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BlinkyMcChuck
11/20/09

In reply to South Korean Celebrity Deaths Continue
God, this is horrible. I loved her work.
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yourfriendandneighbor
11/20/09

In reply to South Korean Celebrity Deaths Continue
also, can't depression be hereditary? like any other disease? maybe it's predominant in asians? or in some ethnicities.
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iplaudius
11/20/09

In reply to South Korean Celebrity Deaths Continue
This is awful. Not only was she an extremely beautiful woman, but she was smart, funny, creative, and inspiring to so many people. I hope her blog stays up as a memorial.
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skt.smth
11/20/09

In reply to South Korean Celebrity Deaths Continue
I think a lot of the reason why people end up committing suicide in East Asia (particularly Japan and Korea) is because depression, eating disorders, and things like that, aren't broadly categorized among the public as issues requiring specialized attention. As a result, there isn't much public sympathy or support to be expected in such situations. Also, "face" is a big thing, so when you have people saying vile things about you on the internet and you have no way of fighting back, I'm sure it begins to take its toll. There are a lot of things about fame that American celebrities just assume they'll have to put up with, but which Korean/Japanese celebs find unendurable for a variety of cultural reasons.

I believe Korean websites with comments/forum sections are required to use a universal, real-ID type system in order to connect an individual's comments to his/her actual identity, likely because of events like this. I know for a fact that Koreans can't post to Youtube because it doesn't contain a universal ID system.
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finite_elephant
11/20/09

@skt.smth: Korea is in this sort of weird celebrity transition. On one hand, K-pop is somewhat aping US hip-hop of the late 90s (complete with fly girls), and there are widespread rumors of sex-for-fame deals with rich execs, but publicly, the press will condemn a celeb on the least bit of public impropriety. Michelle Wie got slammed for her shirt riding up a bit when swinging her club at an LPGA event and showing off her navel. That's what constitutes a scandal in Korea.

Then there's the conflict between an emerging western-style (read: intrusive) entertainment press and eastern expectations of privacy and decorum, mix it with a population that's obsessive and constantly online, and this is what you get.
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daveyjonesisdead promoted this comment finite_elephant was starred finite_elephant was unstarred

daveyjonesisdead
11/20/09

@finite_elephant: Based on the history above, it all looks like abuse/intolerance of sexuality of, young entertainers. In this country they just grow up and go on reality shows which, much as I dislike them, is a better option.
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finite_elephant
11/20/09

@daveyjonesisdead: Not so much intolerance (though there is that when it comes to homosexuality and foreigners), but that same contradictory combination of prudishness and fascination with sexy celebs that America has, but taken to an extreme.
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skt.smth
11/20/09

@finite_elephant: I think it also has to do with the fact that, while Koreans usually exhibit a larger cultural kinship (the idea that "we're all one"), because of fame, something that sets them clearly apart from the rest of the culture, celebrities automatically don't fit into that model. So while private individuals wouldn't usually be targets of othering, online or elsewhere, celebrities are seen as fair game, ostensibly because they've decided to put themselves out there under society's microscope. That's why every move, every word, is scrutinized. In Korea, celebrities are "the nail that sticks up above all others." And the cultural tendency is to hammer it back down.

To be fair, we do the same thing in America, but not for the same reasons. Rather than seeking to put celebrities back into normative social positions by hammering them down, it seems that we just take special glee in criticizing the rich and famous, i.e. the people we hope to emulate, because it makes us feel better about ourselves.

Of course, most American celebrities know that that's what's going on, so they default to the "You just jealous!" position and go on with their lives most of the time.
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Edited by skt.smth at 11/20/09 6:58 PM skt.smth was starred skt.smth was unstarred

DaeSu
11/20/09

In reply to South Korean Celebrity Deaths Continue
Roh M00-hyun was South Korea's former president, not prime minister
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Ravi Somaiya
11/20/09

@DaeSu: Thanks, corrected.
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adiam7
11/20/09

In reply to South Korean Celebrity Deaths Continue
This is tragic, I wonder if the suicide rates among young people has also spiked
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Motoko Kusanagi
11/20/09

In reply to South Korean Celebrity Deaths Continue
Wow that list of suicide rates is enlightening. Former Soviet Bloc, FTW!

In Japan and Korea, you have people who are deadly serious about honor and appearances.
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i'm a bottle
11/13/09

In reply to Funny Headline Features Culturally Relevant Acronym
Has anyone here read that unapproved comment at the very bottom? I think it's the funniest thing here. #funnyheadline
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m4ximusprim3
11/13/09

@i'm a bottle: I think they're both pretty good. #funnyheadline
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i'm a bottle
11/13/09

@m4ximusprim3: I didn't even read the penultimate one. You're right. #funnyheadline
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m4ximusprim3
11/13/09

@i'm a bottle: sometimes it makes you wonder whether we should just star the crazy people and let the rest of us look on. #funnyheadline
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i'm a bottle
11/13/09

@m4ximusprim3: That's exactly the same premise behind Fox News. #funnyheadline
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m4ximusprim3
11/13/09

@i'm a bottle: Ha! And we're full circle with the violent MILF's. athankyou! #funnyheadline
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Pope John Peeps II
11/13/09

In reply to Funny Headline Features Culturally Relevant Acronym
Don't regular MILFs sometimes behead people too? #funnyheadline
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Go Like Hell Machine
11/13/09

In reply to Funny Headline Features Culturally Relevant Acronym
Out of the two major paramilitary groups out here, MILF is easily the less dangerous. Abu Sayaff are the really scary motherfuckers. #funnyheadline
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Helio
11/13/09

@Go Like Hell Machine: hmm and the article that Adrian linked to about the beheadings is about the Abu Sayaff group and not the MILFs. #funnyheadline
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Adrian Chen
11/13/09

@Helio: one of them is a, um, MILF (3rd graph from the bottom). #funnyheadline
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dontread
11/13/09

@Helio: Read more carefully, in fact MILF is implicated in the article as well. Quote: "Meanwhile, policemen arrested a leader of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) who was implicated in the 2007 ambush and beheading of Marines in Basilan."
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Helio promoted this comment Edited by dontread at 11/13/09 1:23 AM dontread was starred dontread was unstarred

Helio
11/13/09

@dontread: doh! me read comprehensive one day. #funnyheadline
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TheBusinessGuy
11/13/09

In reply to Funny Headline Features Culturally Relevant Acronym
This one is over the line. #funnyheadline
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DennyCrane
11/13/09

In reply to Funny Headline Features Culturally Relevant Acronym
OMGWTFBBQ!!!!111!!!1!!!11!!!one #funnyheadline
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raincoaster
11/13/09

In reply to Funny Headline Features Culturally Relevant Acronym
Um, yeah, it's hilarious if you don't actually know what's going on in the world around you. Also, when Brits say "Highness" it's not usually a drug reference.

I KNOW, right? #funnyheadline
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autoclavicle
11/13/09

@raincoaster: So, how informed were you about such paramilitary activities in the Philippines before you read this post? #funnyheadline
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raincoaster
11/13/09

@autoclavicle: If you read above, you'll see I've been there; not just Manila, the bits on Mindanao that are dangerous. I've been through MILF roadblocks and thank god the people with me vouched for me or I'd probably have made it on CNN as "Canadian blogger kidnapped" or something. At one point a local (Filipino) Baptist preacher had to walk me back to my hotel, telling me, "there are many places in the Philippines white people should not go, because they are dangerous."

I said yes, I'd heard that.

He said, "THIS is one of those places."

And then he got twenty of his converts to surround me and my friend and walk us home. #funnyheadline
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raincoaster
11/13/09

@autoclavicle: Also, I mean DUH (to use a dated colloquialism) how many times does something have to make it to the cover of the NYT and the Economist before you become aware of it? #funnyheadline
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Go Like Hell Machine
11/13/09

@raincoaster: I've heard that a couple times in Manila proper, too. After the San Miguel HQ bombing last week, my hotel staff wouldn't even let me walk to 7-11 by myself.

However, the fight is this weekend, so I'm sure it'll be quiet on Sunday, at least. #funnyheadline
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BitchyD
11/13/09

@raincoaster: @Vivien Smith-Smythe-Smith: Now that I'm more informed I'll retract the snark from my statement. RC: That must have a been pretty frightening experience. #funnyheadline
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raincoaster
11/15/09

@BitchyD: No worries. I am far too stupid to have been frightened at the time! #funnyheadline
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GlasgowRose
11/09/09

In reply to Williamsburg Drummer Dies in Freak Accident
BizWeeker Jon Fine posted this vid of his old bandmate on his Twitter page.
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Edited by GlasgowRose at 11/09/09 8:19 PM GlasgowRose was starred GlasgowRose was unstarred

GlasgowRose
11/09/09

In reply to Williamsburg Drummer Dies in Freak Accident
Touching tribute to Fuchs on LCD Soundsystem's Facebook page: "we're all totally stunned and shocked here. we lost a dear friend sunday morning, and we're devastated. jerry, drummer for turing machine, the juan maclean, !!!, maserati and 10,000 other lucky bands also played drums with LCD for some of the first LP tour, but that doesn't matter. jerry was more a great friend than... anything, and that includes how truly incredible of a drummer he was. we miss him horribly." #obits
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