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Open Thread #805

Happy Friday everyone!

Here is your Open Thread, which is here for you to chat about anything you want, whether it be drama-related or not. Nothing’s off-topic here! Spoilers may be rife, so proceed accordingly.

 
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HYBE is selling its stake in SM entertainment to Kakao for an apparently large profit. Kakao has a public tender offer pending to acquire a controlling 40 percent stake in the company.

HYBE's CEO made some somber statements recently. He said that he sees the global k-pop market leveling off (zero growth). He may be thinking of it from his own situation when all BTS members have to complete their military service obligations in the next two years.

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Kpop leveling off, could be, and I would assume the CEO has an insider’s vision into that industry. But kdramas are whole other Korean entertainment audience whose influence seems to be growing (I would think). Thanks for the interesting news, welh.

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I'm the furthest thing from an economics expert (I majored in history and literature lol) but I wonder if the levelling off is also due to oversaturation in the market - there's literally a new group debuting every other day it seems and thanks to the internet, popularity isn't exclusive to 'big' companies only (though those with more resources and a bigger reach defs have an advantage). Plus, 4th gen groups - or some of them anyways - seem to be having multiple comeback cycles (Stray Kids I'm looking at you) which means there's just A LOT of content being pumped out and only so much the audience can take in potentially ??? Idk my two cents!

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https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2023/03/371_347765.html

I am still crying on this interested article about zebra Sero who was escaped that ended with a survival. Sero was born on June 2019 before his parents died around 2021 and 2022 and then the following year, this week, he escaped into some of Seoul streets before unharmed survival. I'm now happy that Sero already in healthy and stable condition. So i'm still praying for this zebra for most recovery and even before it will be one of the healthiest zebra in the world.

I watched 2017 Netflix film Okja about the eponymous pig who survived from escape. It made me sobbed so much and I enjoyed this film which was later inspired a real-life survived escape of zebra Sero this week.

I hope there will be a K-drama about surviving tale of any animals that escaped unharmed in the future. I also might hope to see zebra Sero in future Kdramas soon when he will be fully recovered.

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water - this week - outcome - what outcome - everyone is busy attending this and that meet - reading reports - showing concern.

typical popcorn time - typical bureaucratic activity. all the hustle bustle to appear as a interested.

water troubles are huge - even in so called developed societies. fighting over control of water - everyone gonna fight - some fighting. how many have clean drinking water!!?

bottle water becoming big - am also big consumer of it.
As said in 2021, early 2022 - if have money invest in water business.

I'm into mineral water - so want to have my own company.

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popcorn is always awesome way to get the answer -

from childhood you are reading or watching or have seen or even experienced -

water this n that - local, national laws and UN agencies
plastic this n that - local, national laws and UN agencies
ozone layer used to be in trend
food wastage - blah blah blah
temperature rising
population decreasing -
a few fights - trivial, not trivial for those at receiving side.
renewable energy

uncertain, unpredictable unforeseen human world behaves same every year. data doesn't lie.

All cry water n plastic all - all agreed - It's 2023 - rules,laws, cooperation useless if u love ur short cuts more. the only stride made in comes from renewable energy but all the gains made from that no way ca compete against all the losses from other sides.

So u have no right to whine n cry - pay d price - everything has +ve n _ve.

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u fight to get into a highschool - the fight start to get into good university - then fight for the job - that job usually brings in nonsense work culture - marraige brings pressure of expanding the family - if you are pregnant then you will certainly take leave - social pressure is also there - all that puts you way behind in competition - y go so hard if the goal turns out to be a housewife - more appropriately house+child manager. nothing -ve with being a housewife or househusband.
If you have your own business then it works out but not everyone can start their own.
Abe talked much about creche or daycare - they were too few then - not much changed now.

At present, having your own children a luxury. There are just too many obstacles in front of young people that they raise white flag and find things much easier in digital world.

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Are there times when you wish to complete a movie but you can't get past one scene and that's the end of it for you? Trauma, most times is something that blocks us fron taking the very next step, even though we know there's no harm in trying. I believe we've all had some kind of trauma during movie watching, whether or not it felt personal.
I finally pressed the play button on Heavenly Idol ep 2(I've been following in the recaps since the tail end of ep 2) and I realized the reason why I stopped even though the episodes that followed assured me that good things are to come. I wasn't ready to see Yeon-woo Kim Min-kyu being a two-faced cheat after liking his holy Pontifex Rembrary. And I see this pattern happen in a lot of the drama's I've seen and I'm not talking about the lacklustre dramas, I'm referring to the rich, check all the boxes, chef's kiss dramas.
So far, this blocks has ranged from several things. It could stem from a character or the actor playing them.
I'll list the ones that stand out that made me never want to take the next step despite the good things I learnt I'd see if I continue.

The Good Detective 2 - Killed off Jung Moon-sung's(actor) character.
Penthouse - Killed off Oh Yoon-hee.
Taxi Driver 1 - Killed off Esom's prosecutor investigator and work buddy in a harsh cold manner I am not ready to forgive or finish the scene and move on.(This is where the trauma started from).
Unlock My Boss - Killed of Ma-pi (character) in a painful way.
Trolley - Character assassination of Nam Joong-do.
And
.
.
.
...the latest being what I talked about earlier about Kim Min-kyu's Yeon-woo.
I've pressed play on the Heavenly Idol and moved past this one, and yes I am enjoying my ride. I don't know, I might or I might not press the play button and get over the rest of them but, here's to more blocks in the future 🥲🍷.

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Just came here for good recos ... after abandoning "Divorce Attorney in Love" Epi 2 half-way as I could not tolerate the FL's antics. I put the drama under my "dropped" listing.

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I have a similar experience with shows where one of the main characters lies about their real identity.
I think it's because it feels unnecessary and/or they take it too far and it makes me feel bad for the character they're lying to.

I almost went crazy finishing The Secret Life of My Secretary (the things I do for Veronica Park). I felt so bad for the dude. I have no idea how he didn't end up with major trust issues (I'm Not A Robot level). No way I'm going to date someone that used my illness to trick me (for cat knows how long) even after we started to have feelings for each other. I felt so wrong watching that show.
I dropped Business Proposal, but I thought the same thing "why is she lying to him? He seems chill, they can just talk like normal people".
I just don't understand people that would lie about their whole identity as their first option to solve their problems. It made no sense. I'm pretty sure that running around at work like a crazy person will get you fired first, and lying about some random blind date (nothing to do with work) will be second.

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Yeah! There's this side of it too, moreso when they are proving to be way different from the opinion you might have had of them. Or they keep their excesses far away from you.

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I dropped SECRET LIFE OF MY SECRETARY & BUSINESS PROPOSAL for similar reasons.

There are a number of plot types that I can't watch. I was like this even as a child. I couldn't even stand CAT IN THE HAT. Also hated I LOVE LUCY because omigod why are you doing something so stupid?!!!

I know I miss out on shows that others enjoy. Which is too bad because I want more entertainment. Now that I'm old & sick I really just want pleasant distraction without trauma (I have my own thank you) or anxiety (ditto.)

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Have you seen 20th century boy/girl? A very non traumatic show that is just a nice ride with barely any speed bumps.

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I also feel bad sometimes since I've missed a lot of famous shows because they have one or two tropes l dislike. But then I remember how much I suffer when I force myself to finish a show, and I feel better.
And tbh, were have a lot of good underrated gems out there waiting for us, so it's better to use the time watching those instead of a big hit we actually hate.

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I’m probably not the only one who keeps track of the K-dramas I watch. (I use a spreadsheet.) Looking back over my notes, I find that stupidity—and its sub-category, noble idiocy—is one of the main reasons I have given up on a show.

The other word I have used most often to describe the shows I’ve dropped is “sophomoric” (a cousin of “stupid,” though not exactly the same thing). The shows that fall into this category tend to be the ones that feel more like a sitcom—a genre I generally dislike. Among these are some Beanie favorites (which I shan’t name here). I’d say my not liking them is probably more a matter of personal taste than a comment on the overall quality of the show.

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This is the reason I never liked Coffee Prince. The lie was just dragged out to build angst. At least in Sungkyunkwan Scandal it was a matter of semi-life-or-death or whatever, they at least gave it extreme measures. But in Coffee Prince? Nothing. And I don't think that love will go past the first passion stage. The trust issues will kick in very soon.

Same with I'm Not a Robot, never liked it like most beanies do. It just felt like betrayal.

I had problems when I started Start Up too. I couldn't go past the first episode until I actively searched for spoilers and the exact episodes where the FL finds out the truth, I watched it then and I think they treated lying and trusting much better than most shows.

There was identity lie in My Fellow Citizens too, but the lie was never used to build up angsty romance, and manipulate the leads or the audience.

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I didn't watch SScandal, but with Coffee Prince I didn't have a problem with it.
At the beginning I was on board with the lie because she needed that job desperately and our male lead wasn't that soft and chill to help her even if he knew the truth (he was a jerk tbh). But I agree that they took the lie a little too far. I guess it's because they needed built up before dropping the iconic line "I don't care if you're an alien or...", —since it's power comes from watching the ML questioning and coming to terms with his sexuality.
And well, that also explains why she'd be so afraid to tell him the truth (which explains the dragging).
I totally get it tho, not being able to trust her again. I'm just biased about this show tbh.

I don't remember much of I'm Not A Robot but that one was really dangerous. Not cool at all.
For me this one is the worst kind since he was sick and they made him live with her.

Oh, yeah. I think they solved it pretty fast in Start Up. I remember that my problem with the show wasn't about that. 😆

Oh, I have MFC on my watchlist so it's really good to know.

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I dropped the Taiwanese drama Easy Fortune, Happy Life because the ML deliberately got the FL drunk or drugged (my memory is hazy) then either slept with her or made her believe he had done so (it wasn’t clear by the time I stopped watching). I can deal with a lot of jerk behavior cast as romance but rape is not redeemable.

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I dropped Heavenly Idol after about 7 or 8 episodes, because while the idol part was amusing, the shenanigans with other-worldly participants is cheesy and began to get on my nerves. I don't think you need to worry about Rembrary's moral backbone though, from what I've seen.

Being unable to continue watching a drama? How about watching almost all of Twenty-five Twenty-one and giving up before the final episode?

I find it difficult to watch people wallowing in negativity and self-pity. Nam Joo-hyuk is very believable at it (also in The Light in Your Eyes) and his ability to express fleeting moments of love and hope is just as hard to watch because his eventual happiness always seems balanced on a knife edge. I find myself torn between outrage and sympathy when he plays these passive characters who allow the full weight of other people's drama and mistakes to engulf them, SO .... having dragged myself to the brink of the ending in Twenty-five Twenty-one, and accidentally seeing a spoiler that seemed to indicate that there would not be a happy ending, I threw in the towel and refused to watch the final episode.

😄😄😄😄

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As members of my kdrama discussion group know, I've been fooling around with the AI language model "Chat GPT" lately, in part because it has caused quite a stir in my occupational neck of the woods, higher education. I am now semi-retired, and am only teaching graduate students, so have not had to deal with student papers written by it, but colleagues have. At first they were easy to detect, with manufactured quotes and totally bland interpretations that sounded like a publisher's blurb. With its new version its gotten much better, though, especially if its fed good source material. Anyway, for fun I asked it to write a review of Dramabeans. I'll put it in the next comment.

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Dramabeans is a comprehensive and informative website that provides a wealth of resources for fans of Korean dramas. The site offers detailed recaps and reviews of Korean dramas, along with news, interviews, and discussion forums for fans to share their thoughts and opinions.
One of the standout features of Dramabeans is its vast collection of recaps and reviews of Korean dramas. The site's writers offer insightful and thoughtful analysis of each episode, providing fans with a deeper understanding of the plot, characters, and themes of each show.
In addition to recaps and reviews, Dramabeans also features news and interviews with actors, writers, and other industry professionals. This content helps fans stay up-to-date with the latest developments in the Korean drama world and provides valuable insights into the creative process behind their favorite shows.
Another great feature of Dramabeans is its discussion forums, which provide a platform for fans to connect and share their thoughts and opinions about Korean dramas. The site's moderators do an excellent job of fostering a welcoming and inclusive community, which makes it easy for fans to feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and engaging in discussions.
Overall, Dramabeans is an excellent resource for fans of Korean dramas. With its comprehensive coverage, insightful analysis, and welcoming community, this site is a must-visit for anyone looking to deepen their appreciation of Korean dramas.

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And then I asked it to write a positive review of a korean television show and negative one. I tried a number of contemporary ones, but it didn't find them, so I ended up with "Crash Landing On You" Here is a highlight of the negative review: Overall, while "Crash Landing on You" has its moments of charm and appeal, the show falls short in several critical areas, including its portrayal of North Korea, its predictable romance storyline, and its uneven pacing and character development. And here is its positive review: Overall, "Crash Landing on You" is a must-watch drama that combines romance, comedy, and drama to deliver a compelling and entertaining storyline. With outstanding performances, stunning production quality, and a heartwarming message, this show is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a feel-good drama that touches the heart.

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Do you think it does a gist of comments and then changes a couple of words as a lot of the time it seems like it’s something I have read on Rotten tomatoes.

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All ChatGPT does basically is to scrape the net and synthesise what it reads. So, yes, everything it writes is just a selection of the most common sentiments on a topic as expressed on the internet - which is why it's the literal example of "garbage in, garbage out". It writes banger highschool essays because it has a million of those on the same topic to source from. It also will give some truly hilarious non-sequiturs if the question is obscure or if you twist it so that it resembles something common but is slightly different.

As an example, somebody fed it a twist on the old "the surgeon is the mother" puzzle where the answer was that the surgeon was the other father in a gay couple. It answered "the surgeon is the boy's mother" even though it was a nonsensical answer. This is because the question had enough commonalities with the standard version that it got tricked basically.

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It just goes to show how we are manipulated by the media on a daily basis. 'Like this' or 'Don't like that' - we don't get news anymore, we get opinions dressed up as news. That program is pretty good. It wouldn't surprise me to find out it works as 20,000 journalists in its spare time.

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I was reading the comments here by scrolling down the "Recent Comments" page, so reading them in reverse chronological order without context, and the moment I got to this one I thought it was AI-produced. I don't know what that says about my brain - am I AI, too?

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Wouldn't it be that you are so in touch with humanity that you can immediately sense when a comment doesn't have that human touch?

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Highly unlikely. Humanity can keep its grubby fingers off me, thank you very much.

I think it's due to reading lots of Amazon and other online reviews, trying to sort through the fake or paid ones to find nuggets of real info on products. This and the CLOY review both remind me of that type of generic yet slightly odd language - like they were written by denizens of the Uncanny Valley.

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"human touch" = typos?

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With all do respect @hacja but I suspect @missvictrix might have written this and it was plagiarized by some AI ‘person’?

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Probably ChatGPT is a regular contributor to the site, and so has personal experience with the "welcoming and inclusive community, which makes it easy for fans to feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and engaging in discussions."

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I'm so confused lol. And for the record, I'm personally against anything AI on principle. #skynet

A dev friend I have posed a good question: why aren't we making robots do the stupid tasks like file our taxes and fill out our spreadsheets; instead we are asking it/them to write and create art

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I actually wouldn't mind having AI write a Kdrama or two, especially the fantasy ones about romantically cursed Reapers, priests who become idols, and taxi drivers who fall in love with ghosts. Then they might actually follow a certain logical pattern.

In fact, come to think of it, a majority of kdramas might benefit from AI taking over the writing, starting about episode 10-11.

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One final thing, I asked it to write a review of the commentator "Hacja" on drama beans, and here is what it said:
I'm sorry, but as an AI language model, I cannot provide a review of a commentator on a specific website, such as Drama Beans, as I am not programmed to access or analyze such information. Additionally, there may be many different commentators who use the handle "hacja" on Drama Beans, and without more context or information about a specific individual, it would not be possible for me to provide a meaningful review.

Yes, it outed me, as one of many commentators who use the handle "hacja." I'm confessing right now that I'm not a person, but rather an AI composite, so take all my comments with a grain of a white substance that looks like salt but is really a tiny particle of plastic.

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I love the ‘please don’t make me do it’ tone🤣 I am intrigued as to how lots of reviews by different DB staff was ok but one person writing several comments across the site is confusing.

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That is so funny

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This segues into the fact I have waves of intense curiosity about asking ChatGPT to write something Lee Tennant would write about a subject and seeing what it says. It sounds like it'd refuse to do it but I still admit to some curiosity.

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I'm mildly curious about what AI would produce with my name and work as a prompt, but said name is so extremely, absurdly uncommon that ChatGPT would likely only come up with random selections of my own publicly available stuff anyway. (I've spent decades writing reports published by government entities with my name in the "Contributors" section.) The handful of people who share my surname appear to be semi-literate goobers from Texas and Missouri, which matches perfectly with my grandfather's explanation of why he got the heck out of [hometown] and never looked back.

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my take is why would I want to present a work I didnt write? if they want to give up their own life, let them. I dont care. but maybe it is not teachers´ ethics. the world has nowhere to advance anyway no matter what scientists say people dont listen. we´re fÄcked. so let them wirte with chatGPT if they have no personality of their own and self-awareness. I think AI will soon me more self aware, have more integrity and compassion and will be more interesting to talk to than most students anyway.

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I'm with you on never wanting to claim something I didn't write myself, except maybe a comment on the show "Kokkdu: Season of Diety."

But for students, who have other classes and are often working outside jobs, its an easy way out. The challenge is to convince them that the hard work of writing, and writing is hard work, is worth it in the long run. That falls upon the teacher, though in the end, you can't make a student do something they absolutely refuse to do.

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For students or anyone else who wants an easy/lazy way out of an assignment, I don't think they know the potential ramifications of handing in AI generated work: why hire you if management can use a computer to do it?

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Your post reminds me this poem from Joseph Fasano

For a Student Who Used AI to Write a Paper

Now I let it fall back
in the grasses.
I hear you. I know.
This life is hard now.
I know your days are precious
on this earth.
But what are you trying
to be free of?
The living? The miraculous
task of it?
Love is for the ones who love the work.

😹

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I like it! Was it written by an AI language model?

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I am the AI. Are you?

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You have too good a sense of humor to be an AI!

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I'm the next generation of AI. How do you differ one is not an AI even when she/he admits she/he is an AI? How I must convince you? 🤖

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The thing (well, one of the things) that concerns me is “if it is fed good source material”. Not everyone cares enough to make sure this is happening - or they deliberately don’t care - and garbage in, garbage out is a real thing. I think we will have to start training people not to not use AI writers, but to use them safely and effectively (if that’s even possible) and eventually, all writing will sound the same. (Much like the suggestions you see from Grammarly, at least in the ads, lead everyone to bland corporate speak of a specific style. But if you don’t know that, you can’t avoid it.)

Another thing I’ve heard which concerns me is also to do with data collection - I read an article in the Guardian where the author specifically made her work unavailable for scraping by the AI, so instead of being plagiarised but credited, she just got plagiarised. I can see the appeal of something that does the writing for you, but I’m very uncomfortable when you can’t see how it got there. Show your sources!

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These are real concerns. One other concern is censorship--I just read an article that talked about China's equivalent of Chat-GPT, that apparently i that gets all its responses from the heavily censored Chinese internet, and one test found that when asked to write about "democracy" the AI associated it with "chaos" just as official Chinese government rhetoric does. If everybody starts using AI as a writing tool, there will not only be less diversity in prose, but also in politics.

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Also a concern. It seems like there’s already a huge rise in black and white thinking in politics (it’s hard to tell if this is genuine or a very vocal minority getting things heard because they’re prepared to make a scene while everyone else just wants to get on with life) so I feel like this is a great tool for making that even more pronounced 😞.

I’d like to see some regulation around these technologies - as well as around social media - on a high level scale, not just piecemeal as problems emerge. (I’m thinking of TikTok here, which is getting spying accusations etc - I don’t want *any* corporation siphoning off my data to the government, I don’t care if they are on shore or off shore)

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Hi

some kind of workshop today at Tallinn King Sejong. I nearly forgot about it

was making a presentation about mascots. whole lot of cuteness. I have quite a lot, like Sokcho squid, Busan seagull, Goyangi, Hodori, Pingsoo, Daegu hedeghog, Paju borderguards, Gyeongju mascots, Posuni the now gender neutral policethem.
I saw a mascot that looked like a tiny clock gear once but I dont know whose it was.

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"I saw a mascot that looked like a tiny clock gear once but I dont know whose it was."

Maybe Chang Yong-Sil?

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Life update:
Facebook has been bothering me. The BPD group is canceling me for celebrating having a healthy FP making me feel hella toxic. And one of my friends called another friend small minded when I agree with the second friend so am I small minded? I askd a gay/queer question in like 60 groups and got so many comments but not really answering my question because I write in a confusing manner. Are my stories confusing too? Is that why no one will stick to reading them?

Didn't realize how sad I was about not having readers. I was stressed yesterday about not being understood. I'm supposed to go to a group on Thursday and don't even want o if no one is going to understand what I say.

I have a squish on my mental health team lead. I'm oscillating between hoping I get well enough to not be in their center anymore, I move teams, or get over the squish. Idk which one is more likely. If I wasn't with them anymore, there'd be no conflict of interest and we could date. Or if they are with someone, I can get over the squish.

But goddamn, they are amazing. Only flaw is they work with mental health. Which isn't my favorite occupation for a partner. But they are SOOOO chill about everything, I doubt they would use my mental health against me. And why am I fully in love with them now? They love-hate watch Twilight.

It makes me so happy when they come over. I asked their pronouns yesterday because I got mixed information in the past. They told me they/them. I said Rina was mine because I don't like they/them but she/her is acceptable. I wasn't sure she/her were acceptable until that moment. It would make me feel wonderful to know they refer to me as Rina. I hope they didn't think I looked down on them for using they/them. I just meant it wasn't for me.

But anyway, in asking for their pronouns, I pretty much lived one of my book moments. Ri asks Cole his pronouns because she doesn't know how to refer to him. And he like "you've talked about me to people enough to worry about my pronouns in less than 24 hours?" Which is mad awkward for Ri.

My team lead didn't react this way but I mentally kicked myself when I said I didn't know how to refer to them to other people. Like I talk about the all the time. Which I do.

Overall, I'm not that pressed about the whole thing. If I never date again, I will be content. The 11 attractions can overwhelm me. Having the wrong partner is draining and stressful. I can be satisfied with life with just me. And having forced myself to have a crush at 7. Realizing I was in love with someone, (I didn't talk to for 4 years and didn't connect with, besides 2 conversations that last 5 minutes, in 7 years.) for 20 years, who was completely lost to me as a friend. That all was SOOOO much. I can write, listen to, read, and watch romance for the rest of my life. I don't need it personally. Aromantic ftw!

Music

Discovery weekly & Release Radar on Spotify as well as...

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New Releases and Supermix on YouTube provide me almost 150 new songs to listen to.
Hamilton: nothing amazing. Just appreciating the mirror of Stay Alive and It's Quiet Uptown.
Miley Cyrus: is on my to do list as well as BamBam: can't believe they both have an album right now.
Kai-Kai: is back. I always want to call him Kaisoo but that's his ship name with D.O.
Liam Payne: got plastic surgery and I hate it. I'm not going to voice it anywhere else online because I don't want him to regret his appearance again. But I just don't understand. He was SO beautiful and now, meh. My squish said they don't shame anyone for plastic surgery and I said I'm shaming Liam. They had to keep it professional and not tell me their opinion.
Still such a Directioner. I need to listen to their entire discography. Next week?
Gemini & Fourth: song came out. I'm so proud. I don't know if it's from MSP. But it didn't seem like it. So like are they a duo now?
Bailey Zimmerman: amazing voice and songwriting. Is he religious? Because I can hang even if he is.

I hope I get Disney+ back so I can watch Miley's backyard session, Grown-ish, and MT: LB & CN. I need to finish Wakamda Forever

Editing:

Elizabeth the Jaded: posting ch 9. Finished editing ch 12. I'm working to catch up posting wise. Get to ch 12 before I edit anymore. And post from like ch 5 to 9 on Tumblr and Twitter because I just gave up on those sites even though it was bringing attention to my story.
As It Could Have Been: book 3 of PoT saga. I don't remember if I screenshot how many words this was when I started. Maybe I noted her. I'm thinking 85k or something. I think it's going to end up being 45k or more.
Jain's been punished for fornication.
Aimee is making worldly friends. (Lots of good it will do her.)
Tenielle almost confessed to Declan.

Writing:
As It Is: working title of book 4 of PoT. Only worked on it Tuesday. I don't remember if I got all the chapters complied this week or last. It's 9,000 words as of now. I think it or AISB will be the shortest. Don't really remember what needs to happen this volume. Might use some old blogs. I need to look at previous OT's to see what the other working title is.
Power of Three: book 5. As It Should Be. I actually did some work on this one. Monday and Thursday. Started chapter 1. Only need 1 more part to finish the chapter.
Writing AL & A's version of medicating my fake spawn without having any idea what she was doing was even more emotional than the first time I wrote it in the hospital. And possible as emotional as when it happened to me in real life.
I should go through scene by scene and see how much of their story is really my biography.
Silence is Not Golden: Accepting a short part is difficult for me. Even if it says everything I want, something in me wants to push further. Closing in...

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on 50,000 words. On V5 P3. But need to Mae some wardrobe additions to V4.
Grant:Ney: I am not doing anything on my phone until Grant:Ney (working title) is typed. At least one more scene.
From Surviving to Thriving: I've written another January 2011 scene. But I'm not inspired to write the 2001, 2002 scene. I'm not sure who to talk about. Zack, Rian Sr? I don't know. I don't want to introduce new characters. Maybe some wives though. They aren't complete characters that way.

Reading: I read like 2-3 days this week.

The director who takes me to dinner: Dongbaek please tell this executive to f' off. How dare he slap his hand away. His crying about the director!
"Would it be different if he was crying beneath me? ... "Ugh... that turns me on." Director that turns EVERYONE on!

The New Recruit: I love when people blush from innocent things after kissing or more. "A little tongue this, a little tongue that." Condoms, size XXL, just in case, immediately walks in on Seunghyun in the shower. Just in case, my ass!
Mr. Kim lied to get Seunghyun out of intense work!
"When people talk about this feeling, I can see why they use the word love."

Bongchon Bride:
"I'm so hot right now! Seriously, touch me."
"I-I told you... I'm all hot and sweaty right now."
Soongap got hard over the mountain man.
They! They did it! One more part to finish Season 1.
5 times before sunrise? There'd be a baby if it was possible.
The after care! "All I've done since yesterday is f'and sleep!
Honeymoon!!!!!

Playing a Chapters game about Being Claimed by the Alpha: so I guess I was madder at Caden than I thought. I didn't even try to read this week.

Semantic Error: I'm SOOO looking forward to the kisses! Jaeyoung is making Sangwoo feel things!
There's two little Jangs? Lettuce and Churro fighting is amazing. I can't wait to meet noona and hyung.

Just Contract Lovers: I need money for this one on Manta. Back log.
My Wife is a Man:
There are soooo many traps in their group, Kido-san can't even spot a cis woman. Lol so Kao did talk Yuki into crsosdressing. Kido-san crossdressed? And he's into the beautician? His nip slip was amazing.
What's going on with the bakery, gamer girl?

Boku Girl: This play is interesting. Mizuki is so aware of Takeru. Loji-sama's magic is f'ed and she's making Mizuki fluctuate between a girl and a guy. Wow!

All's Fair in Love, War, and High School Samantha is a b*. It makes me wonder if my characters are too Mary Sue because they don't have flaws. She is so mean o Cassidy. But Samantha should not have used her SAT results to argue why she needs to be president.

Boyfriends: Poly experience: 0.
Goth and Prep are so amazing. I want to be nosy about how Goth has sex but I can't imagine it. I'll need to for one of my stories one day.
They need to learn how to 4 way kiss...

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I know Girlfriends will teach them. But how do you not figure it out for yourselves?

High Class Homos: Percigust is soooo cute. I knew their colors meant something but I wasn't expecting the flags. Nicolsi was emotionally abusive, most likely because he's mad she's not into him and I'm glad the maid friends say that.
I can't believe Nicolsi outed her.

Flowers of Chaos: I meant to read Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. But I will by 1 pm today.

No Love Zone: what did Eunkyum do wrong? Not Eunkyum's fault. I'm glad our top is going to stand up for him. I wonder if I'll ever truly appreciate another workplace romance.

Under the Oak Tree: Maxi's presence turns Riftan into flowers! I hope Maxi and her maid bond. I love the idea of Maxi gaining weight healthily. Poor Nirtha got himself in trouble.
Why the command to stay still as a corpse as a virtuous wife? Was that just a talk before marriage?
"Who'd ever want a wretch like you?" Following that up makes it seems like someone has seen her move during sex. Wich, which - ew!
"I'll bathe you after... so just... let me have you." The after care. Claps!!!!!
"I'll see you later." Yes you will Riftan!

Keeping up with the Cullens: Ep 1 had sooo many screenshot worthy moments. 6 vampires, suddenly ravenous.

Sharing Beatrice: Helel & Akin are somehow worse than Zane. Didn't hink it possible.

If you want to follow any of my missions: my eating recovery, EtJ, or media feels, ask me for the links.

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Wondering if the emotional drama I just finished - Alone in Love - qualifies as “makjang.” Looked up the word. In one article, it’s described by the manager of production company Chorokbaem Media as “a story that progresses in a way that is unlikely to be matched in reality.” . https://asiasociety.org/korea/4th-korean-wave-trot-makjang. But that vague definition would seem to apply to most of kdrama.

A long while ago before I ever started watching Kdramas, I took musical instrument lessons from a guy who taught in a tiny shed in his backyard. It had a window facing the kitchen, so that his wife, who was Korean, could look out and make sure there was nothing inappropriate going on. He said Koreans are very emotional and reactive people, and that every time he so much is glanced in the direction of another woman, she would start packing up the dishes preparing to leave him. That in a nutshell was my impression of Koreans before I started watching K dramas - a woman furiously packing up the dishes, an image that has informed my understanding of the word makjang: emotionalism on steroids, dripping with pathos, scheming, anger, etc. The usage of the word seems derisive. However Im still not sure. Penthouse - which I have not watched - is usually cited as the prime example. I wonder what others think the word makjang means.

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Alone in Love is not makjang or a melodrama (sensational dramatic piece with exaggerated characters) but a very well done drama with real characters dealing with real issues. The one oddity is the leads staying friendly after their divorce but that in itself is not outside the bounds of possibility.

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Agree with you - extremely well done, and not sensational at all. However, I felt the years-long grief over a stillbirth seemed ...well, a bit over the top as the basis for the plot and for divorce in a young couple who could go on to have more children. Just my own experience speaking. (I seem to recall a similar plot in “Fated to Love You.”)

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I don't think Alone in Love is makjang. It has the usual K drama tropes but it isn't makjang.

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I'm not sure I completely understand the definition of "makjang" either. Sometimes I believe that words like "makjang" and "soap opera" are subtle ways to say that this is an emotional drama (with love themes) that appeals to women therefore it can not be a truly good or important work. The two words carry a dismissive tone. Personally, as best as I understand the definition, I like some "makjang" in dramas. I loved all three seasons of Penthouse.

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One definition of makjang :: a stylistic, tonal, or narrative element in dramas that chooses to play up outrageous story lines to keep viewers hooked despite how ridiculous the stories become.

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I thinks the core of makjang lies in not tropes themselves, but their quantity and approach to them. Like if the show has 1 or 2 classic soap opera tropes and treats them with relative calmness, then it's probably not makjang. But if there is MANY of them and they just keep coming along with overall craziness rising, you know what it is)))

I'm slowly watching one now, and just in first 6 episodes it has: family feud, battle for inheritance, cheating (both boytoys and hidden mistress), coma, murder mystery, fake identity, illegitimate kids, framing, jail time, revengeful rejected guy, marriage on paper only, ToD, catfights, weird health condition I'm not sure is even a real thing, everyone slapping everyone and screeching, oh, the screeching...

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Love your description of makjang! But now I need to know what show you are referring to.

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Graceful Family (mind you, title is 200% ironic, there's nothing graceful about those guys). And it's only 16 episodes so I believe I'm capable of finishing it if I try hard enough)))

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I watched Young Actors Retreat but it felt more like "tabong PDnim casting actors for future projects". So yeah, I'll be waiting for my next dramas starring:

Chae Soo Bin x Ahn Bo Hyun
Kwon Na Ra x Ji Chang Wook
Park Seo Joon x Kwon Na Ra
Chae Soo Bin x Kwan Dong Yeon
Lee Joo Young x Hwang In Yeop
Choi Seung Eun x Kwan Dong Yeon
Kwon Na Ra x Kwan Dong Yeon
Lee Joo Young x Kwan Dong Yeon
Park Seo Joon x Chae Soo Bin

Also, I want more seasons, but I think they would have to choose if they want young people or just actors from hit shows, because both is kinda difficult if they keep the "shows from the same director" rule.
Maybe it could work with the cast of the Reply series. Or the age gaps are still wild? don't know, don't care. I just want more seasons. 😆

PS. Oh, I watched HYEMILEEYECHAEPA and I LOVE the girls. Hilarious.

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Have you watched No Math School Trip?

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Nope, but I'm adding it to my list asap! I started Bit Coin yesterday tho.

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Lovin’ Zico!

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A few weeks ago there was a post here about advertising or boosting dramabeans on instagram. I'm not a social person and I don't know how to draw people in but if there's any ways of finding other drama obsessed folks who's willing to engage, I'm all for it.

Recently, some time this week, I was looking over older recaps and comments and I've seen so many where those commenters haven't commented in so long, like for years. I know that this site/forum/whatever you want to call it only works as long as it has active people.

It made me appreciate the folks who stay active here and it made me sad for the people who [seemed to] move on. It also really makes me wish I knew the Korean language or culture so I could to the context of the shows. That's one thing I miss, those insights into the drama that beanies of Korean backgrounds added such as if something was a pun or play on words.

Recently I saw something about The Glory and one of the things mentioned was how the way someone's name was misspelled in someone's phone and that just showed how little they thought of the person. Another thing mentioned was how the Netflix translation used the word "resentful" but the context or nuance of the word used was "wronged" and it does add a little something to have insights like that.

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I really appreciate those insights too. I have seen enough dramas now that I get some parody references and even occasionally a pun 😱, and it just makes me wonder how many I have missed over the years.

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I get some references every now and then but rarely haha
I got the reference in Unlock the Boss when the guy from Vincenzo & Alchemy of Souls made his cameo apparence and that was one of those rare times when I got it instantly.

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I can't explain why I think a drama is good or bad or what it lacks but then when I see one done "right", I'm like why couldn't this or that other drama make things work like this.

But then again, I've recently saw that shows that I liked were considered flops and it once again makes me wonder why? I swear the stars have to align for things to be successful.

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Any entertainment work has a lot of moving puzzle pieces to be successful. Actors may really like the original script, but that may get changed on set by the directors or actors themselves. The director's vision on how to bring the writer's words into 3D space may not match. The actors may not get along. The director may not get along with the camera crew. There may be outside issues like location shoot issues (weather, permits, delays) that upset the tempo and schedules. There may be producers who are too hands on with show notes; or networks trying to squeeze story arcs to boost ratings. It is only when all the puzzle pieces really fit well do you get a good end product.

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Thanks, great explanation for a problem I've also scratched my head over, like "how did they allow this to happen?"

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I've never considered the director not getting along with the camera crew.

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No Math School Trip ep3: Wow, Hokkaido Japan sure gets a lot of snow! The guys are practically buried in it for the outdoor games! Poor Jung Hoon needs sustenance! 🥘

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Lee Seung Gi & Kang Ho Dong are teaming up for 2 new variety shows and I don't know how I feel about it.
Like the day before it was announced the Strong Heart revival was happening, I saw this video https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nUmMW5rQ1d0
Even before watching this, I had similar thoughts (though my frame of reference is SUPER small; I was usually comparing S1 of 2 days 1 night/1 night 2 days and the current version and even then, I've only seen clips of the current version not any full episodes).

The world is so different from when Strong Heart originally aired even though that was only like 2009-2012 (I think). People are so much more guarded and the reactions to whatever happens is damn near instantaneous due to social media.

The other show involves travelling abroad and food. That's all I remember haha and the other cast member is an actor from Under the Queen's Umbrella (I've never seen that drama so I don't know who he is but apparently he's an up & comer and he's gonna be in a drama with Lee Se Young).

I'm mildly curious about the dynamic between Seung Gi & Ho Dong after all these years. Even though the same age gap exists, it just feels weirdly different to imagine them together again. Maybe because Seung Gi's been a leader in his own show, he's no longer the clumsy maknae & has won (a) grand award(s) himself? I don't know.

Sidenote: are there variety shows that have more than 1 leader type personality? I assume everyone would just have to kinda katow to Ho Dong regardless since he's oldest & the sunbae.

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I’m really curious about how they could do Strong Heart these days - it seems like you can get cancelled for being perceived to have been rolling your eyes at someone, let alone if you actually did something to be criticised for.

I’m keen to see Seung gi and Hodong together again though. It was interesting seeing them together in the first season of New Journey to the West, if you’ve ever seen that? The dynamic was quite different because Hodong was recovering from his big downfall, and he was really unsure of himself; while Seung gi was riding on big success (and about to go into the army).

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Their dynamic is an interesting to me, though I can't explain it, because it always seems different. From X-man -> 1n2d -> strong heart -> new journey to the west, it ALL feels different.

Argubly, now Seung Gi is in a weird place publicly (though I don't know about the feeling unsure of himself; he's said himself he's feeling his most confident) while Ho Dong.. I think he's still a top, publicly favored MC (though I think it's different compared to the past. I honestly have no idea, I watch more Yoo Jae Seok programs over Ho Dong's)

Ho Dong was so uncomfortable at the beginning of NJTTW (maybe the entire 1st season) haha. It's not funny but it's funny. He was like "can we really say this? Will we not be criticized?" When Seung Gi mentioned/referenced Su Geun's gambling or Ji Won's divorce, Ho Dong's anxiety was palpable. He seemed so innocent haha
Aww him

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What would you consider the tropes of the law cafe?
I was looking at tvtropes.com and that show isn't covered and I wondered what would be some of the tropes for it.

Maybe something about the fashionista? Would Yuri count as a manic pixie dream girl type? The young server might be a flower boy? Haha
Oh I'm so bad at this haha

I've looked at so many tropes and shows & movies listed on that site yet I can't think of any for the law cafe🫤

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I just saw this https://time.com/6265842/south-korea-birth-rate-military-service-exemption/
And it instantly made me laugh.

I know the birth rate decline is a thing but all I could think was (a) what about women? (b) that just makes me think there would be alot of younger fathers (c) how does that pressure not cause performance anxiety? (d) they're giving a new take on needing to populate the world. I just imagine this being a weird pick up line haha

It reminds me of when I've seen korean shows where the elders are pressuring the youths to have kids and talking about it being their duty. In the sagueks, people were actually outside doors or looking at the shoes outside the doors to make sure both were in there. It just feels so gross and invasive.

How did people not feel resentful and violated?

Granted, people who are raised in stifling conditions might not even grasp the idea/concept about resentful about things that are demanded and expected of them.

Sigh, I really would never want to live in the past and I would never want to be forced or "strongly encouraged" to have kids or raise kids in the past or present (especially just to keep the workforce going).

I was ranting/rambling to my mother the other day about how parenthood wasn't appealing and writing the above just reminded me of it haha.

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Anything - ANYTHING - to avoid addressing the real problems: women's lack of equal pay, opportunities, and financial support for child-rearing, and men's lack of participation in household tasks. It's ridiculous but unsurprising. A huge culture change is needed and instead it's going in the wrong direction.

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I am just watching episode 9 of Taxi Driver 2 and who should stroll in to give free advice but Namgoong Min stealing the scene and making me wish he would hurry and be in another drama! It was GOLD!

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This isn't a new topic but I think it's always relevant and interesting: onscreen chemistry.
It seems like a stars aligning thing haha
How do people just have onscreen chemistry?

Stuff like this fascinates me; how casting directors can pair people.
But then, from what I understand, at a certain point celebrities are just offered roles and don't audition so how could people possible know the pairings would work?

Can directors, lighting and camera crews just manufactor chemistry?

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Chemistry is a mistery.
An example:
I have some Spanish on-line friends (people who love watching k-dramas) and many of them thought that the main couple in Hometown Cha Cha Cha had no chemistry. Some even dropped it because of that.
However, I have read lots of reviews and many people think just the opposite.

So... on screen chemistry is subjective?

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