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I don't like Japan
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jademonkey



Joined: 30 Mar 2007
Posts: 180

PostPosted: Sat Apr 28, 2007 7:30 am    Post subject: I don't like Japan Reply with quote

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)
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6810



Joined: 16 Nov 2003
Posts: 309

PostPosted: Sat Apr 28, 2007 8:32 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

cool, sarcasm.

That's new.
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Sweetsee



Joined: 11 Jun 2004
Posts: 2302
Location: ) is everything

PostPosted: Sat Apr 28, 2007 9:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

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



Joined: 30 Mar 2007
Posts: 180

PostPosted: Sat Apr 28, 2007 9:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

6810 wrote:
cool, sarcasm.

That's new.


Indeed.
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opalgrav



Joined: 24 Jun 2006
Posts: 13

PostPosted: Sat Apr 28, 2007 3:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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



Joined: 30 Mar 2007
Posts: 180

PostPosted: Sun Apr 29, 2007 12:03 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

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?
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Apsara



Joined: 20 Sep 2005
Posts: 2142
Location: Tokyo, Japan

PostPosted: Sun Apr 29, 2007 12:44 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

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.
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jademonkey



Joined: 30 Mar 2007
Posts: 180

PostPosted: Sun Apr 29, 2007 2:03 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Apsara wrote:
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.


That's actually a very good point. I think the major difference is that Muslim headscarves are a cultural and religious thing, whereas tattooes are a personal choice. If you go to a country where you know something isn't tolerated (for example, tattooes in Japan), it seems a little odd to then complain about it. To be blunt, one's opinion is secondary to the fact that in X culture, Y isn't tolerated. And I'm not talking about extreme things like slavery or whatnot, just things that are not socially permissible.
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rampo



Joined: 17 Oct 2006
Posts: 97

PostPosted: Sun Apr 29, 2007 3:30 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

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.
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jademonkey



Joined: 30 Mar 2007
Posts: 180

PostPosted: Sun Apr 29, 2007 5:57 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

rampo wrote:
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.


Actually, you're probably right. The most obnoxious people I've met in the countries I've visited have usually been white and or male.
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dove



Joined: 01 Oct 2003
Posts: 271
Location: USA/Japan

PostPosted: Sun Apr 29, 2007 7:44 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

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....
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jademonkey



Joined: 30 Mar 2007
Posts: 180

PostPosted: Sun Apr 29, 2007 9:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

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.
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AndyH



Joined: 30 Sep 2004
Posts: 417

PostPosted: Sun Apr 29, 2007 11:43 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

...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!
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AndyH



Joined: 30 Sep 2004
Posts: 417

PostPosted: Sun Apr 29, 2007 11:46 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

..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.
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furiousmilksheikali



Joined: 31 Jul 2006
Posts: 1660
Location: In a coffee shop, splitting a 30,000 yen tab with Sekiguchi.

PostPosted: Mon Apr 30, 2007 10:30 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

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

Oh my gourd!
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