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Why Koreans ask what year you were born

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Re: Why Koreans ask what year you were born

#261

Post by kevin_thibedeau »

dale_huevo wrote: post #259
tasty_freeze wrote: post #236

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A few years back I had a long back and forth (and productive) email exchange with an older engineer (in his 50s, like I was at the time) on a matter of a particular old computer. He lives in a former soviet state. At some point he mentioned job prospects in his country are limited and was willing to relocate. He had excellent English and as a fellow nerd who loves getting into the low level details, I thought he migh…

> The HR person had called to phone screen him and called him "Vlad" or whatever in greeting. Is that measurably worse than the current new normal? Call him Mr. Vladsky, tell him he's a great fit and schedule an interview, then block his number and email and never contact him again.

That's preferable to running the gauntlet of six+ interviews because they can't make a decision after two.

Re: Why Koreans ask what year you were born

#262

Post by [deleted] »

DiggyJohnson wrote: post #218
losvedir wrote: post #217

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I actually think "heya phil" is more the norm than not. Certainly in tech that's the case. For example, we address the CEO of the company I work at (small but public) by her first name. From tuning into investor calls from my days in finance it's even common at non-tech companies.

Small tech firms are notorious outliers when it comes to this though

[deleted]

Re: Why Koreans ask what year you were born

#264

Post by bmicraft »

lukan wrote: post #120
bmicraft wrote: post #115

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I really don't get why just the concept of deserving respect for having lived longer - why does that make you more deserving of respect, irrespective of how you lived?

Just the fact that they lived so much longer. And are usually more wise in life experience. That doesn't mean I tolerate old farts shouting at my children for being young. Or excuse shitty behavior in general. But the default for me is paying respect for the elders. Offering them my seat in the train if there is no other, etc.

> Just the fact that they lived so much longer.

That's not a reason, you're just repeating the question. "Having lived long" is a value neutral statement of fact. How do you derive value from that?

> And are usually more wise in life experience.

So is that your true/only reason, a statistical probability of "knowing more"?

Re: Why Koreans ask what year you were born

#266

Post by yxhuvud »

inerte wrote: post #193
dkga wrote: post #173

I find it surprising actually how much these seniority rules are well-defined in many cultures, but in Brazil there is strong variation - even in the same geography. For example, a colleague who is learning Brazilian Portuguese was under the impression that "você" and "tu" were the equivalent of "vous/tu" or "Sie/du". In reality, they are just different regional ways of saying the informal you. In Brazilian Portugues…

Or the judge who sued his condominium demanding its employees call him "doutor" (Your Honor)... As a Brazilian raised to not care about this stuff, I would say even rebelled a bit, it was weird to basically be required to do so once I reached adulthood. I remember getting in front of a sheriff and having to address him as "doutor". I remember talking to an intern in law firms and he corrected me when I addressed him…

The Germans are also pretty ridiculous around titles, in that not only can you have multiple titles, and each are mentioned, but you can also have several copies of each. So someone can be Herr Doktor Doktor Professor.

Re: Why Koreans ask what year you were born

#268

Post by orthecreedence »

bambax wrote: post #6

> The younger person also addresses the older person, usually with a title or another word that fits their relationship, but not their name. Only the older person addresses the younger one with their name. (There can be more nuance.) I love this. I'm an old French guy and still can't quite accept when srangers in an email (or a machine, a system, a web form) adress me using my first name. Being "on a first name basis…

"I don't want to be your buddy, Rick. I just want a little breakfast."

Re: Why Koreans ask what year you were born

#270

Post by rascul »

xenadu02 wrote: post #210

In the USA as a low-level employee address the company CEO as "heya phil, hows it going?". Then address your friend with "Hello Mr. Smith". In most cases you won't get a positive reaction out of either one of those (yes exceptions exist). How about this: address your husband/wife as "Mr/Mrs ", especially after a fight. Similarly when the kids have been doing something or you are frustrated with your partner say " you…

I don't use titles. If you expect me to, you'll be disappointed.
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