How not to not sound like a racist troll on Japanese related topics

[SckizoBoy]

(I preface this by reminding people I'm Chinese.)

"Big sister, you're such an idiot "

o_0' 'Baka da ne-, o-nee-chan wa.' (my turn to act racist otaku... =P)

*shrug*

OT: A lot of my old uni friends have studied in/lived in Japan, and I come from a family of Miyazaki Hayao fans. Seeing as how I also mix with gamers/anime nerds, I reckon I've gotten the whole picture, and having spent the equivalent of six months in Kobe, I think I know how Japan really is (which explains my complete and utter disdain for anime tropes these days, and it's only getting worse... which is a good thing).

Besides, misconceptions exist wherever you go (but around here, thankfully it's all - I hope - fun and games). For one thing, whenever I spoke English in Japan, all I got were weird looks, but when my American friend opened his mouth, different story altogether. Now, why is that?

 

[MisterM2402]

Onee-chan... hitoshii baka ni shinaide kudasai

Ahhh, my eyes! The roumaji, it buuuurns! XD
After you've learned how to write everything properly, you really grow to detest Japanese written "in English".
My Japanese isn't that great yet, but older sister would be oneesan （お姉さ&#12435 or ane （姉）[most likely there's a more appropriate word to use that I don't know of, though]. ____kudasai （____下さい） is used kinda like "Please do _____." I think, so it doesn't really seem to fit in.

Foreigners don't understand Japanese TV or comedy always.

You're complaining about racism and generalisations yet you say that?

 

[Laser Priest]

Wait, you're using Zero Punctuation as the reference point for how people see Japan?

I think I've found your problem.

 

[Saint of M]

This is why I do the Anime and the Issues we Have with it threads.


Welcome to the crazy party of ours. We should have some cheetos and mountain dew left for you.

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

Onee-chan... hitoshii baka ni shinaide kudasai

Ahhh, my eyes! The roumaji, it buuuurns! XD
After you've learned how to write everything properly, you really grow to detest Japanese written "in English".
My Japanese isn't that great yet, but older sister would be oneesan （お姉さ&#12435 or ane （姉）[most likely there's a more appropriate word to use that I don't know of, though]. ____kudasai （____下さい） is used kinda like "Please do _____." I think, so it doesn't really seem to fit in.

Foreigners don't understand Japanese TV or comedy always.

You're complaining about racism and generalisations yet you say that?

Reread the post; English clearly isn't the OPs first language, and I'm pretty sure that sentence should have read "Foreigners don't always understand Japanese TV or Comedy." As I said earlier, I don't speak Japanese, but I understand English is the odd language out when it comes to sentence structure; I can easily see this being a mistake due to that. Although if it was intentional, it would be highly hypocritical.

 

[Bon_Clay]

Almost every woman actually hates otaku because they are pedophiles

I lol'd.

Yes everyone knows that otaku doesn't mean someone who happens to like anime, it is basically a nerd or geek or whatever that has a potentially unhealthy love for it. But the same can be said about some Trekkies, obsess over shows, dress as the characters, even learn to speak Klingon.

So if someone, Japanese or not, wants to call themselves an otaku I say go ahead. There are plenty of people obsessed with things to such a degree as to freak other people out. Such is life in the developed world.

 

[k-ossuburb]

snip.

Hi, welcome to the Escapist.

Firstly, I think it's worth pointing out that you're on a fool's errand here. You cannot say what the majority of any population likes because that would entail that you are speaking for that population, and that is simply ignorant, even if you're part of that population yourself.

Japan, like any other country, is filled with various different kinds of people who like different things. You cannot say that "everyone likes ____" or "does not like ____" because you can never know for sure. It just seems a little weird to me that you're choosing to supplant a negative stereotype for a positive one (in your opinion) by addressing a population with a blanket statement like you just have, either way, you're simply applying a blanket statement to everyone, which defeats the purpose of your argument somewhat. You simply cannot compound an entire populations likes, dislikes and opinions into a short list like that, every population, culture or group is subject to nuance, you should put forth the case for judging the Japanese on an individual basis, not trying to prove that "everyone isn't like that, they're like this" as it's hypocritical.

Now, here on the Escapist, I've noticed that not everyone thinks the same way about everything, and that's a good thing. It allows you to get a decent perspective on an issue by looking at the various nuances and viewpoints on any given subject and get fresh look at a subject from an angle you might not have thought of yourself.

The thing I should point out about the fact that this is a varied spectrum of beliefs and opinions is that you should take a look at the context of what is being said and who it is being said by.

Any comment you find offensive should be addressed by the person who originally posted it, not by issuing a blanket statement that tars everyone with the same brush. Please judge people's opinions on an individual basis, we're not all the same on this site, everyone has a different position on different subjects, not everyone thinks the same way. Please keep this in mind for the future.

 

[MisterM2402]

Your avatar makes this link appropriate.


I can only hope you're of the female persuasion, then this will be epic.

I wish I was female just for this...
Puntacular.

Reread the post; English clearly isn't the OPs first language, and I'm pretty sure that sentence should have read "Foreigners don't always understand Japanese TV or Comedy." As I said earlier, I don't speak Japanese, but I understand English is the odd language out when it comes to sentence structure; I can easily see this being a mistake due to that. Although if it was intentional, it would be highly hypocritical.

Yeah, I got that it wasn't her first language, but I guess I didn't look at the sentence like that.... If that's what the OP meant, I apologise. However, I'm sure I've seen instances of Japanese people thinking that Japanese comedy is purely for the Japanese and that outsiders can't and won't "get" it.

 

[Togs]

Came in expecting some delusional weeaboo rant only to find some straight talking, honest facts that a section of the geek community need to come to terms with.

So thank you OP.

 

[Voration]

Almost every woman actually hates otaku because they are pedophiles.

I'm well aware that the majority of Japanese people are 'normal' but I think its a little bit hypocritical to on the one hand say that you don't want to be stereotyped as a perverted Japanese person and then go and say that all otakus are paedophiles.

 

[Ghost]

Hello, I am a Japanese-American lady gamer who is sick of gamers misconceptions about Japan. I made an Escapist account to share a list of facts for nerds who get all of their knowledge of Japan from the Internet, and because the Zero Punctuation Yakuza review was so wrong. Foreigners and Japanese alike who are not nerds can be racist, but I find otaku anime nerds or gamers are the very worst racists next to racist elderly people.

1. Japanese people favorite anime is wholesome family friendly like Chibi Maruko Chan, Sazae-san, and Miyazaki films. Boys like action like One Piece and sports. Men think action anime like Dragonball and Gundam is nostalgic. Disney is very popular Anime.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSKLTuGc75M&feature=related

2. Japanese live action drama most popular genres are romance, comedy, horror, and detective. Foreigners don't understand Japanese TV or comedy always. Music that is popular are singer like Ayumi Hamasaki, Dreams Come True, and South Korean SNSD.

3. Otaku anime is only known by otaku except for Neon Genisis (I don't like) and Gundam. Almost every woman actually hates otaku because they are pedophiles. Visual novel and moe fans are like the perverted trolls who always say bad things in YouTube video comments: Just embarassing guys you try to ignore.

Now, please don't say ALL Japanese like perverted or are crazy. I am not crazy or a pervert and neither is anybody I know.

/goes back to playing games now that that's off my chest

Do you live in Japan or America? If it's Japan, can I ask about racism towards other races in Japan? I hear a lot about how fiercely nationalist a lot of Japanese are, and the video of Japanese people harassing a couple of white guys and shouting 'WHITE PIG GO HOME' is pretty infamous, hopefully that's just some tiny insignificant group like the modern KKK but the fact that they openly parade on the streets with their faces fully shown, hurling abuse at random foreigners paints a very bad picture when watched by anyone from another country.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FYuYkPgDkk

 

[Kerra]

Onee-chan... hitoshii baka ni shinaide kudasai

Please promptly remove yourself from the internet

 

[Kerra]

Onee-chan... hitoshii baka ni shinaide kudasai

Please promptly remove yourself from the internet

>Doesn't understand the internet.

I think you're the one who should leave, if the browser hits you on your way out, I suggest a soothing balm.

What makes you think that?