Jr Train Staff Singled Me Out And Told Me Not To Use Cell Phone In Handicap Area?

Actually, I'm totally into talking about the reality of Japan, not a fantasy version for international export and gullible TV viewers.

If TokyoJoeblow was being a "dick" or passive-aggressive, then that's often exactly what other Japanese doing the same behavior as him are.

I'm saying it's unnecessary behavior, that can lead to conflicts, irregardless of the nationality or race of the people doing it.
 
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In every culture there will be people local to the culture who push the envelop. Either kūki yomenai or they just think they breath a different air. We should not take them as the standard or the excuse to be dickheads.
 
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I see this situation every now and then. If I want to sit in that spot (sometimes I do and sometimes I don't) then I simply ask in English "Is anyone sitting here?" as I look the person in the eyes and then glance at whatever is taking up the seat. I've never been refused the seat and was also apologized to. People are people and I pretty much agree with everyone on this post except the person who started it.
 
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MossBoss said:
A Japanese guy told me when he went from Tokyo to Osaka on a packed Shinkansen a lady had her bag on a seat. Nobody said anything assuming her friend was getting on the train at the next stop. When they arrived in Osaka her bag was still occupying a seat. Nobody said anything....
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自由席 is an ugly free-for-all. Your friend got taken for a ride. (n)
 
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Solong said:
1) You tried to bypass whether or not TokyoJoeblow has the right to do what Japanese are ALSO doing.

If some other Japanese can put their bags up on the seat, and it's "acceptable", then why can't he?
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It's not acceptable. those Japanese people are being assholes. People are assholes all over the world, not just in Japan. Last time I was in SF, I repeatedly ran into people taking up 2 seats. There's a big campaign in NYC telling guys not to 'manspread'. Perhaps you've heard of it. It's certainly possible that the station staff or someone else on the train felt more free to call a gaijin to task for being an asshole than calling a fellow Japanese to task for being an asshole.

The important part is that doesn't give people the right to be an asshole.
2) And, Japanese can ask TokyoJoeblow in polite Japanese if they can sit in the seat next to him.
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They can. But he'd be better off not acting like an asshole in the first place. It's both common courtesy, and it doesn't hurt the reputations of gaijin in general.

3) What's the point of unnecessarily putting up your bags on the seat next to you in the FIRST place?

As pointed out, such people can be passive-aggressive or arrogant, in thinking they are better than others around them or that they can do whatever the hell they want.

All Japanese don't agree with pulling that bullshit and plenty of my JAPANESE friends and girlfriends have questioned such behavior too.
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Yes, they are being selfish. For any number of reasons. Not just because they don't want to sit next to someone, but because they may not want to wrinkle their clothes, or a woman might have been groped on the train before, etc. That's not to excuse their behavior, but other people on the train are, after all, people and not stereotypes.
 
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John Chavers said:
In case you can't read what I wrote and are too lazy to copy and paste that into Google Translate, I asked in relatively polite Japanese "May I sit here", indicating the bag on the seat.

I hear and see Japanese people do this all the time. There are rude young people all over the world, but a straightforward inquiry usually gets the desired results from all but the most autistic passengers. No need for Gaijin Smash or angry outbursts.

If the train car is crowded enough that I need the seat holding the bag, there's enough social pressure to respond correctly when questioned in good Japanese with a polite tone.
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I'm sorry, but I would rather stand than ask to sit next to an obvious douche. Even if I ask to sit next to these types of people, it isn't like they want you to be anywhere near them. They will always say yes 100% of the time because people just don't seem to ever say 'No' in Japan.

It is fun to point out Japanese people breaking the rules or being rude because it shows other Japanese people that it isn't just foreigners doing all the bad things. When I point out a Japanese person being rude or ignoring rules, it also makes the Japanese people realize not all foreigners living in Japan are completely clueless about their culture.
 
TokyoJoeblow said:
It is fun to point out Japanese people breaking the rules or being rude because it shows other Japanese people that it isn't just foreigners doing all the bad things
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You need a new hobby.
 
R.O.B said:
Oh-oh, spaghetti-oh. One step forward, one step back.
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Sounds like lyrics to a song I used to teach one of my kindergarten classes lol. I remember eating those as a child....salty as hell.
 
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