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kdynamic · Joined: 05 Nov 2005 Posts: 562 Location: Japan

Wow, you guys seriously need to take a deep breath and calm down. Yes the Japanese see us as freaks. What I mean by that is that we look different and are expected to act and think differently. That means that, while conservative Japanese society might leave little wiggle room for a Japanese person with a nose ring, as foriegners it's much more readily accepted.

If you really think Japanese people don't look at you and notice all the un-Japanese features you have, you're kidding yourself. Yes we are freaks here. Why do you think people stare at us and comment on everything from our hair color to leg length to shoe size? Why do you think they react with shock and awe if we say we eat normal Japanese food or watch normal Japanese TV? Because they expect us to be different.

Maybe the problem here is different definitions of the word 'freak' but I am using it to mean "any abnormal phenomenon or product or unusual object; anomaly; aberration" (dictionary.com) or "A thing or occurrence that is markedly unusual or irregular. An abnormally formed organism, especially a person or animal regarded as a curiosity" (American Heritage). I honestly don't think those characterizations are too far off.

shuize · Joined: 04 Sep 2004 Posts: 1270

furiousmilksheikali · Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2007 12:38 am Post subject:

kdynamic · Joined: 05 Nov 2005 Posts: 562 Location: Japan

furiousmilksheikali · Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2007 12:47 am Post subject:

gaijinalways · Joined: 29 Nov 2005 Posts: 2279

Yes, I would agree with you, but then that statement again seems at odd with some of your statements on dating (in another thread), and certainly statements that another poster said about marriage. After all, who wants to marry or date a freak, another freak perhaps?

But, a little more on topic, we're talking about getting employment, not finding friends you want to hang out with, and these are general guidelines, nothing anyone wants you to live your life by. But you do have to realize some will judge you by your appearance and decide if you are employable or not.

Chill baby, chill! Cool

Nagoyaguy · Joined: 15 May 2003 Posts: 425 Location: Aichi, Japan

As a general question, I'd like to know why it is so taboo to "judge" someone. The way a person treats their body and presents themself to the public is probably a good general indicator of many things. It's simple social reality. Not a foolproof system by any means, but one that is used.

Totally off topic, but I heard the same thing in the Democratic candidate debates in the US last week. One of the candidates was incredibly reluctant to say something simple like "I think (name) is wrong about..." because he didnt want to seem judgemental. Instead, he said, "I am right about ..." Talk about pussyfooting around!

shuize · Joined: 04 Sep 2004 Posts: 1270

furiousmilksheikali · Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2007 1:19 am Post subject:

gaijinalways · Joined: 29 Nov 2005 Posts: 2279

kdynamic · Joined: 05 Nov 2005 Posts: 562 Location: Japan

furious: every word has a variety of connotations and denotations. A word like "freak" not only has a multitude of disparate definitions, but also has very different nuances for different people. Some people think it's a very negative word. Others embrace it. Clarifying which of many various meanings I was going for in a given context is, I think, quite reasonable. It's not as if I used to word to mean something it didn't mean. I used it to mean something specific: a person who is, above all, different from the norm. I don't think that meaning is such a stretch, seeing as though it's the first definition in the dictionary.

I don't know what you tell yourself, but no matter what you do, no matter how good your Japanese is, no matter how perfectly you follow japanese rules and customs, no matter how long you are here, most Japanese people will always see you as a freak. You may not like it, but 's true.