Rag-Doll 0 Posted April 17, 2008 Share Posted April 17, 2008 Originally Posted By: JA Egzachary! Mantas - my point precisely. A couple of days in places like Sapporo or Osaka will soon give you the idea how closely these people have to live, and to do that successfully, they have developed a "politeness and deference" process that many from Oz would find hard to get. Some of us, though, spend a bit of time trying to understand the language, the etiquette and the transport system. (That last is a wake-up call for a "boy from the bush" who can just about manage a 24 hour period in Sidonee IF he has to, but can't wait to be on the road back outa there!) There is some truth in this but like all generalisations it only goes so far. Politeness can take many forms and what is polite in one place is very rude in another. I've never been in so many overloaded lifts or had idiots back into an already overcrowded trains (not rush hour!) as I did when I was in Japan. The Japanese push, they shove, they don't look where they're going, they get drunk and punchy, they get drunk and loud and obnoxious, it's a brave man who will (try!) to hold his ground against a bus load of obaa-san day trippers, the men think nothing of pissing in public, they insist on trying to ride bicycles along crowded footpaths, they dump rubbish in public places etc. In short, they are completely indifferent to those around them. That comes in part to there being SOOOO many people around them but let's not hold the Japanese up as some sort of paradigm of virtue, because they're not. But then I have an issue with the cultural cringe so many gaijins seem to suffer when their little piece of Japan is discovered by their countrymen. For their reputation as being pushy, in certain situations I've found the Chinese in Hong Kong to be far more polite and well mannered. Moving here was quite refreshing. It was like, finally, after living in London and Tokyo, here is a place populated by people with some social graces. Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted April 17, 2008 Share Posted April 17, 2008 Originally Posted By: Rag-Doll For their reputation as being pushy, in certain situations I've found the Chinese in Hong Kong to be far more polite and well mannered. Moving here was quite refreshing. It was like, finally, after living in London and Tokyo, here is a place populated by people with some social graces. I found the same Rag-Doll ... however cross the border and all bets are off!!! I have never seen anything so shameful as a train load of people converging on the escalator PUSHING a young Mum with baby in stroller out of the way. Hubby and I had to help her get on the escalator, and it took brute force. I can not imagine how long she would have battled without our help! Link to post Share on other sites
Rag-Doll 0 Posted April 17, 2008 Share Posted April 17, 2008 Yeah, Mama o'er the border is a different world. Many years ago (geez, nearly 20yrs now) I spent some time back packing through deepest darkest China and the total disregard/distain for fellow human beings (or animals or the environment) displayed by the locals was astounding. Equally I experienced numerous examples of friendliness and respect and very humbling generosity. But there were times I was left dumbstruck at the behaviour - very much a literal case of the quick and the dead! Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted April 17, 2008 Share Posted April 17, 2008 Why is HK so different then? Is it the "westernised values" that came with British colonisation? or some other anomaly? Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted April 18, 2008 Share Posted April 18, 2008 I got the impression that HK enjoys the separation...It struck me as bizarre that we had to pass out of Chinese Immigration and back in through HK immigration crossing the border...bit like doing that to get in to Tassie! Also the money - HK Dollars and across the border Chinese Yuan.... I thought HK was supposed to be Chinese now. I am sure Rag-Doll and Thurs will have some thought on this, but it struck me as truly bizarre. Loved HK though. Looking forward to another getaway soon! Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted April 18, 2008 Share Posted April 18, 2008 This is about Aussies in Niseko. Get back on topic. footnote: _______________________________________________ "westernised values" is an oxymoron. Look it up. Colonisation? I presume you mean colonialism. What the.... comes from colonialism except generations of resentment? Land of hope and glory, masters of the sea.... ----------------------------------------------- Foot note ends. This message was brought to you from CNN; where trash should be called JUNK and the thugs that have been in power for decades have now employed goons. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted April 18, 2008 Share Posted April 18, 2008 Originally Posted By: thursday. This is about Aussies in Niseko. Get back on topic. footnote: _______________________________________________ "westernised values" is an oxymoron. Look it up. Colonisation? I presume you mean colonialism. What the.... comes from colonialism except generations of resentment? Land of hope and glory, masters of the sea.... ----------------------------------------------- Foot note ends. This message was brought to you from CNN; where trash should be called JUNK and the thugs that have been in power for decades have now employed goons. Mate, no need to get all defensive, I was only asking a question. Not making an assumption. From what I understand, although I am by know means well versed on HK's history, there was very little there before the British set up shop, and so Colonised the place (the process of which would be colonisation). Whether you want to believe it or not, HK enjoy's its lifestyle as a direct result of British rule, had it been Chinese at the end of the war then it would have been oppressed like the rest of China under the Communists. on a side note, I'm hardly the champion of British colonialism Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted April 18, 2008 Share Posted April 18, 2008 Tubbs, I was only having fun. You should know that by now. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted April 18, 2008 Share Posted April 18, 2008 soz.......maybe I was on crack!!! Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 Have met a few aussies on my trips this seasons and have to be honest - most of them were friendly and chilled out. However, did meet two guys on the slopes and they were just bombing on and off, around in and out of people - clearly with no regards for other people's safety around them. I think as has already been mentioned, the combination of alcohol and extreme sports boosting the adrenalin, doesn't really lend itself to anybody. All of us have the propensity to be complete d**kheads on the slopes, but most of us have that knowledge of being cut up or almost taking out, so we don't. It would be interesting to see what those guys would do, if they themselves have a serious accident. Would their attitude change? Link to post Share on other sites
JA2340 16 Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 Rob, Probably not - they'd be flat out looking for someone else to place the blame on instead of looking at their own behaviour. And, I don't think that sort of carry on is restricted to Aussies, and certainly not to Aussies in Japan. January, on Furano's Kitanomine Zone, a mate and I were standing off the centre of the run, facing each other with ski tips almost touching, having a breather and a bit of a yak! Without any warning, a DH on a board screamed through the gap between us, jumped the skis and kept going. It was not as if he couldn't have seen us, we were visible for fully 300metres upslope. If one of us had reached out at the wrong time to point something out with a stock, he'd have broken our arm, the stock and probably a rib or two. NFI who/what nationality he was, but I'd love to catch up with him sometime when he's over 40 and has a brain cell to spare for thinking with. Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 Originally Posted By: JA .... but I'd love to catch up with him sometime when he's over 40 and has a brain cell to spare for thinking with. Some of us find a brain cell that actually works before we hit 40 (not there yet..honest...I got 10.5 months to go!) ... but I do hear you on the age brings wisdom thing. I think a lot of these people behaving badly will think back with a right old CRINGE at the way they used to behave. Link to post Share on other sites
JA2340 16 Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 Not 40 yet?? Geeze, I didn't even start skiing until I was about 5 months beyond my 49th birthday! I KNOW they will, I did! Youth is a terrible waste - so much to do and so little time! Link to post Share on other sites
yoroshiku onegai shimasu 2 Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 If you don't mind me asking, how old are you now JA? Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 I think he's about 89 Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 Thats older than soubs!!! Link to post Share on other sites
soubriquet 0 Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 Humanly possible, but I doubt he's as crusty as me Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 good poll topic. "How crusty are you" Link to post Share on other sites
Mantas 3 Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 Your only as old as the woman you feel. Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 In that case Papabear is getting ripped off - I am a cradle snatcher! Link to post Share on other sites
JA2340 16 Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 Originally Posted By: yoroshiku onegai shimasu If you don't mind me asking, how old are you now JA? Actually, sixty tomorrow - Same birthday as Bill Shakespeare. (and St George's day, too) Link to post Share on other sites
JA2340 16 Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 Originally Posted By: Mantas Your only as old as the woman you feel. Makes me just a tad over 50, then! Now the last 2 posts will confuse the heck out of anyone who desn't know me! (Like everyone here!) Link to post Share on other sites
scouser 4 Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 Happy Birthday! Link to post Share on other sites
JA2340 16 Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 Ta, scouser. Your location is given as "near enough Tokyo" I'm near enough, but not quite next door. Where you at? PM if you want. Link to post Share on other sites
1 4 Posted April 24, 2008 Share Posted April 24, 2008 Are you not in Tamworth then JA? Link to post Share on other sites
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