sad and I really can't grasp the fact that you notice "stupid/idiotic" questions, yet you can't notice the "racist ones"..
2007-10-30 12:04:40 · update #3
For some of you who didn't understand Pagan Dan's answer (like I did before) and thought he was being sarcastic, let me clarify to you like he did for me. When he wrote, "I have been treated with such warmth and generosity and kindness here that I feel as if the racists are attacking my family," he meant to say that he gets "..right and royal angry when people treat Taiwanese folk as anything other than equal to us." He's been treated with such kindness by the Taiwanese that he feels as if the racists are attacking his family (in this case, the Taiwanese.)
2007-10-30 12:23:40 · update #4
You can not change ignorant people, don't let them get to you.
Some people hate all Asians.
Why someone would hate Koreans is unknown to me.
You really don't need to defend Korea against these people, you can not change their bias and it probably only reinforces their hatred.
The people that know and appreciate Korea know the truth, and the racist will not read or appreciate your defense.
2007-10-28 11:35:16 · answer #1 · answered by lestermount 7 · 8⤊ 7⤋
There is a great book by an Englishman Michael Breen called "The Koreans: Who They Are, What They Want, Where Their Future Lies ". I recommend it to anyone who is interested in the Korean culture from an outside perspective.
I have lived here for five years. In that time I have had a love/hate relationship with Korean people. My friends are great. Strangers I have interacted with have been kind, thoughtful, and helpful.
At the same time, I have seen a coldness in how Koreans treat strangers that I ahve never seen in big cities in the US or Europe. It is such a strange contradiction.
As far as people being racist towards Koreans, I think it may be due to the extreme cultural differences.
As far as Koreans being racist to others, I have never figured it out. The society hates half breed children (visit an orphanage before objecting) unless they win the Superbowl MVP (read about Hines Ward.)
I have been with black friends in a public place when little kids have walked up and touched their (the black person's) skin then checked their (the kid's) finger to see if the black wore off. I have also met 20 something Korean men that are literally trembling in front of me as they speak because I am the first foreigner they have ever met... and I speak Korean!
These are all situations of a lack of familiarity. Korea is still a bit of a Hermit Kingdom, althought that is quickly going away.
One time while at my (Korean) in-laws house my mother-in-law asked if I had any white friends. The question took me a little aback. Although I am white, the three friends of mine she ahd met included two black guys and a mexican. I assured her I did. Later that night I was relating the story to my brother-in-law and I made the comment that his folks were a bit racist. He said, no, not at all. I asked him if his folks woud ever let his youngest sister marry a black man. He said, "no, of course not."
Whether someone is Korea bashing or not is a little in how the information is presented, and a little in how it is received.
2007-10-29 01:14:08 · answer #2 · answered by Boom Blatz 5 · 8⤊ 0⤋
I'm with Agua and Chachee... I guess I haven't read it?
examples?
I have read, sometimes, silly questions, where someone has confused Chinese/Koreans/Japanese/etc countries or customs.. or maybe they do nto know the difference between North & South Korea or something silly like that, but I have not read intentionally cruel things towards Koreans.
I have read, and written!, fair and bias critiques regarding Korea's infrastructure or trade policies, which is not intolerance or racism. (the difference is tangible; critiques of quantified qualities of life issues here vs. personal opinions on Korean habits/food/etc)
But I can't think of anything racist I have read...or I would have reported it.
2007-10-28 14:43:20 · answer #3 · answered by Dawn V 4 · 9⤊ 2⤋
I must also side with the other comments given already.
I read some stupid/idiotic questions, but I really can't remember racist remarks about Korean people within this category.
2007-10-28 17:42:05 · answer #4 · answered by Living In Korea 7 · 7⤊ 2⤋
I know exactly how you feel. I'm a Canadian living in Taiwan, and I find myself in exactly the same position you're in. I have been treated with such warmth and generosity and kindness here that I feel as if the racists are attacking my family.
Please try to remember that racism is ALWAYS based on fear and ignorance, and there is nothing you can do to change that.
Except, of course, for one child at a time.
2007-10-28 12:33:36 · answer #5 · answered by Pagan Dan 6 · 7⤊ 5⤋
Your question really gets attention, including mine. I am still wondering what upsets you. You should not expect everyone to think the way you think.
However, since you do not want to be specific, readers do not know which question or asker being racist.
2007-10-29 09:37:26 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 2⤋
Is this a question or personal rhetoric? There are only about 30 questions in the Korea - travel section and I don't see any racially motivated ones.
2007-10-28 16:48:00 · answer #7 · answered by Busan-man 6 · 8⤊ 4⤋
I am disgusted by racism directed toward people of ANY race or ethnicity. Often, people feel hatred and racist attitudes toward people of communities with which they are unfamiliar. Ignorance breeds fear, then hate.
2007-10-28 17:41:12 · answer #8 · answered by StellaBtheWriter 5 · 7⤊ 3⤋
You can't educate racists. All you can do is report the most offensive ones and refute the others for the audience.
2007-10-28 11:24:38 · answer #9 · answered by Your Best Fiend 6 · 10⤊ 5⤋
in general, anything racist is disgusting
2007-10-30 00:33:42 · answer #10 · answered by Negligence 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋