So it turns out I’m currently about 40 minutes away from imperialscum. 😛
imperialscum said:
Well I am in science/research. While Japanese bureaucracy is very strict and sometimes annoying, on the other hand it makes everything run smoothly and make people follow the rules I guess. I could set my clock based on the bus stop (let alone train). Also streets are completely clean, despite literally no trash cans, as people follow the rules and take their thrash home. I would say the annoying part is by far overshadowed by all the benefits and nice aspects. Anyway bottom line is, I absolutely love almost everything about Japan.
Oh yeah, definitely. Did you see the stuff on the news last year about how the Japanese section at the World Cup was always free of garbage after a game?
Interesting that you think the bureaucracy helps keep things running smoothly, as most of the Japanese and ex-pats I know think the opposite (everything takes forever). I’m going to guess that it probably has to do with the work environment, and that scientific research is already heavily regulated no matter what country you live in, but it may be that you just see it differently, which is great. I’ll just say that the movie Brazil hits closer to home after having to deal with that stuff.
imperialscum said:
As for Nemodians, they don’t seem much of bureaucrats to me. After all, their main thing in TPM is breaking the rules.
I can see that. Maybe it’s because they’re so subservient to Palpatine that I think of them like I do, but that’s sort of typical underling behavior. As I said before, I do think they resemble Japanese in a lot of ways, but it was probably unintentional. I will also fully admit that I haven’t given Ep 1 much thought since seeing it in the theater, so I might not be remembering accurately.
I asked some friends out here if they saw the Rogue One trailer and mentioned my recent intoxicated marathon viewing of the PT, and one dude immediately brought up the similarities to Japanese people (he’s lived in Japan for 12 years), so it’s KIND OF interesting how some see it and some don’t (but only kind of, since we’re talking about Nemoidians).
Okay, I just watched a youtube clip of a bunch of Nute Gunray scenes and I’m sorry to the people who don’t agree, but I very much hear a similarity. Not really with the other Nemoidians, though, so it’s probably just how the actor did it. “What is. Going on. Down there?” uuuugh
yotsuya said:
And yes, I do believe that if you are so insistent that the Nemoidians sound Asian that you have an issue
This is way too much of an assumption. You cannot possibly judge a person’s beliefs through an internet conversation. I can only speak for myself, but you don’t know anything about my life experiences, outlook, family, etc. and I find that argument to be passive aggressive and a bit offensive.
(But I will agree that if you think they sound “Asian” that you do indeed have an issue. I think Nute sounds Japanese)
I will again insist that I only take real issue with things that help perpetuate a stereotype. I have had so many horrible questions asked to me about life in Japan, but none of them were because of these goofy alien guys. I’m much more offended at Jar Jar, Watto, and Nute Gunray being horrible characters (but Gunray is charmingly stupid after watching that clip). 😛 Same goes the other way, as I have been on the receiving end of some shitty discriminating behavior in Japan, I think I’ve become a reasonable judge of the types of things that influence people’s perceptions of a culture.
John Doom said:I know a Japanese. It may not be statistically significant, but I may try asking him his opinion on this subject.
Is this person a close friend of yours? Is this person a Japanese citizen living abroad? I would advise a little caution, as even well-meaning questions can rub people the wrong way. I’ve had random co-workers and acquaintances who’ve never talked to me before ask me stuff since I’m the token white guy, and that stuff can get obnoxious after years and years (it was usually dependent on my mood). When living in America, my ex-wife would get a little upset when asked a question like that. I don’t speak for everybody, though.