Jack baiting - asking for directions in Japanese (Split)

[Jack]

When Japanese people start asking you for directions on a crowded street, in Japanese, as if it were the normal thing to do.
.

Stupid idiot.
You are in Japan and so it is VERY normal that locals expect you to speak the language.

[wuchan]

Stupid idiot.
You are in Japan and so it is VERY normal that locals expect you to speak the language.

...unless you are roppongi, then you are expected to speak english.

[FG Lurker]

Stupid idiot.
You are in Japan and so it is VERY normal that locals expect you to speak the language.

Spoken like a true never-lived-in-Japan noob.

[omae mona]

Stupid idiot.
You are in Japan and so it is VERY normal that locals expect you to speak the language.

Jack, there's not much you could do to lower your reputation further. But calling somebody an idiot when they're right, and you're wrong, and most of the readers know it, sure isn't going to help you.

When I encounter strangers, unless I open my mouth first in Japanese, a good portion of them (perhaps 25% - 50%) will attempt to communicate with grunts, gestures, or broken English before it occurs to them I might speak Japanese well enough to have a conversation. The myth that foreigners cannot speak Japanese is still quite alive and well.

[Jack]

Spoken like a true never-lived-in-Japan noob.

That is irrelevant. However, it is astonishingly stupid to be surprised when a local asks you a question in his/her language.

[FG Lurker]

That is irrelevant. However, it is astonishingly stupid to be surprised when a local asks you a question in his/her language.

It's astonishingly stupid that you think you know more about this sort of thing than people who have spent 10+ years living here.

You don't even speak Japanese, right?

[Jack]

You don't even speak Japanese, right?

I am fluent. I can speak, read and write.

[Yokohammer]

Stupid idiot.
You are in Japan and so it is VERY normal that locals expect you to speak the language.

You're being funny, right?

[Greji]

I am fluent. I can speak, read and write.

That's great! When are you going to take up English?

[Iraira]

Stupid idiot.
You are in Japan and so it is VERY normal that locals expect you to speak the language.

Sure, it is somewhat expected that after a time one would become "fluent" in Japanese, but just by looking at a foreigner in Japan, there is no way of determining that they are able to converse in Japanese or not. The original post seems more directed to the idea that a random Japanese person (perhaps suffering from astigmatism) approached a foreigner and began conversing in Japanese without previous knowledge of said foreigner's linguistic abilities.

[Gilligan]

That is irrelevant. However, it is astonishingly stupid to be surprised when a local asks you a question in his/her language.

This very comment proves that it's not irrelevant.

[Gilligan]

I am fluent. I can speak, read and write.

I can only assume that since you never listen to anyone in your first language you assumed that that skill was insignificant in a second language as well.

[sublight]

I am fluent. I can speak, read and write.

So despite your years of jerking off to Sailor Moon bootlegs, you don't actually know anything about how actual Japanese people behave.

[wuchan]

I am fluent. I can speak, read and write.

WOW!! Aint yous special!!!!

If you were really cool you could do this:

[Gilligan]

WOW!! Aint yous special!!!!

If you were really cool you could do this:

I'm sure Jack will be only too happy to tell us that he did do her.

[Ol Dirty Gaijin]

I'm sure Jack will be only too happy to tell us that he did do her.

and how much it cost

[james]

Stupid idiot.
You are in Japan and so it is VERY normal that locals expect you to speak the language.

i'm really beginning to wonder if you actually have ever been in japan. if you had, for any significant length of time you'd know that in fact quite the opposite is true. by and large, the modus operandi here is to assume that foreigners do not speak the language.

[Behan]

i'm really beginning to wonder if you actually have ever been in japan. if you had, for any significant length of time you'd know that in fact quite the opposite is true. by and large, the modus operandi here is to assume that foreigners do not speak the language.

And that foreigners are walking, free, eikaiwa machines.

I'm a bitter old man.

[omae mona]

I am fluent. I can speak, read and write.

Jack, the facts you've told us about yourself over the years have turned out not to be true (hey, what happened with the publishing deal for the book about your sex life, or the spin-off movie you were about to make?).

So please tell us what makes you believe you can speak, read, and write Japanese.

[Jack]

Jack, the facts you've told us about yourself over the years have turned out not to be true (hey, what happened with the publishing deal for the book about your sex life, or the spin-off movie you were about to make?).

So please tell us what makes you believe you can speak, read, and write Japanese.

First of all, I still say that it is very stupid to be surprised when a local addresses you in his/her native language. That's one.

Second, as I recall I gave up on writing the book about my sexual exploits because there were tonnes of books written on similar subjects. However, a book about my professional life has been published but I'll never tell you about it.

Third, this being the Internet I don't have to justify myself other to point out the facts about most of you being morons for being surprised when a fucking Japanese addresses you in JAPANESE in JAPAN. How fucking stupid can you be?

This is by far the most stupid forum I have ever seen. Thanks for providing me with some entertainment. Plus, it definitely confirms my thoughts of the stupid, ignorant, loser English teachers that are in Japan -- but sadly still able to bang girls because most of you guys would never have had any pussy in your hometowns.

[Mulboyne]

First of all, I still say that it is very stupid to be surprised when a local addresses you in his/her native language. That's one.

Of course it isn't surprising that Japanese people speak Japanese. However, I think you've misunderstood the point being made. A couple of other posters tried to indicate that earlier but let me also have a bash. Bear in mind that we are talking specifically about a situation where a an unknown Japanese person approaches you to initiate a conversation. The working assumption of most Japanese people is that a foreigner is unlikely to speak the language and so it would be fruitless to do so. If someone does start speaking in Japanese, it is usually because they haven't looked at you properly and have mistaken you for a local. It might also happen when someone needs information or instructions from you but, if the questioner doesn't know you speak Japanese, they will usually try to speak some English first.

On occasion, though, someone knows you are foreign, throws caution to the wind, and speaks to you in Japanese anyway. Certainly, more people will have come into contact with fluent foreigners and may gradually begin to shift their assumptions but most people still haven't. That's why it is a surprise and why your reaction is at odds with the personal experience of virtually every white foreigner living in Japan.

[Tengu Kid]

First of all, I still say that it is very stupid to be surprised when a local addresses you in his/her native language. That's one.

Second, as I recall I gave up on writing the book about my sexual exploits because there were tonnes of books written on similar subjects. However, a book about my professional life has been published but I'll never tell you about it.

Third, this being the Internet I don't have to justify myself other to point out the facts about most of you being morons for being surprised when a fucking Japanese addresses you in JAPANESE in JAPAN. How fucking stupid can you be?

This is by far the most stupid forum I have ever seen. Thanks for providing me with some entertainment. Plus, it definitely confirms my thoughts of the stupid, ignorant, loser English teachers that are in Japan -- but sadly still able to bang girls because most of you guys would never have had any pussy in your hometowns.

First: You

Second: are

Third: a giant douche

[Charles]

Second, as I recall I gave up on writing the book about my sexual exploits because there were tonnes of books written on similar subjects. However, a book about my professional life has been published but I'll never tell you about it.

I want this book. But first you must tell me, will I need a set of 64 Crayolas, or will the standard 16 crayon set suffice?

[Iraira]

However, a book about my professional life has been published but I'll never tell you about it.

Three books in fact!

[amdg]

I would buy Jack's sekks in Japan book.

But I already know the lesson of his business secrets book: Try to inherit well.

[Greji]

I would buy Jack's sekks in Japan book.

But I already know the lesson of his business secrets book: Try to inherit well.

I read both sides of the page. It was a tough read, both pages.

[james]

Jack, the facts you've told us about yourself over the years have turned out not to be true

i thought there was a word to describe exactly this..

[maraboutslim]

I kind of figured that something changes in our non-verbal language that telegraphs to the locals that we speak Japanese because after a while in Japan, they didn't bug me with English much anymore and seemed to find it quite reasonable that I would speak Japanese.

I wouldn't say it was "surprising" per se, but it was pretty funny when an ancient baachan asked me for help with the bank ATM. Luckily she had a simple transaction in mind or I might have had to admit defeat.

[Iraira]

I kind of figured that something changes in our non-verbal language that telegraphs to the locals that we speak Japanese because after a while in Japan, they didn't bug me with English much anymore and seemed to find it quite reasonable that I would speak Japanese.

I wouldn't say it was "surprising" per se, but it was pretty funny when an ancient baachan asked me for help with the bank ATM. Luckily she had a simple transaction in mind or I might have had to admit defeat.

How much did she take you for?;)

[kusai Jijii]

I'm a bitter old man.

Hey, what are you trying to do? make me redundant? Thats my job!