Job Discussion Forums

[bluefrog]

Many foreigners get a lot of stares and pointing when out in public. Some Japanese are even rude enough to say "GAIJIN DA", basicly an offesive way to say "foreigner" (refer to the search button for futher research the word "GAIJIN") . I'm averaging about one of these incidents a week. I was wondering if anyone had a good replies for this.

[Khyron]

[kdynamic]

I think it's pretty offensive. Akin to saying "Hey look, a fat guy!" or whatever, even if it is true you shouldn't call people out.

But it's good to have a sense of humor, especially if it's a kid. If I don't want to simply ignore it, I might go "DOKO??" and look frantically over my shoulder. Or maybe say "iie, uchujin dayo" or something silly.

Or, if I have a minute, I might stop and mention to them that it's kind of rude to point at people and all that, especially if it's an adult who should really know better.

However, most of the people I get called out by are either really little kids or else really old senile people, and you can't reason with either very well.

[furiousmilksheikali]

kdynamic is right that most people who say "gaijin da!" are kids or the elderly who were never taught the rules of how to be PC. The analogy with saying someone is fat is often true as well as a lot of Japanese people will say quite openly that you are fat and you should lose some weight. Maybe those who say the Japanese lack opinions should not be bothered by people calling fat gaijin "fat gaijin".

By the way, I don't think one slur should be countered by another. Saying "Chugokujin!" or "Kankokujin!" assumes that the person you are addressing would hate to be called that. You don't even know that they aren't ethnic Koreans or Chinese. Koreans and Chinese suffer enough as it is in Japan without having to have their nationality used as a taunt.

My own advice is to be magnanimous.

[Glenski]

If it's a kid, they probably don't know better, so have a little fun with your response.

Gaijin? WHERE?

If it's an elderly person, continue to have fun with the "where?" routine, or be comical when you point back and say "nihonjin da!".

If it's any adult meaning disrespect (and you'd darned well better know that's what is meant, keep your cool and in a less humorous way say "where" or "nihonjinda".

The main point to the last one here is not trying to read someone's mind about their intent. Impoliteness is one thing, but if someone is truly trying to be offensive, that's another, but you should know for sure before acting.

Oh, and regardless of intent, get used to it. We will always be foreigners here, and it's not worth getting upset over something like that.

[king kakipi]

With a big smile, I reply:-
Yoku dekimashita

[king kakipi]

yoku deki mashi ta

[Hoser]

You want a "comeback"? What are you, 12 years old?

[king kakipi]

And season`s greetings to you too, Hoser.......

[bluefrog]

I've been here a few years and I can tell when a child or ederly person is suprised to see a foreigner and when a teenager wants to humiliate someone in front of her/his friends. The situation I'm refering to is the latter.

I'm also aware that I'm a minority in this country and incidents like these are the norm for our situation. I'm not so much interested in "getting one up" on the other person as how people respond to this.

Hoser, let's keep the negativity and insults to a minimum, shall we???

[markle]

Hoser has a point especially if you intend to respond to a teenager. I mean, Thats what the kid is looking for, you to freak out and embarrass yourself with pointless indignation. Me, I wouldn't rise to the bait - I'm not 12 anymore.

If you feel the need to say something why not try "Who the f*ck are you talking to punk?" The kid will either understand but be unable to respond and thus look stupid or not understand and still look stupid.

[canuck]

[canuck]

[callmesim]

I get the odd "hello hello hello hello hello" from a smartar*e teenager. I've always wondered the best way to handle it. I usually just ignore it and walk away. But deep down I wish I knew the Japanese for "your mum's a wh*re". If for no other reason but to see what the reaction would be.

That or run up, hug them and starting talking to them in English at a million miles an hour acting like a forever friend. Yes, yes, yes they're just teenagers but socially it's not acceptable at any level. And they should know it.

[kdynamic]

uh... say hello back?