Hello Burnfans,
I'm sure that by now you've all seen the youtube video that I'm about to post...and if you haven't...here it is.
What a fucktard hey? I mean...what kind of man thinks he's anything other than a complete fucking disgrace after he verbally abuses a woman (who is much, much, much shorter than he is) and then assaults an old man? That's not a man. Men don't need to intimidate women. Men don't need to hit people who are more vulnerable than they are.
Anyways...there's a lot of shit flying around on the internet (in Korean and English for what it's worth) and it's difficult to get the flat smack on what's going down.
Here are the facts as I know them (based on the Bird translating some shit for me).
The fella was on the bus, in Bundang, on Saturday night, talking with his mate in English. The old bloke told him to 'be quiet'. Now...as an aside...I've been on both sides of that. I have been told to shut up by older Korean dudes on buses...and I've wanted people to shut up on the bus...no doubt. The video that we see starts AFTER the old boy tells him to be quiet...so we're really seeing the aftermath of the actual incident. There are people who claim that the old boy says "“니가” (meaning 'you'...but pronounced ni-ga...which...if this fella didn't speak Korean, could sound like a word that Burndog doesn't even type much less say (and when you think of the words that I've used here...then you'll know that I'm not fucking about)). Well...if he does say it...it's not on the video. The old fella doesn't say it on the video at all. I'm certain of that.
Anyhoo...the bus driver drives the bus to a police station...and fucktard is booked and is now scheduled to be deported on the 30th. (the Bird now tells me that she doesn't know what deported means...and that she meant 'booked' or 'charged'!!!).
He is 24 years old, and he was an English teacher...and I don't think that he can leave soon enough.
I'm gonna leave this here for now...watching the video it's difficult to see how anyone could think that his behaviour is justified. Yelling at a woman, standing over her in such an aggressive way, cackling and hitting himself in the face before he assaults an old man. There's no justifying that behaviour, and I am glad that he is being deported...I hope that he has to pay a LOT of blood money too.
Oh...and this isn't about whether the old boy spoke Korean and was mis-understood...it's about self control. It doesn't matter what an old man or a woman says...a man should be self-assured enough to walk away. Getting all fuckheaded because someone tells you to shut up on a bus? Shit...that bus ride's gonna be over in an hour at the most...just let the old boy shoot his wad and get the fuck on with your life. There's no need to get involved in shit like this...no need at all.
Catch you later Burnmaniacs.
Burndog, I agree that the teacher was seriously misguided; that white people will not understand the context of his rage is understandable. I remember seeing a YouTube video of a military guy beating up on an old Korean man, too. It was similarly horrific. I was similarly appalled, but I think I can in some ways empathize, as a non-white person. No, I don't think he was justified at all: he was clearly terrorizing elderly people, and that's seriously fucked up. But I'm not sure he should be vilified either.
ReplyDeleteOn a very parallel note, I humbly (as a Burndog fan) object to your use of "the N-word" as it appears in your blog post. I know it is not completely spelled out, but it's still inappropriate when discussing a racially charged incident.
I've explained to another blogger (one of your favorite people on earth! Roboseyo!) that non-Black people do not (under any circumstances) have the privilege of using that word in any context. It doesn't negate your blog post, but as a minority woman, I really feel like I should tell you -- please don't use that word. Don't spell it out. Just use the "N-word" and everyone understands. There's a dilution of intention that occurs when non-Black people use that word.
That being said, the whole thing is a shame. And I'm glad that no one got seriously injured. I can imagine both the rage and fear that was going through that teacher's mind, as well as the terror and fear that was going through that old couple's minds.
Heya Eve,
ReplyDeleteI will start by saying that I don't come anywhere near using the 'N-word'. I deliberately avoided the word...as I have my entire life. It's not a word we generally use in Australia. I've actually only heard it used in context once...by an American...at a soccer game in Korea. It was shocking. I meant no disrespect with my choice of words...I just find saying 'the N-word' a bit...I don't know...watered down. I just want to be clear here...I didn't 'use that word' as you put it. I really didn't. Unless you mean my romanisation of the Korean word...in which case...being a romanisation...it would have the same meaning as the original word...and was not intended to be a sneaky way of saying the N-word...but was rather...a way for my non-Korean reading friends to understand how the hangul characters "니가" are pronounced....so that they could understand the context of what is being discussed.
Now...back to the video. The whole N-word thing is just a theory anyway...like I said elsewhere...just because Marmot, Roboseyo and three Korean bloggers say it....doesn't make it true!! We don't know what was said...and unless it goes to court we never will. What I will say is that the way this guy was hitting and pushing the woman around and then beating an old man, makes this more of an issue of self control than race.
I apologise for any offense caused.
Well, see, that's the point I kind of wanted to make (although I guess I made it badly). It might seem to you that you didn't come close to using "that word" -- but to people of color, it's close enough. I want to be super careful here (I heart your blog).
ReplyDeleteAnd anyways, you're right about the video. I wonder if it will ever get to court -- my guess is no.
Gravy.
ReplyDeleteSorry again...like I said...it's not something that I've come across back home. In future....I shall follow your guidelines.
Peace out :-)
And peace be unto you, as my Catholic priests used to say. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm a person of colour... and is it so bad to be laughing out loud?! Sure it's a terrible thing that the guy was doing... inexcusable, in fact. But you know, a teeny tiny microscopic part of me was loving it. Sick, I know... but somehow a little satisfying. Yes, I know, I've been here too long and it's def time I go back home. I just thought of something... I wonder how much more insane that dude would have reacted to the 'k-word'.
ReplyDeletethat white people will not understand the context of his rage is understandable
ReplyDeleteBit condescending there Eve. There's also zero reason to think this had anything to do with being called a racially derogatory word. He got told to "shut up".
And anyways, you're right about the video.
Right about what? Judging the guy without seeing the whole story? Overreacted, yeah. Indefensible behaviour? Clearly. But telling someone to "shut up" on a public bus is fucked up.
Definitely a bustard.
ReplyDeleteWow...that's embarrassing. I'd hate to align myself with anyone who reacts that way regardless of what was said. Sure, you can get upset but you can also have some class.
ReplyDeleteOf course pushing women and threatening old men probably makes you feel big and tough...probably how he got those big ass 'rocks.'
Eve:
ReplyDelete"It might seem to you that you didn't come close to using "that word" -- but to people of color, it's close enough."
So... how many friends and associates of color do you have, and when did they appoint you their spokesperson?
@Special K - Yes, you're right, "condescending" is how it sounds to me and I apologize for that.
ReplyDeleteI think that Burndog's right in that 1. we don't know the whole story and 2. nothing justifies what he did in attacking elderly people.
@Anonymous - That's a good question. Nobody appointed me spokesperson. I speak only for myself. I should really start making that more clear, and writing more carefully. Especially concerning issues of race and racism. Perhaps when I said "people of color" I really meant "me."
Your question about "So... how many friends and associates of color do you have" -- I have currently have 5 close non-family friends who are people of color (black, Latino). I have 3 close friends who are Asian. I have between 4 or 5 close friends who are White. It's difficult for me to put a number on it because I think about all the people I've been close to or known throughout my life, and that number doesn't stay consistent, since I move around a lot. For example, those numbers were much higher during parts of my life when I lived in racially diverse cities, obviously. But upon looking at my Facebook, it looks like about 20 percent of my friends/associates are people of color (it moves closer to 25 or 30 percent when I include Asians of Korean, Chinese and other descents).
But you're right: nobody appointed me spokesperson. Thanks for pointing that out.
Want to share your numbers?
Over 9000!
ReplyDeleteVery embarrassing incident. Glad I don't go anywhere in Korea without my Korean wife or in-laws to be my minders, whenever I'm there.
ReplyDeleteThis "eve" person needs to stop looking for things that aren't there.. burndog typed the characters in korean then typed "ni-ga". And it was in the context of what the word means in korean and how to pronounce it (for those who can't read korean). Don't speak for all people of colour and say that we all would be offended by how he typed it. It's funny that after his whole blog, this was the first thing you wanted to focus on.. I can see how a lot of white people would be too afraid to tell you that you that you're really reaching with your complaint but I'm not... I'm a person of colour so I guess that gives me a "free pass" to call you out on your hypersensitivity.. now back to the blog, I actually think the guy might have been a bit drunk from that crazy ass laughter and his behaviour, but then again, that's no excuse
ReplyDeleteA rational N-word, I agree with you, but I also think that if Eve was offended by the way I said shit...then she is within her rights to call me on it. It's funny...but Eve's always been quite forthright with me...if I've pissed her off...she's always said so...whether it be because I use the word cunt...or because I dared to type the romanisation of 니가. Now...I think that in the context that I used the term...I was reasonable and I found it odd that she criticized my usage...but at the same time...if she's offended by what I said...I don't mind apologizing. I mean...it wasn't my intention to offend.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny (not ha ha funny) but since I first saw the video my attitude has softened a little. I still think what the dude did was out of order...but I definitely think that there was more going on than I originally allowed. Was the man drunk? Maybe. Like you said...that doesn't excuse his behavior...but it might help explain it.
Thanks for the comments everyone...it's nice to have a bit of chit chat under a post.
I love the word nigga. I use it all the time and even call some of my students nigga's. I think it's racist telling white, yellow, green or blue people that they can't say it. I love Dave Chappelle, the Boondocks and Hip Hop, so it's part of my vocabulary. As long as you don't call someone like this crazy bastard a nigger in an angry tone, to his face, then all people should be cool with it. It's a cool word and black people are selfish with it.
ReplyDeleteAs my Catholic Priest used to say, "Suck my Jesus stick and the lord will feed you".