Groping

[Acid King]

That was more to demonstrate how unlike the rest of New England it is, though I do appreciate the irony.

Not as ironic as the fact that he still has a steady job, on "frothing liberal bastion" MSNBC of all places.

He's their token hard line conservative. Finally, affirmative action goes in a rich white guys direction.

[BulletMagnet]

He's their token hard line conservative. Finally, affirmative action goes in a rich white guys direction.

I guarantee it'll do a lot more for him than it ever did for Colmes (and the latter was much more deferential [to put it in the kindest terms I can] than Pat will ever be).

[GaijinPunch]

I don't know about your live experience GP but with mines everything is in reverse:

Well, I've only lived for a long time (in Texas) which I'm sure you can imagine, isn't the most free thinking spot. Austin, where I went to school, however, is one of the most liberal cities in the country. I did a 2 year stint in Hawaii, and w/ the exception of all the military, people are too lazy to be bigots, and it's a mish-mash of ethnicity so little racism other than beating up white people that steal waves.

I have to agree with you there. Everyone tries to paint Republicans as racist,

Hang on -- I didn't say racist. I just think that political party, without sounding too stereotypical, tends to be less free-thinking is all. The bible belt brings out the worst in humanity. I know, I'm from there. I probably should've said it's a bible-belt state thing. That's probably more accurate.

As for not getting the slient treatment outside of Tokyo, obviously that's that small-town pride showing up, for which the countryside of Japan is famous. I lived for Shizuoka in 3 months and yes, the differences are night and day, but I think you'd see that in the west for the most part. I just think the city-side aspect of that phenomonen is exacerbated by the 'keep to yourself' mentality of Japan.

[Domino]

Well, I've only lived for a long time (in Texas) which I'm sure you can imagine, isn't the most free thinking spot. Austin, where I went to school, however, is one of the most liberal cities in the country. I did a 2 year stint in Hawaii, and w/ the exception of all the military, people are too lazy to be bigots, and it's a mish-mash of ethnicity so little racism other than beating up white people that steal waves.

I found New York City to have this problem as well. You can't completely think freely or else you get either attacked or get into a major verbal argument. You can have some slight conservative opinions and you will be verbal attacked by the majority of liberal voters in the NYC area. This was my experience and it started my issue with liberal voters. They say that they are free thinkers but when you have a different opinion from them is when they will shove their opinions in your face and not let you keep your opinions. I really hate that shit with a passion.

Hang on -- I didn't say racist. I just think that political party, without sounding too stereotypical, tends to be less free-thinking is all. The bible belt brings out the worst in humanity. I know, I'm from there. I probably should've said it's a bible-belt state thing. That's probably more accurate.

Oh really, because I found Democrat voters to have this problem as well. The majority of Jewish voters go with Democrats and when I ask why they vote for them the usual response is "Well my whole family vote for Democrat because that's the way it is." When my father married his first wife she told him: "Our kids will be Democrats, no question ask. We will tell our kids that Republicans are evil and the Democrats are better for our kids future."

You said GP that the Repubs are not big free thinkers but I see this shit in both sides of the political table.

[GaijinPunch]

Far left or far right are both probably in their own bubble... I find the far right far more detrimental to the human race though.

[Domino]

Far left or far right are both probably in their own bubble... I find the far right far more detrimental to the human race though.

Disagree, I found both sides to be dangerous to the human race.

[Ex-Cyber]

I found New York City to have this problem as well. You can't completely think freely or else you get either attacked or get into a major verbal argument. You can have some slight conservative opinions and you will be verbal attacked by the majority of liberal voters in the NYC area. This was my experience and it started my issue with liberal voters. They say that they are free thinkers but when you have a different opinion from them is when they will shove their opinions in your face and not let you keep your opinions. I really hate that shit with a passion.

"Free thinker" doesn't mean "agrees with everyone". Free thinkers often have strong differences of opinion, and often argue about them. When done well (i.e. intelligently and honestly), this even fosters mutual respect.

[greg]

Oh really, because I found Democrat voters to have this problem as well. The majority of Jewish voters go with Democrats and when I ask why they vote for them the usual response is "Well my whole family vote for Democrat because that's the way it is." When my father married his first wife she told him: "Our kids will be Democrats, no question ask. We will tell our kids that Republicans are evil and the Democrats are better for our kids future."

You said GP that the Repubs are not big free thinkers but I see this shit in both sides of the political table.

Heh, yeah, it's ironic that the vast majority of Jewish people are Democrats, yet their political party can be the most anti-Semitic and anti-Israel.

Anyhow, so as not to let this topic go down another off-topic tangent (since this topic was originally extracted from another topic), let's just agree to point out that both blue and red states can be rather narrow-minded, but just from different angles on life. Plus, I don't really think Arizona is part of what is known as the "bible belt." I think that pretty much stops at Texas and does not penetrate New Mexico. I do see what GP is saying though, and I'd rather avoid the bible belt myself---and I'm a fairly conservative Christian myself. Maybe not as conservative as you are, Domino, since although I've often found myself wishing I owned a gun to protect myself while living in the USA, I never once thought "Oh crap, I wish I had a gun right now" while living in Japan. I've never felt unsafe in Japan.

"Free thinker" doesn't mean "agrees with everyone". Free thinkers often have strong differences of opinion, and often argue about them. When done well, this even fosters mutual respect.

We weren't talking about "free thinkers," we were discussing narrow-minded people. Free thinkers are open to listening to the other side of the debate and treats others with respect. Narrow-minded people do not.

[BryanM]

Friendly reminder to everyone:

Austin is not located in Texas. Texas surrounds Austin, protecting it. Protecting it from places like Arizona.

One time I ordered a burger while in Quartzsite. The inbreeding of the desert people was apparent. I can't trust any place where I have to wonder if a person's issues stem from DNA or Meth. Though I strongly applaud them for ignoring that retarded murder policy that is DST.

I always thought that 13 years old was a minimum requirement, and that different areas had a higher age requirement? Kind of like how most states the age of consent is 16, but the places where pornography isn't considered prostitution ironically all have it set at 18 for some weird reason. Or like how in most places you can marry your hot cousin, except not in Arizona.

Also: compare Samantha Geimer to then and now. Letting Yourself Go should be a federal crime. And there should be mandatory rehab centers for this. Bah, reality blows.

... I mean really. "Only defined as incest if both parties are over 18"? What the fuck is that I don't even..... "kids will be kids"???

... remember when this topic started out about harmless innocent tentacle molestation?

[GaijinPunch]

Disagree, I found both sides to be dangerous to the human race.

Well, the far left isn't into lynching, or militia, and their idea of terrorism is throwing rancid cabbage at whaling boats (and fake blood on fur coat wearers). Annoying? Very. For the record, the statement "the far right is far more dangerous" was given to me by a conservative.

[Domino]

Heh, yeah, it's ironic that the vast majority of Jewish people are Democrats, yet their political party can be the most anti-Semitic and anti-Israel.

Anyhow, so as not to let this topic go down another off-topic tangent (since this topic was originally extracted from another topic), let's just agree to point out that both blue and red states can be rather narrow-minded, but just from different angles on life. Plus, I don't really think Arizona is part of what is known as the "bible belt." I think that pretty much stops at Texas and does not penetrate New Mexico. I do see what GP is saying though, and I'd rather avoid the bible belt myself---and I'm a fairly conservative Christian myself. Maybe not as conservative as you are, Domino, since although I've often found myself wishing I owned a gun to protect myself while living in the USA, I never once thought "Oh crap, I wish I had a gun right now" while living in Japan. I've never felt unsafe in Japan.

I'm more of a libertarian/conservative mix who's pretty secular. I'm not really religious to be honest but hey there's a nice shooting range near by so lets get my flamethrower and blow some stuff up.

Florida honestly is not bad. Of all the bible belt states Florida has the least of that stuff (mostly because there's more people you see in FL who are not from FL than actual Floridians).

Well, the far left isn't into lynching, or militia, and their idea of terrorism is throwing rancid cabbage at whaling boats (and fake blood on fur coat wearers). Annoying? Very. For the record, the statement "the far right is far more dangerous" was given to me by a conservative.

You should talk some of the liberal students on my college. One liberal classmate (who's working with me on a project) has the opinion that all Jews in Israel should be killed and Israel should go back to the Arabs. Another classmate had the crazy opinion that they need to get together and attack Tea Party members because they consider them racist.

The Democrats use to be into lynching, it was back in the Jim Crow era (and for me I found African Americans voting for Democrats to be the biggest irony of all time). I can go on and on with this for both sides but I'm going to end it with both sides are equally worthless.

[linko9]

Well, the far left isn't into lynching, or militia, and their idea of terrorism is throwing rancid cabbage at whaling boats (and fake blood on fur coat wearers). Annoying? Very. For the record, the statement "the far right is far more dangerous" was given to me by a conservative.

Obviously, the terms "left" and "right" are rather ill-defined, but most people would agree that Stalin was far left, and Hitler was far right. In the end, Stalin killed more people, but only because he had more people to kill. I'm certainly in agreement with Domino here; both sides are no good. Whenever you get so entrenched in your political views that you start to believe killing your enemies is the answer, you're definitely being dangerous to humanity. History has shown that both people with "leftist" and "rightist" views call fall into this trap.

As for America, people in this thread seem to have a much bleaker outlook than I think is warranted. I know it gets said all the time, but this really is a relatively free county, where you can do pretty much whatever you want as long as it doesn't harm other people. Obviously, there are plenty of exceptions (such as our ludicrous drug policies, though keep in mind many other countries have much more ludicrous policies), but in the end, I think America's a pretty good place to live (though your neighborhood in Arizona sounds like shit, greg, I hope you move out soon). Then there's the fact that our economy's not in turmoil and our population isn't in decline, which can't be said for Japan and many European nations. The fact that "being too fat" is one of our major national problems right now is a good sign. It could be much, much worse.

[GaijinPunch]

You should talk some of the liberal students on my college. One liberal classmate (who's working with me on a project) has the opinion that all Jews in Israel should be killed and Israel should go back to the Arabs. Another classmate had the crazy opinion that they need to get together and attack Tea Party members because they consider them racist.

:/ Sounds like you go to school w/ some real winners.

I can go on and on with this for both sides but I'm going to end it with both sides are equally worthless.

Well, I'm not going to argue w/ that... I still think everyone should just get together and eat a bunch of ecstacy. Life would be so much better.

Obviously, the terms "left" and "right" are rather ill-defined, but most people would agree that Stalin was far left, and Hitler was far right.

I was more or less referring to the labels that we can put on groups today, in real life scenarios. But, point taken.

Then there's the fact that our economy's not in turmoil and our population isn't in decline, which can't be said for Japan and many European nations.

It's like a perpetual black rain cloud. I shouldn't say this b/c obviously it's terrible (and myself or family would be harmed directly) but maybe if "the big one" finally hits Tokyo they can just say, "you know what... we're totally fucked. Let's just let everyone in and help us". It will never happen but it seems like there has to be a catastrophe for metamporphosis (and that's what Japan needs to survive).

[JoshF]

Heh, yeah, it's ironic that the vast majority of Jewish people are Democrats, yet their political party can be the most anti-Semitic and anti-Israel.

Democrats are anti-Israel? How many illegal settlements has Obama stopped, besides zero?

The irony is that American Jews are liberal, yet a lot them support the most right-wing government on the planet (Israel,) a government which perpetrates many of the crimes their parents and grandparents were subjected to just a few decades before. Also, wanting to stop the right wing from destroying any prospect of peace for a century with more land grabs, more bombings, more white phosphorus, more human shields, more economic strangulation, more collective punishment, etc. = ANTI-SEMITISM. I love how conservatives [strikeout] think [/strikeout].

Another irony? If a government even talked about subjugating you guys a quarter of the degree Israel does to the Palestinians you'd be the first to grab your guns. Hell, you almost fucking lost it when a center-right (but black) president was elected. Of course in this case you wouldn't be terrorists, you'd be WOLVERIIIIIIINES!!!

[greg]

Hell, you almost fucking lost it when a center-right (but black) president was elected.

Obama is center-right. Oh that's hilarious, dude. He was selected as supposedly left-of-center, and if that's what he actually was, like Clinton, then things wouldn't be so bad.

Anyhow, back to Japan. GP, I've often thought that with the declining birthrate, Japan does need the metamorphosis you mentioned. As it stands today, does it look at all prospective that an influx of immigrants would help save Japan? I'm wondering that if I can move to Japan and re-plant roots there, that I'd be in at the beginning of something spectacular. In your opinion, is this likely to happen?

[GaijinPunch]

A few things will have to happen if Japan is going to use immigration to get them out of this very deep hole they are in. I've named them a few times:

1: Abolish the entire guarantor system (let adults be adults please).
2: Somehow force moving fees down to about half of what they are. Key money is slowly disappearing but I had to pay an agent a month's rent out of pocket my last move, and put up 3 months for deposit. The furniture didn't move itself either.
3: Create some type of tax haven like Singapore has. A lot of rich gaijin left in 2008. They are not coming back (and their replacements when those business recover likely aren't either).
4: Get rid of heaps of red tape for gaishikei businesses. This should be 3B, really. There's now no reason why a company should have their Asian hub in Tokyo. Anywhere else is cheaper across the board and far, far easier to set up.
5: The stopping of all shitting on gaijin at every level of society. I don't think a gaijin has ever won a court case here (and I know a few that have gone).

*Lower cost of infrastructure across the board isn't going to hurt. This is the main reason the birth rate is so low: it's just too pricey to have kids, especially in the city.

Some other basic human rights and world-wide standards (signing the Hague Treaty for one) would help, although I don't think they're particularly making people actively avoid Japan. It's definitely pissing off some long term foreigners though, and I imagine a few Japanese while they're at it.

I could see Tokyo as being a melting pot. It definitely has everything a large city needs: parks, international airport, very easy access to heaps of recreation, jobs, amazing restaurant selection, crazy nightlife, and of course business that let you bang anything from school girls to pregnant women. Japanese mentality can be exhaustive though, to say the least, and the 5 points above (specifically 1 & 2) are a BIG hurdle. I think at the end of the day though most Japanese are far more worried about losing their autonomy than the future generations becoming the 3rd largest econmomy in the world... then 4th... then 5th...

[cools]

Well, I'm not going to argue w/ that... I still think everyone should just get together and eat a bunch of ecstacy. Life would be so much better.

"Touch me some more baby, that feels good."

[Icarus]

Well, I'm not going to argue w/ that... I still think everyone should just get together and eat a bunch of ecstacy. Life would be so much better.

Until everyone starts coming down.

[GaijinPunch]

Until everyone starts coming down.

That's when you go home and fuck!

[Lordstar]

For a thread titled groping there aint a whole lot of discussions about fondling one another.

Jeezz someone give me a fucking hug already !

[Skykid]

Until everyone starts coming down.

That's when you go home and fuck!

Post Ex Sex - when a man regains the functionality of his sexual organs.

[GaijinPunch]

For a thread titled groping there aint a whole lot of discussions about fondling one another.

Why don't you go get gay w/ your DJ software.

[Ed Oscuro]

Heh, yeah, it's ironic that the vast majority of Jewish people are Democrats, yet their political party can be the most anti-Semitic and anti-Israel.

Democrats are anti-Israel? How many illegal settlements has Obama stopped, besides zero?

Don't forget the time Obama stopped the illegal Jewish settlements on the Oil Platforms (because as we all know there exists an INTERNATINOAL CONSPIRACEY between British INtelligence and Jewery)!!!

Then there's the fact that our economy's not in turmoil and our population isn't in decline, which can't be said for Japan and many European nations.

It's like a perpetual black rain cloud. I shouldn't say this b/c obviously it's terrible (and myself or family would be harmed directly) but maybe if "the big one" finally hits Tokyo they can just say, "you know what... we're totally fucked. Let's just let everyone in and help us". It will never happen but it seems like there has to be a catastrophe for metamporphosis (and that's what Japan needs to survive).

My personal thoughts on this (not that they would be more accurate than yours, your having lived in Japan!) is that it could summon reactionary tendencies as well, so at best the whole thing could be a wash as far as the view of foreigners. If anything I'd expect the Japanese tendency to dislike people coming and squatting on the already scarce land to be exacerbated. It's not like France where the themes of Anti-Dreyfussard and Petainisme, and hell, even monarchist tendencies are always thought to be lurking, but my point here is that many countries have underlying historic tensions - and in Japan's case some of those tensions are current.

That reminds me: something else I saw on Slate recently also seems to apply.

A lot more Americans (and I wonder if this would be true of Japanese as well?) are more likely to be less condemning of people who decide just to live their lives - without children - but there is clearly a deluded minority who think that going childless is akin to being a Godless Commie (see article for details on some beloved American pols condemning this). Cheap (American voter) labor...gotta have it?

The whole immigration debate is always touchy in many countries. Hong Kong and ethnic Chinese...the United States and people whose families may have used to live here...Germany and Turkish immigrants...Japan as well.

[GaijinPunch]

My personal thoughts on this (not that they would be more accurate than yours, your having lived in Japan!) is that it could summon reactionary tendencies as well, so at best the whole thing could be a wash as far as the view of foreigners. If anything I'd expect the Japanese tendency to dislike people coming and squatting on the already scarce land to be exacerbated.

It could go either way. They could take the Burmese approach and sit there w/ people dying and reject foreign aid like morons. But.... when's the last time there was a flux of foreign influence on Japan? Occupational forces.

Japan deserves to be kicked when their down though. Look at how much they gave for Katrina relief. I'm not saying it's their duty, but hey... Japan is one of the most vulnerable geographical locations to natural disaster... it's just that they get fewer, higher devestating ones.

[Joe T.]

The Democrats use to be into lynching, it was back in the Jim Crow era (and for me I found African Americans voting for Democrats to be the biggest irony of all time).

As ironic as Dixiecrats and southern civil rights objectors being welcomed with open arms by the Republican party?

Edit: ...Or as ironic as how closely libertarian political stances parallel that of the antebellum south?

[UnscathedFlyingObject]

Until everyone starts coming down.

That's when you go home and fuck!

That won't solve nothing until fuck pillow, dutch wives and ona devices get banned in Japan.

[Skykid]

Look at how much they gave for Katrina relief.

Considering the size of their economy, that's a bit of a joke. I like the fact that it took one Japanese individual to pay five times as much as the actual government.

[Domino]

What about men-on-men groping?

[greg]

A few things will have to happen if Japan is going to use immigration to get them out of this very deep hole they are in. I've named them a few times:

1: Abolish the entire guarantor system (let adults be adults please).

Not sure what this is about. Do you mean the kohai/sempai system?

For a thread titled groping there aint a whole lot of discussions about fondling one another.

Jeezz someone give me a fucking hug already !

Well, I can't grope you because it's impossible to grope anyone over the Net, but I can post pictures of my boxer shorts collection again. I just got some Atari lounge pants for Father's Day.

[Skykid]

Back on topic:

When I was about twelve I switched off all the lights in my room and all the guys had a thirty second groping party where we got to run after and try to grope all the girls. There was lots of giggling, tripping, screaming and groping, and the guys trying not to accidentally grope each others balls.

Now I'm all grown up I no longer grope girls (except my own), but it does lead me to wonder if perhaps the fun of a cheeky childhood grope of discovery hasn't left the hearts of the Japanese salaryman.

Then again, perhaps they just like to grope schoolchildren the same age as their daughter because they can't do that shit at home and they're just rampant old perverts.