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sallycat
Joined: 11 Mar 2006
Posts: 303
Location: behind you. BOO!
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 Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2007 1:49 am Post subject: |
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debatable. one could also argue that consumerism in japan relates to the shinto religion, with it's emphasis on fixing any given situation through acquiring the right amulet. (i'm not necessarily saying it does. i don't know enough about it to make a coherent case for it).
west=bad and avaricious
asia=good and spiritual
=an extremely naive point of view. |
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Thel
Joined: 24 Dec 2006
Posts: 52
Location: Kitchen table
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| Posted: Sun Jan 14, 2007 4:15 pm Post subject: |
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| sallycat wrote: |
debatable. one could also argue that consumerism in japan relates to the shinto religion, with it's emphasis on fixing any given situation through acquiring the right amulet. (i'm not necessarily saying it does. i don't know enough about it to make a coherent case for it).
west=bad and avaricious
asia=good and spiritual
=an extremely naive point of view. |
Hi sallycat,
That's an interesting observation about Japan. I see what you mean. Supposing that a superstitious practice equates with materialism might be a stretch, though. The "west" held such practices (a crucifix for luck, for example, or a rabbit's foot), but maybe this speaks more about the spiritual than the material (ironic, that).
For my own part, I don't think in terms of your formula. Materalism is not confined to any one region but permeates all; it's necessary to some extent. We're not eating without it. I was thinking more in terms of overconsumption, consumption for its own sake, as the means to personal fulfillment. If we agree that global political economy has adopted Western liberal-capitalism as its model, than my last point obtains. Rehashing the connections between Protestantism, liberalism, capitalism, and technological advance in the West is laborious and unnecessary, but if Koreans are buying the latest gadgets compulsively, we can ask, firstly, where those gadgets came from and why they find them necessary to buy.
Well, good-bye. I'm off to buy something I don't need. 
Thel |
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sallycat
Joined: 11 Mar 2006
Posts: 303
Location: behind you. BOO!
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| Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2007 5:20 am Post subject: |
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i think a lot of those gadgets are manufactured in korea.
also, "superstitious practice"? way to slam somebody else's religion. |
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Thel
Joined: 24 Dec 2006
Posts: 52
Location: Kitchen table
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| Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2007 6:30 am Post subject: |
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| sallycat wrote: |
i think a lot of those gadgets are manufactured in korea.
also, "superstitious practice"? way to slam somebody else's religion. |
Where they're manufactured is less relevant than the origin of the technology. But there's not much more to discuss on the topic, I think (?), if a topic it's been.
About my phrasing in relation to other people's beliefs: if someone routinely ate bark because that person believed it would fend off a malevolent spirit, and no one else did this but that person; and another claimed this person to be ignorant in his/her behaviour, I doubt you'd take offence, but simply and silently consent that the bark-eater might be a little off. If twenty million people began eating bark for the same reason, suddenly it would become more meaningful and any criticism of it would be treated with caution or awe. According to this, sheer numbers validate or invalidate any given belief or practice.
Well, I believe that unless I call certain practices superstitious four times a day, invisible Martians will descend upon me and snuff me out, pronto. So my slam was a part of my belief system, which revolves around the creation of the human species as derived from alien infestation, and an unyielding mental allegiance to our progenitors. I ask you to respect that.
Thel
Thel |
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Thel
Joined: 24 Dec 2006
Posts: 52
Location: Kitchen table
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| Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2007 2:02 am Post subject: |
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| sallycat wrote: |
i think a lot of those gadgets are manufactured in korea.
also, "superstitious practice"? way to slam somebody else's religion. |
Hey, sallycat:
I didn't mean to be trite. Well, yes, I did, and that's the point of this otherwise and maybe still pointless post: you're right: 'twasn't kosher to besmirch what other people believe. I was being an ass. So, sorry, and cia.
Thel |
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prlester
Joined: 08 Jan 2005
Posts: 92
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| Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2007 9:36 pm Post subject: |
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The foreign service didn't appeal to me because, they're are a lot of unpleasant countries and you can only stay in one place for three years, but if I had no other options and my academic record wasn't phasing out....
For lucid guys, feel free to jump in.
Last edited by prlester on Sat Apr 04, 2009 7:28 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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GambateBingBangBOOM
Joined: 04 Nov 2003
Posts: 2021
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2007 6:46 am Post subject: |
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| sallycat wrote: |
one could also argue that consumerism in japan relates to the shinto religion, with it's emphasis on fixing any given situation through acquiring the right amulet. (i'm not necessarily saying it does. i don't know enough about it to make a coherent case for it).
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1. Most Japanese people are far more Buddhist then Shinto followers for most parts of life, and then most are secular anyway.
2. If you actually believe that Shinto is about getting amulets to fix situations, then you should either just not talk about Shinto, or do some research about what it actually is. |
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Thel
Joined: 24 Dec 2006
Posts: 52
Location: Kitchen table
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| Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2007 4:10 pm Post subject: |
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| prlester wrote: |
For the op, you're ahead of the curve. I can't think of anyother place id rather be then overseas. Most u.s. guys have an inkling of what's it's like overseas, but never really know the full story. I left med school, in part, because I know I want to be overseas.
the problem is that there is not much gainful employment for foreigners. Most parts of the world, including Europe, don't have an open door policy, so job opportunities are limited and because of the deteriorating social situation at home for guys, coupled with the internet, the ESL world is not a solid career.
I've never really found a solution for this problem, and most Anglo guys are standoffish and not helpful, through paranoia, mass psychosis of why they are abroad etc. for any relative info.
Myself, I'm starting pharm school this fall, hope to be done by thirty and will practice with the federal government overseas. I know most people won't find this a viable option though. The foreign service didn't appeal to me because, they're are a lot of unpleasant countries and you can only stay in one place for three years, but if I had no other options and my academic record wasn't phasing out....
For lucid guys, feel free to jump in. |
Hi,
And my congratulations for leaving med school under what I'm sure was fairly intense pressure for you to remain. Good luck on pharm school (I take it this has nothing to do with barn animals ). Incidentally, here in Canada a pharmacist (sp?) does very well materially, by which I mean about 90 thousand per annum. And the work is generally less demanding in terms of hours than being a doctor...though I'm not authority on that angle.
Anyway, at the risk of extending this thread beyond its natural life, I just wanted to say that pull towards another clime and culture has affected my heart-wrenchingly significant other and myself so much we're almost certain that a permanent move is in the works.
Thank you for the post, prlester. Encouraging to see people take the proverbial bull by the horns. |
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