Japan disaster, no looting? Do we in the west need to re-evaluate our opinions of Japanese society?

[Kruxs]

There wasn't really a lot in the way of looting with the recent Australian disasters either. There was a little price-hiking though but that was swiftly stomped on by the regulatory body here. And certainly no-one was shooting each other in the streets. I think a lot of those things are American cultural artifacts, perhaps a hangover from that country's frontierist culture and mentality. It's definitely the precedent in most other countries in the world for their citizens to behave in a civil, friendly and even helpful manner during/after a natural disaster (man-made disasters being another kettle of fish entirely).

I have to say you're painting Americans with a pretty broad brush. I'd say New York City did a pretty good job after the World Trade Center disaster.

 

[SinisterGehe]

pffft, I never found Japan any more odd any other culture or turned my nose down at Japanese culture. It's different than North American culture sure, but we do some pretty strange and stupid stuff ourselves.

But I'm glad to hear that there's so little looting going on, I'm trying to do my part to help out, donating 1/4 of my paycheques for the next couple of months to relief efforts.

You should keep the money and boy Japanese products that have been made in Japan. It is more use in the long run to help them get their Economy restarted than getting them short term aid.

But you can do however your morals views make you, I don't care. But at least I have given advice to someone of different ways of helping.

 

[BonsaiK]

There wasn't really a lot in the way of looting with the recent Australian disasters either. There was a little price-hiking though but that was swiftly stomped on by the regulatory body here. And certainly no-one was shooting each other in the streets. I think a lot of those things are American cultural artifacts, perhaps a hangover from that country's frontierist culture and mentality. It's definitely the precedent in most other countries in the world for their citizens to behave in a civil, friendly and even helpful manner during/after a natural disaster (man-made disasters being another kettle of fish entirely).

I have to say you're painting Americans with a pretty broad brush. I'd say New York City did a pretty good job after the World Trade Center disaster.

I heard there were people looting corpses at Ground Zero.

Not saying all Americans would do that, by there's definitely a culture of "me first, me against everybody else" in the US that I've observed, that doesn't seem exist to the same extent in many other countries.

 

[Kruxs]

I heard there were people looting corpses at Ground Zero.

It would be pretty hard to loot someones corpses under hundreds of tons of debris, with all the poisonous toxins in the air, and sealed off by the police and military before and after the towers collapsed.

Speaking as an American myself, I'm just sick of the stereotype that we're all just greedy, obese, foreigner-hating, nuts that go around killing indiscriminately. That's not us at all. It's our government that's greedy, obese, foreigner-hating, nuts that go around killing indiscriminately..

 

[mikeysnakes]

I heard there were people looting corpses at Ground Zero.

It would be pretty hard to loot someones corpses under hundreds of tons of debris, with all the poisonous toxins in the air, and sealed off by the police and military before and after the towers collapsed.

Speaking as an American myself, I'm just sick of the stereotype that we're all just greedy, obese, foreigner-hating, nuts that go around killing indiscriminately. That's not us at all. It's our government that's greedy, obese, foreigner-hating, nuts that go around killing indiscriminately..

There was also impenetrable dust everywhere within a few blocks radius so much so that people couldn't see where they were going, I doubt anyone stopped to see if they could find a body on the floor.

Speaking as someone who was close enough to see the Towers, I'm pretty sure whatever source said there was corpse looting at ground zero was full of shit.

 

[Trogdor1138]

I've never thought of Japan as weird or been confused. I'm far more confused by American society to be honest.

Every society has their fuck ups, there's none that have had sins brought onto the world (even Canada, who brought us Bieber).

The Brisbane floods around here had lots of looters, I was absolutely disgusted.

 

[BonsaiK]

I heard there were people looting corpses at Ground Zero.

It would be pretty hard to loot someones corpses under hundreds of tons of debris, with all the poisonous toxins in the air, and sealed off by the police and military before and after the towers collapsed.

Speaking as someone who was close enough to see the Towers, I'm pretty sure whatever source said there was corpse looting at ground zero was full of shit.

I'm not sure how it played out but I did hear a report about it in the media over here, which included some vox populi and a statement from an NY public official of some kind urging people not to loot corpses because it was interfering with body identification.

 

[mikeysnakes]

I heard there were people looting corpses at Ground Zero.

It would be pretty hard to loot someones corpses under hundreds of tons of debris, with all the poisonous toxins in the air, and sealed off by the police and military before and after the towers collapsed.

Speaking as someone who was close enough to see the Towers, I'm pretty sure whatever source said there was corpse looting at ground zero was full of shit.

I'm not sure how it played out but I did hear a report about it in the media over here, which included some vox populi and a statement from an NY public official of some kind urging people not to loot corpses because it was interfering with body identification.

Hmm well I really don't know, as you could imagine it was quite hectic in New York at the time, I just don't see how it could have been possible, it's almost as if to say people tried looting Tsunami victims.

But I do want to comment on the actual thread's point, I think as a generalization (and what is this but one big generalization) Japanese people tend to have more respect or reverence for the laws. This is just speaking about every day citizens, but it seems like culturally breaking the law is looked down upon even if it's minor offenses, so they tend to not break the law for that reason. An example is that the Japanese people in my area consider running a red light an actual crime, whereas in my hometown it's more like a hobby.

 

[Bakuryukun]

pffft, I never found Japan any more odd any other culture or turned my nose down at Japanese culture. It's different than North American culture sure, but we do some pretty strange and stupid stuff ourselves.

But I'm glad to hear that there's so little looting going on, I'm trying to do my part to help out, donating 1/4 of my paycheques for the next couple of months to relief efforts.

You should keep the money and boy Japanese products that have been made in Japan. It is more use in the long run to help them get their Economy restarted than getting them short term aid.

But you can do however your morals views make you, I don't care. But at least I have given advice to someone of different ways of helping.

I assure you I buy plenty of Japanese products anyways, being a fan of anime and the vija games and the like.

 

[sam42ification]

After hearing reports about how citizens in Japan are dealing with the disaster there, do we in the west need to start re-evaluating how we judge Japanese society?

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/edwest/100079703/why-is-there-no-looting-in-japan/

http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/stimulus/2011/mar/14/where-are-japanese-looters/

No looting, no price gauging by businesses and corporations giving away stuff for free?

After reading the stories above and having it confirmed by the BBC and other news sources, it got me wondering. In places like this forum we are always taking the piss out of or looking down our noses at Japanese sociaty, due to it being seemingly very weird. And yes I know they have their problems.

But since to my mind a good measure of any society is how deals with adversity. Could the Japanese teach us a thing or two. And what is it about Japanese society that causes this behaviour.

And before you ask I am not Japanophile. I like some Japanese cultural exports like anime and videogames. But that's about the totality of my interest.

Now I am not talking about how well their government is doing in addressing the crisis or whether they could have been more prepared. That's a whole separate discussion...

How were you originally evaluating them? Japan is an extreamly polite culture. I'm really not suprised. I would be suprised if Japan did have looting. What was your opinion of Japan before? If you took the time to know them you would know that pretty much Japanese person is extreamly nice and polite.

 

[Something Amyss]

We look down on Japanese society here?

I sure haven't noticed. There's a few cultural phenomenoms that we make fun of, sure, but that's true with every country.

There's no difference to some, it seems. Mocking tentacle rape is mocking japanese society, for they are one and the same.

...At least, that seems to be the logic here.

 

[bobknowsall]

The problems I have with Japanese culture don't stem from their ability to abide by the law, or show occasional altruism. It's the creepy side of their culture that worries me.

 

[theriddlen]

Well, Japan has very modern society. And weird.

 

[Verlander]

I've never encountered people looking down on Japanese society. A few that love it, but never anyone who hates it. I feel bad for a person that cannot see past the potential "bads" of a society, especially if they've never been there.

 

[emeraldrafael]

So it begs the question, why is Japan different and is there something we can learn. And should we give Japan's supposed weirdness more respect than we do?

Japan is raised differently, but that has been screwing them over subtly in a way that isnt obvious. THey're raised with honor and respect not seen in most Western Countries, but thats cause its a repressed country. They value you as a worker, and see that you must contribute.

However that has been dooming them, since they are working all their lives, and the average age of conception and birth over all was very high, to the point where it hit the danger zone. It eased up more recently with foreigners not being viewed as scum of the earth and an embarrassment if you married them (though they still never get citizenship, thats something reserved only to Japan). Really, Japan has almost worked itself out of existence, in a population view.

So no, I wouldnt learn from them. I'll take the Looting, violence, and disorder you see in place especially like the US, if it means that we dont end up like that.

 

[FieryTrainwreck]

Something struck where I live (unlikely): Secure what you need to survive (food, water), damn those who try to stop me. Than may be get something extra to get on your feet faster once it's over. May not be pretty or noble, but I will claw my way out of any shit even if I'll have to use dead babies to build a raft. I think thats how the West came on top in the end.

Don't take this the wrong way, but if you and I were ever in a disaster situation, and I discovered your true nature, I'd put a bullet through your head without blinking. And everyone else would thank me for it.

 

[Sniper Team 4]

I've never thought their society was weird, just different. I actually respect their culture a lot. I'm not surprised at the lack of panic, looting, and selfishness in Japan. Their culture is wired to be honorable and work in harmony. They still have the concept of shame, something that many nations have forgotten.

And do people here on The Escapist really look down on their culture? I've never seen that.

 

[ph0b0s123]

How were you originally evaluating them? Japan is an extreamly polite culture. I'm really not suprised. I would be suprised if Japan did have looting. What was your opinion of Japan before? If you took the time to know them you would know that pretty much Japanese person is extreamly nice and polite.

The behaviour was not a surprise to me, but I thought it might be to other forum go-ers and westerner's in general as they tend to have rather skewed views about Japanese society due to most portraits of Japan in the western media / news / travel programs, only focus on certain parts of Japanese society. We all know the parts they focus on.

Though not being to impressed by the Katrina like reports of abandonment coming out of the evacuation zone and shelters. With stories about shelters and hospitals not getting supplies etc. Come Japanese gov, get some supplies rolling to these areas, or start moving people out of the shelters...

 

[ZombieGenesis]

What made you think the Japanese were money gouging crooks in the first place?

Other than Sony.