4 ms·

I'm reminded of Paris Syndrome, which is phenomenon common with the Japanese, where they assume Paris is something it is not, and get angry and frustrated upon

I'm reminded of Paris Syndrome, which is phenomenon common with the Japanese, where they assume Paris is something it is not, and get angry and frustrated upon visiting. https://grapee.jp/en/99643 https://grapee.jp/en/99643 I'd say similar things about Texas, DC, and NYC, for that matter.

partisan 7y ago
It is a funny article, but this line puts things in perspective: > Out of the million or so Japanese tourists that visit Paris each year, about 12 will fall prey to Paris syndrome.
- travisjungroth 7y ago
  “12 Japanese tourists let down by Paris visit each year” doesn’t quite have the same oomph.
  - mwilliaams 7y ago
    That’s .001%. Why is anyone even talking about it?
- bb101 7y ago
  It could be the tip of a trend. For every one person suffering the full Paris Syndrome psychosis, there are probably a thousand Japanese departing Charles de Gaulle thinking to themselves "What a horrible dump, thank god we are leaving." -- Paris Syndrome-lite?
mr_crankypants 7y ago
Watching it happen can be quite a slice-of-life event. One guest who wanted to see my city's Chinese neighborhood was rather bitterly disappointed upon seeing it. "But it's just like any other neighborhood, only the convenience stores have Chinese signs in the windows!" Pointing out that they also sell red envelopes wasn't much of a consolation.
- mntmoss 7y ago
  An old story from my dad is of observing a couple while dining at the Cliff House(SF attraction looking out over the Pacific Ocean). The lady was asked what she thought of the ocean and she replied, "I'm very disappointed. I thought it would be bigger!"
wil421 7y ago
My European colleagues were distraught about DC and the White House in general. They couldn’t believe how small it was compared to European Palaces for Monarchs, ex rulers, etc. They didn’t understand when I said it was probably the point. We fought against a British monarch, why would we build massive palaces for our non-monarch president? They said look all the power is in Congress their buildings are much bigger.
- ben509 7y ago
  The common contrasting explanation is that DC is projecting power by limiting how ostentatious it is, but nevertheless restricting other buildings from being tall. While the Capitol dome theory is a myth, the maximum height[1] allowed for building is set by law. It was due to safety concerns about then very new skyscrapers, but at the same time, the limit has persisted long after. [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Height_of_Buildings_Act_of_1910 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Height_of_Buildings_Act_of_191...
- oh_sigh 7y ago
  Maybe if they built something a little less ostentatious(and adopted similar policies throughout their lives), the monarchs could have occupied the grand palaces for more than 100 years before losing their heads. I'm thinking specifically about Versailles
lazyant 7y ago
DC and Texas maybe, but at least for me as a tourist in NYC it was pretty much as expected, after watching so many movies filmed there

partisan 7y ago

It is a funny article, but this line puts things in perspective: > Out of the million or so Japanese tourists that visit Paris each year, about 12 will fall prey to Paris syndrome.

travisjungroth 7y ago
“12 Japanese tourists let down by Paris visit each year” doesn’t quite have the same oomph.
- mwilliaams 7y ago
  That’s .001%. Why is anyone even talking about it?
bb101 7y ago
It could be the tip of a trend. For every one person suffering the full Paris Syndrome psychosis, there are probably a thousand Japanese departing Charles de Gaulle thinking to themselves "What a horrible dump, thank god we are leaving." -- Paris Syndrome-lite?

mr_crankypants 7y ago

Watching it happen can be quite a slice-of-life event. One guest who wanted to see my city's Chinese neighborhood was rather bitterly disappointed upon seeing it. "But it's just like any other neighborhood, only the convenience stores have Chinese signs in the windows!" Pointing out that they also sell red envelopes wasn't much of a consolation.

mntmoss 7y ago
An old story from my dad is of observing a couple while dining at the Cliff House(SF attraction looking out over the Pacific Ocean). The lady was asked what she thought of the ocean and she replied, "I'm very disappointed. I thought it would be bigger!"

wil421 7y ago

My European colleagues were distraught about DC and the White House in general. They couldn’t believe how small it was compared to European Palaces for Monarchs, ex rulers, etc. They didn’t understand when I said it was probably the point. We fought against a British monarch, why would we build massive palaces for our non-monarch president? They said look all the power is in Congress their buildings are much bigger.

ben509 7y ago
The common contrasting explanation is that DC is projecting power by limiting how ostentatious it is, but nevertheless restricting other buildings from being tall. While the Capitol dome theory is a myth, the maximum height[1] allowed for building is set by law. It was due to safety concerns about then very new skyscrapers, but at the same time, the limit has persisted long after. [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Height_of_Buildings_Act_of_1910 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Height_of_Buildings_Act_of_191...
oh_sigh 7y ago
Maybe if they built something a little less ostentatious(and adopted similar policies throughout their lives), the monarchs could have occupied the grand palaces for more than 100 years before losing their heads. I'm thinking specifically about Versailles

lazyant 7y ago

DC and Texas maybe, but at least for me as a tourist in NYC it was pretty much as expected, after watching so many movies filmed there