Great Thing wrote:I dress like Carlton Banks, and the only way I'd be more clean-shaven is if I tear my face off. That's what paranoia does. Maybe I don't fit the image of handsome-- or more importantly, lawfully and morally abiding-- in Japan, but I'm a normal guy who receives normal treatment in the other Western countries I've lived in.
Back to Japan, everyone in my surroundings frantically rush to clutch their purse or briefcase, orbit around the nearest koban, do a "walk towards the train exit next to where I'm sitting or standing, then run to the exit in the next car" fakeout, do a 100 meter dash in a walking stride... et cetera. I swear, one day on the train, a woman standing next to the entrance was visibly shaking as I walked onboard. So I don't know what's wrong-- and I really wouldn't care, except I'm wondering whether someone would report me to the cops while I'm doing something "suspicious," like shopping for groceries.
I thought I was making a serious comment but I guess it was in fact amusing.
Ok, first of all, deep breath. There are days for all of us where the paranoia does seem to be something more than simple paranoia.There are days where it seems a local can get away with murder and a FG can't get away with jaywalking. Try to remember the good things that have been done for you by the locals and consider whether they went out of their way more than folks back home would, especially, given your non-perfection of being a FG. Why are you dressing like someone who died break dancing...Internet rumors are fun.
