necoandjeff wrote:

> > You will kindly recall I deliberately used the term "many" Japanese
> > as opposed to "all" or in general.
>
> Of course. You would be downright silly to think that 100% of any population
> held a particular way of thinking.

It is not an absolute. But there is still generalization, such as "Men do not
take child care leave in Japan." While not absolutely true, it is what 99.3% of
fathers do not do, according to government findings. Meanwhile, about two
thirds of working mothers do. Thus another generalization "It is the women who
take child care leave in Japan."

Will you harp on me because I "single out" Japan or the Japanese (or men)?

> > I did not say a "it won't happen to me" attitude was unique to
> > Japanese or that they have a "monopoly" on it. But I will certainly
> > talk about the US or Americans, because I am one, and I will talk
> > about Japan or Japanese, because I am here.
>
> No, but when you single out the Japanese you imply that the trait or way of
> thinking is stronger with them, whether intentional or not.

Yes.

It also indicates I am talking about the people in the country I am in. I do
not expect, for example, that Niigata or Kobe people who have been through
those earthquakes to be similar to people who have been through southern
California earthquakes. I am going to use the terms "Japan" or "Japanese" when
talking about them, as opposed to people in general.

> That's certainly
> the way I interpreted it, even though I think "shit happens to other people"
> is a very common trait among all people and the reason that they almost
> universally have such trouble analyzing risk. It's a strong factor behind
> the fact that people (all over the world) continue to start smoking, for
> example, despite widespread knowledge of the health risks associated with
> it.

Yes.

And do you really believe it is similar in all people? Even without checking I
will tell you it simply cannot be.

> > If you were to generalize, would you claim that Japanese and "people
> > in general" are the same?
>
> It depends. But yes, I think the tendency to think things happen to others
> isn't any stronger among the Japanese than any other population or culture.

I see. Then you simply will not agree, despite it not being true. What do you
agree is different or unique to Japan or Japanese? Did you hear one university
professor claim were 2,000 faults ALL OVER Japan, and that ten percent of all
tremors occur in Japan.

Don't you believe such simple facts should lead Japanese (in general) to be
among the world's people most wary or prepared for earthquakes?  At least in
the US, the number of earthquake prone areas are limited, and modern casualties
are thankfully light, perhaps due to modern building standards.

> Thank you. At least you are vindicating my interpretation of what you said.

No, because it is not unique to Japanese, nor do Japanese "have a monopoly" on
it.

> But I don't agree at all.

Of course you don't. Maybe you are too PC.

> Your statistic above is simply a reflection of the traditionally far lower
> chance that someone's house will actually be broken into in Japan.

Do you mean "traditionally" as opposed to recently or opposed to fact, or
opposed to in the US? Americans also used to think or behave that way in
general.

> Depending on where you go in the U.S. there are still lots of people who
> leave their houses unlocked.

How about in general. 70%?

> My grandparents used to when I was a kid out in rural Michigan.

And today?

> When I was traveling through Southern Japan back in the late 80s I recall
> intentionally leaving my backpack on the bench in the train station while I
> stepped outside to grab a bite to eat, completely comfortable that it
> wouldn't be stolen.

You will very likely get away with it, but would you still do it today? Why or
why not?

> Do you think I (same personality) would have done that back in Detroit?

So why do bad things often befall Japanese who travel in other countries when
they do such as carry large amounts of cash or visibly material wealth, or they
leave their hotels with the doors open or unlocked, or they receive strangers
as guests, because many people DO act in a manner similar to how they behave in
Japan, to the point special warnings must be given to people in Japanese, or
local hotels must receive special lectures to deal with Japanese guests, as has
occurred in Waikiki? As an aside, there was a time when Japanese (as opposed to
Tagalog, Chinese or Hangul) instructions were posted in hotel bathrooms to warn
travelers not to use water outside the bathtub, and to instruct them how to use
a western toilet instead of squatting on it and soiling it or the floor.

Do you imply this is some sort of discrimination or bias, as well because
Japanese were "singled out"?

> And the fact that Japan has traditionally been a cash-based society has to do
> with "shit happens to others" how exactly?

Why do many still feel that it is acceptable to keep or carry large amounts of
cash in Japan, even enough to buy a car, luxury items, or put a down payment
down on a house, even with widespread perceptions about dangerous foreigners
(foreigners being number two on the list of top threats to Japanese security in
recent survey, at maybe 46% percent, young people at number one) committing
robberies and other forms of theft? Do your grandparents buy cars in cash, or
is that what their local dealer asked them to do? Do they pay their rent
(including five months up front) in cash every month?

--
 "I'm on top of the world right now, because everyone's going to know that I
can shove more than three burgers in my mouth!"