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05-18-2010, 04:13 AM
So if I wait another 5 years or so then just maybe I'll be close enough to some of my Japanese friends that they'll start opening up and expressing their opinions to me? Something to look forward to I guess. In the meantime I guess I'll just have to keep frequenting internet forums in an attempt to have any meaningful and stimulating conversations and debate or just hang out with other foreigners.
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05-18-2010, 04:41 AM
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05-18-2010, 07:12 AM
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I also think you need to keep in mind that what people are comfortable talking about in English is often different and quite a bit less involved that what they are willing to talk about in Japanese. Even with very good English, a lot of people balk at the idea of getting into anything complex where their opinions could be misunderstood or possibly even offensive to you should it be about world events. Maybe 5 years will work for you if you learn Japanese fluently. Otherwise... You will probably never get to the point of having those sort of conversations. There really is a language wall, and it really does change how people perceive and relate to you - and using English in Japan, no matter how well those around you speak English, does keep you very much in the outsider bracket. People around me have no problems expressing their opinions on politics, social issues, etc - sometimes very strongly. But it`s all in Japanese. I don`t think I`ve ever heard much of anything on hot topics from even wonderful English speakers unless they`ve been pushed to write an essay or do some sort of presentation. Outwardly following the status quo doesn`t have anything to do with internal thinking and actual opinions. I know quite a few people who are extremely critical, and very opinionated. The thing is, people in Japan don`t like to fight/argue/debate about these things in most cases... Which is inevitably what being very outspoken leads to. ETA; I was just thinking a bit more, and realized something else. In Japan, if people outright ask about political issues, social issues, religion, and the other various "hot" topics... Chances are they have some sort of agenda and are outright saying they want to judge you on something or try to lecture you. In these situations I think that pretty much everyone`s reaction is going to be of vagueness and ignorance (As if you say you don`t know about something, you can`t be pressed for an opinion on it). It is pretty well understood by everyone that this is a dodge tactic, and clear that the intention is to avoid the subject... Not that the person saying it has no clue about the world, doesn`t have an opinion, etc.
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05-18-2010, 07:20 AM
I didn't realize GoNative doesn't speak Japanese. Well no wonder he isn't getting into deep political conversations with Japanese natives. All my deep talks have been in Japanese (and sometimes over my head).
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05-18-2010, 07:25 AM
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It really does make an incredible difference what language you are interacting in. Even very outspoken people in Japanese tend to tone things down when using English - regardless of their ability.
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05-18-2010, 08:28 AM
Well unfortunately there's no chance I'll be getting fluent in Japanese anytime soon. Never studied it at all before coming here and now here I work full time, have an active social life, my wife is also Australian (so no motivation to learn to try and pick up girls) and my daughter takes up a fair amount of my spare time. Maybe when my daughter goes to school and starts learning Kanji and stuff she can help teach me.
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05-19-2010, 07:33 AM
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I don't have the experience of living in Japan but I do get tired of reading that it must be a criminal foreigner's doing when there is something illegal going on. From whet I have read, meth/shabu is the most consumed illegal drug in Japan and I don't think it's all being consumed by illegal sex workers. Realistically it's probably students cramming for tests, overworked office workers, people with multiple jobs, bored teens or teen girls who think it will keep them extra slim and awake for the next party. And truck drivers.
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05-23-2010, 07:00 PM
Honestly most of my post was directed towards weed. Drugs exist everywhere obviously in one way or another, doens't really matter in which quantity.
But my biggest point was that Japanese people (not in general) definitely do smoke weed. Weed is so widely used in the world (and generally accepted) that I don't think there are many civilized countries who don't have a "marijuana culture"=D Bow to the Tree of Life, because it's a huge fucking sativa plant=P It's the tree of peace, aka the magical herb of peace=D
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05-27-2010, 11:46 AM
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