[davidannis]

Too much of anything can be bad. Even though too much deference to the group is bad, too much individuality is a problem too. Much that is wrong in American society (executives watching out for themselves at the expense of their company, workers, and society), people insisting on their right to carry a gun, our huge budget deficit, etc. can be linked to a me first attitude and not enough deference to society. No society will ever strike a perfect balance.

As far as not cool in Japan - the bagels are horrible and the pachinko parlors are too noisy.