- 24 Jun 2012
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I find the premise of this thread interesting.
How much can a foreigner criticize Japan before it becomes inappropriate?
Is the amount a foreign person can criticize another country (for example France) different to the amount they can criticize Japan?
And if so, what is the difference?
I am assuming that one can criticize the chesce eating surrender monkey's (French) more than we can the Japanese.
Is this simply down to the fact that the French (along with many Europeans) have a long tradition of satire and making fun of each other?
e.g. I can assure you any French person reading "cheese eating surrender monkey" would not get offended and take it with the good humour it was intended.
And if we take extra care to not criticize Japan as much as we would any other country, is that doing Japanese people any favours?
Is that not akin to treating intelligent people as children?
Also I find the top answer quite amusing.
and it reminds me of what a lot of people sometimes say as an excuse
"oh but you don't understand the culture!"
ok and here i am going to say something contentious (on my first post too)
Sorry to break it to you Japan-o-philes,
But Japan has no more or less culture than anywhere else.
My country is next to France.
I have been there more times than I can even remember.
my family has French God parents.
I have French friends.
I have studied their history, I have studied their language,
though sadly, Je ne parle paux le francais to any real degree
Do I fully understand French culture?
Is there such a thing as French culture?
Paris and Marseilles are two very different places.
Where does Japanese Culture exist, Is it in Tokyo, or perhaps Sendai?
And if it is neither could it be that in reality there is actually no such thing?
OK this is turning into a rant but i do want to adress something i read earlier in this thread.
I think a lot of the criticisms that people do put towards Japan are actually aimed at the Government (which lets face it, You certainly wouldn't put in the top 10 of all time greatest governments in the world)
Governments and people are different.
So if you see someone criticize Japan, before you start up the outrage bus it's worth asking, is this person having a go at Japan the people, or Japan the Government. If it's the latter, let it go.
How much can a foreigner criticize Japan before it becomes inappropriate?
Is the amount a foreign person can criticize another country (for example France) different to the amount they can criticize Japan?
And if so, what is the difference?
I am assuming that one can criticize the chesce eating surrender monkey's (French) more than we can the Japanese.
Is this simply down to the fact that the French (along with many Europeans) have a long tradition of satire and making fun of each other?
e.g. I can assure you any French person reading "cheese eating surrender monkey" would not get offended and take it with the good humour it was intended.
And if we take extra care to not criticize Japan as much as we would any other country, is that doing Japanese people any favours?
Is that not akin to treating intelligent people as children?
Also I find the top answer quite amusing.
and it reminds me of what a lot of people sometimes say as an excuse
"oh but you don't understand the culture!"
ok and here i am going to say something contentious (on my first post too)
Sorry to break it to you Japan-o-philes,
But Japan has no more or less culture than anywhere else.
My country is next to France.
I have been there more times than I can even remember.
my family has French God parents.
I have French friends.
I have studied their history, I have studied their language,
though sadly, Je ne parle paux le francais to any real degree
Do I fully understand French culture?
Is there such a thing as French culture?
Paris and Marseilles are two very different places.
Where does Japanese Culture exist, Is it in Tokyo, or perhaps Sendai?
And if it is neither could it be that in reality there is actually no such thing?
OK this is turning into a rant but i do want to adress something i read earlier in this thread.
I think a lot of the criticisms that people do put towards Japan are actually aimed at the Government (which lets face it, You certainly wouldn't put in the top 10 of all time greatest governments in the world)
Governments and people are different.
So if you see someone criticize Japan, before you start up the outrage bus it's worth asking, is this person having a go at Japan the people, or Japan the Government. If it's the latter, let it go.