Dumbest Newbie Reporter Ever

[Yokohammer]

Similar with break-ins: the vast majority are "akisu" while the occupant is absent rather than the full-on home invasions you have in other countries

I'm pretty sure that this factor is as unique to Japan as the number of seasons.

Not quite sure I get what you're getting at. I think you're saying that what I said applies elsewhere too.

Let's say that 6 break-ins while the occupants are away and 4 violent home invasions occur on a street in the US.
In Japan that's more likely to be 10 break-ins while the occupants are away.

... is what I'm saying.

Must be losing my touch ... having trouble communicating ...

[wagyl]

I would dispute that perception: channelling my criminal mind for the moment, I would definitely choose the house with nobody in it, to be able to commit my crime at my leisure with less stress and less having to wash brain splatter off my balaclava.

The fact of the matter is that there are no separate statistics for whether the burgled house is occupied or not. It is not a separate crime. The figures are conjecture.

Edit:
.... having said there are no separate statistics, someone has gone through files because U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Statistics has some data for US: of 3.7 million burglaries, 28% occurred while a member of the household was present. http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/vdhb.pdf

Slightly less reliable statistics, I suppose (as there is no source cited), but for Japan

被害の多い割合は、「空き巣」＞「居空き」＞「忍び込み」で、
「空き巣」が最も多いようです。

しかし、在宅中、就寝中に侵入する「居空き」「忍び込み」も全体の４分の１以上もある

http://fanblogs.jp/booboo7x70/archive/73/0
Which is close enough to exactly the same thing.

Secom are trying to sell me a service, but they claim they are using metropolitan police figures to say 30% occur while there is an occupant in the house. http://www.secom.co.jp/anshinnavi/bouha ... aku12.html

[Yokohammer]

I would dispute that perception: channelling my criminal mind for the moment, I would definitely choose the house with nobody in it, to be able to commit my crime at my leisure with less stress and less having to wash brain splatter off my balaclava.

The fact of the matter is that there are no separate statistics for whether the burgled house is occupied or not. It is not a separate crime. The figures are conjecture.

I dispute your dispute.

Muggings on the street, for example? The perp figures he's armed and can get away with it. That doesn't happen much in Japan, does it? Of course guns make a difference, but that's not the point. Same with armed home invasions. I'm not sure about the US, but armed home invasions are a little too common in Oz, for example, and in the UK too, I believe. Actually, come to think of it I do know a little about armed invasions in the US, because when I was a boarder at a certain college in Boston at least two of them occurred the first year I was there.

There's just no way that the ratio of violent home invasions to unoccupied break-ins is higher in Japan. Not a chance. In fact, I'm so confident of that perception that I can't even understand why it's an issue.

But feel free to do the numbers and get back to me if you like.

EDIT: You edited your post. A "shinobikomi" is not the same thing as a violent home invasion. The whole point of the former is to avoid detection. The point of the latter is to confront the occupants and get them to give you the cash.

[matsuki]

Have there been many Yak home invasion robberies with the occupants inside? Conjecture it may be, but I would feel pretty confident at saying you're more likely to get that type of break-in in other countries than in Japan.

The sagi crimes units here also seem to be dealing with unprecedented numbers of cases though I think that may have to do with the lack of security procedures and such in place and the massive aging 何でも苦手 population.

[wagyl]

Ahh, I see. We were talking about different things. I interpreted the difference between

"akisu" while the occupant is absent rather than the full-on home invasions

as whether the there was somebody home or not. You were thinking of it in terms of whether the criminal had a weapon or not. We in fact have three different crimes.

My criminal mind still wants to avoid the invasion. Have you ever tried getting those brain splats out of your favourite woollen headgear?

I am not sure if we will be able to find stats on this one.

I was the victim of an akisu break in. The criminal took my kitchen knife into the living room just in case I came home. I wonder what category that falls into.

By the way, those US stats linked above might help you with your perceptions of the real level of crime in the US. Of all break ins, whether occupied or unoccupied at the time, only 7.2% involved violent crime. And 65% of those violent crimes, the perpetrator was not a stranger to the victim. So, in the US, maybe one burglary in 40 involves a violent stranger threatening to do you some harm.

As far as Japanese statistics go, the entry during daylight hours while occupied 居空き rate is 5.7%, but that includes both the inadvertent entry while occupied as well as the intentional.

[Samurai_Jerk]

Fair enough...but wouldn't you say that "doing business with their own kind" mentality is stronger here than elsewhere?

I don't know. I haven't done much business outside of Japan and the US and most of my experience is in Japan. I think people in Japan are more explicit about it but I've definitely seen it in the US. Why do you see Jesus fish on a lot of businesses in some parts of the country? It's so other good Christians know they're dealing with a believer. One of the reasons Bernie Madoff was able to rip off so many otherwise intelligent rich Jews is they trusted him because he was one of them. I've heard from a few people who've lived in Salt Lake City that being a Mormon there is very good for your career.

[matsuki]

Fair enough...but wouldn't you say that "doing business with their own kind" mentality is stronger here than elsewhere?

I don't know. I haven't done much business outside of Japan and the US and most of my experience is in Japan. I think people in Japan are more explicit about it but I've definitely seen it in the US. Why do you see Jesus fish on a lot of businesses in some parts of the country? It's so other good Christians know they're dealing with a believer. One of the reasons Bernie Madoff was able to rip off so many otherwise intelligent rich Jews is they trusted him because he was one of them. I've heard from a few people who've lived in Salt Lake City that being a Mormon there is very good for your career.

So you're equating being "We Japanese" with being a member of a cult? (I agree)

[Wage Slave]

One thing that is different is the underlying driver of most cons. In the UK most cons are driven by greed - do what I ask and you will get something for nothing. Here, most are driven by fear. Do what I ask or you will have something nasty happen to you or yours.

My SiL got a postcard from some scammer that was out and out blackmail. I represent someone with a legal case against you. If you don't send x Yen to this bank account within 7 days the court case will proceed and you will suffer far worse damages. She didn't pay of course but neither did she regard it as attempted blackmail that should be reported to the police. As far as she was concerned it was the equivalent of our Nigerian friends just trying it on - a fact of life.

[Samurai_Jerk]

Fair enough...but wouldn't you say that "doing business with their own kind" mentality is stronger here than elsewhere?

I don't know. I haven't done much business outside of Japan and the US and most of my experience is in Japan. I think people in Japan are more explicit about it but I've definitely seen it in the US. Why do you see Jesus fish on a lot of businesses in some parts of the country? It's so other good Christians know they're dealing with a believer. One of the reasons Bernie Madoff was able to rip off so many otherwise intelligent rich Jews is they trusted him because he was one of them. I've heard from a few people who've lived in Salt Lake City that being a Mormon there is very good for your career.

So you're equating being "We Japanese" with being a member of a cult? (I agree)

I knew you'd try to spin it that way. I'm just giving some examples. It could be a university alumni association, a fraternity, an ethnic-based social group, Sons of Confederate Veterans, whatever.

[kurogane]

One thing that is different is the underlying driver of most cons. In the UK most cons are driven by greed - do what I ask and you will get something for nothing. Here, most are driven by fear. Do what I ask or you will have something nasty happen to you or yours.

My SiL got a postcard from some scammer that was out and out blackmail. I represent someone with a legal case against you. If you don't send x Yen to this bank account within 7 days the court case will proceed and you will suffer far worse damages. She didn't pay of course but neither did she regard it as attempted blackmail that should be reported to the police. As far as she was concerned it was the equivalent of our Nigerian friends just trying it on - a fact of life.

Years ago (late 90s or 200?-???ish) I used to occasionally get those weird Don't Answer It! scam calls, the ones where if you answered it they would then bill you an outrageous amount for the pleasure of them phoning you. An occasional drinking buddy that worked as a detective sergeant, WTF that is, told me that what they were doing wasn't technically illegal, I was sort of almost legally liable for the charges and that there were no viable avenues of criminal complaint available. I still don't believe him but my solution was infinitely easier and only my really scaredy cat friends ever suggested I pay the fuckers, and then that whole scam went away and I never heard from them again. Looking back, that was kinda fun. I wonder how that greasy little curb monkey's doing................

BTW, violent home invasion might be exaggerated by the media in NA or Australia like YokoH said but there is NO WAY Japanese rates of violent Man On Man crime approach Anglo world levels. Even muggings seem to be these weird negotiated begging rituals.

[matsuki]

Fair enough...but wouldn't you say that "doing business with their own kind" mentality is stronger here than elsewhere?

I don't know. I haven't done much business outside of Japan and the US and most of my experience is in Japan. I think people in Japan are more explicit about it but I've definitely seen it in the US. Why do you see Jesus fish on a lot of businesses in some parts of the country? It's so other good Christians know they're dealing with a believer. One of the reasons Bernie Madoff was able to rip off so many otherwise intelligent rich Jews is they trusted him because he was one of them. I've heard from a few people who've lived in Salt Lake City that being a Mormon there is very good for your career.

So you're equating being "We Japanese" with being a member of a cult? (I agree)

I knew you'd try to spin it that way. I'm just giving some examples. It could be a university alumni association, a fraternity, an ethnic-based social group, Sons of Confederate Veterans, whatever.

Made in Japan, Made in the USA are also examples of throwing in some "keep it in the group" bias when making business decisions. No doubt that goes on and while maybe it's a small distinction, what I was originally getting at is the mentality that "gaijin can't be trusted" and Japanese can simply "because Japanese." I was basically being told "I wasn't sure I could trust you until I found that you were working with another dude...who, while I don't know anything about him, gives you instant trustworthiness and legitimacy because Japanese."

[Mike Oxlong]

A local Aussie translator told me something similar (a legit one, not the American proofreader). He said to get new clients he generally has to be vouched for by a Japanese. If the local confirms to the client that the Aussie in question is good, then he gets more work. Without that, he claims difficulty in getting more work. He's been at it for quite a while, and from what he says, the experience factor doesn't carry nearly as much weight as having a Japanese person vouch for the accuracy of his translations into English. I wonder if a translator who was not particularly skilled, but extremely personable could have a distinct advantage over one far better at the work, but rather more reserved in personality...

[Samurai_Jerk]

BTW, violent home invasion might be exaggerated by the media in NA or Australia like YokoH said but there is NO WAY Japanese rates of violent Man On Man crime approach Anglo world levels. Even muggings seem to be these weird negotiated begging rituals.

That reminds me that I read somewhere that one of the factors that's contributed to the steady decline in violent crime in the US is technology. Basically it's safer and easier - not to mention WAY more profitable - to steal and scam on the Internet than to stick people up. Of course that just applies to professional stick-up kids. Not the junkies who do it on whim to get their next fix.

[Yokohammer]

A local Aussie translator told me something similar (a legit one, not the American proofreader). He said to get new clients he generally has to be vouched for by a Japanese. If the local confirms to the client that the Aussie in question is good, then he gets more work. Without that, he claims difficulty in getting more work. He's been at it for quite a while, and from what he says, the experience factor doesn't carry nearly as much weight as having a Japanese person vouch for the accuracy of his translations into English. I wonder if a translator who was not particularly skilled, but extremely personable could have a distinct advantage over one far better at the work, but rather more reserved in personality...

I wonder how much of this is just the general Japanese preference for having an introduction, as opposed to insisting that a Japanese be involved. Obviously most introductions around these parts are going to be via a native. I have been asked for introductions to suitable gaijin in the past. Obviously I'm not Japanese, so I kinda suspect it's more that they just want an introduction from someone they trust.

[Samurai_Jerk]

A local Aussie translator told me something similar (a legit one, not the American proofreader). He said to get new clients he generally has to be vouched for by a Japanese. If the local confirms to the client that the Aussie in question is good, then he gets more work. Without that, he claims difficulty in getting more work. He's been at it for quite a while, and from what he says, the experience factor doesn't carry nearly as much weight as having a Japanese person vouch for the accuracy of his translations into English. I wonder if a translator who was not particularly skilled, but extremely personable could have a distinct advantage over one far better at the work, but rather more reserved in personality...

I wonder how much of this is just the general Japanese preference for having an introduction, as opposed to insisting that a Japanese be involved. Obviously most introductions around these parts are going to be via a native. I have been asked for introductions to suitable gaijin in the past. Obviously I'm not Japanese, so I kinda suspect it's more that they want an introduction from someone they trust.

Exactly.

[matsuki]

A local Aussie translator told me something similar (a legit one, not the American proofreader). He said to get new clients he generally has to be vouched for by a Japanese. If the local confirms to the client that the Aussie in question is good, then he gets more work. Without that, he claims difficulty in getting more work. He's been at it for quite a while, and from what he says, the experience factor doesn't carry nearly as much weight as having a Japanese person vouch for the accuracy of his translations into English. I wonder if a translator who was not particularly skilled, but extremely personable could have a distinct advantage over one far better at the work, but rather more reserved in personality...

I wonder how much of this is just the general Japanese preference for having an introduction, as opposed to insisting that a Japanese be involved. Obviously most introductions around these parts are going to be via a native. I have been asked for introductions to suitable gaijin in the past. Obviously I'm not Japanese, so I kinda suspect it's more that they want an introduction from someone they trust.

Exactly.

That's a whole other factor and I definitely use my 顔が広い customers to introduce me to new customers.....but what I'm talking here about is basically shop owners finding my website, realizing it's "made in the US" and having an interest in placing an order...just straight up worried if the parts will show up because they're dealing with gaijin. (and I've heard the explanations about getting burned by other gaijin or knowing someone who was) The minute I introduce or mention the J-d00d I work with, suddenly there is instant 信用 when they could simply look at all the drivers I sponsor and shops I already work with and realize if I wasn't trustworthy, none of them would want to associate with me or the brand.

[Russell]

Back to umbrellas.

I'm late to the party, I admit, but I had never had my umbrella stolen.

Then again, I had never had any of my other belongings stolen either...

[Coligny]

EDIT: You edited your post. A "shinobikomi" is not the same thing as a violent home invasion. The whole point of the former is to avoid detection. The point of the latter is to confront the occupants and get them to give you the cash.

That's nuthing... Just wait until he reaches for bananas...

[wagyl]

EDIT: You edited your post. A "shinobikomi" is not the same thing as a violent home invasion. The whole point of the former is to avoid detection. The point of the latter is to confront the occupants and get them to give you the cash.

That's nuthing... Just wait until he reaches for bananas...

Do you have a position on this topic, or did you just go to the effort of posting so that you could remind us that you have a pathological hatred of opinions which differ from your own?