Job Discussion Forums

[canuck]

You belong in this thread too then.
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=37472&highlight=gaijin+word

[bluefrog]

Actually, that thread is "Is 'GAIJIN' a bad word". It's debating whether the word is offensive or not (which I happen to think it is). I read through that earlier this year. This thread is how to deal with people who call you "GAIJIN" or other discriminatory remarks.

The mistake is understandable though because they both have "GAIJIN" in the title.

I'm curious if you have had any incidents like this and how did you deal with them?

[canuck]

You're stirring the pot for the sake of stirring the pot. The answers you have wanted have come. You may agree or disagree with them. Now, because it's Christmas, you insist on continuing your crusade. At least your spelling has improved.

[bluefrog]

[canuck]

[bluefrog]

That's great.

I think you are blessed to not have suffered one of these experiences.

[furiousmilksheikali]

To be fair bluefrog, you have moved the goalposts during this thread. As you pointed out to another poster this thread was about responses to people saying "gaijin da!"

I have already said that I am not usually bothered by these remarks but you have since then changed the point of the thread. Now you are talking about people who have refused you service in a restaurant for being a foreigner and they used the word "gaijin" in a "hurtfull" way.

I think you have to make a clear distinction between the use of the word "gaijin" with overt racist behaviour towards foreigners. Are you asking for our responses to the word "gaijin" or our responses to being discriminated against?

The reason I ask is because I have been in a similar situation to yours when I was in Tokyo. I went to a bar with a friend of mine and just as we reached the entrance someone who worked there walked out of the bar making a crossed-hand sign and said, in English, "Japanese!" One of his co-workers suddenly emerged from behind him and said "edo....man seki desu!"

The customers inside must have been extraordinarilly subdued that night for some reason or another as I couldn't hear anything going on to suggest they were full. I took it on good faith that they were, however, and moved on to the next bar. It only occurred to me later that we had indeed been refused entry for being foreigners.

But, it should be pointed out that at no time were we referred to as "gaijin". The word was never used, and is often never used by genuine racists as they realize that the use of such a word only lends ammunition to the other side.

While I don't doubt that you have suffered racial abuse by people in Japan, I think it is important that you make a distinction between acts of hatred and the use of a word that doesn't always carry such hateful feelings.

Legislating against certain words very rarely changes the inner feelings of someone. Also, using "comebacks" to people who are ignorant of the negative connotations of a word often only puts yourself in a negative light.

I'm sure there are people who disagree with me on this forum but I try to look at what I perceive as the intention behind the word and not the word itself. There are people who could charm you with the nicest words in the world who will still behave nastily to you.

So, I will end this post with a cliche that actions do speak louder than words.

[Vince]

Just let your facial expression or a slight shake of your head express your disappointment. Few words and an appropriate expression of feelings carry more weight with the Japanese than do scornful comebacks.

[Venti]

[Vince]

[bluefrog]

[bluefrog]