4 ms·

Becoming a salaryman sounds about as appealing as doing time. On the plus side conjugal visits are a bit more frequent.

by notax 12y ago

tzakrajs 12y ago
I had much better (unfounded) opinions of Japan before reading this. Now I am sad.
- cthalupa 12y ago
  I'm not sure sadness or lowering your opinion of the country is necessarily the right takeaway here. I've been enamored in Japanese culture ever since I visited the country, and have gained a handful of penpals in my quest to learn 日本語 - at times we discuss the different in culture relating to employment. To them, the riskiness in American (and to a large extent Western culture in general) is insane. I am not risk averse in the slightest - I've gambled my future on gut feelings and judgement calls for as long as I can remember. But I don't think this makes me better than someone who takes a safe approach to things. Is risk taking inherently better than a safer approach? Why would it be? Our way of life sounds just as dismal to a large portion of the Japanese as the salaryman way of life does to a large portion of Americans.
  - tzakrajs 12y ago
    I love parts of the culture and Tokyo was really fun to visit -- I will definitely will be returning soon. It was disheartening to hear of the misogyny that permeates the work culture there. It wasn't that I think they don't enjoy risk, but rather how they don't seem to exercise choice? I can't imagine being satisfied where things are so rigid. Between their socially conservative laws, the misogyny and rigidity of employment, the idea of working there is really off putting.
    - cthalupa 12y ago
      I'll give you the misogyny, but that is something that is honestly changing - and a lot of female Japanese professionals are actually refusing to date seriously or marry specifically because they don't want to give up their career and are advancing in their companies.
Spooky23 12y ago
I currently work at a paternalistic employer. It can be a little stifling, but it's nice to not face potential ruin at the whim of some clueless exec.

Becoming a salaryman sounds about as appealing as doing time. On the plus side conjugal visits are a bit more frequent.

by notax 12y ago

Becoming a salaryman sounds about as appealing as doing time. On the plus side conjugal visits are a bit more frequent.

tzakrajs 12y ago

I had much better (unfounded) opinions of Japan before reading this. Now I am sad.

cthalupa 12y ago
I'm not sure sadness or lowering your opinion of the country is necessarily the right takeaway here. I've been enamored in Japanese culture ever since I visited the country, and have gained a handful of penpals in my quest to learn 日本語 - at times we discuss the different in culture relating to employment. To them, the riskiness in American (and to a large extent Western culture in general) is insane. I am not risk averse in the slightest - I've gambled my future on gut feelings and judgement calls for as long as I can remember. But I don't think this makes me better than someone who takes a safe approach to things. Is risk taking inherently better than a safer approach? Why would it be? Our way of life sounds just as dismal to a large portion of the Japanese as the salaryman way of life does to a large portion of Americans.
- tzakrajs 12y ago
  I love parts of the culture and Tokyo was really fun to visit -- I will definitely will be returning soon. It was disheartening to hear of the misogyny that permeates the work culture there. It wasn't that I think they don't enjoy risk, but rather how they don't seem to exercise choice? I can't imagine being satisfied where things are so rigid. Between their socially conservative laws, the misogyny and rigidity of employment, the idea of working there is really off putting.
  - cthalupa 12y ago
    I'll give you the misogyny, but that is something that is honestly changing - and a lot of female Japanese professionals are actually refusing to date seriously or marry specifically because they don't want to give up their career and are advancing in their companies.

Spooky23 12y ago

I currently work at a paternalistic employer. It can be a little stifling, but it's nice to not face potential ruin at the whim of some clueless exec.