4 ms·

A Realization About Japanese and American Superheroes

11 points by lionhearted 16y ago

logic 16y ago
The observation is interesting (and one I'd never noticed before), but I'm not sure if I agree with the conclusion. The "American" approach of discarding what you know when you're almost defeated and "winging it" seems pretty rational to me. If what you've been doing isn't working, no matter how "correct" it might seem to be, and you're about to run out of options, perhaps it's a good time to try a new strategy. I don't think I'd characterize that as unhealthy.
- jbm 16y ago
  I agree. Isn't one sign of insanity that you do the exact same thing over and over again within the same context and expect different results? I think the Japanese economy and it's various problems are related to the battleship Yamato problem (keep trying the same thing over and over even when failure is apparent)
zdw 16y ago
I disagree. Throughout japanese media and culture there's also the thought that "if I just try hard enough, I'll succeed" despite lack of training. This is demonstrably false, and similar to giving gold stars for effort.
- stcredzero 16y ago
  If a major blockage is the idea that something isn't possible, then, "if I just try hard enough, I'll succeed," might indeed win the day. If what is important is skill and technique, then training might win the day. I suspect it's not one or the other all the time, rather it's one or the other depending on context. That said, at the last moment or in a crisis, training is most likely to win out, but even this is not absolute. Artillery crews were once trained to stay by their cannon to defend them at all costs. However, it was noted that in the face of counter-battery fire, most of the time the artillery onsite would all still function while the entire crew might be killed. (Guns being made of metal while people are made of red squishy stuff.) In this case, the training was wrong and those who went with their gut feelings (run like hell and take cover) were actually doing the right thing. Taking cover under counter-battery fire became the new training norm.
losethos 16y ago
The difference between occidental and oriental philosophy and religion is Western ideas are surprising while Eastern are dull and expected. Again and again we reminded that God's ways are far above our ways. As for this example, early Christians were encouraged not to prepare a defense in trials but that "the Holy Spirit" would give them the words at the right moment. Of course that sounds awful under human reasoning, except God and the Holy Spirit are real!! God says... ask hosts withal occasioned mother join circuit variations wanton assurance vanished heavier rouse fed shineth embarrassments d teacheth endure maintaining troubled imprinted I've often woundered why they call the first A-Bomb test site "Trinity site". The Trinity theology is awful and against everything in scientific thinking, an embarassment for pretty-much anyone who feels they must defend it. Western thinking is like Star Wars with "the force". The battle of Midway was a lucky break because they broke the Japanese code. The United States used Najaho code talkers. The Allies broke the German Enigma code. Luck. A mentor said "If I had to be skilled or lucky, I'd pick lucky." So much is dominated by "luck" in this world. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6rDWqjnW7w http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6rDWqjnW7w God says... deliberation going _ wine arrive asunder ceaseth skilful impair ceases respects Eagerly society vouchsafe sufficient unaided healedst vices us Very Run deal verses commender wings perceivedst limitation
julius_geezer 16y ago
During the Tokugawa shogunates, Japan aimed at maintaining a static society, and did a pretty fair job of it: contacts with the European world confined to Nagasaki, firearms excluded, etc. During about the same years, the Americans went from colonists mostly east of the Atlantic fall line to an independent nation that controlled most of the territory where the contiguous 48 states are. I say this not to imply some American superiority, but to point out that training, in those circumstances, was often irrelevant.

11 points by lionhearted 16y ago

logic 16y ago

The observation is interesting (and one I'd never noticed before), but I'm not sure if I agree with the conclusion. The "American" approach of discarding what you know when you're almost defeated and "winging it" seems pretty rational to me. If what you've been doing isn't working, no matter how "correct" it might seem to be, and you're about to run out of options, perhaps it's a good time to try a new strategy. I don't think I'd characterize that as unhealthy.

jbm 16y ago
I agree. Isn't one sign of insanity that you do the exact same thing over and over again within the same context and expect different results? I think the Japanese economy and it's various problems are related to the battleship Yamato problem (keep trying the same thing over and over even when failure is apparent)

zdw 16y ago

I disagree. Throughout japanese media and culture there's also the thought that "if I just try hard enough, I'll succeed" despite lack of training. This is demonstrably false, and similar to giving gold stars for effort.

stcredzero 16y ago
If a major blockage is the idea that something isn't possible, then, "if I just try hard enough, I'll succeed," might indeed win the day. If what is important is skill and technique, then training might win the day. I suspect it's not one or the other all the time, rather it's one or the other depending on context. That said, at the last moment or in a crisis, training is most likely to win out, but even this is not absolute. Artillery crews were once trained to stay by their cannon to defend them at all costs. However, it was noted that in the face of counter-battery fire, most of the time the artillery onsite would all still function while the entire crew might be killed. (Guns being made of metal while people are made of red squishy stuff.) In this case, the training was wrong and those who went with their gut feelings (run like hell and take cover) were actually doing the right thing. Taking cover under counter-battery fire became the new training norm.

losethos 16y ago

The difference between occidental and oriental philosophy and religion is Western ideas are surprising while Eastern are dull and expected. Again and again we reminded that God's ways are far above our ways. As for this example, early Christians were encouraged not to prepare a defense in trials but that "the Holy Spirit" would give them the words at the right moment. Of course that sounds awful under human reasoning, except God and the Holy Spirit are real!! God says... ask hosts withal occasioned mother join circuit variations wanton assurance vanished heavier rouse fed shineth embarrassments d teacheth endure maintaining troubled imprinted I've often woundered why they call the first A-Bomb test site "Trinity site". The Trinity theology is awful and against everything in scientific thinking, an embarassment for pretty-much anyone who feels they must defend it. Western thinking is like Star Wars with "the force". The battle of Midway was a lucky break because they broke the Japanese code. The United States used Najaho code talkers. The Allies broke the German Enigma code. Luck. A mentor said "If I had to be skilled or lucky, I'd pick lucky." So much is dominated by "luck" in this world. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6rDWqjnW7w http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6rDWqjnW7w God says... deliberation going _ wine arrive asunder ceaseth skilful impair ceases respects Eagerly society vouchsafe sufficient unaided healedst vices us Very Run deal verses commender wings perceivedst limitation

julius_geezer 16y ago

During the Tokugawa shogunates, Japan aimed at maintaining a static society, and did a pretty fair job of it: contacts with the European world confined to Nagasaki, firearms excluded, etc. During about the same years, the Americans went from colonists mostly east of the Atlantic fall line to an independent nation that controlled most of the territory where the contiguous 48 states are. I say this not to imply some American superiority, but to point out that training, in those circumstances, was often irrelevant.