Is foriegn stuff better than American stuff?

[Mr Pilkington]

I want more than ever to rip your face off and wipe my ass with it.

[leathelanime]

I you feel the need to exploit country flaws then get the fuck out of Denver and go to your Japan and see how restricted it is compared to the Us....you wont last

Love thy country Love thyself

[kthulhu]

THE WINNER IS JAPAN
In all of the above categories
The group mentality

Japan's groupthink is somewhat unique, in that they have a physically and culturally homogenous population. Add in the fact that Japan secluded itself from the world for several centuries, allowing their culture to incubate and creating a somewhat seperate worldview, and it's really no surprise that groupthink would occur.

And it's not necessarily a good thing. Socially, it can lead to an "us versus them" mentality - witness the rather so-so treatment of foreigners. The fact that even foreign born Japanese people aren't completely accepted as being "Japanese" diminishes the supposed benefits of groupthink. And behind the group mentality, there is a lot of repression. It's not natural.

Technologically, it can lead to stagnation - people think alike, instead of innovating - not from fear of the group, but because many CAN'T innovate that well. Sure, the electronics get smaller (to stereotype), but where are new technologies? Japan has produced SEVEN Nobel laureates. Japan's software and PC industry (outside of the video game and PC hentai industry) is much smaller than that of the US or Europe, for instance, yet they have nearly half the population we do. Why?

Perhaps it's due to the decades of playing catch up (and beating) to the rest of the world after WWII? Perhaps it's the reduced emphasis on creative and critical thinking, and the increased emphasis on groupthink? Perhaps both?

Either way, it's not a good situation, especially when Japanese corporations have been reported to hire people to encourage critical thinking. Groupthink can lead to economic slowdown and inflexibility.

So no, the group mentality is not exactly a good thing in my opinion. And could you give more explanation of your reasons?

Honesty, integrity and common altruism. People don't steal as much.

The yakuza were tolerated for centuries, so long as they weren't too public about their activities. It wasn't until 1992 that crackdowns began. And crime (robbery, especially) is increasing. Naturally, the Japanese groupthink will either hush it down, ignore it, or blame it on foreigners. In addition, embezzlement is somewhat common over there.

Integrated traditional and modern culture. More details on culture are on AnimeTheory site as dissertation "Design Culture"

This can't really be compared to the US. As of this writing, the US of A is 227 years, 1 month, and 23 days old. Japanese history goes back at least four times that far.

Great connectivity and rail system

Yes, Japan has a good rail system. They could use some better city planning, though, considering it can take several hours each day to commute in Tokyo.

Cram schools beat the hell out of our crappy, worthless, piece of shit public education

I thought cram schools were secondary "pay" schools, in addition to the regular public system.

Yes, the educational system here sucks, but then again, considering the schools gloss over some things (like Japan's role in WWII) and are more concerned with rote memorization over critical thinking and learning, it's not all peaches and cream.

NO ACCOUNTING SCANDALS! NO SLEAZY ATTORNEYS! NO FRIVOLOUS CIVIL LAWSUITS! NO IMMORAL STUFF!

The Japanese parliament ALWAYS seems to have scandals, usually involving bribes, embezzlement, wasted funds, and other scandals. More than we do, it seems.

Better television, partly because of a lack of 1) stupidity and 2) Media thought police

Explain the genital pixels in porn, then. Anime aside (of which there is a lot of crap), how is Japanese TV better? They don't watch anime all the time, and often they watch dubbed (or localized) US shows. The occasional show I've seen at my local Asian supergrocery just seems to be lacking in production values and entertaining content.

And how is Japanese TV less stupid? Give some comparisons.

Excellent constitution. Great politics.

The constitution is OK, but politics in Japan seem even more corrupt and gridlocked than here in the States. Vote buying and coercion seems to rule the day, and because of this, the Liberal Democratic Party has a pretty big stranglehold on the government - which can make reforms hard. Add in the aforementioned scandals, and I'm surprised Japan's politics work as well as they seem to. Not a situation I would call great.

Emperor has little political influence but:
1) is still a leader 2) is not a PR mascot and 3) citizens recognize his birthday

Except that, of the big economies, Japan is the only one with an emperor. It's a unique situation that can't be compared to any other country.

There is a unique Japanese word for Thermodynamics and other scientific principles

And this is useful to most people....how?

Germany, all of Europe including the UK, Russia, all of Asia, and Canada beat The States in the aformentioned comaprison!

Russia does not beat the US. Not by a long shot. The economy is still shit (even compared to our current one), mobsters seem to rule most of it, and they're caught in a messy war. Europe - they're slowly collapsing. Their socialist policies are creating an unsustainable monster that needs reform badly. They're also facing a growing immigration problem. As for Asia - besides Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and MAYBE China, how are they better? Most countries there have Third World economies, lifestyles, and infrastructure.

Although, Canada lost some points for not granting DirecTV and Echosphere a business charter there. Screw "cultural integrity" BS, I don't want Star Choice or Bell Expres Vue, I WANT MY HBO.

Canada is practically a mini-US. A mini-California (cold, though), to be more precise.

A quick look at the UK's "Project Chip and PIN" site indicates clearly that they don't qualify for the group mentality / altruism category. In Japan, they don't do card fraud. In France, they just take 20 Euros worth for a personal reward. It seems in the UK and The States, fraud is an everyday occurence!

You still haven't explained how groupthink is a GOOD thing.

Anything to add?[/quote]

Looks like I added plenty 8) .

[MAS PRODUCTIONS]

Many other countries do have advantages over the US in areas, especially in grammar (ask any english teacher that has studied other languages what they think of English compared to other languages and Im sure they will say its fucked up). I dont know about the driving system, there are alot of moron drivers here in the US but I dont think other countries have better drivers. As far as other countries besting us in technology, oh well, its not like they keep it to themselves, the world for the most part shares in its technology exploits so what does it matter who made it?

I have lived in other countries before and they are great and all, but I still enjoy living in the US (excluding th bull shit politics of course). The US is the best place where cultures clash and create new cultures out of the mess. For example, living in Japan would be great due to its history and culture, but Im white and its harder to fit into a country where an overwelming majority of the populas is asian. But here in the US or atleast where I live, its a fusion of different races and greeds, everyday I learn new things about different cultures that I wouldn't other wise recieve in another country.

[danielwang]

Thanks for your opinion kthulhu.

Apparently I never considered that reason for the innovation slowdown. Perhaps that's another reason why we also keep seeing cliches in anime... you're obviously more qualified than I am at that.

And it's not necessarily a good thing. Socially, it can lead to an "us versus them" mentality - technologically, it can lead to stagnation - people think alike, instead of innovating - not from fear of the group, but because many CAN'T innovate that well.

Indeed. Although it can be good for some menial things like committees (see humour at end of post)

Naturally, the Japanese groupthink will either hush it down, ignore it, or blame it on foreigners. In addition, embezzlement is somewhat common over there.

At least they used to do drinking after work. But seriously, that's quite amazing considering how late their average (voluntary) overtime is.

This can't really be compared to the US. As of this writing, the US of A is 227 years, 1 month, and 23 days old. Japanese history goes back at least four times that far.

Oooooh. And I retract that comment about design as well, I just remembered that we invented the microwaveable food. But still, I wonder if the US will ever really have a "culture".

I thought cram schools were secondary "pay" schools, in addition to the regular public system.
Yes, the educational system here sucks, but then again, considering the schools gloss over some things (like Japan's role in WWII) and are more concerned with rote memorization over critical thinking and learning, it's not all peaches and cream.

True, true, That's why I've been arguing for years for a privatized anarchial direct democracy through economics. Forget the public schools, start up some competition and sooner or later there are adverts for schools on the tele. The best school wins (profits) and education problem solved, no?

The Japanese parliament ALWAYS seems to have scandals, usually involving bribes, embezzlement, wasted funds, and other scandals. More than we do, it seems.

Oh my. But as usual, it's hushed down.

Oh well, who cared about the monetary and other scandals now? Japan never had a Monica Lewinsky case AFAIK. We had a Clinton. We have Bush.

Explain the genital pixels in porn, then. Anime aside (of which there is a lot of crap), how is Japanese TV better? They don't watch anime all the time, and often they watch dubbed (or localized) US shows. The occasional show I've seen at my local Asian supergrocery just seems to be lacking in production values and entertaining content.

And how is Japanese TV less stupid? Give some comparisons.

Reality game shows, e.g. Hit the button with a hammer and get zapped.
News documentaries, not soapbox.

The constitution is OK, but politics in Japan seem even more corrupt and gridlocked than here in the States. Vote buying and coercion seems to rule the day...

I don't mind the scandals and corruption of that type... in Japan, they didn't have Monica Lewinsky and they don't have Homeland Security Colour-Coded Charts either. When Japan's JSSDF comes up with colour coded hype charts and runs it on NHK, then I'll consider our government being better.

Except that, of the big economies, Japan is the only one with an emperor. It's a unique situation that can't be compared to any other country.

There is a unique Japanese word for Thermodynamics and other scientific principles

It's unique to the Japanese language.
Istead of romanizing from the Latin words, they can construct their own Japanese language segments and tape them together to form words. And there's fo equivalent of the Academe Fancais there - the people decide their language, like English. Amazing.

Russia does not beat the US. As for Asia - besides Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and MAYBE China, how are they better?

By Asia, I meant only those specific countries... how dumb of me. As for Russia, they have neat little traffic lights with meters to tell you how long you have, just like China. Joking, of course.

Canada is practically a mini-US. A mini-California (cold, though), to be more precise.
Looks like I added plenty 8) .

Groups of people from around the world are put together to work on a project (a tech product) in committee form. What happens? Here's some stereotypes for you:
The States:
Reports that more time is necessary and present a colourful excuse list PowerPoint presentation using Microsoft clipart, pointing at each excuse with an expensive green laser wand. Hasn't even give a thought to product deliverable "client presentation", unlike France.
France:
Needs more time for the project, as they are busy making sure it complies with all applicable codes, comes in 7 colours and is user friendly. Presents a colourful, transparent fruit tinted polymer model from the expensive Z 3d prototyping printer. Says they need to select a logo and some fonts.
Germany:
Doesn't tell you about their work, but they have black and white pictures. The person presenting the pictures is not even in the group. He says the group gave him 20 Euro to present. Hm.
Japan:
Gets it done. However, it's too big, too small, fancy, bloatware without the size and therefore costs per unit are blown up. It's like a fifty dollar T-shirt made from static-resistant nanotech fabric - why bother? It goes out in stores and sells out in exactly 27.5 seconds.

[danielwang]

But here in the US or atleast where I live, its a fusion of different races and greeds, everyday I learn new things about different cultures that I wouldn't other wise recieve in another country.

I agree

[moonslayer]

This implies that the sky is both blue and dark (multiple descriptors), but information is lost in the intent of describing whether it is the general sky or the sky’s colour that is dark.

Well if the sky's colour is dark blue then the sky obviously isn't going to be bright. And if the sky was dark, it can't be a bright blue. This is quite simple and far better than using 2 sentences to describe something.

[Kracus]

I think there has been enough disagreement with the original poster that I'm happy. =) I thought there would be more agreement though.

There is group mentality in this country, IMO. Races and family tend to group and look after each other. I will not explain more then that, cause someone probably already did.

I like the US, this is were my family is and this is where I'll stay. Everyplace else is just a vacation.

[moonslayer]

I think there has been enough disagreement with the original poster that I'm happy. =) I thought there would be more agreement though.

If someone says every aspect of your life is wrong your obviously going to disagree, be cause if it was wrong if your opinion you would lead the life you do.

[Bebi-sama]

There are benefits and bad parts of each.