Disqus - Latest Comments for WOTDsctoo

Re: Bishounen

WOTDsctoo — Tue, 30 Sep 2014 00:51:22 -0000

Sanford, your articles always confuse me. Sometimes that leaves me bitter. Other times, like now, it makes me very happy. :)

Re: You Will Never Starve If You Can Eat

WOTDsctoo — Fri, 16 May 2014 02:49:50 -0000

This article read kind of unfocused, but I'm somehow feeling a visceral connection with it and the author. I don't know what just happened, but I am entranced.

I feel like my perspective on life has changed. O.O

Re: The Delicious History Of Japan’s Anthropomorphic Kawaii Food Characters

WOTDsctoo — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 03:03:04 -0000

Mameshibaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Re: What To Do When You’re Placed In A Bad School

WOTDsctoo — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 21:15:12 -0000

This was a really well-written article! (^.^)b

Re: The 3 Types of Foreign Students in Japanese Schools

WOTDsctoo — Fri, 24 Jan 2014 02:51:41 -0000

I think the best advice is "don't generalize" .... lol.

I agree with what japanesehamantashen wrote. Even if you choose to write an article that categorizes or describes groups people, you can generalize a lot less by how you word things. For example, "I've noticed these interesting *trends*", rather than "this is how people are".

As this article stands now, you're kind of simplifying an entire, and very diverse, population (foreign students in Japan). There are gaijin students studying in Japan from all over the world. They come from differing backgrounds and circumstances, have differing opinions and values, and have differing goals for studying in Japan. Pigeonholing them into three groups, especially ones that you made up, is a very broad treatment.

Furthermore, describing the pros and cons of each category and then telling readers that they should *choose* makes it seem like you're thinking of your self-made stereotypes as facts. It's also kind of alienating and uncomfortable.

I guess since I'm getting into it now, I'll also mention that the word "ghetto" is sometimes a pejorative, and at the very least a socially charged word, so it also made me cock my head and squint a bit.

Sorry, I went a little too progressive liberal loudmouth on you, which I don't really consider part of my identity. At least I didn't use the word "problematic"? Basically, if your article is making broad assumptions about groups that may be unfair to the individuals in those groups, then you're generalizing. Change your wording to account for those potentially marginalized individuals, and you're covered.

Keep up the interesting work!

Re: The 3 Types of Foreign Students in Japanese Schools

WOTDsctoo — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 21:58:11 -0000

I'm finding Austin's articles, this one included, to generally have a lot of interesting perspectives, but they also tend to be heavily over-generalized. This can cause them to be misleading. Nobody has to choose a box to put themselves in, especially when the boxes are somewhat arbitrary.

Just do what you want! :)

Thanks for the interesting article though!

Re: Japan: no safe country for foreign women

WOTDsctoo — Fri, 25 Oct 2013 01:45:34 -0000

The scariest part for me is the police's and public's unwillingness to help.

I have a *male* friend who was attacked in his apartment with a kitchen knife by a girl he had been seeing for around two weeks. He fled his apartment in his boxers and contacted the police as soon as he could. They shrugged off the incident as a "fuufu kenka" (domestic dispute) and didn't offer him any help.

Re: These Japanese Fast Food Chains Will Make You Love Fast Food Again

WOTDsctoo — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 03:45:49 -0000

Mos Burger --> (^.^)b but kind of expensive / not much food (welcome to Japan??)

Yoshinoya --> !!!!!! yes
First Kitchen --> ...meh
Japanese McDonalds --> not as bad as US...but more expensive, and still meh v.v

FRESHNESS BURGER is absolutely amazing though.

And I heard Lotteria is Korean??

Re: Smokin’, Drinkin’, and Votin’: Turning 20 in Japan

WOTDsctoo — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 05:24:18 -0000

Just to second what's already been posted...I too got an invitation for Coming of Age day as a foreigner studying abroad in Japan! I think they invite you as long as you're registered...

Unfortunately, I'll be going back to American before the day actually happens. >.<

Re: Top 10 Strange Japanese Films You Need to Watch

WOTDsctoo — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 05:22:52 -0000

No Funky Forrest? :O
These look super weird though... o.o

Re: Tofugu Summer Internship!

WOTDsctoo — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 17:57:21 -0000

What an awesome opportunity for someone! Sounds like a blast~!

Re: Forget Robots. Holographic Vocaloid Rock Stars Are Where The Creepy Is At

WOTDsctoo — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 22:49:27 -0000

I actually know a guy who gives talks on Vocaloid and Hatsune Miku at anime conventions on a regular basis...I feel like there are serious academic papers to be written here! :P

Re: Japanese Words That Make It Into English Dictionaries

WOTDsctoo — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 16:32:29 -0000

wow...somehow I got unsubscribed from tofugu... T.T
(but now I'm caught up!)

If anyone is interested in the hikikimori issue, I recommend the anime "Welcome to the NHK" <-- very goood!!! :)

Re: Top 10 Reasons a Japanese Girlfriend Won’t Help Your Japanese

WOTDsctoo — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 03:30:26 -0000

Haha...I actually bought that T-shirt for a friend of mine a few years ago.... >.<

Anyway, interesting read!!! I guess people should definitely keep this stuff in mind.

Re: If You’re Homeless In Japan, Here Are Your Options

WOTDsctoo — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 17:34:33 -0000

I think the cafe would have to be my first choice. It's pretty cheap, and there's lots of entertainment. The blue tents would be good for the long term, if I even had to be in that situation, but I definitely would want to try the capsule hotel once. It's like one of those things that you can say you did later. :P

Re: Every Time You Zip Up Your Pants, Mr. Yoshida Smiles, Creepily

WOTDsctoo — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 19:51:45 -0000

I would have never known. I'm really glad this information zipped into my life.
...
I tried. >.<

Re: How The Japanese Address System Works

WOTDsctoo — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 13:04:24 -0000

Wow, I knew a little bit about the address system, in that it went from big to small, but I had no idea that it was that different...

Re: Tofugu’s 2010 New Years Resolutions

WOTDsctoo — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 23:16:51 -0000

Wow...definitely looking forward to this year!! I don't really do resolutions myself though. >.<
Many posts in January will be a treat, and I'm really looking forward to some of these other resolutions!

Woo, can't wait!

Re: Literal Murakami 1: A Wild Sheep Chase

WOTDsctoo — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 22:02:49 -0000

I really want to read some Murakami!
Until that happens though, this was a good substitute.
The rainbow at the end was poetic. :)

Re: 100 Ways to Entertain Guests Visiting From Japan

WOTDsctoo — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 13:21:24 -0000

LOL@24
I'm not sure I could bring myself to do it though.

Re: Saturday Timewaster: Cursor 10

WOTDsctoo — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 01:28:19 -0000

So I got to stage 16 with cursor 10 right as time runs out. (I had to skip some pyramids :/ I just couldn't get there otherwise) It says game over, but a fraction of a second later, I complete stage 16 and it tells me I win. Is it legit??

Btw, thanks for the huuuge time waster. XD

Re: How to defend your butt from Japanese children (Kancho Survival Guide)

WOTDsctoo — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 22:19:24 -0000

This was a great article, hilarious! But it also seems like really important knowledge to avoid some rather unpleasant culture shock. Culture shock can be an enlightening and humbling experience, but I think I'd like to keep it away from my private areas.

Re: How to NOT find a Japanese language partner

WOTDsctoo — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 22:41:25 -0000

The hook picture is goooooold. I love it. XD

And the content is pretty solid too, haha.

Re: Strange Katakana Words

WOTDsctoo — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 01:25:51 -0000

I should have taken this class. XDDD Katakan ftw forevverrr. <3

Haha, my teacher always used to say ドンドン太っちゃった・・・

Off to read part 2!

Re: Why you should use a Mac to study Japanese

WOTDsctoo — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 01:44:43 -0000

Yea, I'm not thoroughly versed in the Mac vs PC debate, but I've always used a PC and I'm not sure I'd switch simply because of familiarity.

The windows language bar is pretty obnoxious though.

And aren't macs more expensive?? :(