Shameful

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

I'm the first to complain when the locals treat me poorly, so I think it's only fair to point out it's not a one-way street...
I kinda expect here, not so much in a more enlightened place (then again, we are speaking about Tasmania <Australia's Ozarks>) What century are we in, for fuck's sake?
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/business/no-indians-asians-job-advertisement-causes-outrage-coles/story-fn7j19iv-1226459746133

[GomiGirl]

I always remind people when gripe about minor issues in Japan as I know from first hand experience how badly Australians treat immigrants.

For all of our whinging here, western FG's don't have it too bad in terms of overt racism.

Before I moved to Japan, I used to rent out some of the rooms of my house to Japanese kids on Working Holidays. It was awesome as they always threw the best parties with great food and always washed up after themselves. Plus I never had a minute's problem with rent, damage or other issues that renting our your house might lead to.

But I digress. I heard some horrendous stories of racism, rip-offs, scams and generally poor treatment of these kids by my fellow Australians. Especially when it came to second hand cars and car repairs. There were times I was able to step in and help them out. Many of these issues really stemmed from their naivete and being seen as an easy target, but still it was embarrassing.

For all the talk of a multicultural society, it is not the nice happy joy-joy of all living together embracing each other and our uniqueness.

[matsuki]

Is there some sort of quota system in play I don't know about? Required # of Indians or Asians?

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

I always remind people when gripe about minor issues in Japan as I know from first hand experience how badly Australians treat immigrants.

For all of our whinging here, western FG's don't have it too bad in terms of overt racism.

Before I moved to Japan, I used to rent out some of the rooms of my house to Japanese kids on Working Holidays. It was awesome as they always threw the best parties with great food and always washed up after themselves. Plus I never had a minute's problem with rent, damage or other issues that renting our your house might lead to.

But I digress. I heard some horrendous stories of racism, rip-offs, scams and generally poor treatment of these kids by my fellow Australians. Especially when it came to second hand cars and car repairs. There were times I was able to step in and help them out. Many of these issues really stemmed from their naivete and being seen as an easy target, but still it was embarrassing.

For all the talk of a multicultural society, it is not the nice happy joy-joy of all living together embracing each other and our uniqueness.

Thank you for reminding me of these attitudes. And thanks to the story, too.
I'm not gonna whitewash Japanese racism. It's insidious, powerful, deeply ingrained and I've felt it in a more direct manner than most.
But when I saw this news story and read GG's post, I realized that I'm a fucking massive hypocrite myself, and that my immediate reaction to scream about Japanese racism also contains a pretty hefty dose of arrogant, white arsehole. I say this because no matter what I went through in Japan, I could always console myself that immigrants to my country would never have to put up with such bullshit. I was fucking deluding myself.
Australia remains a deeply racist society.

[GomiGirl]

SDH - you are a special case. Not many western FG's have had to live through what you have lived through.

I was talking about relatively minor gripes like people not sitting next to them on the train or issues with landlords etc.

Japan has no monopoly on racism. It is a human tribe thing seen globally. Not sure if there is a solution but certainly talking about it helps break down certain stereotypes and generalisation that leads to problems.

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

SDH - you are a special case. Not many western FG's have had to live through what you have lived through.

I was talking about relatively minor gripes like people not sitting next to them on the train or issues with landlords etc.

Japan has no monopoly on racism. It is a human tribe thing seen globally. Not sure if there is a solution but certainly talking about it helps break down certain stereotypes and generalisation that leads to problems.

Doesn't change things.
There is a surface solution to racism...our own behavior.
I shall heretofore strive to be an absolute cunt to all people, of all creeds, gender, races, religions and whatever.

[GomiGirl]

SDH - you are a special case. Not many western FG's have had to live through what you have lived through.

I was talking about relatively minor gripes like people not sitting next to them on the train or issues with landlords etc.

Japan has no monopoly on racism. It is a human tribe thing seen globally. Not sure if there is a solution but certainly talking about it helps break down certain stereotypes and generalisation that leads to problems.

Doesn't change things.
There is a surface solution to racism...our own behavior.
I shall heretofore strive to be an absolute cunt to all people, of all creeds, gender, races, religions and whatever.

There you go - solved!!

[Samurai_Jerk]

I was talking about relatively minor gripes like ... issues with landlords

I wouldn't call that a minor gripe as it can limit your housing choices or end up costing you a lot of money.

I do think the people who go on and on about Japanese racism and talk about how much better things are at home either have selective memories or are from the majority culture back home and don't realize just how shitty things can be for minorities in their respective countries. I guess the big difference is that in places like ANZ, North America, or the UK there are more obvious legal avenues one can pursue. Cases like this job ad in Tazmania aren't the real problem though because that kind of thing gets dealt with very quickly in any of those places. It's insidious hidden racism that's the real problem.

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

It's insidious hidden racism that's the real problem.

Great post!
And that's what scared me about reading about that story, GG's thread and your post because I realized I've got a lot of fucking racist traits myself and need to clean my own shit up first before I start hurling shit at others.

[GomiGirl]

I do think the people who go on and on about Japanese racism and talk about how much better things are at home either have selective memories or are from the majority culture back home and don't realize just how shitty things can be for minorities in their respective countries.

Nail -> Head = perfect shot.

[yanpa]

I do think the people who go on and on about Japanese racism and talk about how much better things are at home either have selective memories or are from the majority culture back home and don't realize just how shitty things can be for minorities in their respective countries.

I guess they also have no experience of living in foreign countries other than Japan. Going out on a limb here a bit, but there's shit you have to deal with if you are living in any foreign country ("microaggressions"?). Then there's out-and-out racism. Easy to confuse the two if you don't have any broader perspective.

[IparryU]

I do think the people who go on and on about Japanese racism and talk about how much better things are at home either have selective memories or are from the majority culture back home and don't realize just how shitty things can be for minorities in their respective countries.

Nail -> Head = perfect shot.

:this:

Back in the us, if you aint speaking English, there is no way you can steamroll over someone to get what you want.

Here... if you just start speaking another language, they will just let you do whatever to shut you up. BIG pro for FGs here.

[matsuki]

I do think the people who go on and on about Japanese racism and talk about how much better things are at home either have selective memories or are from the majority culture back home and don't realize just how shitty things can be for minorities in their respective countries.

Nail -> Head = perfect shot.

Coming from LA, I have this complex like a mother...but I recognize that LA doesn't extrapolate to the rest of the US where shit can be just as bad as Japan.

[IparryU]

I do think the people who go on and on about Japanese racism and talk about how much better things are at home either have selective memories or are from the majority culture back home and don't realize just how shitty things can be for minorities in their respective countries.

Nail -> Head = perfect shot.

Coming from LA, I have this complex like a mother...but I recognize that LA doesn't extrapolate to the rest of the US where shit can be just as bad as Japan.

true that. you just cant put it on paper or publicize your racism anymore... but it still does exist.

[Samurai_Jerk]

I do think the people who go on and on about Japanese racism and talk about how much better things are at home either have selective memories or are from the majority culture back home and don't realize just how shitty things can be for minorities in their respective countries.

Nail -> Head = perfect shot.

Coming from LA, I have this complex like a mother...but I recognize that LA doesn't extrapolate to the rest of the US where shit can be just as bad as Japan.

If you think LA isn't just as racist as the rest of America, you really are looking at it with rose-tinted glasses.

[Coligny]

I always remind people when gripe about minor issues in Japan as I know from first hand experience how badly Australians treat immigrants.

For all of our whinging here, western FG's don't have it too bad in terms of overt racism.

Before I moved to Japan, I used to rent out some of the rooms of my house to Japanese kids on Working Holidays. It was awesome as they always threw the best parties with great food and always washed up after themselves. Plus I never had a minute's problem with rent, damage or other issues that renting our your house might lead to.

But I digress. I heard some horrendous stories of racism, rip-offs, scams and generally poor treatment of these kids by my fellow Australians. Especially when it came to second hand cars and car repairs. There were times I was able to step in and help them out. Many of these issues really stemmed from their naivete and being seen as an easy target, but still it was embarrassing.

For all the talk of a multicultural society, it is not the nice happy joy-joy of all living together embracing each other and our uniqueness.

They must have felt like home...

[matsuki]

I do think the people who go on and on about Japanese racism and talk about how much better things are at home either have selective memories or are from the majority culture back home and don't realize just how shitty things can be for minorities in their respective countries.

Nail -> Head = perfect shot.

Coming from LA, I have this complex like a mother...but I recognize that LA doesn't extrapolate to the rest of the US where shit can be just as bad as Japan.

If you think LA isn't just as racist as the rest of America, you really are looking at it with rose-tinted glasses.

While there will always be racist fucks anywhere you go, I see a lot less of that type of shit in LA than I've seen in most other places in the US. Maybe it's just me but if someone gets denied service for being whatever "race", I can see people in LA calling out the racist and shaming them....as compared to many other places in the US, and Japan in general, where bystanders are just as likely to side with the racist.

[GomiGirl]

It is easy to think that racism doesn't exist if you have never been on the wrong end of it.

Actually, the same goes for all forms of prejudice.

[Taro Toporific]

I shall heretofore strive to be an absolute cunt to all people, of all creeds, gender, races, religions and whatever.

Dude, as I said to you before, I am always saddened to be called a "Septic" when we USAmericans consider Aussies are just funny talking Canucks.
(We don't even have a bad word for Australians or Canadians--They are just brothers.)

[GomiGirl]

I never knew that you find this label offensive - I don't use it mainly as it is kinda old fashioned and I shy away from most labels anyway but I have never really heard it used in a derogatory manner.

You know that "septic" (again not a term I use) is just rhyming slang for "septic tank" which was a standard household word back in the day.

How do you feel about the label, "yank"? I personally don't use it but it has been around for ages.

[Samurai_Jerk]

I shall heretofore strive to be an absolute cunt to all people, of all creeds, gender, races, religions and whatever.

Dude, as I said to you before, I am always saddened to be called a "Septic" when we USAmericans consider Aussies are just funny talking Canucks.
(We don't even have a bad word for Australians or Canadians--They are just brothers.)

We don't have a slur because being called Australian or Canadian is bad enough

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

I shall heretofore strive to be an absolute cunt to all people, of all creeds, gender, races, religions and whatever.

Dude, as I said to you before, I am always saddened to be called a "Septic" when we USAmericans consider Aussies are just funny talking Canucks.
(We don't even have a bad word for Australians or Canadians--They are just brothers.)

If it's any consolation, where I grew up you wouldn't even qualify to be a full-to-the-brim Septic, but merely a Seppo.

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

We don't have a slur because being called Australian or Canadian is bad enough

You don't have a slur because your pissweak, fundy-regulated liquor is water (same as the Canheadians).

[cstaylor]

How do you feel about the label, "yank"? I personally don't use it but it has been around for ages.

It sounds weird when it's not spoken with a southern accent. Remember, "yank" is short for "damn yankees!"

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

Remember, "yank" is short for "damn yankees!"

Good lord! Here I'd been for decades thinking it was a derivative of "tosser."

[cstaylor]

Good lord! Here I'd been for decades thinking it was a derivative of "tosser."

I think generations of southerners would be in agreement with you.

[matsuki]

I never knew that you find this label offensive - I don't use it mainly as it is kinda old fashioned and I shy away from most labels anyway but I have never really heard it used in a derogatory manner.

You know that "septic" (again not a term I use) is just rhyming slang for "septic tank" which was a standard household word back in the day.

How do you feel about the label, "yank"? I personally don't use it but it has been around for ages.

LOL GG, I've never heard anyone called septic (before my time?) but isn't it pretty obvious that would be offensive?

Yank I find funny because it's pretty specific to people in the Northwest/New England area of the US...how that got extrapolated to all Americans is beyond me.

[Wage Slave]

I never knew that you find this label offensive - I don't use it mainly as it is kinda old fashioned and I shy away from most labels anyway but I have never really heard it used in a derogatory manner.

You know that "septic" (again not a term I use) is just rhyming slang for "septic tank" which was a standard household word back in the day.

They are a pretty common household item around here as well. A great big tank of rotting excreta. I would say that qualifies as derogatory.

However, it is also true that the DOCs have a habit of using derogatory language as a way of being familiar and matey. So it doesn't always follow that just because they are using derogatory language they are being derogatory. They might in fact be being extremely friendly, almost inviting intimacy.

PS Apologies for the DOC - I don't use it - honest. It's a pathetic response to POM.

[GomiGirl]

I guess this is what I mean too... I have been known to call some of my best friends the worst words in the book. The better the friend, the worse the name. I would never use a word like septic anyway as it is just old fashioned, but in my understanding, it is used as a good natured ribbing and nothing more.

It is the people that I don't like that I use polite language with.

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

Australia: The Land Where You Call Cunts "Mate" and Mates "Cunt!"

(Beats the shit out of Where the Bloody Hell are Ya?)