CHAT: Them Far'ners (was Re: Words)

DOUGLAS KOLLER wrote:

> <Side bar> That said, I don't see anyone demonstrating, boycotting, or
> rioting over "Big Brother" or "Jerry Springer". In a democracy (and Japan is
> a democracy), you have the right to make a complete boob of yourself. No one
> physically compelled those foreigners to oink, waddle, or strut; they did it
> of their own volition. Their reasons are their own -- cash? TV exposure?
> What I find disturbing is that they willingly hit the air waves to
> perpetuate stereotypes of foreigners which I find repugnant. But I imagine
> this sort of thing has been going on since the beginning of time.</side bar>
Two summers ago, I had the pleasure of hosting a French exchange student,
in a manner of speaking.  He had come over as part of a group and stayed
in my room with me, and trying to be nice, I tried to show him around town
and such (you know, the normal stuff you do for guests).   I was shocked,
when he got annoyed and snooty at me for watching _The Simpsons_ one
day.  I asked him what was wrong, and he said something to the effect that
why should I watch that when I can see it all the time around me? Don't I get
that it's making fun of Americans? Duh, of course it is -- it's a satire of American
society.  He had apparently thought that they were in fact entirely true.

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Tom Wier   |     "Cogito ergo sum, sed credo ergo ero."
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