Amazing! Such an astute observation. Yes, I believe Americans have absolutely lost the ability to expect anything good. Yet, is Japan's indifference anything but quieter? To me it suggests something is being sacrificed for something which really shouldn't dominate. Here it's perspective, there it's engagement. If we could figure out how to McFlurry them together I bet it would be a really good flavor. xoxo
Thanks, I'm glad you liked it. I wouldn't claim that the Japanese are disengaged or apathetic or that I even understand what's happening internally. Because Japan is so mysterious, it tends to bring out the armchair sociologist in every Westerner, but it's a place that stumps a lot of experts.
My brother and I are half-Japanese. My brother is fluent in Japanese, lived here for three years, and has since lived in Turkey, Germany, and the UK, and of Japan he says, "It's the only place you can go and feel like you're on another planet." I've been here for six years, and I have to agree.
This is a thoughtful and timely post Amy, thanks! It think it's important for North Americans, even Europeans, to read these kinds of posts that show a different mindset and way of thinking. You've summarized this well. Thank you!
What a whirlwind through a high-relatable topic! A major world event, cross-cultural comparison, literature, philosophy, psychology, neuroscience, and trends in journalism and technology.
It's certainly a weird experience I'm having now believing that humans on a whole are doing better than ever in many (not all) ways yet seeing non-stop negative news and hearing that so many people think the world is falling apart. It's a disorienting, disheartening, and emotionally uncomfortable experience.
I've been thinking a lot lately about what healthy engagement (and non-engagement) look like. Emotional salience is a term I'll remember. Thanks Amy!
Amazing! Such an astute observation. Yes, I believe Americans have absolutely lost the ability to expect anything good. Yet, is Japan's indifference anything but quieter? To me it suggests something is being sacrificed for something which really shouldn't dominate. Here it's perspective, there it's engagement. If we could figure out how to McFlurry them together I bet it would be a really good flavor. xoxo
Thanks, I'm glad you liked it. I wouldn't claim that the Japanese are disengaged or apathetic or that I even understand what's happening internally. Because Japan is so mysterious, it tends to bring out the armchair sociologist in every Westerner, but it's a place that stumps a lot of experts.
My brother and I are half-Japanese. My brother is fluent in Japanese, lived here for three years, and has since lived in Turkey, Germany, and the UK, and of Japan he says, "It's the only place you can go and feel like you're on another planet." I've been here for six years, and I have to agree.
Very thoughtful piece, thanks. And yeah, we could use a little more calm civic-mindedness here in the US.
Thank you, Tom! I'm glad you liked it.
This is a thoughtful and timely post Amy, thanks! It think it's important for North Americans, even Europeans, to read these kinds of posts that show a different mindset and way of thinking. You've summarized this well. Thank you!
Thank you, Mark. I'm glad you liked it.
What a whirlwind through a high-relatable topic! A major world event, cross-cultural comparison, literature, philosophy, psychology, neuroscience, and trends in journalism and technology.
It's certainly a weird experience I'm having now believing that humans on a whole are doing better than ever in many (not all) ways yet seeing non-stop negative news and hearing that so many people think the world is falling apart. It's a disorienting, disheartening, and emotionally uncomfortable experience.
I've been thinking a lot lately about what healthy engagement (and non-engagement) look like. Emotional salience is a term I'll remember. Thanks Amy!