Comments on: 폭탄영어 #13 - Who Pays? http://www.bombenglish.com/2008/04/25/13-who-pays/ "We da bomb!" Sun, 07 Sep 2008 16:14:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Jennifer http://www.bombenglish.com/2008/04/25/13-who-pays/#comment-407 Jennifer Wed, 30 Apr 2008 04:08:00 +0000 http://www.bombenglish.com/2008/04/25/13-who-pays/#comment-407 Hmmm, and I think we have to be careful about using words like "cultural difference" to explain everything, but I do think it is useful to describe broad differences that occur in different societies. By saying "cultural difference" though I don't mean that all members of a given culture take part, approve, or agree with a practice - but in a broad sense that that behavior is part of a culture and seen as normal. And, that said, there are definitely differences in how different societies (like America and Korea) expect people to behave. Anytime we generalize, we have to expect that there are people and things that don't fit with what we're saying. By calling it a "cultural difference" on our show, we weren't saying that every American thinks or does the same (actually, even Mike and I didn't agree completely and our experiences are quite different!) . . . but that overall, most Americans think a bill should be paid one way, and overall, most Koreans expect it to be paid in a different way. But even so, depending on your situation, personality, etc. you might do something completely different from most people in your culture. But most of the time we recognize that when we do that that we are choosing not to follow the pattern. So anyway, when Mike and I say that we think there's a cultural difference, we're not trying to say we think all Koreans do X but all Americans do Y all the time. Just that there's an idea of "normal behavior" and it's different in different times, places, and situations. Hm, we'll have to try and find a Canadian to come on our show! Any volunteers? Hmmm, and I think we have to be careful about using words like “cultural difference” to explain everything, but I do think it is useful to describe broad differences that occur in different societies. By saying “cultural difference” though I don’t mean that all members of a given culture take part, approve, or agree with a practice - but in a broad sense that that behavior is part of a culture and seen as normal. And, that said, there are definitely differences in how different societies (like America and Korea) expect people to behave.
Anytime we generalize, we have to expect that there are people and things that don’t fit with what we’re saying. By calling it a “cultural difference” on our show, we weren’t saying that every American thinks or does the same (actually, even Mike and I didn’t agree completely and our experiences are quite different!) . . . but that overall, most Americans think a bill should be paid one way, and overall, most Koreans expect it to be paid in a different way. But even so, depending on your situation, personality, etc. you might do something completely different from most people in your culture. But most of the time we recognize that when we do that that we are choosing not to follow the pattern.
So anyway, when Mike and I say that we think there’s a cultural difference, we’re not trying to say we think all Koreans do X but all Americans do Y all the time. Just that there’s an idea of “normal behavior” and it’s different in different times, places, and situations.

Hm, we’ll have to try and find a Canadian to come on our show! Any volunteers?

]]> By: Jennifer http://www.bombenglish.com/2008/04/25/13-who-pays/#comment-406 Jennifer Wed, 30 Apr 2008 03:59:49 +0000 http://www.bombenglish.com/2008/04/25/13-who-pays/#comment-406 dynamics means "mechanics (역학)" dynamics means “mechanics (역학)”

]]> By: Olivier http://www.bombenglish.com/2008/04/25/13-who-pays/#comment-402 Olivier Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:45:00 +0000 http://www.bombenglish.com/2008/04/25/13-who-pays/#comment-402 ???? dynamics ???? dynamics

]]> By: shine http://www.bombenglish.com/2008/04/25/13-who-pays/#comment-394 shine Mon, 28 Apr 2008 07:34:34 +0000 http://www.bombenglish.com/2008/04/25/13-who-pays/#comment-394 Oh, the flag tells in which country I am now. I'm a Korean and I stay in Malaysia for short time-a year. By the way, about today's topic I agree that Koreans tend to pay dividing among different events. Or when we meet togethers as friends, af first we collect money like 회비 for that day's fun. and I also really hate the word 'cultural difference' ^^ like you said there is a pattern but many people also think that they don't want to follow that pattern. Stereotyping or generalizing by saying that it's cultural difference is fast way to get many wrong information and to distort the truth, i think. Oh, the flag tells in which country I am now.
I’m a Korean and I stay in Malaysia for short time-a year.

By the way, about today’s topic
I agree that Koreans tend to pay dividing among different events. Or when we meet togethers as friends, af first we collect money like 회비 for that day’s fun.
and I also really hate the word ‘cultural difference’ ^^
like you said there is a pattern but many people also think that they don’t want to follow that pattern.
Stereotyping or generalizing by saying that it’s cultural difference is fast way to get many wrong information and to distort the truth, i think.

]]> By: windbyun http://www.bombenglish.com/2008/04/25/13-who-pays/#comment-393 windbyun Mon, 28 Apr 2008 05:02:05 +0000 http://www.bombenglish.com/2008/04/25/13-who-pays/#comment-393 and about this topic, I had a few experiences that I got embarrassed, realizing some differences between Korea and American (maybe Canada and US are almost the same right?) I'm still not sure those are because of the cultural difference/background or just because of the specific situation... By the way, I've always curious about this question -- how Canada and United States are different? I think this could be a good next topic, and I would be happy to listen it :) and about this topic, I had a few experiences that I got embarrassed, realizing some differences between Korea and American (maybe Canada and US are almost the same right?)
I’m still not sure those are because of the cultural difference/background or just because of the specific situation…

By the way, I’ve always curious about this question — how Canada and United States are different?
I think this could be a good next topic, and I would be happy to listen it :)

]]> By: windbyun http://www.bombenglish.com/2008/04/25/13-who-pays/#comment-392 windbyun Mon, 28 Apr 2008 04:50:46 +0000 http://www.bombenglish.com/2008/04/25/13-who-pays/#comment-392 Hi Michael and Jeniffer hmm... this is my first time to post comment, sorry about that... But anyways, first of all, I must say this.. I really really thank you for this great works you're doing!! I started listening this since the beginning (almost, from Ep 3 maybe), and you guys' talking has been like my favorite every-week soap opera! haha Before this, learning English was like a heavy pressure on me, but as I follow your talking and giggle on it, I could forget the pressure and enjoy the talkings Oh I forgot to introduce myself a little bit... I'm now in Canada for being a visiting student for two terms at University of Waterloo, and in Korea I live in Seoul. I'll try to post my comment regularly! Hi Michael and Jeniffer
hmm… this is my first time to post comment, sorry about that…
But anyways, first of all, I must say this.. I really really thank you for this great works you’re doing!!
I started listening this since the beginning (almost, from Ep 3 maybe), and you guys’ talking has been like my favorite every-week soap opera! haha
Before this, learning English was like a heavy pressure on me, but as I follow your talking and giggle on it, I could forget the pressure and enjoy the talkings

Oh I forgot to introduce myself a little bit…
I’m now in Canada for being a visiting student for two terms at University of Waterloo, and in Korea I live in Seoul.
I’ll try to post my comment regularly!

]]> By: Shine http://www.bombenglish.com/2008/04/25/13-who-pays/#comment-390 Shine Sun, 27 Apr 2008 10:28:22 +0000 http://www.bombenglish.com/2008/04/25/13-who-pays/#comment-390 wow, I got addicted to your show~!! (Now i am listening from your first episode.) At first, came to know about Michael by the UCC interviewing Soyeon Yi and got to know this amazing website finally^^ I hope you two keep doing good job(?) ^^ Thank you for doing this thing in Korea haha I can feel that Michael is kind and sharp at the same time and Jennifer is very friendly and her voice is wonderful especially when says 'we da bomb!' haha wow, I got addicted to your show~!!
(Now i am listening from your first episode.)
At first, came to know about Michael by the UCC interviewing Soyeon Yi and got to know this amazing website finally^^
I hope you two keep doing good job(?) ^^
Thank you for doing this thing in Korea haha
I can feel that Michael is kind and sharp at the same time and Jennifer is very friendly and her voice is wonderful especially when says ‘we da bomb!’ haha

]]> By: Jae Young http://www.bombenglish.com/2008/04/25/13-who-pays/#comment-389 Jae Young Sat, 26 Apr 2008 23:42:13 +0000 http://www.bombenglish.com/2008/04/25/13-who-pays/#comment-389 Hmm, it sort of depends for me. If I am hanging out with non-Korean/East Asian friends, I usually split at every event. If I'm with Asian friends, we tend to fight ferociously for the bill, doing things like waiting 'til someone goes to the bathroom or sneaking credit cards to the waiters behind the other's back, etc. However, I think my Asian-ness shows, cos if I am close enough with someone, I actually tend towards the alternating paying events and expect either 1) someone to offer to pay for the next item or 2) fight like the dickens for the next bill. When people do neither of these things, I get upset. Even if I end up paying the bill a few times in a row, I'm seriously okay with that fact if someone fights me for the bill. When they don't fight or don't offer, it really bothers me. Gracious acceptance, so not cool. Effrontery and bluster, all the way. And the feminist (and the independent human being) in me hates hates hates it when guys pay, particularly on first dates. I've stopped fighting (as much), because there is a point in which the fighting seems ungracious and off-putting. But I find being characterized as a 공주님 equally off-putting, so you see my dilemma. But I definitely think that I am not the norm and I'd have to agree that there are plenty of women in the US who adhere to the man pays 100% or even that the man always pays the majority, be it 60, 70 or 80 percent rule. So I empathize, Jennifer~ Hmm, it sort of depends for me. If I am hanging out with non-Korean/East Asian friends, I usually split at every event. If I’m with Asian friends, we tend to fight ferociously for the bill, doing things like waiting ’til someone goes to the bathroom or sneaking credit cards to the waiters behind the other’s back, etc.

However, I think my Asian-ness shows, cos if I am close enough with someone, I actually tend towards the alternating paying events and expect either 1) someone to offer to pay for the next item or 2) fight like the dickens for the next bill. When people do neither of these things, I get upset. Even if I end up paying the bill a few times in a row, I’m seriously okay with that fact if someone fights me for the bill. When they don’t fight or don’t offer, it really bothers me. Gracious acceptance, so not cool. Effrontery and bluster, all the way.

And the feminist (and the independent human being) in me hates hates hates it when guys pay, particularly on first dates. I’ve stopped fighting (as much), because there is a point in which the fighting seems ungracious and off-putting. But I find being characterized as a 공주님 equally off-putting, so you see my dilemma. But I definitely think that I am not the norm and I’d have to agree that there are plenty of women in the US who adhere to the man pays 100% or even that the man always pays the majority, be it 60, 70 or 80 percent rule. So I empathize, Jennifer~

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