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11-17-2010, 04:00 AM
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I admit that much in the original thread... if only you could read. OK.. now I'm done. 
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11-17-2010, 04:46 AM
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11-17-2010, 04:57 AM
I've just found it quite amazing this whole weaboo phenomena. As I said in the other thread I wasn't even aware it existed until I started frequenting this forum. In my whole life I have never come across anyone previously who was totally into anime, manga or Japanese culture. Sure I've met a few who were somewhat interested but not in a huge way where their whole life revolved around all things Japanese (not even after living in Japan all these years). I find it incredibly weird to say the least. Just like I would find it weird for someone to be over the top into a celebrity. It's a form of idolization but in this case for a whole country and it's culture. Whether such idolization be for a celebrity or for Japan, I think most of us recognise the reality is generally a very long way from the image these people have built up in their minds.
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11-17-2010, 08:41 AM
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I think the whole idolizing Japan thing is one the many modern day variants of it. One of the reasons I chose Japanese as a language was because I used to buy into such romantic notions of Japan however my fascination was not with Anime/Manga etc. but rather Bushido and Martial Arts. I wanted to become a part of that world.. and I mean for real rather than just doing a karate or judo class. Of course I have a more realistic impression of Japan and Japanese culture now but I still enjoy it for different reasons.
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11-20-2010, 07:43 PM
The initial question hits me with full force of the "victim" mentality or what is known as the "Circle of Concern":
If ONLY...I had this...If ONLY..I had that If ONLY...I lived here...if ONLY I was <insert nationality> THEN...I could be happy.... I think we know this isn't true since we all have chased things down and upon obtaining them soon put our eyes upon the next best thing to make us "happy". The person asking this question has put themselves into a situation though where they will never be able to realize this since they can NEVER be Japanese and unfortunently you can never win against the "what if" question. (I.E. - what if I was born Japanese..would I be happy?) A superior psychology, mastery of self, and a clean arse are the keys to happiness.
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11-20-2010, 08:32 PM
I don't wish I was Japanese per se. But I do wish I'd experienced the Japanese high school life, the atmosphere there seems entirely different to a western classroom. That said, I would prefer to have memories of both Japanese high school life and western high school life. Best of both worlds then
 I don't think I envy the average middle-aged working class Japanese businessman though 
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11-20-2010, 08:58 PM
It's akin to asking someone who is a sci-fi fan if they'd like to live in the Star Trek-like universe. Since we don't live in it, the thought of going and working in space is very appealing. But if you did have the chance to live there, it would be as mundane to that person as someone living in Bloomington, Minnesota here and now. There wouldn't be any excitement, since you take your environment for granted and you know no better. You've been exposed to it since birth and take it as normal. You'd still have to make a living, overcome difficulties, make relationships, etc. only it's in space, and most people wouldn't experience exploration, since most would still live on Earth, supporting the space-going vessels. Japan, in most cases, wouldn't be any different, especially for those born there. If that's all you know, sometimes it's a little of that "the grass seems greener on the other side" kinda thing. Maybe I'm not making any sense or I didn't explain myself all too well.
I don't mean to belittle Bloomington, MN or any of its residents. I just picked anytown, USA and ran with it.
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11-21-2010, 12:36 AM
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For many students high school is a positive experience, but it is easy for a shy or introverted student to be completely ignored and not speak or be spoken to for the entire day. It really is no wonder to me why so many scary stories are set in high schools. I know someone will come back with how I am wrong, but I just want to give a perspective that Japanese high school is not all preparing for culture day and going on onsen field trips.
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11-21-2010, 12:40 AM
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I'm sure -
11-21-2010, 02:23 AM
I'm pretty sure one of the more aware and intelligent posters has already pointed out, that to be Japanese ethnically would make you partially uninteresting to the Japanese population and would greatly stint your experience of Japanese culture. A lot of people begin liking Japanese culture because of the reason that it is excitingly different to their own, being Japanese would take quite a bit of the fun out of (not all) experiencing this.
I for one have never been to Japan but have read about it's culture and learned the language solely to get away from my own culture (Which being Australian I know is non existent almost when compared to the extensive and interesting culture of the Japanese). To some degree this is about "The grass is greener" but I'm sure I can safely say being different is what makes these experiences what they are extremely interesting and enjoyably. Sure it would be cool to physically look Japanese for a day or a week to be different, but if it were fixed and I was a Japanese person in Japan, I might just find myself interested in the American, German, Russian or even non existent Australian way of life. If you disagree, Post why.
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