My Take On Jeju New 7 Wonders Selection
Since the news came out that, NOT surprisingly, Jeju purchased... uhhhh... I mean "was selected," yeah that's right, "was selected" (wink, wink) for the New 7 Wonders thing I have been reading some of the comments on other blogs and websites.
It seems like the vast majority of comments have been of the "WTF?" variety. Those that posted and commented can't seem to understand how Jeju was selected, blah, blah, blah.
Let me extend a very late welcome to the party. But I do have a question, just where in the heck were you when this was all beginning to take shape? I, and some other bloggers in Indonesia of all places, have been writing and writing and writing about how the N7W thing is nothing more than a money making scheme.
I showed that the N7W organization was not transparent about how the sites were chosen and its claims of economic benefits resulting from being selected are suspect at best. I did this months ago. I wrote my opinion and I provided links to their own documents that showed what they were doing. Proverbially speaking, I was the lone man screaming in he wilderness - to no avail.
I saw an article in the Jeju Weekly where a reporter had started to question the people responsible for the Jeju N7W thing about the costs, etc.
I thought, "Good. Here we go. They are going to start asking the hard questions." But it was not to be. The ludicrous answers provided in response to the reporter's questions went unchallenged. I, for one, couldn't help but feel that our collective intelligence was being insulted by the Jeju official who responded to the reporter's questions.
Admittedly, I didn't look that hard but I failed to find any independent investigative work done by journalists in Korea about the N7W organization or its claims.
To be honest, I can't fault the Jeju Weekly for not taking up the issue and running it to ground. After all, as I have written about before, they know where their bread is buttered. Rocking the boat does not get one a lot of tangerines. Render unto Caesar and all of that.....
As I actually watched the announcement by Huey, Louie, and Dewey on Youtube, I found a few things that "Huey" said quite interesting. Among these are:
The winning candidates reflect the ones that knew best how to stimulate the most votes.
In other words, the Galapagos Islands were not selected because giant tortoises and iguanas haven't got the hang of the internet yet. Jesus tap dancing Christ, they even admit that quality or an objective set of criteria have nothing to do with it. Only internet connectivity matters.
Think about it. The place where man's view of nature, his origins, and his relationship with God was changed forever wasn't selected because it doesn't have broadband!
Now they say the list was provisional. They have to "check it." In other words, they have to "milk it." Yeah, right. I think the checking gives them time to hit up the "provisional winners" for more bucks. From the announcement:
In other words, "We are going to give you a a cheap ass plaque and you are going to give us a inauguration party and pay for everything." Crap, am I the only one that can see through this? Hell the "Organizers" get wined and dined all over the world for maybe 6 months and they don't have to pay a thing. Damn, I wish I had that job! Jeju and Korea has shown they are more than willing to pay for the plaque ("Platinum Sponsors" and all that). The N7W people have also shown that they are more than willing to take Korea's money.
I am really disturbed by the N7W selection process. At times I found it entertaining, even funny. However, the announcement and the obvious way in which the organizers are milking this whole thing is/are disgusting.
Now the N7W people are announcing a "7 Cities" contest. My gosh, they are geniuses! Yet another money maker! What's next, the New 7 Wonderful Foods? What do you want to bet Seoul gets into the act for the "7 Cities" thing.?
Some people may mistakenly think that, because I have been critical of Jeju's participation in the N7W thing, I am anti-Jeju or anti-Korea. To those that may think this let me ask you a question. If your friend was being sold a fraudulent product by some salesman and you knew about it, would you be silent or would you tell your friend?
I love Jeju. It is my home. Therefore, when I see some charlatan from Europe trying to cheat Jeju I am duty bound, as a loyal friend, to say something.
'Nuff said.
It seems like the vast majority of comments have been of the "WTF?" variety. Those that posted and commented can't seem to understand how Jeju was selected, blah, blah, blah.
Let me extend a very late welcome to the party. But I do have a question, just where in the heck were you when this was all beginning to take shape? I, and some other bloggers in Indonesia of all places, have been writing and writing and writing about how the N7W thing is nothing more than a money making scheme.
I showed that the N7W organization was not transparent about how the sites were chosen and its claims of economic benefits resulting from being selected are suspect at best. I did this months ago. I wrote my opinion and I provided links to their own documents that showed what they were doing. Proverbially speaking, I was the lone man screaming in he wilderness - to no avail.
I saw an article in the Jeju Weekly where a reporter had started to question the people responsible for the Jeju N7W thing about the costs, etc.
I thought, "Good. Here we go. They are going to start asking the hard questions." But it was not to be. The ludicrous answers provided in response to the reporter's questions went unchallenged. I, for one, couldn't help but feel that our collective intelligence was being insulted by the Jeju official who responded to the reporter's questions.
Admittedly, I didn't look that hard but I failed to find any independent investigative work done by journalists in Korea about the N7W organization or its claims.
To be honest, I can't fault the Jeju Weekly for not taking up the issue and running it to ground. After all, as I have written about before, they know where their bread is buttered. Rocking the boat does not get one a lot of tangerines. Render unto Caesar and all of that.....
As I actually watched the announcement by Huey, Louie, and Dewey on Youtube, I found a few things that "Huey" said quite interesting. Among these are:
The winning candidates reflect the ones that knew best how to stimulate the most votes.
In other words, the Galapagos Islands were not selected because giant tortoises and iguanas haven't got the hang of the internet yet. Jesus tap dancing Christ, they even admit that quality or an objective set of criteria have nothing to do with it. Only internet connectivity matters.
Think about it. The place where man's view of nature, his origins, and his relationship with God was changed forever wasn't selected because it doesn't have broadband!
Now they say the list was provisional. They have to "check it." In other words, they have to "milk it." Yeah, right. I think the checking gives them time to hit up the "provisional winners" for more bucks. From the announcement:
"Once the voting validation process is completed, in early 2012, we will then work with the confirmed winners to organize the official inauguration events during which each winner will receive the official plaque and will become officially confirmed as one of the new seven wonders of nature."
In other words, "We are going to give you a a cheap ass plaque and you are going to give us a inauguration party and pay for everything." Crap, am I the only one that can see through this? Hell the "Organizers" get wined and dined all over the world for maybe 6 months and they don't have to pay a thing. Damn, I wish I had that job! Jeju and Korea has shown they are more than willing to pay for the plaque ("Platinum Sponsors" and all that). The N7W people have also shown that they are more than willing to take Korea's money.
I am really disturbed by the N7W selection process. At times I found it entertaining, even funny. However, the announcement and the obvious way in which the organizers are milking this whole thing is/are disgusting.
Now the N7W people are announcing a "7 Cities" contest. My gosh, they are geniuses! Yet another money maker! What's next, the New 7 Wonderful Foods? What do you want to bet Seoul gets into the act for the "7 Cities" thing.?
Some people may mistakenly think that, because I have been critical of Jeju's participation in the N7W thing, I am anti-Jeju or anti-Korea. To those that may think this let me ask you a question. If your friend was being sold a fraudulent product by some salesman and you knew about it, would you be silent or would you tell your friend?
I love Jeju. It is my home. Therefore, when I see some charlatan from Europe trying to cheat Jeju I am duty bound, as a loyal friend, to say something.
'Nuff said.
posted by loj at 5:30 PM
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