" Louise Bremner" <dame_zumari@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> My speculation was that everyone is issued a certain amount of
> *something* (which I thought of as *politeness* but your *kindness*
> seems to fit just as well), and it's up to the individual to use that
> *something* has s/he sees fit (different individuals will, of course, be
> issued different amounts of this *something*).
>
> In which case, it does make sense to avoid wasting this *something* on
> complete strangers--far better to invest it in situations that reap the
> best advantage from the individual's point of view....
>
> Or have I drunk too much wine?

I think that pretty much sums it up -- a scarcity-based view of kindness
(there's only a certain amount so use it wisely), versus an abundance-based
view (cast your bread upon the waters). That Jesus dude was quite the
revolutionary, wasn't he?

Of course, to say there are no kind Japanese is an overstatement. Lots of
people truly are kind to their fellow man, and in a way it's even more
admirable, since they are kind out of their own natures and personally
arrived-at beliefs, rather than through some kind of cultural indoctrination
and Pavlovian gratification one gets through being kind.

Another thing that's kind of a puzzler is that while most Japanese aren't
really *kind* in the Western sense, they are very honest. That might be part
of the reason why they are so easy to dupe and scam. Those mujin vegetable
stands are a good example. There aren't many places in the US where one of
those stands wouldn't get robbed blind. Of course, they are vanishing in
Japan as well, but even in cities you can still find them. The wallet thing
is another example. If Japanese are only kind when they see personal gain,
then why are they honest when there is no immediate, pragmatic reason to be
so?

-- 
Regards,
Ryan Ginstrom