Quote:
Originally Posted by Tsuwabuki
I'm actually on vacation, in Taipei, so I spent time today doing touristy things. That being said, obviously there is a lot to go through that has been posted, and I can't possibly reply to it all bit by bit, but I'll try to hit the highlights.
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My god man.. enjoy the sites and put the laptop away then... the forum can wait.
I don't want to be the cause of ruining your trip.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tsuwabuki
Derogatory? I've clearly stated that I'm quite proud of America. Not as proud at the moment as I could be, of course, but there's always room for improvement. Nor was I bashing westerners in general. Nor, for that matter, was I idolising the Japanese. Japan has idiots, and it has problems. Not a society on Earth that doesn't, but this constant portrayal of Japan as being problem-ridden where non-Japanese are accosted on a daily basis across the country as if Japan were some sort of anti-Foriegner police state need to stop. It just isn't true.
And you've been extremely condescending. I treat everyone like my intellectual equal, at least at the beginning. When I approach a discourse with an academic mindset, it is because I respect the person on the other side, as long as they meet me with the same mindset. You have repeatedly abused this by claiming you need not engage in a way that follows the rules of debate. Instead you make snide little witticisms intended to provoke. A perfect example is:
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You are welcome to go back through all my posts and try to find where I say "Japan is problem-ridden where non-Japanese are "accosted" on a daily basis. Never said accosted.
My words clearly say that foreigners will always be treated by foreigners by Japanese in Japan by Japanese who simply do not know them. This treatment varies from person to person but I agree it is not "accosting" / agressive or challenging. That is simpy not the Japanese way (again in general).
The point is that Foreigners will have the initial "special treatment" and will have to continually prove themselves in their career and any non-short term social interaction.
This behaviour is not always deliberate either... it is simply a lack of knowledge by the other party. A recent personal example My personal favorite is eating in a public setting (at the same table with strangers) and have them look at in you in awe as you use chopsticks. The will speak right in front you to the other person beside them and say "wow he can use chopsticks very well... I'm surprised"... mind you I wasn't pigging out...
Nothing was said, and it might of been embarrising if I struck up a conversation, usually to best let it go and move on. But if you are constantly hit with these little things on a daily basis, depending upon the person and personality ... it grows on you - whether it is of having no intention or good-intentions.
I don't expect this to change and for it to never happen in for Japan to not to be Japan. All I was saying in the other thread is to expect these eventual displeasantries while being a foreigner in Japan.
To be fair I suppose special treatment should have been defined to not come across as accosting, but the examples already presented in the thread were non-accosting examples.. except when you compared it to being accosted by the KKK and the Hiroshima memorial.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tsuwabuki
When you sprinkle your counter-points with inaccurate information and intentionally inflammatory comments how can you expect to be taken seriously?
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My points speak from themselves ... I sorry you don't like the way they are presented.
The are obviously taken seriously for this thread to go on this long.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tsuwabuki
And if I had meant advice, I would have said advice. I said thoughts and I meant thoughts. You had your say, you issued your thoughts, don't feel hurt that I find them flawed and ignore them.
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Next time I'll push the Quote with Thoughts button vs the Quote with Advice button then.
My mistake.
No hard feelings at all. You are welcome, of course, to ignore them all.