Wednesday February 15, 2012

smithinjapan's past comments

  • 0

    smithinjapan

    chouiwaruyaji: "Japanese friends and acquaintances who have visited my country often make generalizations about the people and their behavior... some of the things they come out with about my countrymen (and women) are very funny... hilarious even... and quite often they kind of ring true."

    This goes both ways, of course. The only thing that bothers me about when Japanese generalize about foreign countries and their peoples after travelling is when, while talking about being in that country, they STILL refer to the people of that nation as 'gaijin'. But lots of people here generalize as well, and worse yet, people in your native country and mine who have never travelled to or been exposed to Japanese country will generalize as well. I remember telling some people that I was coming here before moving and some asked me questions like, "Do you speak Chinese though?" or when I mentioned my girlfriend (at the time) was from Japan they would say, "You've got a Chinese girlfriend?" Pretty stupid, especially given that they are adults, but all they hear about or have been exposed to when it comes to Asia is 'China', so that's all they know. No different than what you describe, really, save that the Japanese in such cases have travelled (keep in mind it's usually in a J-tour, so it's like a Japanese bubble).

    Posted in: Why do Japanese change their attitude when they communicate with foreigners?

  • 3

    smithinjapan

    What DOES bother me about how one might be treated differently by some Japanese is when a dinner party, or drinking party, or what have you, ceases to be a party with people talking, laughing, and drinking, and instead turns into a Q&A where the Japanese guests seem to form a circle and fire off questions they probably wouldn't ask each other -- in many cases very private -- and make very bizarre generalizations based on your answers. After years of this I'm a lot more selective about whom I visit for dinner and/or go out with, though there are the kind of 'obligatory' year-end parties I can't avoid. I realize these people aren't being offensive or intentionally intrusive, but it's not at all the same as if they were just at a party themselves, and hence the difference.

    I appreciate all the help, or attempted help, I get from the Japanese public, and likewise I have at times been exposed to the true feelings of some people who are not at all comfortable or welcoming towards foreigners (usually when they're drunk), but to say Japanese do not act differently with foreigners would not be correct -- at least in many cases, if not most. If there's an up side to this it's either that they act more as they would like to around you (as opposed to being an automaton at the office or home), or that they can learn through such exchange. So, try not to be harsh if you experience such differences. If you lost control or cry about how unfair it all is or discrimination because of Japanese acting different, chances are it's YOUR problem, not theirs, and it's YOU who fails to change/adapt and insistence on your way being the right way.

    Posted in: Why do Japanese change their attitude when they communicate with foreigners?

  • 2

    smithinjapan

    nigelboy: "Before someone counters with "That's not true, Nigelboy. I speak fluent Japanese blah blah blah", you qualify under "not well enough"

    Nice try on a 'pre-emptive retort' to knowing that your statement is a blanket statement and therefore not correct in many situations, so I'll just say, "That's not true, Nigelboy". But not for the reasons you may think. SOME Japanese (not all) most certainly DO behave differently around foreign people. In many cases they go out of their way, at least on the surface, to try and help foreign people (particularly if they think/know the foreign person is new to Japan or seem lost, etc.) where they might not with other Japanese.

    Some of the quotations above do indeed smack of insecurity or a kind of negative reaction to what is perceived as different treatment, but different treatment DOES exist. The first person quoted who complains that the people at his bento store 'still treat him badly' doesn't seem to take into account the possibility they might trying to be making him feel more comfortable at their own expense, not trying to treat him differently, per se, or undermining his language ability.

    I LOATHE being told I use chopsticks well, or hearing the, "eeeeEEEEEHHHH??? You can eat raw fish?" or other statements I've heard in the many, many years I've been here, but in cases other than those where people should know better (ie. people I've known since coming here or soon thereafter) I always keep in mind, as others should, that for some it is the first time they've seen you as such (using chopsticks/eating sushi), and it's just a way for many of starting a conversation.

    Posted in: Why do Japanese change their attitude when they communicate with foreigners?

  • 2

    smithinjapan

    Accidents happen, be they accidents like this or old people driving into supermarkets. Do what you can to prevent them, but they'll still happen or be replaced by other accidents. At least no one was injured.

    Posted in: U.S. Navy investigating how parts fell off aircraft near Atsugi

  • 0

    smithinjapan

    GW: "republicans are looking more & more like j-politicians haha, what a GOD awful bunch!"

    Actually, they're starting to make J-politicians look good.

    Posted in: Santorum's wins shake up Republican race

  • 2

    smithinjapan

    "unlocked" seems an adequate name. Anyway, this is the same thing every time; when a celebrity denies they are dating another celebrity, prepare for an announcement of marriage and/or pregnancy (if the former, then the latter comes a week later, by rule) within two weeks. I don't know why they bother denying it at all -- it's certainly not going to stay private for long. She should have just said, "Yeah, we're dating (or just sleeping together), no get lost and mind your own business!"

    Posted in: Kuroki reported pregnant 2 weeks after denying relationship with Akanishi

  • 3

    smithinjapan

    Sorry, but it's getting harder and harder to justify allowing people over 75 to keep their license -- you hear about the gas/break pedal mistake and subsequent crashing through store front nearly once a week now. Remember the incident in Hokkaido where the heroic dog saved the old man and his granddaughter? yep, 80+ driver went off the ramp. Last month when the driver went through the convenience store front? yep, 80+ driver who mistook the gas pedal for the break. The guy who drove on the wrong side of the Akashi bridge expressway? yep, old man who said he was just enjoying the sunny weather and didn't notice the error.

    Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of young punks who get into accidents because they are texting, or speeding, or trying to make the light, or ignoring the light, or are drunk, etc. but they are breaking the laws... the difference is that the old people are literally confused and make mistakes as such, and should not be behind the wheel of something that can kill. I'm sorry these two died as a result, but am also glad no one in the shop was hurt. It sounds like the people in the car were also not wearing seatbelts, based on their injuries. RIP.

    Posted in: Two elderly people dead after car plows into supermarket

  • -3

    smithinjapan

    "That agreement has been effectively scuttled by opposition on Okinawa, where many residents believe the base should simply be closed and moved overseas or elsewhere in Japan."

    What a bunch of selfish people -- they don't even care if it's somewhere else in their nation, just want it out of their neighbourhood. Anyway, you can bet the US is going to get some major deal going their way in exchange for this, and even then Futenma won't close.

    Posted in: U.S., Japan announce agreement to send Okinawa Marines to Guam

  • 1

    smithinjapan

    "Yay!!! Our entire third year of school is a write off! Get out of my way! I'm next on the grinding mill!"

    Good luck, boys and girls.

    Posted in: Job-hunting season

  • 1

    smithinjapan

    This is a ridiculous case. If they were simply arguing the animals are not being treated well enough and/or could prove they are being abused, I get it. But suggesting they deserve the same treatment and liberties human beings have is ludicrous. I don't mean it's ludicrous because 'they don't deserve it' or anything like that, I think it's ludicrous because they are NOT human beings. Give a shark free reign to swim in a pool with all the other folk and guess what's going to happen. I agree with the poster who said this would then, under such laws, enable the animals to be charged as humans as well (equally ridiculous).

    As for grouping Cleo with PETA, It's Me... you've got it way wrong. People caring about the welfare of animals and demanding (or suggesting) they be treated better and be given more is not at all the same as the extreme lengths and practices PETA goes to. The fact remains that animals are not human, as PETA wishes they were, but no reason we cannot treat them humanely.

    Posted in: California court to decide if SeaWorld whales are illegal 'slaves'

  • 1

    smithinjapan

    They better hurry, and they better hope they do indeed get Google's platform on it. Once Apple launches its smart TV and people realize that all their Apple gadgets are compatible and you can run via AirStream (or whatever it's called where you can play music to your speakers, print, send images, etc. wirelessely, it'll be once again a case where everyone else is trying to catch-up with spin-offs.

    The worst part about smart TVs and such rivalries, though, is that your going to be limited by the TV and companies they are tied to, and won't be able to access some of the things your neighbour's TV will if you have a different brand (and vice-versa). Needless to say, Apple will be the superior product, but hey! :)

    Posted in: Samsung aims to sell 25 mil 'smart TVs' this year

  • -1

    smithinjapan

    This is the first I've heard of this kind of thing happening at the Snow Festival, but the fact that it was not accounted for and there were no preventative measures in place is indeed neglect. I sometimes wish Japan were a more litigious society, and I hope this woman at least has her hospital and recovery bills all covered, as well as money for the time she suffers. With what these things must weigh she's lucky she got away with only those injuries.

    Posted in: Falling snow sculpture injures woman at Sapporo Snow Festival

  • 0

    smithinjapan

    Still waiting for the 'Cop/Crime' section of the site.

    She'll get some hush money, but no justice.

    Posted in: Iwate cop arrested for uploading naked photos of acquaintance

  • 1

    smithinjapan

    Don't be surprised if/when this kid contemplates and maybe even commits suicide at the slightest failing and out of fear of the repercussions. Don't be shocked either if he tries to take down 'eagle dad', too. It's a shame the parents weren't caught doing this while in New York and thrown in the clink to teach them a bit of 'tough love' before being deported home. At least the kid would have had a few hours of peace.

    Poor kid. Absolutely evil parents.

    Posted in: Video of Chinese boy crying in snow sparks uproar

  • -1

    smithinjapan

    sailwind: I don't know if Santorum is actually more aware of economics, but I've no doubt he's more aware of how it affects the people. Romney has flat out admitted he is not concerned about the very poor, and you tried to defend his comment by pointing out they forgot to add how rich he is on another thread -- in other words, the guy is out of touch, and clearly some people are aware of this. But for those who deny that, not to worry, Romney's probably licking his mitts and spending MILLIONS on campaigns adds against Santorum as we speak. It'll be more of the "I'll spend 94% of my time and money blasting you, and 6% on what I plan to do... without explanation of how, of course".

    The GOP has screwed itself so badly the Republican voters clearly don't know what to do anymore -- and when you can't tell THEM what they should do for themselves, you know the GOP is in trouble.

    Posted in: Santorum reignites campaign with wins in Minnesota, Missouri, Colorado

  • 0

    smithinjapan

    So they fired the people who quit. I know Japan can be ridiculous when it comes to bureaucracy and forming panels and studies to think about getting things done, but this about takes the cake. Anyway, yes, good riddance to the bad rubbish already gone.

    "Uchiyama said the new party will try to get the DPJ back on track and work with it to formulate polices for the good of the people."

    This says it all! How is the guy going to get the 'DPJ back on track' since they left the party?? LOL.

    Posted in: 10 defectors officially expelled from DPJ

  • 1

    smithinjapan

    cleo: Thanks for the detailed information. I'm glad and relieved to hear that the grandfather did all he could to save the two kids, and saddened that for Misaki his efforts did not work out. I did not at all think that grandma and grandpa were sitting under the kotatsu eating mikan, and I think it's a shame some suggested he (they) might be drunk, but the article did not give any details as to what he (they) did.

    The outcome is still as sad.

    nigelboy: "How dangerous what is?"

    I agree with you (save for where you veer off to insult Tmarie and suggest her posting on here means she does nothing but stay indoors), and can most certainly say that what SHOULD be safe is not necessarily so. As a kid in a very snowy part of Canada we were ALWAYS taught to be wary when playing in the snow near houses, and not to wander under the eaves of buildings with icicles and what not for this very reason.

    Posted in: 5-year-old girl dies after being buried by snow falling from roof

  • -1

    smithinjapan

    Hope it lasts... these kind of things are often the target of kids who go a little wild and try to hang off them.

    Posted in: Off the wall

  • 4

    smithinjapan

    The two are not at all the same thing, though both enjoy vast wealth and popularity. Google will always dominate as a search engine and way of emailing, etc. Plus, they have been and continue to expand into other e-tech fields. Facebook is more limited, but unlike it's SNS predecessors, it is led by a person with brains and visions. I think Google will continue to dominate, but I don't think Facebook will disappear and I think it plays a more personal role in people's lives than Google (the SNS site itself is constantly adapting). Hence, once again, they are not at all the same thing.

    Posted in: Google versus Facebook for dominance of the web. Who has the upper hand?

  • -1

    smithinjapan

    Nicky: "I`m not understanding something here - I am assuming it was the grandparents who called the rescue services who then dug them out an hour later - did they make no attempt to dig them out themselves?"

    THIS is the part that concerns me. They may well have made efforts to get them out, of course, as there are no details, but it seems they just waited by for the rescue crews to come (which took an hour!). As for the kids playing alone, I think people are being too harsh. It's not like the grandparents sent them off to the local park or to go buy ice cream -- they were playing in the yard, and in all likelihood could be seen from the house, as well as the yard being closed off by fence/gate.

    All around sad story. As it was probably not enough snow to keep from someone digging themselves out, my guess is that there was indeed a layer of ice formed underneath and the weight crushed the poor girl. RIP. Sad day when it should have just been fun in the snow.

    Posted in: 5-year-old girl dies after being buried by snow falling from roof

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