tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12946845.post6124438021608281524..comments2024-02-23T23:53:54.842+09:00Comments on Gusts Of Popular Feeling: Combat police and sicknessmatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10296009437690229938noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12946845.post-58127718922787587332008-06-09T21:37:00.000+09:002008-06-09T21:37:00.000+09:00Thanks for the link. I agree with Scott that thing...Thanks for the link. <BR/><BR/>I agree with Scott that things are changing rapidly and it's hard to get a fix on where things are at any given time. I've been too busy (and somewhat disinclined) to turn up at the more recent protests, but my attitudes have slid from one direction to another since my last post on the subject. <BR/><BR/>Lime told me a story of being at one of the protests recently and seeing a kid who told a reporter the story of having been spat in the face and screamed at by protesters who disapproved of him pointing out that the beef panic itself is over-the-top and fears have been exaggerated. She shares with me the belief that the protests are about more than that anyway, but she went up to him and tried to encourage him that, by expressing his opinion, he was doing his part and that it was important he keep doing so. <BR/><BR/>The spitting-in-the-face thing reminded me of Scott's comment on my own site about the undercurrent of mob-authoritarianism, or whatever one might call it. But I agree in general that the real issues are important and so on. <BR/><BR/>Hot Pork... Not my place to say much but I have to wonder why you see negativity in Matt's posts. I see realism. There's a lot of negativity in the English-blogosphere about Korea -- Marmot's and Occidentalism and Dave's ESL for example; amid all that, Matt shines like a diamond for his thoughtful research, his careful and compassionate analysis, and the truly interesting stuff he comes up with. <BR/><BR/>This site might be a downer compared to, say, Arirang TV, but I wouldn't mistake a desire to be honest and realistic with mockery or negativity.gordsellarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11465812613427778240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12946845.post-55464403386107327472008-06-07T13:57:00.000+09:002008-06-07T13:57:00.000+09:00Matt, hope you're feeling better, I'll be around o...Matt, hope you're feeling better, I'll be around on the 10th for the Million Mad March so give me a call if you come downtown. And regarding my story about Hankyoreh, I wrote that three weeks ago and it's important to note that this protest movement has been changing daily so my views have evolved since then and I'm far less critical of the nationalistic elements of it than I was at the start. I also think if you -- meaning anyone -- only get your views on the protests from the English-language blogosphere here, you're more likely to be dismissive of them when in fact there are legitimate issues and concerns at stake.King Baeksuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15106210206814275410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12946845.post-77443846585227961822008-06-07T13:17:00.000+09:002008-06-07T13:17:00.000+09:00Hey man, I've recently discovered and have been re...Hey man, I've recently discovered and have been reading your blog. I enjoy it and appreciate the amount of effort that you've put into this blog. I'm an American born Korean, and I'm conflicted about the issues you often bring up. I consider myself American first, and I actually spent most of my adolescence as a "self-hating" Korean. There were a lot of aspects about Korean culture I was displeased with. I am no longer that way, and have come to terms with my own heritage. Yet I've learned to keep an open mind about issues pertaining to Korea. The country and its people have their issues. I'm often in agreement with your assessments but I feel confused about your attitude to these problems. To what end are you pointing these problems out? Is your purpose to ridicule and mock? I know that is not your intention but I've been picking up subtle little points in your writing that makes me feel that way. Once again, let me say I do appreciate this blog and I am not downplaying the importance of highlighting the darkside of a society but maybe there should be more objectivity in your critcism?<BR/><BR/>I'm not sure, I just feel conflicted by most your posts and more often than not, I agree with you. Just it seems so negative all the time. Anyway, I love the effort you put in to this and will continue to read your blog. Not quite sure what I was trying to say, but felt I had to say it. (If that makes any sense at all.) Good work.hot.porkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05314278147348771659noreply@blogger.com