Comments on: Japan can be so behind the times http://regex.info/blog/2007-02-26/388 Not a photo blog, but sometimes I play one on TV Fri, 29 Aug 2008 21:55:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.12-alpha by: Peter http://regex.info/blog/2007-02-26/388#comment-9792 Mon, 01 Oct 2007 16:47:14 +0000 http://regex.info/blog/2007-02-26/388#comment-9792 Thought you ought to know that our local Peugeot dealer (Wales) also has an excellent and well-equipped kids' play area. Could it be coincidence that their name is ... Anthony Motors?! Thought you ought to know that our local Peugeot dealer (Wales) also has an excellent and well-equipped kids’ play area. Could it be coincidence that their name is … Anthony Motors?!

]]> by: Andrew S http://regex.info/blog/2007-02-26/388#comment-3525 Wed, 07 Mar 2007 10:17:32 +0000 http://regex.info/blog/2007-02-26/388#comment-3525 At Y! a couple years ago, a Saab dealer brought in a bunch of cars to test drive. They took down our names for the test drive, but they didn't check licenses or any sort of ID, and let us drive by ourselves. They didn't even advise me about how long or how far i could drive the car. At Y! a couple years ago, a Saab dealer brought in a bunch of cars to test drive. They took down our names for the test drive, but they didn’t check licenses or any sort of ID, and let us drive by ourselves. They didn’t even advise me about how long or how far i could drive the car.

]]> by: Sam http://regex.info/blog/2007-02-26/388#comment-3383 Tue, 27 Feb 2007 15:12:03 +0000 http://regex.info/blog/2007-02-26/388#comment-3383 It's truly sad that the mother was doing such a thing, though if you asked American mothers in a similar situation you'd likely get a far less polite response. I think calling it "behind the times" in her case may be a bit charitable. She's not behind the times, she's a selfish. . . well, I won't say here in a polite environment. The only reason she "believes" that it does no harm is because it's convenient for her to believe it. When I'm in Japan, I usually try to hide my "argumentative gaijin" character -- but in this case, I'd bring it out, especially if my wife wasn't around to embarrass. Maybe I'd send my wife off on an errand or something. Most of the Japanese I know in America are quite good parents. But when they make errors, they're startlingly bad ones, and for horrible "reasons". I know several Japanese parents, for example, who make tv a primary component of their kids lives -- even when the child is still using a high chair. Because it's easier taking care of a quiet kid, or because the kid "likes it". It’s truly sad that the mother was doing such a thing, though if you asked American mothers in a similar situation you’d likely get a far less polite response.

I think calling it “behind the times” in her case may be a bit charitable. She’s not behind the times, she’s a selfish. . . well, I won’t say here in a polite environment. The only reason she “believes” that it does no harm is because it’s convenient for her to believe it. When I’m in Japan, I usually try to hide my “argumentative gaijin” character — but in this case, I’d bring it out, especially if my wife wasn’t around to embarrass. Maybe I’d send my wife off on an errand or something.

Most of the Japanese I know in America are quite good parents. But when they make errors, they’re startlingly bad ones, and for horrible “reasons”. I know several Japanese parents, for example, who make tv a primary component of their kids lives — even when the child is still using a high chair. Because it’s easier taking care of a quiet kid, or because the kid “likes it”.

]]> by: Dan http://regex.info/blog/2007-02-26/388#comment-3371 Mon, 26 Feb 2007 13:38:23 +0000 http://regex.info/blog/2007-02-26/388#comment-3371 For health and safety-related issues I am no longer surprised by how far behind Japan is compared to Europe and in some ways the US. Examples include smoking in all its forms, drink-driving, non-use of child seats (only appearing over the past 3-4 years), almost total lack of organic produce despite much-touted societal interest in food, electrical sockets in "wet" areas like bathrooms etc. In that sense, Japan really is part of Asia! Dan (PS We had Peugeots in our family and they were sturdy and occasionally cute cars; my mother had a 205 for example. Still, when it came to getting my mother a new one I got her a Toyota Vitz - Yaris in Europe - diesel which has been fantastically economical and has never missed a beat. So I got a Vitz for my wife a couple of weeks ago.) For health and safety-related issues I am no longer surprised by how far behind Japan is compared to Europe and in some ways the US. Examples include smoking in all its forms, drink-driving, non-use of child seats (only appearing over the past 3-4 years), almost total lack of organic produce despite much-touted societal interest in food, electrical sockets in “wet” areas like bathrooms etc. In that sense, Japan really is part of Asia!

Dan

(PS We had Peugeots in our family and they were sturdy and occasionally cute cars; my mother had a 205 for example. Still, when it came to getting my mother a new one I got her a Toyota Vitz - Yaris in Europe - diesel which has been fantastically economical and has never missed a beat. So I got a Vitz for my wife a couple of weeks ago.)

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