The South Korean 'eye opener' - Positive Wellbein...

Positive Wellbeing During Self-Isolation

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The South Korean 'eye opener'

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The educating program about how the South Koreans have tackled the corona virus was indeed an eye opener. I wonder how many important people publishing the advice saw that program?

It's some years now since an academic told me 'the cleverest people in the world and are the leaders in technology and are streets ahead of anyone in the world are the South Koreans........ That program certainly exposed many mistakes other countries have made to date & showed what should have been done in the circumstances. Why is that.

Their washing machines are the top & ours even plays what seems to be their national anthem when the washing is done.... as an electromechanical engineer , quite remarkable I thought.

I have always though it good policy to keep an open mind and find it puzzewling why our's and other governments have not paid particular attention how the South Koreans have dealt with the virus especially as they have experience with Mers virus before this lot occurred?

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Hi Micklemus,

An interesting debate, but a very complex topic. In my opinion, on an equal footing with good technology is the ability to look and plan ahead, to never believe 'this can't happen here' and the self discipline of a population in obeying rules. I believe we may have seriously failed on all fronts. But don't forget, on the other side, that we are at the forefront of research and may well even end up being the nation which develops a successful vaccine against covid-19. We all have our strengths and weaknesses, I guess.

in reply to

But the South Koreans apparently are saying that immunity might not be obtained in some people. That seems to sound like tuberculosis whereby some have the antibodies to kill TB outright some as I do not get ill from pulmonary TB due to our antibodies controlling the bacteria but some becoming very ill and not being able to produce antibodies to stem the reproduction of the bacteria....... Some diseases are as you say very complex and I appreciate that we do have some exceptionally and highly educated folks here in the UK.

The UK however re health sometimes appear to not be mobilised quickly. I find it remarkable that we could buy a washing machine developed in South Korea which seems a remarkable piece of engineering & yet more important items far more important than any washing machine seems to have been impossible to obtain when such technology must be bought or shared if at all possible.

That is why I would have thought that anyone on the planet should know that any barrier re masks are better than none but that idea re the majority is blowing in the wind same as the virus is!

You've got to have a laugh but the fact that our washing machine which of course as an engineer I noticed first time my wife tried it played the Korean national anthem which I thought was indeed quite an unnecessary factor but was indeed 'innovation'.

I am aware that in many instances the Germans are very innovative but I think they have a way to go similar to many other's who are lagging behind the S Koreans......

A scientist gave a good rolocking to a colleague of mine in his house when he slagged the South Koreans because the scientist must have known about the S Koreans superlative technological skills. The S Koreans must have been pretty clever all that time ago and apart from washing machines they seem adept at getting the virus under control in a technological fashion.

S11m profile image
S11m

I believe that we are now doing trials for the medicines that the South Koreans used, very successfully, months ago.

bobbybobb profile image
bobbybobbAmbassador

Hi there, I don't think it's a case of the South Koreans having the cleverest scientist's in the world. It is true they are dynamic and innovative. I think this is due to the learning approach, it is different around the world. When you go through the educational system, universities and then your speciality in the scientific world, the systems may very with regards to how you tackle a problem. So all scientist's will have a model of, how they approach a problem, how they will deliver a system to tackle that problem. What will it take to solve that problem, then to solve the problem and deliver the answers. Now, I think depending where you are from in the world, some approaches and deliveries are much faster than other's. In some Countries scientist are given the funding, the equipment, the staff, the recognition, the Incentive's to get a job done. 😊😊

in reply to bobbybobb

The scientist put that colleague of mine firmly in his place because my colleague was unaware of the learned people in South Korea. he said something like those people are happy if you pay them with a bowl of rice etc..... That scientist was a lecturer and had obviously either friends who were Koreans or had been to and associated with other Korean scientists. He was fully aware that Korean scientists were infinitely more intelligent than us lot putting his heating system in for him.

He was quite elderly but seemingly very amiable till my colleague put his foot right in it...

It's the learning curve isn't it...... I must say I was very impressed by the fact that the Koreans death toll is the lowest?

in reply to

Technology in S Korea is top-notch indeed (I hear that their Internet is the best too). Though I'm not sure that they have the lowest death toll.

I myself am very impressed by the result in Hong Kong. There were only 4 deaths. I guess they had the previous experience of dealing with it in 2004. Not wearing masks is just not an option. They wear masks and practise common sense like some physical distancing and good hand hygiene etc. They no longer have new cases. People can go to restaurants and pretty much business as usual now. They never have a blanket lock down. It just shows that wearing masks does make a huge difference.

For some reason, the US and the UK just can't take it in. I was horrified to see some staff at care homes not wearing masks even when some residents were dying by the truckload. The protesters and the police didn't wear masks over the weekend, it's worrying.

The politicians are mostly responsible for setting a bad example. They could have easily solved the problem but they won't. I just wished they would end the lock down with a definitive guideline already.

I don't think we need high tech to apply common sense.

in reply to

Had to go out today (with my twin respirator in place) What did I see a few tram passengers in Nottingham without a mask between them..... They are the ones and their advisers who will prolong this infection....... Worse than thick, downright irresponsible.......

I saw an old pal of mine who knows the dangers of asbestos..... on a lighter cheeky note he said his mask was made from his wifes knickers! I said dosen't that make you feel sexy he said not at 79!!!!! he is exactly same age as me..... He's got a good sense of humour but he is sensible because he had that mask on driving a car.

He worked with me in several commercial boiler houses before we were told about the dangers of asbestos...... Did the government not advise soon enough- YOU BET!

bobbybobb profile image
bobbybobbAmbassador

Also, I'm sure it was the South Koreans who first thought of cloning the Woolly Mammoth from DNA found and that was about ten years ago. How innovative is that. 😊😊

in reply to bobbybobb

Yes but were they trying to develop a special wool?

Ghounds profile image
GhoundsReading Rabbits

I don't know where mine was made Jerry but it plays a little tune then goes clunk!! Best of both worlds 😂

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