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Cool Teacher
Joined: 18 May 2009
Posts: 930
Location: Here, There and Everywhere! :D
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 Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2014 12:01 pm Post subject: Scarry thoughts on Japan for foreigners! |
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I read this toray and got a bit scared:
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2014/12/03/issues/time-burst-bubble-face-reality/#.VIGYTNKUfE1
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Sorry to burst your bubble, but face reality: What do you have to offer Japan? I’m not asking if there is something you do well; I’m asking: After all these years, is there something that you can do that Japan positively cannot live without? If not, then Japan can easily live without you, and you could be headed for the gurney.
No doubt people will decry this column. Look, I “get” that too, for it’s a natural part of illusio maintenance. People trapped in their bubbles will fight to their last breath to avoid having them burst. Facing the reality of their perpetual second-class caste status would force them to admit that they made a mistake by submitting to Japan’s default subordination processes — that they traded their entire life for something that they ultimately found no stake in.
Criticize away if that makes you feel better. It’s more comforting to play the game and party on. For now. But as your twilight years approach, you’ll look back in anger and wish you’d created a different bubble. Japan as an entire society does too, what with all this wasted human potential, as it fades into international irrelevance. |
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RM1983
Joined: 03 Jan 2007
Posts: 360
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| Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2014 2:22 pm Post subject: |
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| Waffle. What does anyone really offer anyone? Im probably doing the country more good in my ALT job than 20 million salarymen in Tokyo who sit there miserably all day. Im damn sure doing the country more good than the old people raping the country of it's future |
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Cool Teacher
Joined: 18 May 2009
Posts: 930
Location: Here, There and Everywhere! :D
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| Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2014 2:29 pm Post subject: |
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| Actually this is by a guy called Dabido Arudo who is a guy who he is probably talking about in the article especivally the bit about the divorce! |
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G Cthulhu
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
Posts: 1373
Location: Way, way off course.
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| Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2014 12:07 am Post subject: |
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| I'm kinda impressed that he's making money stating the obvious for anyone that's been in Japan more than a year or two. Regardless of thoughts about him personally, he's carved out a niche and mined it for all it's worth. |
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Pitarou
Joined: 16 Nov 2009
Posts: 1116
Location: Narita, Japan
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| Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2014 1:25 am Post subject: |
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| G Cthulhu wrote: |
| I'm kinda impressed that he's making money stating the obvious for anyone that's been in Japan more than a year or two. |
Why so cynical?
First, it's not obvious to some. They are so smitten by Japanese culture that it takes them decades to figure it out.
Second, it's not about the money. He doesn't charge a dime for all the useful information and articles he puts on his website. And I call it "useful" because it helped me to avoid the illusio Debito describes in the article, and understand what I was getting into before I came to Japan. |
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kzjohn
Joined: 30 Apr 2014
Posts: 277
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| Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2014 10:28 am Post subject: |
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debito has had such a long and twisted experience here (and now not here) that I'd really never, ever take what he says without several grams of salt.
Tho not for stuff on his "website", I'd bet he got paid for the article. |
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kzjohn
Joined: 30 Apr 2014
Posts: 277
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| Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2014 10:33 am Post subject: |
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| maybe debito is matesl!?!?! |
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rxk22
Joined: 19 May 2010
Posts: 1629
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| Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2014 10:45 am Post subject: |
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| Cool Teacher wrote: |
| Actually this is by a guy called Dabido Arudo who is a guy who he is probably talking about in the article especivally the bit about the divorce! |
Guy is the most famous cry baby here by far. Can't stand him |
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steki47
Joined: 20 Apr 2008
Posts: 1029
Location: BFE Inaka
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| Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2014 11:55 pm Post subject: |
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| RM1983 wrote: |
| Im probably doing the country more good in my ALT job than 20 million salarymen in Tokyo who sit there miserably all day. |
Really think so? I don't. I am also an ALT and I really don't think I am contributing any more (or any less) than some desk drone. Although I think I lead a much better and more enjoyable personal life than said drone.
| RM1983 wrote: |
| What does anyone really offer anyone? |
Now we are on to something. I would probably be working some dull office job back home as well. Less holiday but perhaps more money. Job security may vary. |
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nightsintodreams
Joined: 18 May 2010
Posts: 558
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| Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2014 4:40 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| After all these years, is there something that you can do that Japan positively cannot live without? |
Errr, yea, speak English fluently. Isn't that why they brought us here?
I can't think of a single skill or occupation that Japan or any country positively cannot live without. Could Britain live without all the Pakistanis running corner shops (convinience stores)? Probably, but I don't think that means we should be able to treat them as we please or send them back. |
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Pitarou
Joined: 16 Nov 2009
Posts: 1116
Location: Narita, Japan
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| Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2014 5:52 am Post subject: |
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| nightsintodreams wrote: |
| Could Britain live without all the Pakistanis running corner shops (convinience stores)? Probably, but I don't think that means we should be able to treat them as we please or send them back. |
... which is precisely what Debito's been banging on about all these years. |
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rxk22
Joined: 19 May 2010
Posts: 1629
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| Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2014 6:18 am Post subject: |
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| Pitarou wrote: |
... which is precisely what Debito's been banging on about all these years. |
True, but the guy really needs to change how he argues. He makes far more enemies than he is making friends. |
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Pitarou
Joined: 16 Nov 2009
Posts: 1116
Location: Narita, Japan
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| Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2014 4:52 am Post subject: |
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| rxk22 wrote: |
| Pitarou wrote: |
... which is precisely what Debito's been banging on about all these years. |
True, but the guy really needs to change how he argues. He makes far more enemies than he is making friends. |
Fair point. If a guy has that many haters, you have to wonder what he's doing wrong.
On the other hand, I've followed Debito's writings for a few years, and I've never found him worse than mildly annoying. Nothing to turn me against him, and I really don't see why he attracts so much vitriol. But maybe that's because my opinions broadly coincide with Debito's? |
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Shimokitazawa
Joined: 16 Aug 2009
Posts: 458
Location: Saigon, Vietnam
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| Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2014 9:35 am Post subject: |
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| Pitarou wrote: |
| On the other hand, I've followed Debito's writings for a few years, and I've never found him worse than mildly annoying. Nothing to turn me against him, and I really don't see why he attracts so much vitriol. But maybe that's because my opinions broadly coincide with Debito's? |
I've also noticed that many foreigners in Japan do not like Debito. However, he has his following and I read his articles from time to time.
I believe there is a great deal of cognitive dissonance among the expat community in Japan. Many of them simply can't handle reading or hearing about Japan's short-comings. Why would they choose to live and work in a country that treats foreigners so badly?
I agree with much of what he has written. On the other hand, Debito can be kind of a bully and nasty to those who he sets his sights on, Japanese or non-Japanese.
A lot of older teachers in the JALT crowd who knew him have said that he was fine and an easy person to sit down and have a drink with.
It seems he has a doctorate now, lives in Hawaii and has a new Canadian wife. Which raises the question: Why is he wasting his time beating up on Japan? Is he actually earning a living writing and speaking about these issues? |
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rxk22
Joined: 19 May 2010
Posts: 1629
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| Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2014 1:56 pm Post subject: |
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| I too agree with most of what he says/stands for. I feel though that he is annoying and comes of the wrong way. I can't put my finger on it, but there is just the way that he comes off that makes me just dislike him. |
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