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> In Japan, people wear masks so they don't spread their germs. In the US, people want to wear masks to avoid other's germs. Totally different mindset. Absolut
by fiblye 7y ago
> In Japan, people wear masks so they don't spread their germs. In the US, people want to wear masks to avoid other's germs. Totally different mindset.
Absolute orientalist BS.
I work in a Japanese workplace. Lots of people here don't normally wear masks. When they do wear masks, they pull them down to cough or sneeze so that they don't walk around with a wet and dirty mask. The idea that I could be dirty and infecting people doesn't cross the minds of most people, just like how in many places around the world people are taking international trips and dodging quarantine.
Recently, almost everybody is wearing a mask. People have jokingly asked if the new mask wearers are infected, to which they quickly reply along the lines of, "No way. I just don't want to get infected by you guys."
Japan isn't some society of honor and sacrificing oneself for the good of the country or whatever like movies based on ancient stereotypes make it seem. Most people are looking out for themselves just like anyone else. The way it's done is just sometimes different.
- lovemenot 7y ago>> Absolute orientalist BS. I politely disagree with your observations, though I acknowledge that I may not be right, I have observed and discussed this behaviour dozens of times with Japanese people in Japan for over twenty years and most find your parent's observation to be correct. Please don't call people a racist for espousing reasonable views that you don't happen to believe.
- l_davis 7y agoI think I understand the point behind that post. Many Japanese believe that they are special and superior and love to sell that to non Japanese. It can be really annoying, and it isn't true that as a nationality they are somehow inherently superior.
- lovemenot 7y agoIf you can, get over your feelings. I do not believe Japanese are superior. Nor do I believe that most Japanese people think that way. On the contrary. YMMV though. This thread isn't about that anyway. We are just trying to understand what, if anything, has worked so far in one country and what is not working elsewhere.
- l_davis 7y agoI said many, not most. I watch NHK World regularly. One of their programs, Japangle, ends every episode with the catchphrase "It means that Japanese people are so special." A datapoint to show why I made my statement. And, speaking of what works in one country as opposed to others, I started watching Japanese news instead of American news years ago because of the calm delivery. I do read news from many other sources, but I don't listen to other TV news programs. My two cents on that is that American news goes for getting people emotional, and hearing it affects the ability to think rationally. Taking this pandemic seriously but not getting worked up enough that one loses the ability to be rational is something that would benefit us all.
- l_davis 7y agoCertainly Japanese people look out for their own self interest. And there are non altruistic reasons for wearing masks - including, if you are female, skipping makeup. I don't buy into the stereotypes that you mention, but I do believe that Japanese manners, in general, make it easier for people to coexist in crowded places. That includes wearing masks. And maybe I'm completely wrong about that. I still think that if more asymptomatic people in the US wore masks in public (and I don't think complete distancing is sustainable long term), the spread of this could be slowed. So I do intend to wear the masks I purchased when they arrive. I do hope I keep up with that resolve. On my last trip to Japan I had a cold and wore masks to try to be polite and avoid spreading my germs. They really aren't that comfortable.