How come Japan gets better media treatment?

[ekkaman]

And out the the dead in New Zealand a lot were from Japan were they not?

 

[Zechnophobe]

There are likely more than TEN THOUSAND people dead in Japan. And the damage to the economy and living situation there is many MANY times worse. NZ is strong enough to easily get back up on their feet. Japan, on the other hand, is, and I quote "proper fucked".

True the comparison is easy to reason to, but if Japan's earthquake didn't happen, would you talk about New Zealand?

Well, I can answer that pretty easily. No. I wouldn't. Bad stuff happens all over the world every day to various degrees. While I have sympathy for people who've gone through hardships, I can't attend every funeral. If I gave a nod to each person that died each day, my head would fall off. This is life, in all its surreal brutality. If you try to commemorate all the hardships in life, you will never know the good parts.

For humor value: The real reason Japan gets the attention is that there aren't any major sexual fetish' involving kiwi's.

In a word, sheep.

Hmm, good point. But I don't think the Sheep need be from New Zealand. They could be Welsh, or even American.

 

[gbemery]

How's about instead of praying for any of them, we send money, supplies and experts to actualy help? just a thought...

because praying is an easy moral cop out for having to do anything else that would be meaningful and useful.

 

[Zechnophobe]

Is Atheism the "cool" thing now?

Practicality doesn't have to be cool. Ask anyone who has rubber banded a cell phone to their head.

 

[phoenican]

As a Citizen of New Zealand (abeit Auckland), i was impressed by the aid of our pacific rim countries who sent rescue teams and support. in the wake of japan earthquake we have no need to hog the limelight, it needs to be focused on Japan right now. NZ may have lost in the region of 300 people(not all new zealanders, there was a language school at the bottom level of a large building) about 1/3 of all buildings will have to be distroyed, and they have lost all their rugby world cup games later this year.
We are lucky that David Lange(ex-prime minister) rejected Nuclear power and Nuclear Vessels from NZ. It will take a while to rebuild Christchurch, a sight lot easier than what has happened in Japan.

 

[BX3]

Is Atheism the "cool" thing now?

No, but judging from some of these responses, it looks like being a d--k is.
Heh, that's kinda always been cool though.

 

[Sansha]

New Zeeland aside, people feel like they have some sort of connection to Japan. It's pretty popular, so that helps. I mean, if we're just talking about fatalities here you could compare the attention this disaster has gotten with that of the 2003 Bam Earthquake [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_Bam_earthquake] with 30,000+ fatalities. That a lot of people didn't even know happened. Because who cares about Iranians, right?

So yeah. Big-ass cataclysm in a country that's pretty popular is always going to be worse than an even bigger one in a country that few care about.

It's Iraq. You think America is going to publicize a tragedy there?

 

[Silent Biohazard Solid]

I don't think the earth quake in New Zealand cause a tsunami to hit the coasts of two different continents.
Frankly, I hear more uproar about the tsunami than the earthquake itself.

 

[Eldarion]

Also to all the atheists who think they are so funny, no one said that the people who are praying aren't giving to Charity that does real good as well. In fact if they are doing that AND praying they are making that much more effort than you are and we all should do everything we can. I prayed for the first time in forever for everyone all over the world who was affected and I don't believe in any god. The only thing your snark is doing is making you look like assholes.

 

[Verlander]

Is Atheism the "cool" thing now?

Has been for a while, it's getting as dull and irritating as evangelism, and perhaps even more preachy.

OT: Well, I heard about the NZ quake. Maybe it's because the damage and death toll is substantially higher? Same with all natural disasters, we were inflicted with images of oil leaks for days as well, as well as all other disasters. I'd rather have that on rolling news than "celebrities".

 

[Sansha]

Is Atheism the "cool" thing now?

Has been for a while, it's getting as dull and irritating as evangelism, and perhaps even more preachy.

OT: Well, I heard about the NZ quake. Maybe it's because the damage and death toll is substantially higher? Same with all natural disasters, we were inflicted with images of oil leaks for days as well, as well as all other disasters. I'd rather have that on rolling news than "celebrities".

What else is there to say, news is dead.

 

[PrinceofPersia]

It think this is worth posting

I would also say that the japanese earthquakes were way more destructive. Its about the statistics.

ROFL oh my goodness that was funny you get a cookie!

 

[gillebro]

How's about instead of praying for any of them, we send money, supplies and experts to actualy help? just a thought...

That is my knee-jerk reaction, and I had a friend saying that maybe the generally non-religious Japanese should turn to god, which I found majorly insensitive among other things, but my friend is a bit of a prick sometimes. But I think these groups are talking about other things you can do to help as well. Just don't go there, whatever you do. The last thing either you or the Japanese need is to be babysat for in a country whose language of business you (most probably) don't speak.

Anyway, yeah, I kind of agree, OP. I'm supposed to be in Japan at the moment on exchange. I got out a week before the earthquake hit. Talk about lucky. But yeah, there's been next to no news about New Zealand, but everywhere I go here in England there's stuff on Japan. Seems a bit unfair.

 

[Soviet Heavy]

Because Anime comes from Japan, and ignorant Weeaboos will be more concerned about their favorite series continuing than the massive death toll.

That is why more people care than they did about New Zealand.

 

[emeraldrafael]

Well, look at it this way. Who's bigger on the world stage, Japan or New Zealand?

That probably answers your question on where the threads for them are.