[Nyanxxx]

Aww... why can't we all just get along?

This topic is obviously striking up some tension between people, and there's not really a right and wrong argument... there never is in a case like this. You have to see both sides.

I completely understand the reasons that they have signs like that, but what if you're a foreigner who gets citizenship or something? You still can't go in? Or what if you're with a bunch of Japanese friends and you've been living in Japan long enough that you understand the culture and customs, and your Japanese friends vouch for you and tell the people that you're a "good" foreigner? Still no entry? (that's a genuine question. So if someone wants to help me out...)

Well, it's completely understandable that signs like that would be offensive to foreigners because *the foreigners'* culture is different and they don't have signs prohibiting foreigners in *their* country. It's a vicious cycle because we're fighting over who's culture is correct. Just like when people fight over religions; these things aren't a big deal. We shouldn't fight about it, we should just accept that it's the culture and it's not going to change. At least they aren't forcing their culture onto foreigners; we should be thankful for that.

I mean think about it, they maintain their culture and we maintain our culture. Shouldn't we just be happy and move on?

I'm actually glad they have rules like that, because I extremely dislike the foreigners who tour any country and don't bother to learn the language; it's just inconsiderate (lots of European and American people going to Asian countries usually are rude... it's just the way it is).

But it's kind of a bitter-sweet thing for me, because while I'm happy that the rude foreigners aren't allowed entry, I'm sad that the few hard-working and respectable foreigners that actually take time to learn the customs and the culture aren't given much of a chance because of other screw-up foreigners in Japan.
The decent foreigners are put in the same category as the rude ones, and that's not fair.
But... it's understandable, because how do they know that you're not inconsiderate too?

My problem is not with Japan, but with inconsiderate foreigners who ruin it for the rest of us...

Because of them, decent people never get the chance, rude people ruin all the decent peoples' chances. And it's not going to change because there's always going to be those mean people that don't care that they ruin your chances. You can't get everyone on your side, just like you can't please everyone. It's just the way of the world...

I will always be 外人. (> <'')
And I have to live with it... It's not my fault, but I accept it.

But I wish there was a test or something... Like to prove that you're not just another jerk foreigner. Then some people would get chances to be accepted into the culture.

But if it really upsets people so much, they should peacefully assemble and present their argument professionally- like "we have a problem with this because we're cooler than average foreigners. Ok?" (Well, that should be rephrased so people take them seriously, but you get the point).

I think something like that would be more respected than getting frustrated and angry with Japanese society; getting angry will only make things worse and hurt your cause and you'll end up going nowhere. Peacefully presenting an argument with an open-mind further the decent "better-than-average" foreigners cause. And by "an open-mind," I mean you won't get pissed off when they say "no."

It probably wouldn't get all of the signs down, but it could persuade some people.

Maybe my thinking is all wrong, but I don't think it would make people put more signs up. Right? It wouldn't be a threatening thing to do if you did it like that.

I don't know... it doesn't matter, really, like I said in the beginning. Cultures are different all over the world and you can't expect to change a whole society's way of thinking just because it's not the same as yours...

I hate people who ruin things for good people.

I also hate arguments like this...

Why can't we all get along?!