Is Saying "The Japanese are Weird" Racist?

Markit

This is the latest in a long line of things that make me wonder if the Japanese are really from this planet: [url]https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/11/28/a-japanese-theme-park-thought-it-was-a-good-idea-to-freeze-5000-dead-fish-in-a-skating-rink/?wpisrc=nl_most-draw8&wpmm=1[/url]

sakumabali

I don't think so, they are...I would call some of my friends weird though too

JohnnyCool

"Racists" are everywhere, in case you hadn't noticed. Saying that the Japanese are weird is simply a statement of truth. Many of them are. They're far from alone. You haven't encountered "weird" behaviours in Indonesia?I spent several months in Japan, (admittedly a long time ago), and for me, it was the most alien place I'd ever been to. I [B]did[/B] feel like I was on another planet. However, it was fascinating, stupid, beautiful, modern and definitely weird. Most people I met were wonderful, generous and helpful. Not counting the equivalent of Japanese "bogans" who were drunk on some version of industrial grade [I]sake[/I].The frozen dead fish beneath you whilst ice-skating in that venue is weird and a dumb "business plan", from my point of view. But I'm not Japanese.Being a former ice-skater myself, I was once surprised to see an ice rink in the basement of a major shopping mall in Surabaya. Nobody could skate properly and I wonder now how many dropped smartphones were frozen there. Hey! There's an idea. No dead fish - just handphones.Ice rinks don't come cheap in tropical countries. Roller-skating rinks would make more sense (no ice required). Basic requirements: plot of land, skating surface, bunch of for-hire roller skates, good sound system, and some staff. I've been around quite a bit but the first time I went to a shopping centre that has a swimming pool was in Bali. "Tiara Dewata" in Denpasar. Most people I've seen there "swimming" can't swim properly, including many swimming instructors.

SamD

Being a former ice-skater myself, [/QUOTE]I also used to skate when I lived in Scotland, not brilliantly but I could get around the rink at a reasonable rate usually without falling down. Last year when we visited I took my kids and I foolishly decided to put on a pair of skates as well, assuming the skill was like riding a bike: once you learn, you never forget. The videos show a completely different story I'm sorry to say. I could barely stand up on the ice. I felt strangely sad contemplating this poignant reminder of my lost youth.As far as frozen fish ice rinks, I think the concept could be improved. Let's have ice rinks where you can skate over Twitter users, frozen for ever at their keyboards as they vent their outrage over everything in the world that they decide offends them.

geedee

I also used to skate when I lived in Scotland, not brilliantly but I could get around the rink at a reasonable rate usually without falling down. Last year when we visited I took my kids and I foolishly decided to put on a pair of skates as well, assuming the skill was like riding a bike: once you learn, you never forget. The videos show a completely different story I'm sorry to say. I could barely stand up on the ice. I felt strangely sad contemplating this poignant reminder of my lost youth.As far as frozen fish ice rinks, I think the concept could be improved. Let's have ice rinks where you can skate over Twitter users, frozen for ever at their keyboards as they vent their outrage over everything in the world that they decide offends them.[/QUOTE]crossmyloof ?

geedee

They may be weird but they are very polite and super efficient .

geedee

davita

All that radiation must have had some effect...Nagasaki; Hiroshima; Fukushima and all that 'stuff' the Sea Shepherds tossed into that whale meat they eat. Plus, they don't accept any refugees to infiltrate or debauch their purist race.

Markit

"Racists" are everywhere, in case you hadn't noticed. Saying that the Japanese are weird is simply a statement of truth. Many of them are. They're far from alone. You haven't encountered "weird" behaviours in Indonesia? [COLOR=#ff0000]Yeah but at least the Indos are nice when they travel - the Japanese stay weird. [/COLOR]Let's have ice rinks where you can skate over Twitter users, frozen for ever at their keyboards as they vent their outrage over everything in the world that they decide offends them.[/QUOTE]I haven't "done" Twitter yet - thought I'd save that for when I'm finally banned from all FarcebooksThey may be weird but they are very polite and super efficient .[/QUOTE][COLOR=#ff0000]You'd have liked the Nazis[/COLOR]Some people would call you weird, not me of course[/QUOTE]Careful you are playing with fire - I may just refuse to accept your next cheese delivery and then where would you be with all that rotten milk to deal with.

SamD

crossmyloof ?[/QUOTE]Gesundheit!Not being a Glaswegianologist, I had to Google that. No, I didn't skate at the Crossmyloof Rink, but at the Dundee Ice Rink which in those days was located in the Marketgate. The new rink is pretty good though, I just wish I could have managed to get all the way around it without having to hang on to the railing. The shame!

BestofBali

They are certainly "unique" we'll call it lol

davita

Gesundheit!Not being a Glaswegianologist, I had to Google that. No, I didn't skate at the Crossmyloof Rink, but at the Dundee Ice Rink which in those days was located in the Marketgate. The new rink is pretty good though, I just wish I could have managed to get all the way around it without having to hang on to the railing. The shame![/QUOTE]In my teens I used to chase girls around the ice rink in Dundee, but like yourself, hung onto the railing and did a lot of kissing...ice that is not girls. It isn't the grand place that I've just googled called Ice Arena but my recollection it was in the Camperdown area... that was around 1950-51.You from Dundee SamD?

SamD

davita

Not from Dundee but went to Lawside Academy (now defunct) for my secondary years and Dundee College of Tech (also defunct) for my degree. All my favourite watering holes are now gone and the new one-way system means that no matter where you want to go, you always end up going in the wrong direction up the Dens Road. The girls seem prettier now though, but maybe that is just my standards falling.[/QUOTE]We're like toonies then. I went to Morgan Academy...Lawside was our sworn enemy in sports. Den's road huh!...spent a lotta time there, freezing my ass, cheering for Dundee FC.I left Dundee in 1952 to become an RAF Halton Apprentice and, as my dad got a job in London in 1954, they did a council house swop and all family moved south. I never went back except to take my dad to visit his brothers in the mid 80's. It was still a crappy-town then and I believe the Morgan Academy was burned down in 2001...so wasn't me.Back to topic...anyone eat whale meat. I tried it on many trips to Japan and found it delicious....much like a fillet steak.

geedee

Back to topic...anyone eat whale meat. I tried it on many trips to Japan and found it delicious....much like a fillet steak.[/QUOTE]How very responsible and environmentally aware of you. Like trump do you?

davita

Am pretty sure my brother used to lecture there in business up until maybe 5 years ago,it was someplace in Dundee anyhows he lives broughty ferry[/QUOTE]Broughty Ferry and the beach, sand, fish and chips and sipping some of my dad's beer is the only good memory of my childhood...the rest pretty much sucked. I should put a return visit on my bucket list. Does your brother run a decent B n' B geedee?How very responsible and environmentally aware of you. Like trump do you?[/QUOTE]It was in the seventy's and I didn't know there was a problem with eating whale-meat... the first time I didn't know it was from a whale but it tasted better than the tripe and mushy peas I was forced to eat, to prevent starvation, during WW2 in Dundee. If I were an American I'd be a Republican forced to vote Democrat last month...imo this Trump guy is dangerous....:icon_twisted:

davita

News today is that they've closed the ice-rink as too many people were offended...I guess they'll unfreeze the rink, remove the fish and sell in the restaurant.

tintin

But there were no fish in the ice...This is a picture taken at practice of the North Dakota University Sioux ice hockey team, sometime in 1956-57. We were part of the "Big Six", the only university league in the US in those years. All of these players are (mean) Canadians, but for couple of Americans, and...a Frenchman. I had an athletic scholarship to play for them, but after two years, I resigned, as I realized that, although I had made it so far with this team, I wouldn't be able to make it into a semi-pro league, much less with the NHL (National Hockey League) and survive...PS. Find me in the picture and next time I'm in Bali, the drinks are on me!

Markit

Behind the goal with the floppy hair?