What is the question you never want to hear again?

[hakuman]

[cstaylor]

I think there is a definite difference between people asking a question to be friendly and people asking a question to reinforce a prejudice.

Yeah, I'm in total agreement there.

Sometimes questions about natto/chopsticks/do you like Japanese girls etc. are just a hardwired way of starting a conversation but, sometimes, they turn out to be the main purpose of the conversation which can quickly veer into nihonjinron territory.

Standard answers:
- Beautiful women are beautiful, regardless of race
- California has lots of Japanese restaurants, so I practiced there
- (insert Nihonjinron comment here) "Naruhodo"

I'm happy to take advantage of the chance offered by someone being friendly but I have no problem being a slightly abrupt if I sense the latter motive.

I just clam up at that point, and sic the wife on them.

[kamome]

Maybe Im a troll?

Beginning to look that way.

[dimwit]

[FG Lurker]

I LIKE the conflict this is causing - I enjoy this! Maybe Im a troll?

Yes, that fits the definition of a troll well.

Admitting you have a problem is the first step. Now you have to seek treatment.

Good luck!

[Ethos]

sei ga takai desune!
hai, 180 sentchi desu!
sugooooooooooooooi!

ashi ga nagai desu ne!
soooo desu ne! 10 sentchi agemasu!
sugooooooooooooooi!

kami no ke mijikai desu ne!
iie! 3 milli deshita toki ni, samukatta desu kara...!
demo, niattemasu ne! kawaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiidesu ne!

HAHA I had that same convo at dinner with some girl tonight. I also got the, "ohashi tsukaeru?!? Sugoi!" It's always nice to know the girl that agreed to go out with you thought you were an idiot even before the first date, and SHE'S the one who happened to not notice that nearly every f*cking gaijin in the country is 180 cm (that's exactly my height as well).

[hakuman]

Admitting you have a problem is the first step. Now you have to seek treatment.

Good luck!

troll

v.,n. 2. An individual who chronically trolls in sense 1;
regularly posts specious arguments, flames or personal attacks to a
newsgroup, discussion list, or in email for no other purpose than to
annoy someone or disrupt a discussion. Trolls are recognizable by
the fact that the have no real interest in learning about the topic
at hand - they simply want to utter flame bait.

from http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=troll

I had intent in my post that wasnt "for no other purpose than to annoy someone or disrupt a discussion". Therefore I would put forward that I am not a troll.

I think that the fact of liking conflict is independant of being a troll, though granted one can often lead to another.

I havent actually admitted I am a troll at all. I asked it as a rhetorical question, but I think that the arguements I have put forward to further the statements I originally made have effectively shown that I am not a troll.

So far the only arguements I have gotten in return are that I am a punk, that I am a little bitch, that I cant take the heat, and that I am a troll. Seems like a bunch of name calling to me, which actually seems like rather trollish behavior in itself, according to the above definition I posted.
Feel free to keep the insults coming, for it just reinforces the case I have made.

[blackcat]

I hate this one
"japanese people are all modest"

I usually reply with PRADA, GUCCHI, BENZ, 3 day trips to europe, etc
and do Modest people say.."HEY LOOK AT ME I`M MODEST"

yeah right.

try it sometime..ask if a J person knows what modest means...and wait...

[goldenboy_ge]

To be quite honest, I agree with hakuman in some aspects. In fact, the people who ask you these questions want to be polite- that's it. I don't feel annoyed or bothered.

I'm just wondering why there is such a big issue about Japanese asking questions that extremely get's into the nerves. Especially FG's who spent a lot time living in Nippon should get used to it.
Wether it get's into your nerves or not, always keep in mind that your talking to Japanese people. Different culture etc and so on. We all know that, so we shouldn't be that much surprised and uptight.

Try to imagine when a FG tries to come up wit his broken Japanese and hell yes, foreigners can also be a real pain in the ass. There's no question about it.
I read a lot comments from Japanese how FG's can be a true troublemaker. The difference between Nihongo and foreigners is, the J's don't make such a big scene like FG's do.
My Japanese and Korean sucks. I didn't learn that much and when I try to make a simple sentence, it's just awful. Both, my J-interlocutor and I know how "unjapanese" it sounds in some way, but he keeps on saying that my Japanese is good, although I should've pronounced it better.

I've been busy trying to explain that the Bundeswehr is not the Wehrmacht, and Switzerland is not part of the European Union. I try my best to answer their question about German classic musicians (I got no idea at all ) and other things. I'll try my best and don't feel being disturbed by them.
I ain't a liar when I tell you that sometimes it really get's into my balls. However I enjoy talking with Japanese, Chinese, Thai etc people it's just so special (I couldn't find any other word).

Don't take it too seriously, Mels is still a young lady and I think the Bakka thing just went out of control. About the "whiners", just make a big curve around them. I think some of you were in a bad mood and there were some little missunderstandings. So we all should get down to a level where we tolerate our perspectives and views.

By the way: There should be a poll for Japanese and some questions about what they don't wanna hear from FG's again, and you'll see

[Socratesabroad]

[Kurofune]

I once had a student ask what country I was from. They guessed every country but America, which I thought was suspect. I wondered if they were afraid of insulting me by guessing I was American. When I said that I was American, they had almost no reaction. Seems to suggest that, at least in this instance, white foreigners aren't always American -- and preferably not.

The natto question wasn't ever a big deal, because I had more than a yes/no answer. I explained that I wouldn't include it on my grocery list, but that I could eat it if somebody gave it to me. I also explained that it wasn't the taste, but the sticky, stringy stuff that invariably got caught in my whiskers. They seemed to appreciate the more thoughtful answer, and the conversation usually stayed at an adult level after that.

[Kurofune]

In regard to getting annoyed with stock Japanese overtures, I was more annoyed by the monotony than by the person. I understood that they're more comfortable using scripted conversation until they think the conversation is safe, but I still got sick of hearing the same old thing. I admit that I was initially hard on the Japanese for this, but then I started feeling sorry for them for being so socially inhibited. But not so sorry that I couldn't appreciate a harmless joke about it.

[ichigo partygirl]

OK everyone since i started this thread i want to explain why - i would of last month by my sign on was mucking up. It was very frustrating watching it turn into such a negative thing
The reason i started was i am so interested why the Japanese ask these certain questions all the time. People in different countries are interested in different things - Maybe they have been taught these questions in english class or maybe they feel they are good questions to break the ice. Like someone said previously it depends on the mood you are in how you react to questions. Somedays im happy to tell someone where NZ is, others i just say im not an American an walk away.
I am sure everyone does the same thing in their own country without even knowing it. I always ask what food you like and things like do you like the mountains etc etc Its sorta in built - i dunno.

But anyway this thread was is no way started to moan or bitch or complain at all. More a general discussion and vent.

Note - They are always so surprised when i say i dont know what blood type i am
- Since Lord Of The Rings alot more people know where NZ is!!!

[blackcat]

The bloodtype interest(obsession)in japan is a throwback to the ties with Nazi germany in fact. The Austrian Scientists reseach into bloodtypes was used by nazis to have a scientific ranking of leader-follower etc...they and several other scientists travelled the world recording blood types, skull measurements...you name it..to justify the "superior race" theory(ie bullshit).

imperial japan used it in the same way...although its now been proven to have no scientific fact japanese are still quasi believers...of course most know its just fun...but few know the history behind it.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

anyway heres a classic:

"do you foreigners have a sense of community"

what do you mean?

"well in japan we all get together and clean up the rubbish from the sides of the road, river banks etc...i never saw that overseas"

weeelll i think everwhere has a sense of community, community projects, volunteers etc. soo yes.

"total shock and eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeh!"

of course I had to add that most people don`t just throw there SHIT EVERYWHERE like they do in japan ...i went on to remind this lady that Mt Fuji should be a world heritage area...in fact its a tip.

[goldenboy_ge]

....scientists travelled the world recording blood types, skull measurements...you name it..to justify the "superior race" theory(ie bullshit)....

That's really a bullshit. And the general question about my blood type, I just response with it's none of your cheek.

[tatsujin]

The bloodtype interest(obsession)in japan is a throwback to the ties with Nazi germany in fact. The Austrian Scientists reseach into bloodtypes was used by nazis to have a scientific ranking of leader-follower etc...they and several other scientists travelled the world recording blood types, skull measurements...you name it..to justify the "superior race" theory(ie bullshit).

I've often wondered where that obsession came from. Here I was thinking it was the Japanese being compulsively neurotic as always

Can anyone corroberate the above?

[blackcat]

I can....well this helps anyway.
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?fl20010916a3.htm

I have read a more detailed account somewhere but this should be enough to prove my previous claim.

[Kurofune]

I just remembered my most dreaded question: "Which do you think are prettier, Japanese or American women?" That's such an ugly question, and I doubt it's part of the standard Japanese ice-breaker list.

[Captain Japan]

I've often wondered where that obsession came from. Here I was thinking it was the Japanese being compulsively neurotic as always

If you want to really see something, say you don't know your bloodtype - which is something I honestly don't know. People's eyes nearly leave the sockets.

[ichigo partygirl]

I KNOW!! Its almost like saying you dont know your birthday. They have this stunned look .........sorta like how can you exisit without this information. So classic. But i really have no idea what mine is!!

[cstaylor]

I just remembered my most dreaded question: "Which do you think are prettier, Japanese or American women?"

That's easy: beautiful women are beautiful, regardless of their race.

[blackcat]

I usually say my bloodtype is RED. how about yours?

they are a bit shocked and laugh...I doubt they get the hint we are all not so different really.

but please do educate them as to why they are so hooked up on bloodtypes...i will promise you they have no idea the history of it...and i like to remind them japan and the nazis were allies!!

[hakuman]

I usually say my bloodtype is RED. how about yours?

Hehe

Being someone who doesnt know my bloodtype, I may use that one in the future. Its funny!

[Hobo-Erotica]

I encourage you to stop asking gaijin the question about blood type. You'll have better success if you ask what their astrological "sign" is as people care more about this in America (don't know about Europe).

Asking someone from Britain about their blood type is equivalent to asking about their measles shot.

What a very good point, i dont have a f*cking clue what my blood type is.

I imagine those "doctor" fellows i see hanging round the hospitals would take care of that kind of thing

"Which do you think are prettier, Japanese or American women?"

I wonder if any guys here have answered that question "American, no doubt about it"?