Am I the Only One Who DOESN'T Care About Japan?

[Raykuza]

OP's post really bothers me. It's not that he doesn't care about Japan that bothers me; I've come to expect a lack of empathy in today's rather disconnected, self-centered society (we're all guilty of this).

What bothers me is that he feels the need to announce that he doesn't care. If you don't care then why bother to make a topic to start a discussion about how you don't care? It doesn't make any sense.

 

[eyedonutkair]

So as most of you know Japan has had it pretty rough lately what with an earthquake, a tsunami, and some kind of radioactive meltdown happening in pretty quick succession. Hundreds of people are dead and towns have been destroyed. People at my school are all talking about it and debating whether or not we (the USA) should help Japan. But in the midst of all this, I find that I really don't care. I mean, I certinly don't want people to die and I don't wish anything bad on Japan (unlike some crazy people), but I don't really feel any sympathy towards people who I've never met and probably never will. Anyone else feel the same way, or am I just a sociopathic weirdo?

Awesome topic dude. It's probably because of all the media and crap like that. As you said, there's a big to-do about it all, and yea, its a disaster, but I think because you constantly hear about like its the only thing going on in the world, it kinda makes you give a lot less of a fark than people who are buying into it want you to. Screw'em, and let them buy in. Help if you can, other than that, running around like squabble-rocket chomper-chickens isn't going to make people care more or die less. Personally, I'm quite angry with the trainer who couldn't control his pokemon (I heard a rumor that it was caused by a sandslash, but I don't believe it) Things like this cause others to miss anime. I do feel bad about the many lives lost though. If I could have stopped it, I would have. As an American, I hope our country can help. Maybe Zombies from Old Orleans can do the labor. (Be aware I chose not to make a 9/11 joke.)

 

[eyedonutkair]

OP's post really bothers me. It's not that he doesn't care about Japan that bothers me; I've come to expect a lack of empathy in today's rather disconnected, self-centered society (we're all guilty of this).

What bothers me is that he feels the need to announce that he doesn't care. If you don't care then why bother to make a topic to start a discussion about how you don't care? It doesn't make any sense.

I think the sense lies in asking if anyone else feels the same way. >.>

 

[TheAmazingHobo]

OP's post really bothers me. It's not that he doesn't care about Japan that bothers me; I've come to expect a lack of empathy in today's rather disconnected, self-centered society (we're all guilty of this).

What bothers me is that he feels the need to announce that he doesn't care. If you don't care then why bother to make a topic to start a discussion about how you don't care? It doesn't make any sense.

Same reason as all the other "Am I the Only One..."-threads ? I.e. he wants to appear as a precious, unique snowflake of uncaringness and foolishly choose the snowstorm of not-giving-a-fuck-ness that is the internet to announce it ?

Or he just wanted to talk about his feelings a bit ? Dunno, like my first explanation better. More room for silly metaphors.

 

[Brad Shepard]

That being said, its up to you what you care about, but as for me, countless people lost there lives and the country moved about 6 feet, that should say enough onto how bad this was.

 

[Something Amyss]

... uhm, well they have been through a pretty horrible disaster. But i can see what you mean in your statement about them being complete strangers...
Still, human lives is a sensitive topic

Don't worry, the Escapist forums will slowly drain the sensitivity from you....

 

[ph0b0s123]

It's not within human nature to care about someone we've never met, I still do though

Bollocks. If it was not in humman nature news and reality show's would never be as popular as they are.

 

[MetroidNut]

Are you a terrible person? No, probably not. But it's definitely tasteless to announce to the internet your lack of caring, right after a speculated ten thousand individuals have been killed.

Personally, I'm fairly sympathetic towards things like this. I most assuredly care about the devastation in Japan, and about the potential effects if the Fukushima 1 power plant experiences a meltdown. I've never met the people affected, but I suppose I can imagine the horror of their situation well enough to sympathize quite a bit.

I especially sympathize with the people near Fukushima 1. Just think - waking up every morning, uncertain of whether the air is killing you....

 

[eyedonutkair]

The amount of people angry that someone doesn't care and made a post about it > the amount of people who don't care...about either Japan or the angry people. Is this statement true or false by the time this is posted, I wonder.

 

[RN7]

The main reason I care is because Japan is the epicenter of my manga/anime interests and produces decent video games from time to time. I have been called shallow for this...so...teach his own, I guess.

 

[emeraldrafael]

People at my school are all talking about it and debating whether or not we (the USA) should help Japan.

PLEASE tell me people at your school arent holding Pearl Harbor against them. Because unless everyone at your school is almost over 70 none of them would even remember Pearl Harbor or know of it first hand. thats like a black kid today complaining about Slavery or segregation in America.

OT: I recently had to make an apologize to a Japanese descent girl (whether she moved from thre or lived here [America] all her live I'll never know) because she overheard (read: Easedropped) on the conversation my friends and I were having and heard me say:
I Dont feel bad it happened. They live close to a fault line, so its not like this never happened before. Its sucks it did, and I'm sorry for the loss of life and devestation, but I'm hardly shocked or Surprised. Its likes Katrina. You dont ***** if you live below sea level and get flooded

So to me, I care, but proably not for the reasons I should. I feel bad for the death and stuff, but I'm more worried about Atlus and how this will affect their games (call me a bad person all you want but if wherever Microsoft's gaming division is headquartered got hit, I'm sure that would be the first thing ona lot of people's minds), and how it will affect Trade, since Japan is a large economic trading partner with the US (especially Pittsburgh, which is where I live).

 

[mb16]

THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS DO NOT REFLECT MY VIEWS
well by this logic i could say
"i dont care about peal harbour, they died so what?"
"i dont care about the holocaust, they died so what?"
"i dont care about hurricane Katrina, they died so what?"
you may not care, but keep it to your self

EDIT: i think this proves that games dont have a negative effect on people (me). In real life i care for people when this sort of thing happens, but in game i slaughter people in the millions.

 

[dj Facchiano]

no your not, unfortunately no one cares that you don't care about Japan and you are 100% not special for not caring about Japan. Have a nice day.

 

[skcom13]

They have the money to fix them selves. they chose to live in a high risk zone, its no different than a disaster here, the only difference is we dont cry about it and ask for help

 

[Kortney]

My mother is in Japan, so I cared pretty immensely when I heard about how bad things were.

But I still do care even when I have no connection to a place. I've always been someone who empathises incredibly easily with people - especially in times of hardship.

But I do think saying you "don't care" is a little harsh. It's fair enough if you are indifferent to human suffering that doesn't affect you - I can get that. However why you have to go out of your way and make a thread about not caring does confuse me.

 

[Bourne Endeavor]

I have scarcely given the past events more than an idle thought when someone inevitibility brings up the subject. The United States and Canada have their own issues to solve and are doing a lackluster job as it is with the rampant unemployment, well fare abuse and the steadly rising cost of living in spite of low wages. They can extend an offer for all I care but focus on your own Country.

At the end of the day, it does not effect my directly. So while I do not wish death or harm to anyone. No, I do not care.

 

[Bitter_Arron]

Right i have looked through these forums and to be honest I've noticed people on both sides of a valid argument. Yes detachment causes a lot of people not to 'care', I personally wasn't suprised in the least when I heard that Japan and been struck hard by mother earths cold soily fist. I thought that they were pushing their luck all the time with building extra sections of their city all over the coast and making their entire economy so that they could work soley from their own ground. Truth be told after the fact that they've tried to isolate themselves so stubbornly makes me wonder why we should be throwing every resource of our already struggling societies to help. Now don't get me wrong I'm not a monster and I'm not saying that they should all drown. I'm all for helping people just I don't see why we should donate our money in a recession to them, (I don't trust charities anyway. Just look up the bono charity scandal for why.) I usually feel for these sorts of things such as 9/11 and such because this is the work of man, and to do something like this to another person is just wrong, but when it's actually just nature to be honest I can't say that's wrong. Nature wiped out entire species before who's to say it's not just reducing overpopulation this time. If you ask me nature really seems to want to get rid of japan, I'm not saying that I agree just that it seems that way.
I wish that the people of Japan get back on their feet soon, just hopefully it will be without draining the entire world of their economies too.

 

[hopeneverdies]

My dad was stationed out there for military duty about 15 years ago. He still has friends out there at the air force base in Misawa, I probably have some people that I knew as a toddler out there.

I am concerned, plus their economy going to crap is probably going to have an effect on everyone else's wallets in some way, shape, or form.

 

[Hosker]

No, you are not the only one. I don't really care either. People die all the time.