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ORIGINAL: Kirata

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ORIGINAL: tweakabelle

Interesting that tamaka holds such dogmatic views about Korea without ever experiencing the place or its inhabitants. heavy blinker holds far more flexible and nuanced views having had a little experience of the place and its people. This mirrors my own observation that Australians who have never travelled abroad or experienced other cultures are far more likely to hold xenophobic biases than those who have travelled and experienced other cultures, while those who have travelled are likely to hold far more tolerant views of other cultures and other peoples.

As regards which of the two holds the more sane position, that's easy. Heavyblinker has direct evidence to influence his views while tamaka holds very fixed views with no great depth of knowledge or any direct experience to support those positions. Clearly tamaka's position is far less sane and rational than heavyblinker's.

I'm sure that we are all endlessly grateful to you for helping us correctly evaluate what we read. I don't know what we would do without your wisdom, and your kindness in sharing it.

K.

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ORIGINAL: tweakabelle

Interesting that tamaka holds such dogmatic views about Korea without ever experiencing the place or its inhabitants. heavy blinker holds far more flexible and nuanced views having had a little experience of the place and its people. This mirrors my own observation that Australians who have never travelled abroad or experienced other cultures are far more likely to hold xenophobic biases than those who have travelled and experienced other cultures, while those who have travelled are likely to hold far more tolerant views of other cultures and other peoples.

As regards which of the two holds the more sane position, that's easy. Heavyblinker has direct evidence to influence his views while tamaka holds very fixed views with no great depth of knowledge or any direct experience to support those positions. Clearly tamaka's position is far less sane and rational than heavyblinker's.

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ORIGINAL: Kirata

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ORIGINAL: heavyblinker

Back in 2006 it was possible to go across the border from South Korea as part of a tour group and visit Geumgangsan, a mountain range. They have opened and closed it many times.

The land was bought up by Hyundai corporation so it was essentially a border town, only you went through the DMZ and North Korean customs to get there. The guards had red flags at the border and guns further in. All around the complex were putting on a show to make it look like they were strong and relatively successful, empty buildings for show, etc.

They had North Koreans working at the hotels, restaurants, as greeters, tour guides, etc... they needed the work and it was a super cushy job. I talked to one of them... he was a really nice guy. Obviously I stood out because I was white, and while some people made a show of being openly hostile, the majority were extremely curious and warm and accommodating... because they know the difference between politics and people. PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE.

When you go to a place like that, you put your politics on hold because it's the right thing to do... most people know this on a gut level.

I'm not sure I would call that visiting North Korea. What you visited was a stage set. If that is the basis for your knowledge of North Korea, then it's fair to say that you really don't know anything at all about it. But I'm curious how long it took you to figure out that people are people. Have you been working on the problem for a long time? Or did it only just recently come as a flash of insight?

K.

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ORIGINAL: Kirata
I'm not sure I would call that visiting North Korea. What you visited was a stage set. If that is the basis for your knowledge of North Korea, then it's fair to say that you really don't know anything at all about it. But I'm curious how long it took you to figure out that people are people. Have you been working on the problem for a long time? Or did it only just recently come as a flash of insight?

K.

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ORIGINAL: Kirata

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ORIGINAL: tweakabelle

Interesting that tamaka holds such dogmatic views about Korea without ever experiencing the place or its inhabitants. heavy blinker holds far more flexible and nuanced views having had a little experience of the place and its people. This mirrors my own observation that Australians who have never travelled abroad or experienced other cultures are far more likely to hold xenophobic biases than those who have travelled and experienced other cultures, while those who have travelled are likely to hold far more tolerant views of other cultures and other peoples.

As regards which of the two holds the more sane position, that's easy. Heavyblinker has direct evidence to influence his views while tamaka holds very fixed views with no great depth of knowledge or any direct experience to support those positions. Clearly tamaka's position is far less sane and rational than heavyblinker's.

I'm sure that we are all endlessly grateful to you for helping us correctly evaluate what we read. I don't know what we would do without your wisdom, and your kindness in sharing it.

K.

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ORIGINAL: WickedsDesire

note how they skip me heavyblinker the dribbling pussies of no reality do that….perhaps I should include you?

I recommend getting yourself a very large stick and wading in and breaking skulls open. Some things are simply humane and for the best.

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ORIGINAL: MrRodgers

But K, we both know that few if any people ever truly 'visit' N. Korea. All any people mostly tourists ever get to see, is a show. Well-dressed, smiling elites and their families get those cushy jobs. It's like a fascist Disney world, if you get my drift.

Stores fully stocked where nothing is for sale. Hell, if China didn't feed them, there wouldn't be any labor there at all. It's the world's true political theocracy where the father, dead for all of these years...is still president.

Expert observers, political scientists etc., are always in a quandary as to why they never opened up their slaves to western corp. for the hard currency. No reason N. Koreans couldn't make iPhones, silicone chips and apparel. Who's to say they still couldn't face east and bow 3 times...to dear leader ?

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ORIGINAL: Lucylastic

oooooooh Insanity thy name is boscox, you do like to exaggerate dont you.

I bet ____________________________________________________ is nine inches to you isnt it...

A disappointment in grandeur...

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ORIGINAL: Lucylastic

you have become a parody of yourself...
its actually very sad
I would cry but im enjoying your lack of ability to tell truth and discuss what is going on with your crazy leader.

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ORIGINAL: thompsonx
Below, you will see some of the most socialistic nations in the world today:

•China.
•Denmark.
•Finland.
•Netherlands.
•Canada.
•Sweden.
•Norway.
•Ireland.