Ernest Schaal wrote:

> Eric,
>
> Thank you for reinforcing the stereotype that I have of you as an uncultured
> otaku.

Why am I an otaku?

> You often talk of Japanese traditional culture, but apparently that is
> limited to martial arts.

No, I am talking about traditional Japanese culture in general as being desirable,
after such as the ingrained discrimination are removed.

> You admit that you have limited knowledge of (and
> no interest in) Japanese art, Japanese literature, Japanese cinema, and even
> Japanese History.

That is precisely correct. Which you may have noticed, is the same among natives
who had been forced to study as children, and continue to live it, yet I may know
more about aspects of their culture such as religion, than they.

> Having a limited knowledge of Japanese arts in its various forms is not
> something to normally condemn a person, but you (despite that limited
> knowledge) enter a tread about Kurosawa with a vile attack on the idea of
> liking the masters of Japanese cinema without first becoming completely
> fluent in Japanese. You claim to be fluent, and yet it hasn't helped you in
> that area, has it?

Where did I attack "the masters", liking the masters, or claiming that people must
be fluent in the language to understand their work? Where did I claim to be fluent?
Who cares if I do not use my ability in Japanese to enjoy or understand more
Japanese cinema? Are you sure you are not the one ranting, Ernest?

> I don't know what your personal problems are, and I don't want to know, but
> it sure appears that your rants can border on the Kaz-like extreme.

Despite all your education and achievements during your career, I believe you feel
somehow inadequate due to things such as needing to start Japanese lessons.
Therefore, you must (at least recently) start bashing people over the head and
crowing about your own greater? knowledge in other aspects of Japanese culture such
as classic movies, when you feel threatened by people who for example (perhaps)
understand Japanese language better than yourself. You must also trash anime for
some reason, as if it were not also a legitimate form of entertainment or
embodiment of culture when deriding it as porn or kiddy shows.

Which is not to say you have demonstrated a knowledge of Japanese classic cinema,
or any individual movie or director in any post I have read so far. I can read
something more informative in the average one third of a page newspaper movie
review. Nor am I criticizing you for your level of Japanese.

> What is so wrong about liking the good that occasionally happens in Japanese
> cinema?

Nothing. Just recall that I am telling you that there are great, classic works in
Japanese cinema, and that you also agree that "good" movies "occasionally" appear,
before you start bashing anime as porn and kids shows.