Thomas Proskow's past comments

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  Thomas ProskowMay. 03, 2013 - 12:49AM JST

  I think the economy and the fear of losing one's job has a lot to do with it.

  Japan also has a long history of being a stationary culture. One's life is defined by their occupation, which comes before family, hobbies, or other personal/private goals or endeavors. People don't change careers or move around all that much, therefore sacrificing your "other time" for work is not really seen as a big problem.

  Posted in: Why do Japanese work such long hours?

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  Thomas ProskowMar. 26, 2013 - 11:10AM JST

  Yes.

  I can't understand why anyone would be against it.

  Case closed.

  Posted in: Do you support same-sex marriages?

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  Thomas ProskowMar. 09, 2013 - 01:44PM JST

  Bottom line is.... they're married, and I hope this sparks a chain of events in order for Japan to rid itself of the multiple conservative and anti-individualist fears that have held this country in darkness and misery for years.

  Posted in: First gay wedding held at Tokyo Disney Resort

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  Thomas ProskowMar. 07, 2013 - 09:09AM JST

  The "well you're just as guilty of being intolerant of intolerance" is the general non-argument used by conservatives to put up duck blinds and end arguments they usually start.

  Posted in: First gay wedding held at Tokyo Disney Resort

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  Thomas ProskowMar. 07, 2013 - 08:54AM JST

  Really, should gay marriage even be argued???

  I happen to have friends of the family who are a happily married lesbian couple and have a complete house full of children. Every single one of those children understand their parents' relationship and are living normal, happy lives.

  Anyone and everyone, no matter what race or gender, should be allowed to marry whomever they want.......

  Anyhow, I long for the day ALL conservative thinking is completely erased from this planet. Conservatism is the true disease that holds the human race back.

  Posted in: First gay wedding held at Tokyo Disney Resort

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  Thomas ProskowMar. 06, 2013 - 12:58PM JST

  It's sad enough this world is so conservative, but it's even sadder to see many homophobes commenting on this........

  People need to grow up and realize people have the right to love whoever they want.

  Posted in: First gay wedding held at Tokyo Disney Resort

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  Thomas ProskowFeb. 25, 2013 - 12:09PM JST

  Pop music...... the ultimate weapon of psychological warfare.

  Posted in: AKB fan threatens sarin gas attack over commercial

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  Thomas ProskowFeb. 25, 2013 - 12:06PM JST

  I think the middle of the article has hit the nail on the head...... Japanese working culture.

  Most people fail to realize that their are more important things in life than careers.

  Hell, most Japanese men are taught that to enjoy life too much is "being selfish".

  Procreation and families mean too much time away from the office.

  Posted in: Why aren't Japanese dating and mating?

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  Thomas ProskowJan. 29, 2013 - 09:36AM JST

  Asian women have naturally high, wide cheekbones.... and I think it's cute!!

  Beside the point, I kinda agree with smokers, alcoholics, self-centered fashion queens, or the jealous type who never allow any privacy or ones that try to control or change you...... I think that goes for both men and women.

  Money is really superficial. Money has never meant anything to me when it comes to relationships, but responsibility does. I was once in a relationship with someone who had 3-4 massive credit card debts to pay off, refused to work, and expected me to be the only one bringing money into the house, so she could shop around on e-bay and drink herself into a stupor....... and she continually blamed ME for the fact we never had any money!!! Never again!!!! >:(

  Posted in: Japan’s singletons list kinds of people they’d hate to marry

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  Thomas ProskowJan. 26, 2013 - 01:10PM JST

  Exactly..... I think the POSITIVE of being a foreigner with a foreigner's attitude about things is that we're here and doing it for US.

  Many Japanese are raised with more of an attitude that their life goal is to be part of a company and sacrifice their individuality for the good of their company. Many decide their life identity based on their occupation.

  When we first came to Japan, how many of us decided since after high school our entire life's purpose was to go to Japan and be a native English teacher/mascot at some language school the rest of our lives? That we're a Native English teacher and nothing more? Thought not.

  Posted in: How to function optimally in Japanese work environment

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  Thomas ProskowJan. 26, 2013 - 09:45AM JST

  I really wish the age would come when ALL people will simply view themselves as individuals and not depend on race or nationality for identity.

  Posted in: What it means to be 'haafu' in Japan

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  Thomas ProskowJan. 26, 2013 - 09:27AM JST

  I think that while RESPECTING certain kinds of protocol are mandatory, some of these don't actually fix problems within a company and just preserve what's WRONG with the workplace.

  Cultures be damned, use common sense.

  Working overtime is ok, to a limit. However, if it's completely within your contract, and you've got nothing to do, there's no reason whatsoever to do unpaid overtime.

  This is not our culture, but I think the important thing about living overseas is to only adopt the positive(beneficial, self-improving) aspects of a foreign culture, but drawing a firm solid line when it comes to the negatives (anti-individualism, sacrifice of your family and well-being for the company, not handling problems directly, etc.)

  I think the best way is to know and stick to your own beliefs and finding out how THOSE can benefit a company rather than destroying yourself in the name of blind conformity. Companies in Japan obviously don't hire foreigners just so they can pretend to be Japanese, they hire foreigners to see what they can learn from them.

  Life is a journey of learning and self-improvement. Only adopt what benefits you.

  Posted in: How to function optimally in Japanese work environment

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  Thomas ProskowJan. 11, 2013 - 10:09AM JST

  Out of the many other things that disgust me about Hashimoto, he scores one point of redemption here.

  Now if only he can ditch his tattooaphobia and other dated ideas.

  Posted in: Hashimoto blasts education board over basketball teacher lapse

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  Thomas ProskowJan. 07, 2013 - 09:19AM JST

  "butt-hurt", "whoo-hoo! and "onesy"

  Posted in: Which English words or expressions really annoy you?

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  Thomas ProskowDec. 21, 2012 - 09:19AM JST

  Hashimoto is the singular embodiment of EVERYTHING wrong with Japan nowadays!!! The fact he is so popular is proof of how far this kind of sickness has reached in Japan.

  We are looking at societal collapse, and the Japanese, so stubborn and controlled, will fail to recognize it even long after it has already happened.

  Posted in: The case for Toru Hashimoto

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  Thomas ProskowDec. 20, 2012 - 11:52AM JST

  Performance based grades for faculty, but still not for students.....,

  Sorry, the first thing Japan SHOULD do is get rid of the ridiculous "escalator" system of education, treat students like individuals and not "group members", treat students like ADULTS and not kids, and start putting more pressure on parents to raise their own children instead of treating teachers like shit and making THEM do the jobs the parents are supposed to do!!!

  Posted in: The case for Toru Hashimoto

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  Thomas ProskowDec. 12, 2012 - 10:32AM JST

  In Japan, old people tend to eat noisily. Eating noisily being bad manners is something fairly "last 30 years" in Japan.

  Also, talking with your mouth full is something Japanese people tend to do a lot which I find extremely irritating. At dinnertime, conversation is seen as being almost as important as the food, and I've even occasionally been shunned for being "too quiet and untalkative" during dinner parties. Personally, I enjoy meals in silence and solitude....

  Posted in: Which is considered worse, holding your chopsticks the wrong way, or eating noisily?

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  Thomas ProskowDec. 12, 2012 - 08:47AM JST

  I'm sure lonely overweight singles who just want to try both flavors will be the number one buyers.

  Posted in: Romantic potato chips

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  Thomas ProskowNov. 21, 2012 - 08:52AM JST

  I wish Japanese/Asian women would realize that they are naturally born with a cute physical appearance: high cheekbones, almond eyes, button nose, pouty lips, and baby smooth skin. No matter what they do, or how they dress, they will always look "cute".......

  Sooooooo, now that it's out of the way, they can focus on developing their behavior to be mature, sophisticated, sensitive, kind, and intelligent. So that they can finally graduate out of being merely "cute" into being "beautiful".

  Acting like a three year old is not beautiful and a turn off for most foreign men.

  Posted in: Cuteness overload in Japan

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  Thomas ProskowNov. 19, 2012 - 08:48AM JST

  Are there any liberals left in this country??? Or at least any to call out and seriously OPPOSE the right wing fascists??

  Let's see who to choose from....... conservatives who do nothing and refuse to budge, or conservatives who are total nutters and want to turn Japan back to the feudal age.......

  With a wide range of choices like this, is it any mystery why Japan is so far behind in global politics?

  Posted in: Ishihara, Hashimoto announce 'third force' in Japanese politics