tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5103914919249706024.post4307096667591506202..comments2023-05-18T03:08:41.920-07:00Comments on 1000 Things About Japan: Random Thoughts: You are where you liveUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5103914919249706024.post-68855370296852853772014-01-17T08:05:54.188-08:002014-01-17T08:05:54.188-08:00Most people don't believe strangers *are* as f...Most people don't believe strangers *are* as fully human as they are. It's part of survival drives. When it comes down to it, everyone is less than "me" in the eyes of most people. The matter of fact is that failing to understand that psychological differences (core character and pespective) is a part and parcel of dehumanizing others. Understanding people are fundamentally Orchid64https://www.blogger.com/profile/07132543155589881288noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5103914919249706024.post-13648950276055416452014-01-17T06:56:10.136-08:002014-01-17T06:56:10.136-08:00I think you are absolutely correct that there are ...I think you are absolutely correct that there are profound differences between people at their core. Differences produced by culture, religion, family history, language, and more. It means we should drop all assumptions about what someone must be like and struggle to understand what she is truly like. <br /><br />I see one danger in this view: Making the leap from realizing we are at the core andWally Woodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17653591053915868274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5103914919249706024.post-92025654948971845102014-01-16T13:53:17.393-08:002014-01-16T13:53:17.393-08:00Thanks for a cogent and interesting post which can...Thanks for a cogent and interesting post which can certainly give one a better perspective on cultural differences, etc.<br /><br />Of course, 'the circumstances we are born into' would include one's family of origin. I am sure we have all seen individuals whose family values and/or experiences growing up trump whatever the local/regional values might be. This is true in Japan as Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14492461563889268879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5103914919249706024.post-6309398859153339982014-01-16T01:53:28.060-08:002014-01-16T01:53:28.060-08:00Very cogent and insightful post. When explaining ...Very cogent and insightful post. When explaining cultural differences to my Japanese wife, I said there are 3-4 distinctly American cultural influences that make Americans 'American'.<br /><br />1. Immigration - two byproducts of our immigration is that Americans are by and large, overly optimistic and aggressive/brash. Why? Well for the overwhelming majority of Americans (muratafanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07206600576153561156noreply@blogger.com