Here's a sample of what the South Korean press is saying:

[hedgehog]

S.Koreans Unruffled by N.Korean Threats

Most South Koreans are calmly going about their everyday lives despite increasing threats from North Korea.

On Sunday, over 30,000 people visited the Han River Park in Yeouido for a picnic. "Despite a considerable drop in temperature after Saturday's rain, picnickers kept coming in until late in the evening," a park administrator there said.

A 42-year-old housewife who visited the park with two children on Sunday afternoon said, "The North Korean threat is nothing new. I don't feel the need to be nervous all of a sudden."

Panic buying of necessities such as instant noodles and bottled water, which has sometimes happened after threats from North Korea in the past, is also at a minimum. Big supermarket chains E Mart and Lotte Mart did not see greater demand for such goods and they have no plans to increase stocks.

http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2013/04/08/2013040801345.html


I think the lack of panic buying may be significant.

[Marrah_G]

1. I think it's one of those things that won't be a problem...until it is.

Meaning that there isn't any real way of knowing, one way or the other, what the north will do. I think the people of the South are wise not to panic until there is a reason to panic. Go bags would be more practical then pantries full of food anyway, since most of the country is located near the boarder and would need to flee south for a while. Just my two cents.

[hedgehog]

2. To clarify what Marrah said - more than half the population of South Korea

lives in Seoul:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seoul

I'm not sure how many Americans are aware of this. it's worth pointing out.

FWIW, I've been in the traffic jam that exoduses Seoul on a typical Friday night. It's horrendous!

[Marrah_G]

4. And Seoul is around 40 miles from the NK border

I think we won't know what NK is going to do until and unless artillary starts to hit Seoul.

Hopefully he is blustering and not out to prove he can rule all of Korea where his Grandfather and Father failed.

He also has 2 million totally brainwashed troops at his command.

[hedgehog]

5. I forgot to point out where Seoul is!

Thanks for adding that info!

[gordianot]

3. I am glad to hear they are not doing panic buying.

Americans on the other hand are complete morons especially gun dealers. I occasionally shoot and went to hardware store for 22 shells nothing on the shelves. It seems that local gun dealers are buying up massive quantities of 22 shells so you have to buy from them. In turn they jack up the prices feeding off the stupidity and gullible fears of RW gun nuts fueled by the irrational NRA.

I would hope if South Korean civilians have firearms they are not so damn stupid to think 22's will repel invaders.

[Volaris]

6. Yep. When Seoul calls the White House and says "Shit. Send the tanks." THEN I'll start worrying.

Until, then, Lil Kim is just doing what the Weekly Planner calls for him to do EVERY Tuesday. Granted, it's a worse "Tuesday" than others, but still, ..."Tuesday".

[IdaBriggs]

7. "Dawn is in trouble? It must be Tuesday."

[Volaris]

8. lol

Nice and Inside; not everyone will know what to do with that.

[IdaBriggs]

9. We've been rewatching the series.

It has held up surprisingly well (with a shock to the whole "lack of cell phone" thing).

Just finished up "Innocence" from Season 2. Whedon Rules!

[Volaris]

10. He was at a ComicCon thing somewhere,

and mentioned that IF he were going to go back to Firefly, (rumor is, he IS going to do that after he gets the rest of his Avergers Money) he would produce it with his own cash, and put it on Netflix. How badass would THAT be? No network bullshit, just "Hey, were done shooting, here's the complete Second Season, have fun guys."

[IdaBriggs]

12. Oooh! I just geeked out at the thought!

That would be SO AWESOME!!!

One of the things we are loving at the moment is NO COMMERCIALS. I would sign up for Netflix (which I have never done) if they did something like this with *anything* Whedon.

*Swoon!*

I *loved* what he did with Avengers; it felt like true Fan vindication. And it has been *fascinating* watching the story-lines develop in Buffy-Verse "knowing" what comes next: the interplay between the different characters, the breadcrumbs that *mean something* a few episodes later -- real live character development. I have actually come to appreciate the *acting* chops more as well - the switch for Nicholas Brendon between frustrated teenage romance to snarky scooby - wow. I've seen some of these folks in other stuff, but the Jos team really gave them a chance to just *shine* in the roles they created, to the point where the motivation of the characters (even when making "bad" decisions) seems completely plausible, given the impossible circumstances they face.

(Sorry for the thread derail - but this is a good thread on its own, and deserves the "kick"!)

[Iggo]

13. WWBD

[TimberValley]

11. Going into a panic at everything NK says would probably be exactly what NK wants.

And the South Koreans are smart enough not to do that.


Easily panicked civilians = easily intimidated civilian populace. The South Koreans aren't that.

[Iggo]

14. Americans, on the other hand...