Kim Jong Un’s father, the late Kim Jong Il once wrote in his memoirs that he never once defecated in his entire life, and that the first time he played golf, he scored 11 holes-in-one over the 18-hole course. And the citizenry in general believed it, and worshipped him

So, no…..I don’t imagine that their glorious leader’s size and shape (and how much they don’t have to eat) matters to them at all….

“Annoyed” is hardly the word I’d use if I were living under the regime of a dictator—which more and more I’m feeling I do in the U.S.—but that aside, I suspect many if not most NK citizens have lived that way for long they don’t feel such specific emotions. I would hope they find a bit of joy and comfort in small ways.

People in America give money to televangelists who own big houses and Mercedes Benz.

I think part of the population loves their leader like a God, and part of the population wishes they could get the hell out of there and be free. I have no clue the percentages.

@jleslie How did televangelists get into this conversation?
You seem to bring them up and slam them regularly.

Keep the people hungry enough and cognitive impairment is an absolute certainty. I doubt they are “annoyed”. They are hungry and frightened. They fear for the lives of their children. I don’t imagine they worship him, they just try not to be noticed at all.

@chyna You can pick any leader that lines themselves up with a Godlike figure. Their followers who buy into the whole schtick don’t worry about that person’s profits. I don’t think I bring up televangelists a lot. Maybe evangelicals, that I admit to, and I’ve said good and bad about them, just like I do about many groups.

Many leaders do very well, while the people who are ruled by them don’t do well at all. NK is so isolated that many people there might not know of any other way.

Remember Elian Gonzales? His father seemingly liked Castro and communism. He was a believer, while many in Cuba want democracy and capitalism back.

I imagine that the Korean people have more fundamental worries than the girth of their leader. Like staying alive.

I would guess that the average NK citizen is quite aware of what they should/should not be thinking about.

@jca Yes! But bad idea to ever say that!

@JLeslie your analogy is severely flawed. The people who supply the televangelists do so by choice, albeit a choice that we find misguided. If they choose not to, they won’t be killed or imprisoned. The North Koreans very likely don’t actually believe in the divinity of Kim Jong Un, but they do understand the value of saying and doing the things that will keep a well-fed, well-armed private army away from their door.

Nope. Stockholm Syndrome

@canidmajor I’m only talking about what they really feel, not what they say. I think some people in regimes like that really buy into the whole thing, and some don’t. Having choice has nothing to do with the question at hand.

On what do you base this statement? “I think some people in regimes like that really buy into the whole thing, and some don’t.”. From interviews that could be read by members of that regime? From personal conversations with North Koreans?
Your comparison is baseless.

@canidmajor Well, I found this but it’s true that I’m just going on my unprofessional uniformed guess about human nature. Some people do better in very structured circumstances. Some people are oriented towards putting total confidence in a leader.

Just that people choose to follow religious clergy to their own detriment demonstrates it. I don’t mean all or most religions or religious leaders are bad, I think the opposite, but I’m saying the ones that are still have followers.

Do you think there aren’t people who think communism is the best way? There are still people who believe it. Or, that there aren’t people in NK who look to their leader like a God. He is the provider of all things for them. I would bet some are brainwashed by it.

It seems to me that starvation is “annoying” whether or not Kim is fat.

@JLeslie, I missed the part in your link that mentioned North Korea.

And your original analogy was about people in the United States giving money to televangelists. That analogy would s still not comparable, no matter how many references to Eastern European communism you throw out there.

@canidmajor If you think it’s not comparable that’s fine. I’m just talking about human beings no matter where they live. Remember those shock studies done years ago? Everyone wanted to believe the Nazis were horrible people different than ourselves, and then studies show many Americans will hurt another if told to do it by what they perceived as an authority figure.

I don’t think it’s a leap to say some people in NK think the leader and the circumstances they live in suck, and some people buy into the whole thing.

Just like some Germans bought into Nazi Germany and some didn’t.

They will be even more annoyed when Kim Jong-Trump starts dropping bombs on them.

^^Just that. Lol. @canidmajor A whole bunch of people feel
Trump voters put into office a wealthy narcissist, who is “fat” in more ways then one, and many of those same people are struggling. Supposedly some of these people like an authoritarian situation, there have been articles written about it. They continue to stand in support of him, and they have a choice.

I;m sure there are plenty of N, Koreans that secretly mock their fat and coddled leader in private. Human nature is human nature but you better believe they would never do so in any fashion that could bring harm to them or their families by defiling the inglorious bastard.
I also get @JLeslie ‘s analogy, using televangelists as an example of how their humble and often, financially fragile, audience overlooks the greed and hypocrisy of their professions. Not that hard to make the connection if you have a dash of abstract thinking ability.

Whether it is religious, or political power, it is power that corrupts and is abused by human nature.

I have heard religious leaders, and political leaders both opine,when pressed about their luxuries, that their followers/supporters would want them to live in such a way.
This is obviously a way of those people excusing their misuse of power. But I agree with @JLeslie . Some people, regardless of their own circumstances, support their leaders and their lavish lifestyle.

While I agree that there are certainly differences between a dictatorship/citizen, and televangelist/supporter relationship, there are some parallels. Not a false analogy, to me…

No, I don’t think they are “annoyed” by his plumpness. That reminds me more of Western jealous thinking. I don’t think they have much room in their lives to envy his plumpness, what with all the other things I would expect them to reflect upon first, such as how to stay in line and make the best of their situations.

The citizens “know” the USA is at fault for no food for the regular people.

They are lied to 24/7 !

I’m sure that they find it more than annoying, especially since losing 4 million of their population due to malnutrition in the past 2 years, but Kim has a very effective propaganda machine that blames it all on the US. However with cell phone and computer hacking, there are cracks in the dome of isolation like never before.

From North Korean elementary school textbooks
https://i.pinimg.com/736x/32/01/cd/3201cdab29192ce5ed941b2d6857cd1e--korean-painting-political-posters.jpg

https://hangukstory.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/115.jpg

http://all-that-is-interesting.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/north-korean-propaganda-blood.jpg

North Korean shool children
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/26/26/a1/2626a1faafb98e9ec8ffce510984a8f1--north-korea-korean.jpg

If Americans are so morally superior, why don’t they prove it?
I love the American civilization, and I have fought about half my life to asset its principles.
But why are Americans so confused about what is good and what is evil?
It seems real plain to me.
What is the source of the moral confusion?

It’s because half of the people in this country admire the Kardashians, know all about what ‘Honey Boo-Boo’ is up to, think that pro wrestling is real, are certain there are 52 states, and think that you need a passport to enter New Mexico….

@PullMyFinger I lived in N.M. for years and you would be amazed how right you are. People think you live on a reservation in a wigwam or mud hut. LOL

There is famine, poverty, public executions and concentration camps. People are under constant control, monitored all the time. If you do anything wrong, you and family will suffer. They aren’t quiet and supportive, they are trying to save their lives.
People are trying to run away from there. That is enough to see they are far, far from annoyed. They are just way too starved, petrified and braindead to do anything except running away, and even that is only for the bravest ones.