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I agree that we shouldn't judge other cultures based on the standards of our own culture. However, I somehow doubt that kids working 15 hours a day actually pre

by Sandman 17y ago

I agree that we shouldn't judge other cultures based on the standards of our own culture. However, I somehow doubt that kids working 15 hours a day actually prefer that to having more free time. Nobody would work those hours unless they actually had to. And that is the problem. The fact that those kids have to work under these conditions, instead of going to school, hanging out with their friends and so on. Perhaps some of them would actually like to get an education, to work as an engineer, or a scientist, or something else - but they don't even get that chance, they're stuck working on that assembly line.

ErrantX 17y ago
> Nobody would work those hours unless they actually had to Patio11 will tell you the hours Japanese salarymen have to work to get anywhere. Same sort of situation; but it's not kids so it's fine ;) If they don't work there what do they do - how do they go to (or afford) school? For the most part this is not a "job for life". There is a career path of sorts and, eventually, you work your way up. This is partly what I mean by stigma: why is school the "better" option. (I can't argue with the hanging out with friends thing :)) I'm sure many would like to have an education; that's the problem to fix - how to offer it to them! I'm not necessarily condoning this as a good situation but it fucks me off when people like the GP make very broad, judging statements with no context or experience of the culture and situation. EDIT: I will say that while I have met several people that work in these places they were all older work-study types. So they were at schools, just working like stink in holidays/downtime. Hell; I did that working on my Aunts farm (voluntarily) doing 14 hour days :) (yes, I realise I had a choice there; not trying to compare too deeply) I have no idea if there are these very young people working there (though I was told there were) or to what extent / why they are forced to be there.

by Sandman 17y ago

ErrantX 17y ago

> Nobody would work those hours unless they actually had to Patio11 will tell you the hours Japanese salarymen have to work to get anywhere. Same sort of situation; but it's not kids so it's fine ;) If they don't work there what do they do - how do they go to (or afford) school? For the most part this is not a "job for life". There is a career path of sorts and, eventually, you work your way up. This is partly what I mean by stigma: why is school the "better" option. (I can't argue with the hanging out with friends thing :)) I'm sure many would like to have an education; that's the problem to fix - how to offer it to them! I'm not necessarily condoning this as a good situation but it fucks me off when people like the GP make very broad, judging statements with no context or experience of the culture and situation. EDIT: I will say that while I have met several people that work in these places they were all older work-study types. So they were at schools, just working like stink in holidays/downtime. Hell; I did that working on my Aunts farm (voluntarily) doing 14 hour days :) (yes, I realise I had a choice there; not trying to compare too deeply) I have no idea if there are these very young people working there (though I was told there were) or to what extent / why they are forced to be there.