Wednesday February 15, 2012

imacat's past comments

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    imacat

    I think Saudi Arabia's attitude towards Christianity is absolutely shocking in its intolerance.

    As I understand it, Christianity is effectively banned in Saudi Arabia. What's that all about?!

    But on the other hand Saudi Arabia feels it is quite entitled to fund the building of mosques and other religious centers in Western countries.

    Saudi Arabia needs to change its intolerant attitudes.

    Posted in: Can Islam and the Western world coexist peacefully?

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    imacat

    The Gusto program hasn't just been Gusto. They've been doing a different restaurant or izakaya each week as far as I can make out. Last week or the week before it was Watami.

    It really is a banal program but in some ways it epitomizes Japanese TV. Firstly, it's about food. Secondly, it's about minor celebrities eating that food. Thirdly, it's extremely parochial... most people probably have a Gusto or Watami nearby so they can easily identify with it. Fourthly, it has some silly "goal" which must be achieved but which is absolutely pointless.

    I think it's the parochial aspect of Japanese TV that is really disappointing. It is so focused on Japan and Japanese life and the minutiae of Japanese life.

    I personally like Japan and finding out about Japan but even (after a few years) I'm absolutely fed up of this TV, so you'd think it would be even worse for the Japanese themselves.

    I know there is a lot of terrible TV in the UK but I remember a couple of years back I went home to see the family and during the course of the stay asked my mum and sisters what they were watching or looking forward to watching on TV at the moment. They were really into the TV adaptation of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, about a female detective in Botswana.

    It's difficult to imagine such a series ever being broadcast in Japan...

    Posted in: Is television going the way of other obsolete media?

  • 0

    imacat

    Maybe it's time to take another look at communism...

    Posted in: Where is it all going to end?

  • 0

    imacat

    When smacking is used as a 'last resort' kids quickly learn how far they can go before the parent becomes physical, and will push up to the limit; parent counters by shortening the limit, and after a while the smack becomes the first resort, not the last.

    You present this as an inevitable result but of course it's not. It's one possible outcome, and I think a very unlikely one. A much more likely one is that the child learns to be better behaved in general and to respect authority, so that a smack is rarely or never required. That was my experience as a child and I think that will be the result in 99.9% of cases where parents use smacking as part of their strict but fair discipline measures.

    If cars could be fitted with some kind of device that monitored and recorded the speed at all times and drivers were offered some kind of bonus or reward for, say, every thousand kilometres they drove without going over the limit (eg a discount on road tax, lower insurance premiums etc) you'd find more drivers eager to observe the speed limits even on days when the speed traps weren't in operation.

    This is cloud-cuckoo land, but it's kind of sweet and touching that you think it might work.

    Well we certainly accept it (punishment), but since it obviously doesn't work (people still drive over the speed limit, and park where they're not supposed to) it hardly seems correct to call it 'necessary'.

    Why stop with speeding? Why not abolish the concept of punishment altogether? Then we could get points for, say, every day we didn't murder someone. And if we did happen to murder someone we would get no points for that particular day...

    the worst-behaved kids are the ones that are shouted at or hit by their parents : never getting a clear explanation for what they did wrong.

    I think this goes against everyone's experience. The bullies and the nasty kids are the ones who haven't been disciplined properly by their parents.

    Not getting a clear explanation is a problem for any discipline method. Most anti-smackers here seem to think it's solely associated with smacking. That's rubbish. As some have already pointed out, non-smacking discipline methods can be considered a kind of mental torture and if there's no explanation of why such a method is being implemented it is equally bad.

    When I was a kid and had gotten a clip round the ear, my parents would invariably sit me down later to talk it through. Absolutely fine parenting... strict but fair discipline with the possibility of a smack for severe misdemeanors.

    I'm sure the happy-clappy crowd on this forum are doing a good parenting job with their time-outs and withdrawal of privileges etc, but they are wrong to condemn other parents who are doing an equally fine job but who think a smack can be used under certain circumstances as a discipline measure.

    Posted in: What are your views on parents hitting their children as a means of discipline?

  • 0

    imacat

    Right. They think, 'Oh, so that's how I get someone smaller than me to do what I want.'

    I think there is no evidence for this and it's just not true. As I said, bullies are usually the kids who have never been disciplined themselves. I have observed this when I was a child and again as an adult watching kids. I doubt very much whether anyone has observed a child become a bully as a result of strict discipline from parents which involved smacking as a last resort.

    If punishment worked, there'd be no one driving over the speed limit, no one parking where they shouldn't. Or maybe it would be a good idea for the traffic cops to paddle your bottom then and there, instead of giving you a ticket? And if not, why not, if it's so effective?

    This is just ridiculous. Measured punishment in society is acceptable and necessary. I mean what's your idea to control speeding drivers? Give them a gold star for every day they keep within the speed limit? Perhaps they could proudly stick the stars in a neat line on the rear bumper. It sounds like a great scheme...

    Or maybe it would be a good idea for the traffic cops to paddle your bottom then and there, instead of giving you a ticket?

    If they're female cops I support this idea strongly.

    There isn't a Goody-Two-Shoes gene, so it must be that the way kids are brought up has something to do with them being 'good'

    I think you are wrong. I thing some kids are predisposed to be very good, obedient and docile. Other kids are more rowdy. Still others seem to be something akin to Satan's devil spawn. There are all kinds of kids and the happy-clappy "let's have a time out and take deep breaths" approach may work with some kids but others may need a firmer approach. If the parents decide a firm smack as a last resort in some circumstances is necessary I think it is absolutely fine, particularly with rowdier and naughtier kids.

    By the time you get to that state, discipline has already failed. It starts way, way before a child is old enough to attend any kind of class.

    Maybe you've inadvertently hit the nail on the head. The problem is not parents who use a smack as a last resort, the problem is parents who in no way discipline their kids. That IMHO is a hundred times worse then a slap on the bum.

    Posted in: What are your views on parents hitting their children as a means of discipline?

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    imacat

    The act of discipline by smacking a child on his/her posterior is actually an act of love, to produce in the child a better personality in the future so that he/she will not be a pain in the ass to everyone else for the rest of his/her life.

    Well said. Couldn't agree more.

    Posted in: What are your views on parents hitting their children as a means of discipline?

  • 0

    imacat

    I think this "hitting kids turns them into bullies" line of argument is nonsense. From my observations, the bullies are the ones who have never been disciplined.

    When I was a kid if I got a slap on the head I didn't think "Oh I've been slapped so that means it's OK for me to go and slap other kids". Children don't think like that. What I thought was: 1. "Ouch" 2. "I've done something wrong". 3. "I'd better not do that again".

    I think that happy children start from a base of strict discipline. If the parent decides that a short sharp slap as a last resort is part of that discipline then that is absolutely fine.

    People who campaign against hitting kids should be put in charge of an out-of-control class of spoilt brats for a month and then see how they get on. I mean, what would you do if you try your trendy "time out" approach and the kids just laugh in your face?

    Of course, I do accept that some kids are as good as gold and never need a slap. That's great and if you have a child like that then you are truly lucky. But I also think this modern love-and-peace approach to child rearing is in some cases creating a bunch of selfish monsters who have difficulty accepting authority and as a result are limiting their choices in life.

    Posted in: What are your views on parents hitting their children as a means of discipline?

  • 0

    imacat

    your points are moot. When you get on the field and you are getting paid millions, let me know.

    Comments like this are unfathomable to non-Americans.

    A simple thing like taking pride in playing for your country's national team... has that become too much for American sportsmen? Are they content to put money before everything?

    I thought Americans took pride in their patriotism. Obviously not.

    Posted in: Ichiro delivers as Japan beats South Korea 5-3 to win WBC title

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    imacat

    This is the end of the tournament and, after congratulating both Japan and Korea for their excellent attitude and prowess I am making some salient points about America's poor participation.

    Posted in: Ichiro delivers as Japan beats South Korea 5-3 to win WBC title

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    imacat

    And, no, I do not think that it is embarrasing that the U.S. does not field its best team, or have much interest in the WBC.

    When I visit my friends in the States I am always amazed by the stars and stripes hanging on flagpoles outside many homes and generally get the impression that many Americans have immense pride in their country.

    Here is a chance for Americans to show that pride in a competition centered on their national sport!! But they don't care a damn. If I were an American I think I would feel very disappointed and even ashamed by this attitude.

    baseball in the U.S. is centered around city by city rivalries.

    This seems like a feeble excuse. If it's true then it's a very narrow-minded way to think.

    Moderator: Please do this discussion into an anti-U.S. rant. It lowers the level of discussion. Better yet, please focus your comments on the final.

    Posted in: Ichiro delivers as Japan beats South Korea 5-3 to win WBC title

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    imacat

    but if the wbc becomes more popular in the states... they will start fielding better players & play with a bit more pride i feel.

    Seems unlikely. This was America's second chance to show a bit of pride in their national sport and what has happened? Their team has been dumped out by superior asian teams and there is little interest amongst the American public.

    We often get posts here about how insular Japan is... this tournament seems to show America in a similar light... little interest amongst ordinary Americans in the wider world. It's very sad.

    Posted in: Ichiro delivers as Japan beats South Korea 5-3 to win WBC title

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    imacat

    It's all about the money.

    Well, maybe someone rich philanthropist like Bill Gates could offer American baseball players huge sums of money to participate in the WBC. Would that work?

    Posted in: Ichiro delivers as Japan beats South Korea 5-3 to win WBC title

  • 0

    imacat

    Very few of of the American players care about the tournament.

    This is what the rest of the world can't understand. Look at Japan and Korea, both playing their hearts out and making a very exciting tournament. Also look at the passion and fervor with which countries play in the soccer World Cup.

    How is it that America has no pride in what should be its national sport?

    Posted in: Ichiro delivers as Japan beats South Korea 5-3 to win WBC title

  • 0

    imacat

    This game had me thinking at a couple of points that the Japan/Korea finally is probably a better than Korea vs. the US would have been

    What makes you think America could even make it to the final? I think they were lucky to get to the semis, at which point they were of course soundly beaten.

    Two great asian teams have really taught the Americans a lesson here, so time for a bit of humble pie from our American friends....

    Posted in: Ichiro delivers as Japan beats South Korea 5-3 to win WBC title

  • 0

    imacat

    Well done, Japan! An exciting final between 2 great asian teams.

    Posted in: Ichiro delivers as Japan beats South Korea 5-3 to win WBC title

  • 0

    imacat

    It's still sad. For whatever reason.

    No, no... it's happy. They've realised their mistake early, have no kids, are making a clean break and both are still young enough to find someone they really love.

    They did seem like an odd couple, I always thought.

    Maybe I am biased but wouldn't Norika do better in an international marriage?!

    Posted in: Fujiwara, Jinnai divorcing after two years of marriage

  • 0

    imacat

    Obviously it's all business but I think the way Tom Cruise goes the extra mile to make his fans happy is really cool. You can say what you like about him but it seems he always has time for fans and is more than happy to spend hours with them, posing for mobile phone cameras, giving autographs, etc. In this respect he's a model for other hollywood stars who might have delusions of grandeur...

    Again on SMAPxSMAP last night he was good-natured and gracious. It must be a kind of torture for foreign stars who go on there, to be confronted by these 5 guys who collectively seem like a bunch of idiots. One thing that I noticed last night was how, when Cruise was giving out presents to the Smap boys (his pen, sunglasses, etc), none or almost none of the SMAP-pers said thank you. They merely looked at the objects or tried to make a stupid joke. Basic good manners and pleasantness were only in evidence from Tom Cruise... and good for him.

    Posted in: Cruise has the Reich stuff

  • 0

    imacat

    The comments by Daisan and Cheeba were excellent... very interesting and they seem like great people.

    who the hell cares who you are and where you belong.

    Fully agree. It's always useful to put nationality in its place.

    What does it amount to? The piece of earth where you were born? How is that different to any other piece of the earth?

    Is it the silly little piece of colored cloth that some strangers have shoved in your hands and told you to wave?

    It it the people around you? Aren't they just spending their days doing what everybody else around the world is doing... eating, talking, playing,etc

    As the man himself said... "Imagine there's no countries..."

    Posted in: Half and haafu

  • 0

    imacat

    I never knew that there was Turkish food beyond kebabs.

    Posted in: Foodex 2009

  • 0

    imacat

    ...and his often disastrous encounters with the outside world.

    That sounds like my life and I'm not even a hikikomori.

    Posted in: Exploring the mind of a 'hikikomori'

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