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Why are there so many stories HN on social problems in Asia? I would have expected that smart people on HN would make some effort to understand Orientalism[0].

Why are there so many stories HN on social problems in Asia? I would have expected that smart people on HN would make some effort to understand Orientalism[0]. In the case of this story, this is a phenomenon that is occurring all around the developed world. Japan is in many ways just another developed country. But through the eyes of Orientalism, Japan's problems are unique and quaint, and the objective Westerner can dispose some sage wisdom[1]. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orientalism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orientalism [1] I don't want to pick on anyone, but there are already some great examples in the thread.

auganov 11y ago
I particularly don't like how many will insist on using the original Japanese term as if it was untranslatable, inapplicable to the outside world.
- unabst 11y ago
  But the word is helping spread the word. That is the beauty of it.
unabst 11y ago
There certainly are cases of orientalist depiction in journalism, but I don't feel that is the case here. It could simply be the case that the volume of their social debate is loud enough that it is being picked up by other countries, because, as you say, it is a common problem. As it turns out, senior isolation is at 28% in the US vs 20% in Japan. In the US, we don't even talk about it. To me, that is a far more serious problem.
- SolaceQuantum 11y ago
  I would argue that it's not because the volume of the social debate is louder in Japan than the states. It's because of a tendency to see another country's problems from outside the country allows journalism articles like this. I'm sure there are plenty of articles in other countries talking about how Americans are having an elderly crisis that no one is talking about, as well. Certain things like leaving your elderly in a retirement home away from the family are downright unthinkable. My parents (Chinese, I'm a 1st gen Chinese American) have told me they don't want me to treat them like the Americans treat their parents (e.g. putting your grandma in a nursing home to rot alone). I'm sure they get this from their own Chinese media sources.
seivan 11y ago
I downvoted you, not because I disagree, but because I think this is a desperate attempt at censorship. We're not allowed to talk about X because of Y. I actually agree with this being a phenomenon that is occurring all around the developed world though. Just avoid your thinly veiled accusation of racism.
- JesperRavn 11y ago
  The kind of political correctness that exists around "racism" does not apply to Asians, so there is not issue with censorship. As long as you are not using racial slurs, you can say whatever you like about Asian culture without fear of repercussions in our society. So there is no need to fear that my comment will encourage censorship. On the other hand, I am accusing people of bias, and if you disagree you will have to show how my claims are wrong. Don't tell me what to do in a patronizing way either.
jpatokal 11y ago
Japan's problems related to the aging aren't unique and quaint at all, they're just ahead of the curve. Most of the developed world has fertility below the replacement rate: where Japan is today, South Korea will be in a decade's time, and China and great big slabs of Europe will follow soon after. (America looks set to avoid this for time being though, largely thanks to immigration.)
tsotha 11y ago
People look at Japan because most first world countries are going to have the same sorts of problems in 20 years. There's no reason to bring in terms that don't fit.

auganov 11y ago

I particularly don't like how many will insist on using the original Japanese term as if it was untranslatable, inapplicable to the outside world.

unabst 11y ago
But the word is helping spread the word. That is the beauty of it.

unabst 11y ago

There certainly are cases of orientalist depiction in journalism, but I don't feel that is the case here. It could simply be the case that the volume of their social debate is loud enough that it is being picked up by other countries, because, as you say, it is a common problem. As it turns out, senior isolation is at 28% in the US vs 20% in Japan. In the US, we don't even talk about it. To me, that is a far more serious problem.

SolaceQuantum 11y ago
I would argue that it's not because the volume of the social debate is louder in Japan than the states. It's because of a tendency to see another country's problems from outside the country allows journalism articles like this. I'm sure there are plenty of articles in other countries talking about how Americans are having an elderly crisis that no one is talking about, as well. Certain things like leaving your elderly in a retirement home away from the family are downright unthinkable. My parents (Chinese, I'm a 1st gen Chinese American) have told me they don't want me to treat them like the Americans treat their parents (e.g. putting your grandma in a nursing home to rot alone). I'm sure they get this from their own Chinese media sources.

seivan 11y ago

I downvoted you, not because I disagree, but because I think this is a desperate attempt at censorship. We're not allowed to talk about X because of Y. I actually agree with this being a phenomenon that is occurring all around the developed world though. Just avoid your thinly veiled accusation of racism.

JesperRavn 11y ago
The kind of political correctness that exists around "racism" does not apply to Asians, so there is not issue with censorship. As long as you are not using racial slurs, you can say whatever you like about Asian culture without fear of repercussions in our society. So there is no need to fear that my comment will encourage censorship. On the other hand, I am accusing people of bias, and if you disagree you will have to show how my claims are wrong. Don't tell me what to do in a patronizing way either.

jpatokal 11y ago

Japan's problems related to the aging aren't unique and quaint at all, they're just ahead of the curve. Most of the developed world has fertility below the replacement rate: where Japan is today, South Korea will be in a decade's time, and China and great big slabs of Europe will follow soon after. (America looks set to avoid this for time being though, largely thanks to immigration.)

tsotha 11y ago

People look at Japan because most first world countries are going to have the same sorts of problems in 20 years. There's no reason to bring in terms that don't fit.