If you had to be a weeaboo for any country (BESIDES JAPAN), which would it be?

[SoranMBane]

Assuming my own country (America) is off-limits, I'd go with Australia, mostly because Steve Irwin was one of my biggest heroes as a kid.

 

[San Martin]

There are too many to choose from dammit!

Brazil, Mexico, Poland, Turkey, China, Colombia. How is a man to decide?

Fuck it! I'm going with the USA because of Frasier.

Colombia all over my face, what is a boy to do?

 

[EstrogenicMuscle]

I dislike the whole idea of weeaboos as a insult. Especially since they are usually mocked for liking Japanese culture, despite not being Japanese by blood. Why should blood matter? Who cares where you were born, or where your ancestors were? Identify with whatever culture you want. If you like Japanese traditions and mannerism, you should be able to adopt them without being mocked for it. Following this same line of logic, (or rather the reverse) I choose the land of my noble ancestors, either Denmark or Norway. Can't really decide which.

I am glad at least someone on the internet agrees to that sentiment. Back in 2006 I thought I was the only person on the entire internet arguing this position.

To be honest, I hate the term "weeaboo". I don't mind Japanophile so much, because I feel like the term isn't as loaded. You take Japan, the country, and phile, lover, and it just means Japan lover. While the term weeaboo is kind of racially loaded. Weeaboo is an alternate word for wapanese that caught on. And while some use the 'w' in wapanese to mean "wannabe", many used it to mean "white". As in, weeaboo was a way to mock white people who enjoy certain parts of Japanese culture.

Basically asserting that white people shouldn't do things not from white culture. White person eating sushi? Wapanese and racially inappropriate. White person taking karate? Wapanese and racially inappropriate. White person watching anime? Wapanese and racially inappropriate.

And yes, I know I know. Every time that is brought up, someone out there will say, "but that's not what weeaboo means", and then rattle off some personal definition of what they think a weeaboo is. Nobody agrees on what the term weeaboo means. I don't really care. What I care about is the fact that far too many people use the term to act like people shouldn't do certain things based upon their race and is used as an excuse to other white people and Asian people from each other.

It reaches a point where I wish people would find a different negative word for people who are interested in Japanese culture to the point of obsession and nationalist intolerance of non-Japanese cultures than "wapanese" or "weeaboo". Whatever the term means, it has been super abused by racists.

 

[A Satanic Panda]

I like Switzerland, neutral, rational, and tolerant of other people's problems...

BUT IT SWEAR TO GOD IN YOU LAY A FINGER ON ME I'LL FUCK YOU UP.

 

[Saelune]

Either China or the US. Cause I love Japan's history....followed by China, then the US.

 

[Tiamattt]

Snip

I really don't see why there needs to be such a word at all. Any new or similar word would just end up the same as the other 2, something that sounds stupid and used to childishly insult people. In fact I wish people made better use of their time, like doing something actually productive or useful instead of thinking of new ways to make fun of people like they were back in kindergarden.

 

[Nouw]

Maybe Norway. Beautiful country, progressive to say the least and just seems like a pretty cool country overall.

Or South Korea. The culture and their approach on society appeals a lot to me.
Can't say I'm a fan of their music though.

As a South Korean, I'm a bit curious to know what aspects of the culture that appeal to you. Just curious is all .

 

[Lonewolfm16]

I dislike the whole idea of weeaboos as a insult. Especially since they are usually mocked for liking Japanese culture, despite not being Japanese by blood. Why should blood matter? Who cares where you were born, or where your ancestors were? Identify with whatever culture you want. If you like Japanese traditions and mannerism, you should be able to adopt them without being mocked for it. Following this same line of logic, (or rather the reverse) I choose the land of my noble ancestors, either Denmark or Norway. Can't really decide which.

It's called appropriation. It's the same thing colonizers did after they smashed a country to bits and raped and savaged the inhabitants. Why do you think it's cute nowadays for white folks to run around wearing headdresses? It's a sick way to exploit people who've been marginalized. Appreciate the culture, sure. I personally wouldn't say someone's an asshole because they want to learn another language and about another culture; that's edifying and humanizing (normally, for both the learner and the culture s/he learns about). Identify with? No, not unless you were raised there and it is your home culture, and even then, it's important to be aware of social power dynamics. Otherwise, you'd just be doing the same stuff that Elvis and Justin Timberlake do.

Basically, consider this: Japanese immigrants were harassed, abused, mocked, and put in internment camps for identifying as Japanese (just in how they look, mind you). Today, there's still plenty of racism going on against Japanese-Americans, and that's damaging shit. Meanwhile, if a white person does that (and not just the whole capitalist thing of buying all the anime-related stuff one can, but really seeks to perform a Japanese identity), at worst, s/he will be made fun of, and at best, praised. That's bullshit. I'm not saying the white person in this case is personally bad (how would I know), but I am saying that this person is indulging in and perpetuating systems of power that promote hatred/violence/dehumanization against persons of color. Makes me think of the absurdity of The Last Samurai and a Paul Mooney joke.

Anyways, I pick Egypt, because Egypt was and continues to be awesome.

So, let me get this straight, the way to promote equality amongst people of all different races, is to divide up cultures based on birth and demand that everyone sticks within those lines? No. As for your claim that adopting pieces of a culture promotes disempowerment... it is really bizarre. Haven't colonial nations always demanded that natives integrate into THEIR culture? Like the various programs to convince native Americans to adopt European culture and religion. Why would adopting pieces of others encourage dehumanization? If everyone enjoyed Japanese art and culture, they would have been far less likely to view all the Japanese poorly, even with the actions of the Imperial government. And by your logic, the Japanese people who adopt western culture (see: changes to Japanese clothing, the introduction of many pieces of American media, and the common use of english phrases in Japan.) are trying to marginalize Japanese immigrants*? Honestly this sounds alot more like the philosophy of many racists towards immigrants (Go back home, stop pretending to be American and go back to where you belong!) then anything promoting equality.
Edit: *Japanese immigrants here refers to immigrants to Japan, from Western nations.

 

[Talaris]

For me it would be Greece. My aunt and uncle/second cousins are Greek, my boss is Greek, I've been there more times than any other country and love the history and language.

 

[smithy_2045]

If forced to, I'd choose the Netherlands. They seem pretty cool. For reference, I'm Australian.

 

[Scarim Coral]

I gues that would be American for me. There are stuff I want to try out (Twinkie) and I was excited when they open an American theme resturant over here. Also for once I want to experience long term heat (I'm from the UK so I have to deal with the annoying rains) and have iced tea again!

Quick question; what do they serve at an American themed restaurant? I've actually always been curios about that. Is it mainly the named types, like cajun and soul food, or do they have different menus for different regions (Southern, New England, Texan/Tex-Mex, etc.)?

If I remember correctly (I only been there once so far), they had the typical American food like burgers, Apple pie, buffalo wings and even the pizza burger (I should try that next) but they also had abit of a Mexican/ Spainish themes meals like fajitas (well ok that's Tex-Mex) and this other spicy meal serve on skewers.
Granted this resturant is local only and it's not a big brand like Eds Easy Diner in the UK.

 

[piinyouri]

Scandanavia/Finland.
Vikings and what not. Very fun. (if you're the viking)

 

[AlbertoDeSanta]

If I had too? Egypt or Britain.

Egypt may be a warm desert, but it's History and Culture interest me quite a lot. Britain makes some genuinely good stuff and I really like the good ol' Mother Country.

 

[Daveman]

If I wasn't Scottish, I'd go with Scotland. But I'll go with the next best thing: England.

That is, Victorian-esque styles, you know... top hats, monocles - that sort of stuff.

Clearly youu must not be Scottish. This is how you would be behaving otherwise.
Personally I've got to go with Korea, they basically did everything before Japan anyway. I went there and it was epic. It had extremely cheap booze in every cornershop, all of which are open 24/7, and somehow they don't have massive issues with alcoholism. The food actually has bloody FLAVOUR. Great beaches in Busan. Everyone is beautiful (mostly due to an unhealthy obsession with plastic surgery which is advertised everywhere). Plus their soldiers walk around with armani purses like it's no big deal (because they basically don't believe homosexuality exists) and ultra effeminate men aren't just fine but actually desired. Plus their language makes at least 100% more sense than Japanese.

Basically, I really like it.

 

[PatrickXD]

Canada. All my skiing has been done in Canada, Vancouver is my favourite place to be and when I've finished my P&O degree, Canada pays the most.
All that and poutine. It's just not the same anywhere else.

 

[Angie7F]

Germany.
I love their cars, wallets, and their history.

 

[WindKnight]

Ah, weelaboo. Is that the proper definition? Because I just learned about that word like 2 or 3 weeks ago over at the gamefaqs board where apparently you're one just because you want to hear Japanese in your games instead of English.

It does seem anytime I hear the term its being thrown around by some jackass defending anti-japan racism. It come across to me much like how 'politically correct' and 'white knighting' are go-to defenses for bullys and and hate spewers to try and deflect criticism of their behavior.

 

[McMarbles]

I pick Canada. Because moose are so very majestic.

 

[Henrik Knudsen]

Brazil, for hot ladies and superior social culture.

All hail our new Brazilian overlords!

 

[Vhite]

Spoiler: Poland

While Winged Hussars are badass enough, current Polish are on average nicest people I have met so far