[Kona]

(05-18-2016 01:24 PM)kinnikinik Wrote:  

(05-18-2016 02:17 AM)barrel Wrote:  

Fair enough, each to their own.
I can totally appreciate that japan/Korea will be best for some.
Though I wouldnt go as far to say it is better than the PI at all.
Just best for some.

Oh yeah, I had a LTR in Japan and spent time with friends and family.
So this is a generalization, but try actually living there instead of passing through.
In Japan/Korea you are subhuman. Politeness doesnt count.

Here are some home truths from someone who had to deal with it.
This is pretty much it, drink it in. This is their fault... and a major shortcoming of their culture:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Qgm8anDusw

Woah, hold on there Barrel, I understand the guy in your video is frustrated but that whole interaction that he's referencing is hardly a good example of Japanese people being arrogant. Can you imagine any 70 year-old couple in america walking up to a hispanic young man and trying out their Spanish on him (in an attempt to get to know him.)? Then the Hispanic refuses to speak Spanish (implying that the gentleman's language skills were inadequate), so the old woman is intimidated, or has simply been trained to be submissive to her husband. Big Deal!! Get a thicker skin. The dude is a whiner.

Having lived in Japan for more than a decade and speaking fluent japanese but also being 6' tall with red hair, I've had soooo many interactions like this I can't count them. And, yeah, they do get tiresome. So what?? I bet he doesn't complain when people buy his beer in the evening. Or someone, he doesn't really know from the neighborhood, drops off a new years gift or he's treated as a member of the company and taken on company trips, or his SMV gets him laid despite being a whiny beta. right???

In any interaction there are always interpretations. The Japanese, and any other race, have a unique perspective on how people should behave. Frankly, if the 70 year old man made a video about the borish young American that he just met on the riverside, it would be just as valid as this one!

So, if we're gonna drink it in.. how about we condemn Americans for being shallow, self-centered and self-pitying? That's OUR fault and a major shortcoming of OUR culture.

That guy in the video is a crabass.

How about I make a video about how white people react to me at the Kirkwood Missouri Walmart. Rant about white folk trying to speak Spanish to me.

Or when they say "oh you're from Hawaii, well I've never been there, but I've been to the bahamas"

There's different people everywhere it doesn't mean they're treating you as less of a human if they don't understand.

Aloha!

[barrel]

(05-18-2016 09:42 PM)Kona Wrote:  

That guy in the video is a crabass.

How about I make a video about how white people react to me at the Kirkwood Missouri Walmart. Rant about white folk trying to speak Spanish to me.

Or when they say "oh you're from Hawaii, well I've never been there, but I've been to the bahamas"

There's different people everywhere it doesn't mean they're treating you as less of a human if they don't understand.

Aloha!

Are you saying Japanese arent racist and xenophobic?
Or offering to make some sweet youtube clips to enjoy?
...or just that you can verify that there are in fact crabs in that guys ass?

In all seriousness, that guy in the video is annoying.
But he makes a valid point about Japanese culture.

To bring it back around, I understand how people can love places like Japan. PI is better in my book.

[Kona]

(05-18-2016 10:07 PM)barrel Wrote:  

(05-18-2016 09:42 PM)Kona Wrote:  

That guy in the video is a crabass.

How about I make a video about how white people react to me at the Kirkwood Missouri Walmart. Rant about white folk trying to speak Spanish to me.

Or when they say "oh you're from Hawaii, well I've never been there, but I've been to the bahamas"

There's different people everywhere it doesn't mean they're treating you as less of a human if they don't understand.

Aloha!

Are you saying Japanese arent racist and xenophobic?
Or just offering to make some sweet youtube clips to enjoy?
...or just that you can verify that there are in fact crabs in that guys ass?

In all seriousness, that guy in the video is annoying.
But he makes a valid point about Japanese culture.

To bring it back around, I understand how people can love places like Japan. PI is better in my book.

I'm saying so what. You find people that are racist and xenophobic everywhere.

I'm also saying that guy is a loser.

Aloha!

[barrel]

(05-18-2016 10:25 PM)Kona Wrote:  

I'm saying so what. You find people that are racist and xenophobic everywhere.

I'm also saying that guy is a loser.

Aloha!

Sure, I can help you out.

Philippines is less shit than Japan in my books since people are less racist and Xenophobic.
In fact, Filipinos are some of the warmest most social people in the world.

Unsure about your experiences at Walmart. Cool story though.

[kinnikinik]

(05-18-2016 10:07 PM)barrel Wrote:  

In all seriousness, that guy in the video is annoying.
But he makes a valid point about Japanese culture.

To bring it back around, I understand how people can love places like Japan. PI is better in my book.

OK. last comment on this (I promise):

you say two things, "PI is better in my book" -great... I agree we all have likes and dislikes and I also like the phills a LOT.

As for his "valid point", I disagree. His analysis of the situation is culturally myopic and overly sensitive. Her speaking to her husband is NOT because she sees him as not good enough to speak to. He was already confrontational with her husband, why should she be expected to brace him directly. Japanese people dont DO confrontation for the most part.

As for everyone hacking on English teachers. WTF?? I taught English in Japan for a LONG time. It's good honest work and I did it well.

[barrel]

(05-20-2016 02:11 AM)kinnikinik Wrote:  

(05-18-2016 10:07 PM)barrel Wrote:  

In all seriousness, that guy in the video is annoying.
But he makes a valid point about Japanese culture.

To bring it back around, I understand how people can love places like Japan. PI is better in my book.

OK. last comment on this (I promise):

you say two things, "PI is better in my book" -great... I agree we all have likes and dislikes and I also like the phills a LOT.

As for his "valid point", I disagree. His analysis of the situation is culturally myopic and overly sensitive. Her speaking to her husband is NOT because she sees him as not good enough to speak to. He was already confrontational with her husband, why should she be expected to brace him directly. Japanese people dont DO confrontation for the most part.

As for everyone hacking on English teachers. WTF?? I taught English in Japan for a LONG time. It's good honest work and I did it well.

Its interesting that your experiences in Japan have led you to believe that its not too racist over there.
When I visited I was initially awestruck my the awesomeness of it but the racist undertones and social awkwardness did grind on me after a while. Maybe I should give it another go some time.

[RawGod]

People in Japan are reserved and there is an undertone that could be considered racist. It comes down to how you choose to view it. Remember, people are very reserved toward each other there as well. And I don't deny I've banged women mainly on the strength of being a foreigner. That's not a bad trade-off. Truth is, I feel very freed up in Japan, as people both ignore foreigners and give them a certain latitude. You can exist in your own bubble there, and can draw people into it as you choose.

After a while - maybe a year, maybe three years - you can "act Japanese" enough, in your speech, gestures and demeanor, as well as in the way you dress - and get the best of both worlds. You'll have a certain measure of acceptance, as well as exotic value, to those Japanese who are curious enough. The foreigner with enough social intelligence to adopt Japanese manners without aping them or trying too hard to be Japanese is in a powerful position, with women, with business connections, etc.

Also, remember that getting out of central Tokyo will yield a much different experience.