Ever been embarassed by your fellow countrymen?

[Kustom]

As most of you know, Japanese people are pretty lax with foreigners (immigration and police do not count), and many people can get away with acting like complete culturally-insensitive jerks while they'd be stoned to death in any other country.

Have you ever witnessed such embarassing events involving your countrymen and making you want to eat your passport and crawl under a tatami?

I did countless times, the French being the ranting righteous bastards we are...

I cannot stand it when a poor Japanese employee get yelled at for 30 minutes in bad French accented English, obviously not understanding a single word, for something he has nothing to do with. The "lady" in question adds sarcastical comments and insults in French for good measure. That was in Narita airport, and the woman was complaining about our plane being late to a poor sembe vendor!?!

Another thing that embarassed me when my friends came other is them being so loud in the train, pointing at people and unknowingly eye-blasting every girl around. A real carnage.

Have you witnessed other gaijins tarnishing your country's name in Japan or elsewhere?

[Beebs]

Not sure if they were American or Canadian, but these two North American-sounding tourists were waiting for a train a good twenty meters from me. For those of who may not know, the train drivers stick their head out just barely from their window as the train leaves/arrives from the station; not a lot, but a good 2-3 inches so they can see down the line.

Anyways, as the current train was leaving these two asshats step up to the edge of the platform and head-fake the Japanese train driver as he speeds by them. He looked *PISSED* and I don't blame him. He wasn't going mach speed, but as sure as death and taxes fast enough to cause some severe injuries had they collided. I don't see many Japanese people screwing with the train drivers so I'm sure he wasn't expecting it. The two morons just stared laughing at themselves.


Idiots. :mad:

[Kustom]

The guys who occupied the Nova appartment before us had a collection of water bombs under the sink. When asked what for by my flatmate, they replied that it was hilarious to thrown them at pedestrians and see how they were too afraid and polite to say anything. I would have eye-gouged them myself, but unfortunately I wasn't there at the time and learned about this later.

This gives you an insight on Nova recruiting criteria.

[Chinpokomon]

Since the person in question was a JET, I can't really tell the story, as they may end up reading it here someday. :(

[Jon885]

I'm reminded of Tom Green when he went to Japan. Everybody was mostly polite when Green acted like an ass. After watching that I put in an older Tom Green tape where he was somewhere in North America and a guy almost killed Green for pretending to be a pizza guy. heh.

[mediocre]

Off topic (a bit), Jackass the movie's bits in japan were great. They try that crap in any western city and they would have gotten beaten.


The worst I can think of are the people who do the "ching chong ching" or fool around with chopsticks at a restaurant. Seriously though, that is such little shit -- but I tried.

[stillbornsinger]

All the time...

Since I'm in the military, I'm surrounded by a lot of other guys. A good majority of them in the 18-21 range... Most of those don't really want to be in Japan and don't have much respect for their culture, or of the culture for the other countries we go to.

I find myself mentally slapping myself on a daily basis when I see the gaijin out in town acting like complete asses.

They think they are so cool to when they are acting like fools. Its no wonder many Japanese have such a messed up opinion about Americans in my area.

The worst case I'd say is this one guy... he's not entire right in the head... He's a little bit racist and thinks the civil war is still going on in the US. I've gone out with him a few times because when we're in forign ports we are required to have a buddy, and sometimes he'll be all alone so me and my usual buddy will take him out just because we feel bad for the guy.

But he say's some of the most dumb ass things. For instance, we're riding in a cab in India and he sees a cow in the street, and he freaks out and says

"what the hell is there a cow in the road for? Oh I think thats a (some kind of beef type cow for eating), I learned that in agriculture class, we should kill it and eat it. I don't see why these Indian people don't eat it, they are all so skinny."

He says stuff like that all the time...

[hapamama]

Frequently.. and I don't even have to leave home to feel that way.

[Ev0]

I don't travel abroad too often, so I've only got examples from home to go on. I'm not embarrased by Canadians too often (aside from the politicians, but that's another issue). Torontonians embarass me on a daily basis though. I swear the city is just overflowing with asshats of all sorts.

Ottawa on the other hand is a lot better in regards to the whole stupid people issue. They do exist here, but they are not every other person you see on the street, like in Toronto.

[keitaidensha]

Since the person in question was a JET, I can't really tell the story, as they may end up reading it here someday. :(
that's what pm's are for :cool:

edit: hint hint ;)

[Chinpokomon]

that's what pm's are for :cool:

edit: hint hint ;)

How do I know you're not him? ;)