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[Jake.]

I can't help but think that was a pot-shot at me. Well, first of all, it's from a comic book. Second of all, anybody on GAF calling another person a dork is rather redundant. This is a video game forum, dude. Thirdly, I have never set foot in Japan, and as such, I don't claim to be an expert:lol on Japanese culture. I do, however, deal with a lot of Americans who obsess over Japan every day. And finally, You missed the point completely.

There is not problem with people liking things they like. The real problem is when somebody takes something, anything, and tries to make it their identity. I've done this before. When I reinvented myself in 8th grade as a "skater." To be honest, I said "I'm going to become a skateboarder" then, I worked to learn how to skate and like it just so I could pad my rep. And, it came out of a self-hatred for myself, too. I was tired of trying to be accepted by people who didn't want me around. My self esteem took such a beating that I said "Fuck it. I'm going to smoke pot, ride my skateboard, and if I act like I don't give a fuck, I can't have my feelings hurt. We call these things adolescent "phases." I completely understand the mentality of trying to adopt this "Otaku" lifestyle.

wasn't a pot shot, i don't care if someone's avatar is some cartoon dude or a horse fucking a polar bear. you care too much about this shit. untangle your panties and move on.

ps OT isn't a videogame forum. BITCHES RECOGNIZE.

 

[vas_a_morir]

wasn't a pot shot, i don't care if someone's avatar is some cartoon dude or a horse fucking a polar bear. you care too much about this shit. untangle your panties and move on.

ps OT isn't a videogame forum. BITCHES RECOGNIZE.

We do agree on one thing: Fuck the gaming side.

 

[Metroid Killer]

There is not problem with people liking things they like. The real problem is when somebody takes something, anything, and tries to make it their identity.

Is that really so wrong? If you took away videogames from several gaffers, I'm sure you'd remove quite a chunk of their identity as well. If you took away my biggest hobby, I would certainly face an identity crisis.

I don't see whats wrong with "skaters" "trekkies" or "otaku", as long as they don't force their "style" upon others.

 

[vas_a_morir]

Is that really so wrong? If you took away videogames from several gaffers, I'm sure you'd remove quite a chunk of their identity as well. If you took away my biggest hobby, I would certainly face an identity crisis.

I don't see whats wrong with "skaters" "trekkies" or "otaku", as long as they don't force their "style" upon others.

We have differing opinions on this, and I respect yours, it's just I think the problem is, for me, is that it is rarely honest. "I'm the skater, Joe!" rather than "I'm Joe who skateboards." Sorry, i still have flashbacks to when I bought baggy Jeanco (sp?) pants just to fit in with other skaters, when I hated them.

 

[Metroid Killer]

Oh I see what you are saying then. I agree that people chosing a style for the sake of it can be pretty annoying. It's just not always that easy to know wether they are honest to themselves or not.

 

[Masked Man]

Not always, but I think with "otaku," not just nerds who like various nerdy things including Japanese things like most Gaffers, but people who literally like things because they are Japanese, "squint" and give peace signs to the camera shots, change their names on facebook to katakana or even worse, made up Kanji even though there is no practical reason for it: Yes, I think when it reaches that point, it has some psychological reason for it.

It's funny because, even though I know that my interests in Japan are genuine and innocent, I still sometimes worry that I might fall into the trap of liking something simply because it's Japanese. =/ It's terribly shallow, though, and the more that I learn about the country and its culture, the more I realize that my fascination is not merely superficial.

I do feel lucky, though, because I have a legitimate kanji equivalent of how my name would be pronounced in Japanese: 古田真人.

We have differing opinions on this, and I respect yours, it's just I think the problem is, for me, is that it is rarely honest. "I'm the skater, Joe!" rather than "I'm Joe who skateboards."

Yes! That's it precisely. I was talking with a friend and he felt that it was much the same with being gay. "Why do I have to be 'so-and-so's gay friend' and not just 'so-and-so's friend'?" was what he asked, and it really made sense. It's a matter of how you define yourself--what you see as merely an aspect of who you are, but not what defines who you are.

 

[KO Traveling Hobo]

We have differing opinions on this, and I respect yours, it's just I think the problem is, for me, is that it is rarely honest. "I'm the skater, Joe!" rather than "I'm Joe who skateboards."

Very nicely put.

I went through a Japan-crazy phase when I was younger. It sucked though 'cause I can't draw for shit so I couldn't draw anime/manga stuff, was too lazy to try to learn the language, had no money for manga/anime/games, and because of my numerous neuroses I couldn't even enter the Japanophile community. Basically I just watched a lot of Adult Swim, played a lot of Final Fantasy, and talked a lot of shit to my American/Sci-fi inclined best-friend.

My case may apply more to the OP's dude than the whole Otaku thing though. That is, it wasn't so much a matter of culture-crisis as it was a matter of faux-superiority. It was definitely a sort of escape mechanism either way, and had very little to do with Japan itself.

Sorry, i still have flashbacks to when I bought baggy Jeanco (sp?) pants just to fit in with other skaters, when I hated them.

Jinco jeans! I felt like such hot-shit when I wore those. I wasn't emulating the skaters though, I wore them because a black kid in my sixth grade English class called me Kevinbob Tightpants. :lol

 

[LiveFromKyoto]

To people implying American culture isn't particularly popular in Japan:'

What? Are you guys serious? It's so pervasively dominant in their culture that maybe they probably don't recognize it, but American culture is 1000 times more popular in Japan than Japanese culture is here. So much so that I don't even know where to begin.

I have never set foot in Japan

That explains that. This just in: Hollywood movies lie to you about how much time the rest of the world spends obsessing over America. Japan is more interested in its own music and movies and TV shows and culture. A single day spent in front of Japanese TV will tell you that.

 

[rykomatsu]

That explains that. This just in: Hollywood movies lie to you about how much time the rest of the world spends obsessing over America. Japan is more interested in its own music and movies and TV shows and culture. A single day spent in front of Japanese TV will tell you that.

That doesn't mean American culture isn't more prevalent within Japanese culture than the opposite.

 

[vas_a_morir]

That explains that. This just in: Hollywood movies lie to you about how much time the rest of the world spends obsessing over America. Japan is more interested in its own music and movies and TV shows and culture. A single day spent in front of Japanese TV will tell you that.

You would know better than I would. Of course, I was comparing Japanese culture's popularity in America vs. American culture's popularity in Japan.

Thus, things like this: http://www.boxofficemojo.com/intl/japan/opening/ in Japan, if you take notice at the amount of American produced cinema.

VS.

Things like this: http://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/weekends/ in the US, noticing the complete lack of Japanese cinema on the list is kinda what I'm talking about.

IF they are interested in their own movies more, they have a weird way of showing it.

 

[BocoDragon]

That explains that. This just in: Hollywood movies lie to you about how much time the rest of the world spends obsessing over America. Japan is more interested in its own music and movies and TV shows and culture. A single day spent in front of Japanese TV will tell you that.

It isn't that Japanese watch current American TV, movies or music especially.... (though the whole world kinda does) it's that they've completely absorbed American trends and made them their own.... rock music, western weddings, etc.

Perhaps there aren't as many American-obsessive personality types as there are Japanese-obsessive personalities here... (you tell me?) But there probably wouldn't need to be since the whole of Japan absorbs American trends wholesale and does their own things with it.

Only here are Japanese trends designated as "foreign" and their fans are made to feel like wannabes for excessive interest or emulation.....

 

[JayDub]

lol

i called an old friend out on something like that. he responded with something along the lines of "since you're japanese, i would have thought you out of all people would be accepting of it". that was the last time we talked i guess he was really butthurt or something.

You're Japanese? How do you feel about the rising popularity of Japanese culture? Especially when non-Japanese speaks the language (or try to) and basically try to "live" the Japanese lifestyl;e whatever the hell that means.. Does it disgust you? Make you proud that Japanese culture is so easily accepted in America? Are you indifferent?

I'm going to cite you in my report.

I can't help but think that was a pot-shot at me. Well, first of all, it's from a comic book. Second of all, anybody on GAF calling another person a dork is rather redundant. This is a video game forum, dude. Thirdly, I have never set foot in Japan, and as such, I don't claim to be an expert:lol on Japanese culture. I do, however, deal with a lot of Americans who obsess over Japan every day. And finally, You missed the point completely.

There is not problem with people liking things they like. The real problem is when somebody takes something, anything, and tries to make it their identity. I've done this before. When I reinvented myself in 8th grade as a "skater." To be honest, I said "I'm going to become a skateboarder" then, I worked to learn how to skate and like it just so I could pad my rep. And, it came out of a self-hatred for myself, too. I was tired of trying to be accepted by people who didn't want me around. My self esteem took such a beating that I said "Fuck it. I'm going to smoke pot, ride my skateboard, and if I act like I don't give a fuck, I can't have my feelings hurt. We call these things adolescent "phases." I completely understand the mentality of trying to adopt this "Otaku" lifestyle.

Supposedly there is a hierarchy within the dork society. :lol

 

[vas_a_morir]

Supposedly there is a hierarchy within the dork society. :lol

Oh, like prison. Who is at the top?

EDIT: Oh, just like gang leaders in prison, it's gotta be dungeon masters.

 

[JayDub]

wasn't a pot shot, i don't care if someone's avatar is some cartoon dude or a horse fucking a polar bear. you care too much about this shit. untangle your panties and move on.

ps OT isn't a videogame forum. BITCHES RECOGNIZE.

Its a sub-forum of a video game forum, believing otherwise is pure denial. How the fuck did you get here? askmen.com?

 

[LiveFromKyoto]

It isn't that Japanese watch current American TV, movies or music especially.... (though the whole world kinda does) it's that they've completely absorbed American trends and made them their own.... rock music, western weddings, etc.

Perhaps there aren't as many American-obsessive personality types as there are Japanese-obsessive personalities here... (you tell me?) But there probably wouldn't need to be since the whole of Japan absorbs American trends wholesale and does their own things with it.

Only here are Japanese trends designated as "foreign" and their fans are made to feel like wannabes for excessive interest or emulation.....

You're confusing America with globalization. Is somebody who listens to the Beatles and gets married by a Catholic minister obsessed with America?

 

[shintoki]

You would know better than I would. Of course, I was comparing Japanese culture's popularity in America vs. American culture's popularity in Japan.

Thus, things like this: http://www.boxofficemojo.com/intl/japan/opening/ in Japan, if you take notice at the amount of American produced cinema.

Bayside Shakedown 2

Is that the sequel of Saved by the Bell episode were Screech became hall monitor and started to crack down on the kids of Bayside?

>_>

 

[vas_a_morir]

Bayside Shakedown 2

Is that the sequel of Saved by the Bell episode were Screech became hall monitor and started to crack down on the kids of Bayside?

>_>

Is it wrong to wish for such a movie to exist?

 

[Zoe]

It's funny because, even though I know that my interests in Japan are genuine and innocent, I still sometimes worry that I might fall into the trap of liking something simply because it's Japanese. =/ It's terribly shallow, though, and the more that I learn about the country and its culture, the more I realize that my fascination is not merely superficial.

I used to have that issue. All it did in the end was make me end up behind my peers :\

Better than hakujin!

This is pretty funny to me. I've been meeting lots of Japanese people lately, and they can always tell I'm a half (first* they assume Japanese, then Chinese). When they ask what the other half is, I always get a blank stare when I say "amerikajin". Once I say "hakujin" it's like a light-bulb goes off in their heads.

(* I've gotten one "latinjin" but never "filipinjin" T_T)

 

[BocoDragon]

You're confusing America with globalization. Is somebody who listens to the Beatles and gets married by a Catholic minister obsessed with America?

that's kinda my implication though... Is someone who watches anime, eats pocky and uses the occasional Japanese loan-word obsessed with Japan?

Obviously there are some true wannabes.. But weeaboo gets tossed around quite a bit for the usual, as you say, globalization.

 

[Ratba]

Little late to post this... But I live in Japan. Most people that know you won't say gaijin to our face. They'll say gaikokujin. I refer to myself as gaijin all the time. I also call my friends gaijin too. I don't see it as a me vs. them. Its just my way to being a minority and carrying the proud American tradition of causing a stink of anyone uses it.

I don't really cause a stink though. I think its funny. Unless someone is really saying it in malice. But they're probably saying worse things in front of it.

 

[909er]

So I was in class today and the subject of the rising popularity of Japanese culture came up. More specifically, the acceptance of Japanese culture in America vs acceptance of other "asian" cultures in America and compare/contrast the acceptance of American culture in Japan. Some good points were brought up, such as why American culture is so popular in Japan, but "American" products (with the exception of Apple) aren't.

Anyway, as the discussion continued, someone raised their hand and said, "Foreigners in Japan are looked at..." at which point they were interrupted by someone, "excuse me, the proper term for "foreigner" is "gaijin."

This is when I rolled my eyes. While everyone was discussing the rise in popularity of "Japanese" culture in America, I was thinking about the sudden rise in popularity of the word "gaijin" from japanophiles and japanese-wannabes all over, especially on the Internet. Did you guys watch Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift and think that saying "gaijin" shows you're "cultured"? I go into some random thread and if the subject of Japanese culture comes up, someone is bound to use the word "gaijin" in their post. Its downright annoying to butcher the Japanese language by mixing it with english.
"I can't believe random person-san didn't accept the award. As a gaijin living in Japan, I can't understand it."

.....

Ironic, when you consider that its the Japanese that are by far the most guilty of that annoyance.

 

[Regulus Tera]

Supposedly there is a hierarchy within the dork society. :lol

 

[RotBot]

Don't forget Snoopy and McDonald's.

Excuse me, the proper term for McDonald's is Makudonarudo.

 

[XiaNaphryz]

SakuraCon commerical ad. The comic parody below isn't too far different from it

 

[zoku88]

I was wondering what that comic was about XD

 

[Unknown One]

I blame those Gaijin Smash articles.

I would never refer to myself as a gaijin. Ever.

Amerikajin, bitch.

Reminds me of Episode 23 in Samurai Champloo.

"Who are you?"
"Americajin, Americajin" :lol

 

[Gomu Gomu]

SakuraCon commerical ad. The comic parody below isn't too far different from it

Oh my god I'm no tears :lol :lol :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iF-xL_Xz3M&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=am5yfrcn98E&feature=related

edit: this deserves a thread of it's own :lol

 

[Tornado Condor]

We do agree on one thing: Fuck the gaming side.

I agree with that.

Also, i hate it when people try to act japanese but they aren't. They deserve an ass kicking.

It's also more hilarious when people want to go to Japan because "japanese chicks will love foreigners." Now it's stupid when people actually move to japan because they think it's the only place where they will be accepted.

 

[Haly]

SakuraCon commerical ad. The comic parody below isn't too far different from it

sakuracomic

:lol hiimdaisy is so awesome

 

[sprsk]

I agree with that.

Also, i hate it when people try to act japanese but they aren't. They deserve an ass kicking.

It's also more hilarious when people want to go to Japan because "japanese chicks will love foreigners." Now it's stupid when people actually move to japan because they think it's the only place where they will be accepted.

They have just as much a chance of meeting a girl there than here. Most of the so-called "Gaijin Hunters" are money grubbers. A good portion of regular girls dont really date foriegners and the ones that do you have to get just like any other chick.

I mean, it's the same in the states, some people just loveeee girls who look one way and will get with just about any girl that fits their physical needs. This is another internet thing that is just way overblown.

 

[oxrock]

So I was in class today and the subject of the rising popularity of Japanese culture came up. More specifically, the acceptance of Japanese culture in America vs acceptance of other "asian" cultures in America and compare/contrast the acceptance of American culture in Japan. Some good points were brought up, such as why American culture is so popular in Japan, but "American" products (with the exception of Apple) aren't.

Anyway, as the discussion continued, someone raised their hand and said, "Foreigners in Japan are looked at..." at which point they were interrupted by someone, "excuse me, the proper term for "foreigner" is "gaijin."

This is when I rolled my eyes. While everyone was discussing the rise in popularity of "Japanese" culture in America, I was thinking about the sudden rise in popularity of the word "gaijin" from japanophiles and japanese-wannabes all over, especially on the Internet. Did you guys watch Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift and think that saying "gaijin" shows you're "cultured"? I go into some random thread and if the subject of Japanese culture comes up, someone is bound to use the word "gaijin" in their post. Its downright annoying to butcher the Japanese language by mixing it with english.

"I can't believe random person-san didn't accept the award. As a gaijin living in Japan, I can't understand it."

.....

You said gaijin in your post therefore your head is a bird and your argument is invalid

 

[Somnid]

It's kinda hard to explain but both cultures are looking at parodies of one another. Most of what either sees is an exaggeration that was created locally, not the real thing. It's like how asian food in the US is made in the US and is pretty much not at all like real asian food because we created it to our tastes. The same thing happens in Japan too and they will brand their approximations as such. What either country wants is the exaggerated differences which are hard to find in actuality because we're 99% the same so they basically make it up locally and it drives a large consumer market.

 

[Masked Man]

SakuraCon commerical ad. The comic parody below isn't too far different from it

[Hiimdaisy]

O_O;;

...:lol Oh, goodness. Hiimdaisy delivers, as per usual.

 

[Easy_D]

I learned all I needed about japanese culture from the 1991 classic, Mr Baseball (tm)

:lol I learned all about Japanese suicide culture from

 

[RevenantKioku]

Yes, I'm serious. Forget for a moment that they all dress in western clothes, and just look at how they act. It's not American in the slightest. I'll give just one aspect as an example.

Japanese people, from what I've observed, will never talk to clerks, etc. unless they absolutely have to. Even then, it'll be mumbled and without eye contact. At the grocery store I go to, there are even cards at the register to put in your basket if you brought your own bags and don't need plastic ones -- just so people don't have to actually talk to the clerk. Today on the train I saw a system for ordering sushi by placing black, plastic chips with the sushi names inscribed on them just so the customer wouldn't have to say anything to the chef. Can you imagine the bulk of the American populace being so inhibited?

It's just you Kanto mother fuckers being cold and shit.

 

[Cheesemeister]

Excuse me, the proper term for McDonald's is Makudonarudo.

Yes, your post has exemplified what everyone else in the thread has been complaining about.

It's just you Kanto mother fuckers being cold and shit.

Are people in Kansai more personable? I've always tried to be friendly to clerks and such, myself.

 

[RevenantKioku]

Are people in Kansai more personable? I've always tried to be friendly to clerks and such, myself.

I've not spent enough time in Kanto to actually say much, but my personal experience in my time mostly spent in the inaka of Nara-ken and Osaka (Mostly Namba, Shinsaibashi, Nippombashi and some Ame-mura.) I would have to say from what I hear from Kanto people, that I would not be surprised if the answer is yes.

 

[Mik2121]

People in Osaka is a bit colder than people from Kanto but even then, it depends on who you are, how you act and the Japanese person you are talking to.

I barely have problems because of being a foreigner, and when I have (maybe once every 4-5 months, and usually something quite lame like someone ignoring me thinking I don't understand Japanese, or whatever), I usually just ignore it and don't give a fuck about it.

 

[RevenantKioku]

Yeah, the Osaka being colder than Kanto is something I've always heard and has never, ever made sense to me.

 

[Mik2121]

Actually I meant to say it the other way. I ordered a Pizza and it got delivered when I was typing the message, so I rushed it and didn't fix it, lol. Though it's true I've also heard some people saying Osaka people is colder, but I think that's just retarded lol.

I meant to say Kanto people is "usually" colder than people from Kansai. I don't know exactly why, but overall it seems like Kansai people (mostly Osaka) are kinda like the lazy guys who are having fun all the time and Kanto people are more serious and don't joke around as much. I'm kind of taking it to the extremes, of course. It's not like everybody is a lazy bastard here.

 

[Blackace]

They have just as much a chance of meeting a girl there than here. Most of the so-called "Gaijin Hunters" are money grubbers. A good portion of regular girls dont really date foriegners and the ones that do you have to get just like any other chick.

I mean, it's the same in the states, some people just loveeee girls who look one way and will get with just about any girl that fits their physical needs. This is another internet thing that is just way overblown.

or some nappy Roppongi gal with no tread left on the tire..just like throwing a hotdog down a hallway

 

[Deleted member 17706]

I've not spent enough time in Kanto to actually say much, but my personal experience in my time mostly spent in the inaka of Nara-ken and Osaka (Mostly Namba, Shinsaibashi, Nippombashi and some Ame-mura.) I would have to say from what I hear from Kanto people, that I would not be surprised if the answer is yes.

I've spent a lot of time in the Osaka area and in Hikone in Shiga prefecture as well as travelled through the area (Kyoto, Nara, etc...) and in general I think it is safe to say that people are much more personable than in the Kanto region, particularly Tokyo. I really hate living and working in Tokyo and it has really made me start to dislike Japan as a whole sometimes. I'm sure it depends on the person and some people may enjoy a life in Tokyo, but I can't recommend it. It is a great place to visit, but not to live in.

I'll probably end up leaving my current job in a year or so and if I can't find something worthwhile in Osaka I'll move back to Seattle I think.

The people in Tokyo (the natives to the area at least) just seem so damn anti-social and cold. It's like no one has a sense of humor and hate talking to anyone that isn't in their close circle of family, friends or co-workers. I realize this is a gross generalization generated from my own personal experience and may not be the case for everyone, but I personally enjoy western Japan much more than the Tokyo area.

 

[Deleted member 17706]

Actually I meant to say it the other way. I ordered a Pizza and it got delivered when I was typing the message, so I rushed it and didn't fix it, lol. Though it's true I've also heard some people saying Osaka people is colder, but I think that's just retarded lol.

I meant to say Kanto people is "usually" colder than people from Kansai. I don't know exactly why, but overall it seems like Kansai people (mostly Osaka) are kinda like the lazy guys who are having fun all the time and Kanto people are more serious and don't joke around as much. I'm kind of taking it to the extremes, of course. It's not like everybody is a lazy bastard here.

I hear from Tokyo-area natives a lot that people from Kansai (particularly Osaka) are intimidating because of how they talk. People in Tokyo are so damn serious that if they ever get called an "aho" even in jest they take it as a personal offense. The hierarchal structure here is so damn rigid that I can't even have a normal conversation with my higher level bosses because its just unheard of. I got off well with one of my old bosses (bucho-level) who was from Kobe, but he was transferred recently. Man I need to get out of this shitty work environment :lol