[bksvol-discuss] Re: OK, gang, got a weird one!

  • From: "Kim Friedman" <kimfri11@xxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:18:41 -0700

Hi, Ann, you probably know that samurai culture, although involving the use
of politeness to one's social equals or superiors, never felt the need to be
polite to one's social inferiors. However, that being said, since one speaks
obliquely and not directly, there must be subtle methods to hint of one's
true feelings for another person. You must be polite to the gai-jin while
secretly thinking he or she is a barbarian compared to you, and after the
fool is under the impression you like him/her when you'd rather not have
anything to do with him/her. To top it off, he/she can't read that you
despise him/her, ergo, gai-jin are foolish. I'm thinking that there may be a
down side to this politeness if one dare not allow oneself to feel or even
acknowledge or express one's true emotions. I'm sure you've heard of people
who are repressed. Mind you, I don't have answers for this, I'm just playing
devil's advocate to some degree. I think I would agree with you but with
qualifications. Maybe I'm betwixt and between on the subject of politeness.
This is a rather fun topic to hash out, and it is getting off topic for the
list, so Ann, if you wish to email me off list, who knows what discussions
we could get up to. Do let me know. Regards, Kim. 

-----Original Message-----
From: bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Ann Parsons
Sent: Wednesday, July 15, 2009 4:56 AM
To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: OK, gang, got a weird one!

Hi all,

I suppose I should take this off list, but the subject of words and how they
are used fascinates me, and well, I'm just continuing this thread.

No, Kim, I didn't get a degree in anthropology, though I think I took one or
two courses back when I was in college.  I've had a long-standing interest
in the subject, read Mead and so on.  I've always been interested in
different peoples and how they view the world.  I guess I've just picked up
a fair amount of anthropological facts as I've been passing through.  

I agree that I'd prefer people to actually like me, but I think there is
something to be said for the Japanese strict code of courtesy in addressing
other people.  It can avoid problems.  <smiling>  If I don't like a person,
I will tend to either ignore them or be extremely polite, overly polite.

Ann P.

--
AAnn K. Parsons
Portal Tutoring
Email:  akp@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Web Site:  http://www.portaltutoring.info
blog:  http://www.samobile.net/users/akp
Skype:  Putertutor

"All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost."  JRRT

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