big-will 7 Posted July 4, 2006 Share Posted July 4, 2006 (by an adult). Today on the news, there was an interview with this (totally not famous) American guy down in Kyushu. Not sure what it was about, but anyway he is in Kyushu and I'm in here in Tokyo. This colleague of mine who is lacking a normal sized brain turned round and asked me "Do you know him?" I didn't quite know what he was getting at at first so asked him why he was asking me. He said "because he's a foreigner too". So this guy thought I would know some American bloke down in Kyushu as he is a foreigner and so am I. How do you answer something like that? Link to post Share on other sites
bushpig 0 Posted July 4, 2006 Share Posted July 4, 2006 I have been asked that a number of times. I usually ask them whether they would know a random Japanese person that they might bump into in the middle of New York or some other foreign city. They usually get my point then. Link to post Share on other sites
sakebomb 0 Posted July 4, 2006 Share Posted July 4, 2006 Recently the most ridiculous question I have been asked came from "outside" Japan.....America if you must know. Wasn't sure what to say as first..anyway here it is...... "Does it rain in Tokyo?" To which I replied it never rains in Japan..and he believed me WTF I have had the "Do you know him/her question?" ..always puzzled me! Link to post Share on other sites
scouser 4 Posted July 4, 2006 Share Posted July 4, 2006 When anything happens in the world other than Japan - whether it be England, US, Africa, Tibet - some people look at me as if I am directly involved. Oh yes and "It's foggy in London, isn't it?" Not really a question, you are being told. Tell them anything different and you just don't get heard. "Yappari, kiri no rondon". Link to post Share on other sites
jgraves 0 Posted July 4, 2006 Share Posted July 4, 2006 Just yesterday, I bought something costing 499 yen with a 500 yen coin. When the cashier gave me my 1 yen in change, she said "o-tashikame kudasai" I thought that was one of the stupidest things I have heard in a long time. Link to post Share on other sites
Kumapix 0 Posted July 4, 2006 Share Posted July 4, 2006 that's funny tohoku! How about: In Canada there aren't four seasons like Japan is there. not a question, but a statement. I've been asked the 'do you know him' millions of times. Many times it's about a brazilian...that's when I explain that brazilians speak portuguese and I don't Link to post Share on other sites
daver 0 Posted July 4, 2006 Share Posted July 4, 2006 this is an interesting issue. back home when confronted with such stupidity i would usually unleash a furious barrage of sarcasm, irony, and ridicule. but for some reason while here in japan i seem to be much more accepting and tolerant. why do you think that is? is it just cultural sensitivity? Link to post Share on other sites
eskimobasecamp 0 Posted July 4, 2006 Share Posted July 4, 2006 "You don't have watermelon in the UK, do you?" Yeh that's right NO, i never set eyes on a watermelon until i came to the land named Japan uhh huh. Link to post Share on other sites
firedog23 0 Posted July 4, 2006 Share Posted July 4, 2006 I used to live in Alaska as a kid and when I moved to Michigan in 1984 people would ask how I liked McDonalds for the first time or if I really lived in an Igloo. Link to post Share on other sites
bushpig 0 Posted July 4, 2006 Share Posted July 4, 2006 Yeah, it's not like the Japanese have a monopoly on ignorance toward foreigners and dumb questions that we see as completely obvious. I have witnessed Australians asking Japanese friends (in Aus) whether they all wear kimonos and eat sushi and whale for every meal. Link to post Share on other sites
Kumapix 0 Posted July 4, 2006 Share Posted July 4, 2006 had some Americans in a car drive up in the summer and ask a friend (in Ontario, Canada) 'how soon before we hit the snowline?' (it might be an urban legend though) Link to post Share on other sites
Davo 1 Posted July 5, 2006 Share Posted July 5, 2006 My buddy, who is a safari pilot in Botswana, had one of his rich clients ask him "Is Nairobi the capital of Africa?" My student, who has a TOEIC score of 900 and Upper Intermediate speaking skills, asked me "Do you like running?" after I told her I'd done a 2 hour trail run in the weekend. I guess it was the nuance of what she was trying to communicate. Link to post Share on other sites
daver 0 Posted July 5, 2006 Share Posted July 5, 2006 When working in Banff one summer i was asked by tourists, "so this bear spray stuff: how does it work? if we use the whole bottle will it last all day long?" Link to post Share on other sites
damian 0 Posted July 5, 2006 Share Posted July 5, 2006 "Do you think Tom Cruise is gay?" Link to post Share on other sites
sakebomb 0 Posted July 5, 2006 Share Posted July 5, 2006 Quote: "Do you think Tom Cruise is gay?" LMAO...now that is a stupid question!! Link to post Share on other sites
frannyo 2 Posted July 5, 2006 Share Posted July 5, 2006 Is he? I always get frustrated with those questions that aren't questions, as others apparently do as well. It's a question, but they are not open to the answer if is anything other than their current thoughts. I know one baba who just literally ignores your answer and then repeats her initial belief as fact even though you just told her she was wrong. Link to post Share on other sites
snowboarding-sam 0 Posted July 6, 2006 Share Posted July 6, 2006 "Do you have Coca Cola in America?" (I'm not even from America) Link to post Share on other sites
bushpig 0 Posted July 6, 2006 Share Posted July 6, 2006 are your pubes the same colour as your hair? Link to post Share on other sites
echineko 1 Posted July 6, 2006 Share Posted July 6, 2006 Some guy on ski lift asked me if I was "echineko". I was very surprised but didn't admit it. Maybe he was one of you guy Link to post Share on other sites
bushpig 0 Posted July 6, 2006 Share Posted July 6, 2006 Ha! You were busted but didn't admit it! Very cool move! So guys, which of you got slapped down when asking that question on a lift? And was she all the picture promised? (although I doubt she was in a miniskirt...) Link to post Share on other sites
Kumapix 0 Posted July 6, 2006 Share Posted July 6, 2006 which ski hill was it at, Echineko? (we can figure out who it was then) Link to post Share on other sites
Yuki's Passion 1 Posted July 6, 2006 Share Posted July 6, 2006 ...dont say Happo...dont say Happo Link to post Share on other sites
1 4 Posted July 7, 2006 Share Posted July 7, 2006 "What is the average size of mens penis in the US?" Link to post Share on other sites
Kumapix 0 Posted July 7, 2006 Share Posted July 7, 2006 how about 'show me your penis' ? Link to post Share on other sites
nzlegend 1 Posted July 8, 2006 Share Posted July 8, 2006 Do you speak English in New Zealand?.... how long does it take to drive (a car) to Australia? (from New Zealand)..... In which part of Russia is New Zealand? not asked to me but to my old flatmate before I came to Japan who was a high school teacher and coach of the volleyball team, they (Volleyball team) were going from Christchurch to Nelson (very well known large town/small city at the top of the South Island for a High School tournament. One of the players on his team, a NZ born lad of Polynesian descent and none too bright asked him on the bus on the way up "hey Mr S, is Nelson a country?" (sounds even more hilarious when said in thick kiwi/polynesian accent) Link to post Share on other sites
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