Job Discussion Forums

[jademonkey]

Hi. I'm a white, middle-class male with a strong sense of personal entitlement and a superiority complex.

I came to Japan and the first thing I hated was that things were wierd.
They do things differently to my country and I hate it.

And the language barrier. I mean, I always speak English and these ignoramasus don't understand me. What kind of culturally backward people are these?

Not just that, but I wasn't in the racial majority and thus -possibly for the first time in my life- experienced racial prejudice firsthand. My conclusion of course, is that all Japanese are rampant fascist xenophobes.

I didn't bother learning how to fit into this country, acted like a fricken shaved gorilla and constantly got offended when I was treated "poorly".

In short, I expect everything to be the same as home, to be given everything on a platter, and for an entire culture to cater to ME.

(My apologies to those with legitimate concerns, but I am sick of this kind of whining)

[6810]

cool, sarcasm.

That's new.

[Sweetsee]

What else is new? Oh yeah, boarding through Shinjuku in the early mornings, that's new.

[jademonkey]

[opalgrav]

And the unfortunate truth, based on other teachers and tourists I've met, is that this caricature is actually real for some folks...

[jademonkey]

While my charicature may not have been very subtle, or even clever, I am merely trying to point out that others post similar things and are serious about it. The next time I hear about somebody with a tattoo who was treated poorly...

Imagine if a member of one of the Papua New Guinea mountian tribes (who wear traditional pen1s gourds, a stylised horn over their manhood) walked into a cafe in London. Would he be treated respectfully? No. Would he have the right to complain that the xenophobic British don't allow him to walk around with his gourd?

[Apsara]

Might be opening a big can of worms here but a more real life example than the Papua New Guinean gourd wearers in London are the Muslim women who have been prohibited from/ faced discrimination for wearing their headscarves at school or their jobs in various European countries in the last few years.

As wearing a headscarf in and of itself is not offensive to anyone as far as I can see, a very interesting parallel can be drawn with the tattoo ban in gyms etc. in Japan. I had never made the connection before until jademonkey made me think of it. Interesting.

[jademonkey]

[rampo]

Hmm.. interesting. I'm not a white male so I don't have nearly as many complaints. I suppose it makes me less presumptuous and naive.

[jademonkey]

[dove]

I am not an expert about the Muslim headscarf issue, but I remember that the ban was enforced in French public schools to separate religion and state; therefore, Christian students are also not allowed to wear crucifix jewelry. It is extremely controversial; I wonder if it is still in effect. In the USA, Muslim women must take off thier head scarves when having their driver's license picture taken. But the rule would also be applied to Catholic nuns who wear the full habit. Again, it is very controversial.
Concerning discrimination in Japan, I think it is the signs that say "no foreigners" or "must speak Japanese" or "Japanese only" that justifiably anger people. I may be wrong, but I don't think they would be allowed to remain posted in most countries, certainly in most "developed" countries....and I know that is a loaded word. And yes, I know that discrimination occurs in "developed" countries. I also know that even if those signs are illegal in Japan, they probably stay posted because this is not a country of immigrants. The foreign population is what, around 1% of the total population.
Reminds me of a Japanese karaoke bar in the East Village of New York City that had a sign that said "Japanese customers preferred." Even outside of their own country....

[jademonkey]

It's a pretty loaded issue. Signs that say, "NO FOREIGNERS" are pretty racist, but you have to look at the context. The only time I've seen this sign was at a hostess club near Yokosuka Navy Base. Coincidence?
Who amongst the populace was the most likely to get sh*tfaced, start fights and generally drive away customers? The Navy servicemen who were Americans. Racist? Yes. Understandable? I'd say yes.

In my 4 or so years in Japan, I've experienced racism occasionally. I've had people give me odd looks, people sidle away from me on trains and others panic when I came near them. Does this mean Japanese are racist? I'd say no. Insensitive to racial issues? Hell yes. Why? Well you get that when everyone's (99%) Japanese. In this sense, Japan is not a pluralistic society, which is a bit of a shame, but that's just how it is.

[AndyH]

...you forgot to mention the part about not being able to conveniently find all the BS from home, like Cheetos and Mountain Dew, and being able to watch Sunday (American) football on a big screen TV!

[AndyH]

..and, by the way, after having spent time in the Middle East and South Korea, I'll take Japan's "insensitivities" any day!
Half of my family are basically rednecks from Oklahoma and Texas, and the Japanese are no worse than them. Actually, they're much better.

[furiousmilksheikali]

What did the Papua New Guinean Tribesman say when he lost his clothes?

Oh my gourd!