Taking responsibility for what you say/blog before you become Glenn Beck.

One thing that has started to annoy me in recent weeks is the sheer number of blogs I've come across that seem to hae nothing better to do than bitch about or rip on various aspects of Korea (or else politics/culture/ life in general). Before you ask, no I can't be bothered to post links to them or naming names as what I consider to be bitching others may think is intelligent posting. Just do a google search if you really care. However, what has been annoying me in the approach taken when people are criticised for it.

Now writing that "all Koreans are narrow minded" or "all Koreans drink too much" is their prerogative, and that's fine, but what drives me nuts is the "well I can say whatever I want, free speech" arguement when someone calls them on it. It's the arguement Fox News uses when Glenn Beck calls Obama a Marxist who wants to practice Euthanasia or a Muslim extremist with ties to terrorist cells. Yes, you CAN say those things, but you'd better have something better than a picture of him in traditional Somali dress and the fact that he lived in Jakarta to back that up. Just citing free speech does not make your cause righteous. It allows Glenn Beck to get a T.V show over someone who is sane.

Not that I'm arguing against free speech, but if you are going to post about how "old Koreans should be cleaning up your garbage cause they're such @sshoes" or "Korean children think there are rabbits on the moon making rice-cakes, they are all so stupid (as opposed to western children believing a fat man in red with flying reindeer gives you presents)" then you should be prepared to defend that, or at least accept that other people may not appreciate that. If you are not, then don't post it. Citing free speech does not, or it should not, make your cause righteous or give you a pass to say whatever thing you want. No one is suggesting you CAN'T say these things, they are only suggesting that you take responsibility for what you say. That's true whether you're Glenn Beck or a blogger in Korea.