There seems to be no looting in Japan

[bbinacan]

That's refreshing news.

edit to add: Good grief, all I wanted to say is that Japan doesn't have the added problem of looting and I'm impressed by the way they have pulled together. JEESH, nothing nefarious was intended.

second edit to add: This post was not about Katrina or any other particular disaster. It's about disasters in general.

third edit to add: I guess I should have said "That's good news".

[PeaceNikki]

1. Who cares? If people need food/water/first aid, I hope they get it however they can.

It's not "looting" if there's a national disaster, shops are unattended and people are in need.

[madokie]

2. Correct

[PeaceNikki]

3. If they need it, I hope they take it, ffs.

This obsession with whether they are "looting" is weird.

[otohara]

29. Obsession?

that's a stretch.

The Japanese are too polite and honest, there won't be any looting.

[bbinacan]

Food/water/first aid

I understand. TV's I don't.

[PeaceNikki]

11. I could give a shit. If you're hit with a Katrina or an earthquake of this magnitude, I won't check

the contents of your cart - take it, you've been fucked and deserve whatever the fuck you can get,

[pickle juice]

34. Uh oh...now you've done it.

:scared:

[Ikonoklast]

113. So have you. Congratulations, you're a winner!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=user_profiles&u_id=268513

[jenmito]

94. This post belies your OP where you said:

"second edit to add: This post was not about Katrina or any other particular disaster. It's about disasters in general."

[jannyk]

6. +1000

[HuckleB]

14. +1

[pokerfan]

104. There's "looting" and then there's "finding"

It's a small distinction apparently.

[NYC_SKP]

109. Looting vs Finding? The difference is as clear as Night and Day...

Or Black and White...

x(

[pokerfan]

110. Yep

:puke:

[Mimosa]

4. Why would you care?

All most of us care about is the health and safety of the survivors. And we care about their grief. Their losses.

Why would you even post this? Sounds like a freeper type 'concern'.

[northoftheborder]

8. That is an indication of a fully integrated society which cares for all elements of that society.

[bbinacan]

19. Yep. n/t

[fittosurvive]

101. A fully integrated society that was achieved by means of a monolithic culture.

[bbinacan]

30. I'll note your concern of the concern. n/t

[Hannah Bell]

5. yes, "refreshing". unrec.

[bbinacan]

23. What's your problem?

I made an observation that I think is a positive given the dire straits in Japan.

[PeaceNikki]

42. Why would you sit in judgement and consider it "negative" if they were?

THAT's where some of us are coming from. Who the fuck are you to judge what people take from where in these situations?

[ret5hd]

7. i am glad you are refreshed.

tell us, to what do you attribute this situation?

[bbinacan]

12. I have no idea

and am just glad that it's not happening...so far.

[ret5hd]

18. hmmm...coulda swore i heard a dogwhistle.

[Mimosa]

20. You don't know

because Japanese reporters may not have an 'agenda' to report such non-important stuff in order to stir up animosity. They live in a mono-cultural society. They are smart enough to know that people have to take food , water and clothing to survive? Duh.

[JI7]

9. with everything that is going on, you consider that to be refreshing news ?

[KittyWampus]

10. Friends visiting their brother who teaches in Japan. At the local ballpark they leave their wallet

on the seat to hold their spot.

Money dropped on the ground tends to stay there as most Japanese would feel an obligation to find its owner.

[bbinacan]

15. Very different than

most of the world.

[ret5hd]

25. there's that dang dogwhistle again. wish i could figure out where it's coming from.

[KittyWampus]

32. Actually, in this regard it's absolutely a cultural difference.

[bbinacan]

38. What is this dog whistle

you speak of?

[Balbus]

111. They're calling the OP a racist.

"Dog Whistle" is a reference to coded language in order to mean one thing to a large, general group of people but has a different meaning to a more specific group of people. In this instance, the poster you replied to is claiming the OP is targeting Black people by pointing out that the Asians are not looting.

[fascisthunter]

43. yup

[Lucinda]

13. Yawp. I've noticed as well.

It's wonderful. And they are as prepared as anyone could have been for this, which imo, helps.

[alp227]

16. Got a dog whistle? naw just kidding.

but i guess there are cultural factors...but let's not dig into Freeper-level Hurricane Katrina looting in New Orleans rhetoric...you know what I'm thinking. ;-)

[Mimosa]

27. This ex-NOLA person heard that whistle.

I'll have to remember from where it came, iykwim, Alp227. ;)

[NOLALady]

100. Yep.

This NOLA person heard it also.

[leftstreet]

17. "Refreshing?"

:eyes:

unRec

[PeaceNikki]

21. Yeah, it's almost as if it's ok to sit in judgement of people in these dire situations.

What... refreshing compared to how Katrina victims "behaved"?

Ug, this is dumb.

[leftstreet]

33. I find your response refreshing, little prole person

:puke:

:hi:

It's such a slam toward Katrina victims

Did I :puke: enough?

[PeaceNikki]

35. That's exactly how I am reading these discussions. It's like... see, Katrina victims... you should

be civilized.

:puke: indeed.

[bbinacan]

51. I WAS NOT SLAMMING

Katrina victims. Good grief.

[PeaceNikki]

57. The opposite of "positive" is "negative". Hence, you look upon "looters" in the face of unimaginable

tragedy with contempt and consider it an "added problem".

So... yes, you were.

[leftstreet]

65. Who were you slamming? Why was it "refreshing?"

Which people tend to loot so often that you found this non-looting so remarkable?

[uppityperson]

71. There were some looting in ND after tornado in '54 (reported by my parents)

Unfortunately it happens in many disasters, there are some looking to not survive but to take advantage of others. It happened in San Fransisco after the 1906 quake. Like scammers afterwards, there are unscrupulous people.

[bbinacan]

45. Not Katrina but most

any disaster we've seen worldwide.

[jannyk]

22. This was on the news?

10,000 missing from one tiny town - several nearby towns in the same boat.
A Nuclear Crisis
An 8.9 Earthquake and the resulting damage from it alone
A First World country in crisis - water, sewage, food supply, power, transport, banking, shipping, manufacturing - all in disarray

and they choose to focus on 'looting'???????

[bbinacan]

56. Or I could focus on Madison. n/t

[myrna minx]

24. is that a dog whistle I hear?

:eyes: As opposed to what?

[Jackpine Radical]

31. You have really good hearing, Myrna.

But then my old, blown-out ears seem to have picked up the same note.

[myrna minx]

36. Some people "find things" vs other people "loot".

I wonder which is more "refreshing".

[bbinacan]

40. Is that you JJ?

;)

[Bluebear]

134. !

[Jackpine Radical]

26. Yeah. The Japanese emergency response system was so efficient

nobody needed to "loot" to get diapers or food for their baby.

[JVS]

39. I'm wondering how much of it has to do with norms of the reporters.

I haven't seen much by Western media other than passing along reporting from Japanese sources. And I'm pretty sure that the Japanese media would rather eat dogshit than show that the emergency response efforts have lacked anything and that people might have had to resort to scrounging up what they can find.

[Kuroneko]

58. You're wrong NT

[JVS]

81. No. You are! NT

[Kuroneko]

91. Well I expected this answer but...

I probably know the Japanese media more than you and I'm sure that they have no problem to criticize the Japanese government.
As a matter of fact, they have done it in concern with the nuclear emergency. And they really helped as we're now getting more serious information than before.

[JVS]

93. But are you familiar with the american media?

Because the American media loves to make citizens look bad. We have many TV shows based on it.

[Kuroneko]

98. Not really.

And as I said in another thread, there is no looting because people doesn't need it. It's more about the country response to an emergency that about people.

[Jackpine Radical]

106. Yes, I believe that's true.

America gives the appearance of having drifted very far from its root values, which have always involved people helping each other when help is needed. Too many of us are self-centered and apparently incapable of empathy for other people. The moneyed interests promote the doctrine that people are responsible to take care of themselves so that the rich can avoid their social responsibilities. I believe most Americans are still decent and caring people, but our media, which are the tools of the corporations, are intent on turning us against each other in order to distract us from the fact that they are looting our society.

[hay rick]

28. This just in from Fox News.

Unrec.

[Dappleganger]

37. Let's hope that you're never, ever in a disaster.

Because heaven forbid you should ever get that "not-so-fresh-feeling."

:eyes:

[Mimosa]

48. Really.

Imagine going into a drugstore and stealing toilet paper, tampons, sodas, snacks because you can't drink the water, your house is blown away or flooded and not a cashier is in sight! What a crime!

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

41. What's to loot?

Everything is washed away.......... :shrug:

[godai]

85. Every store in downtown Sendai?

Not everything is washed away.

[MikeW]

44. it goes beyond looting

On the news the Japanese were waiting patiently in a long line to use (1) pay-phone on the street, I guess cell is still out.

Here in the US, you'd have people shooting eachother to use the phone.

And no im not making a specific comment to any particular disaster,

Im speaking in GENERAL of the caliber of people that live in the US.

[godai]

86. Great comment, especially about shooting. n/t

[PeaceNikki]

46. On your edit: so you would have looked at them with contempt if they were "taking things"?

Really?

[fascisthunter]

50. I'd love to see this poster in a situation like this

so easy to judge when you aren't the one in a disaster.

[PeaceNikki]

52. UGGG, it's disgusting.

x(

[bbinacan]

117. so easy to judge when you aren't the one in a disaster

Yes it is. How would you react? Would you go "Lord of the Flies" (my guess) or would you help your fellow man? Don't answer, I know. Jackwaggon.

[Mimosa]

54. Oh, so they edited out something?

When I edit it's to correct my spelling. Or add a link, not take away what I posted.

[bbinacan]

68. I edited to add, not take away. n/t

[bbinacan]

78. Nope. n/t

[fascisthunter]

47. and if they did loot, who gives a fuck

when there is a disaster, I thinking looting is the last thing I'd care about.

"Good little people... they behave so well during a tragedy, why can't folks in New Orleans do the same?" - asshole

[uppityperson]

74. Every reference to looting doesn't come back to Katrina. Yes, the media coverage there was

awful. But there have generally always been looters after disasters, always a few assholes. 1906 San Fransisco quake had looters. Fargo 1954 tornado had looters. 2 instances I know of that aren't Katrina. I understand the touchiness of "looters=slam on NOLA" but it doesn't always mean that.

[PeaceNikki]

80. If this were a localized flood, or tornado, I'd buy that.

But in a tragedy of this magnitude, I consider ALL bets off and refuse to sit in judgement of people who are fighting to survive. Katrina is the closest recent event that we can compare to - which is why we're making the association.

[uppityperson]

83. 1906 San Fransisco quake. I know why the association is made, but it happens in other

disasters also.

[northoftheborder]

49. I don't understand peoples' reactions here. i understand you meant

this to be a positive thing. It is certainly unusual in this type of desperate situation. But apparently they trust the Japanese government to take the proper steps to help people, and their expectations are being met. Doing the best they can. Now that's rare.

[bbinacan]

61. Thank you

for adding some reason here. My god, I never thought I'd see this kind of vitriol for a simple observation.

[MichiganVote]

69. It happens sometimes.

I didn't infer anything from your post either but oh well, people are people after all.Just ask the mods to pull the plug on the thread.

[bbinacan]

92. I thought about asking that

the thread be pulled, but decided against it. There are just times that people's stupidity must be left out there. Mine included. I should have chosen better words.

[MichiganVote]

107. Nah, you're ok. Not to worry.

[Mimosa]

120. Good for you.

Sometimes we all make mistakes. I'm trusting yours was not ill intentioned. :) Just think and put yourself in the situation of chaos, broken systems, no electricity, no safe drinking water. Now imagine you're a woman with hungry children having your period. And you need sanitary supplies, paper goods, wipes, food crackers, something clean to drink....

You'll understand that photo of the black old guy with the tub of BEERS wading through Katrina flood waters. Beer is liquid bread, full of B vitamins. Do you know the FDA has forbidden brewers to list nutrients on beer labels? (They had actually asked to be allowed to put nutrient content on beer labels.) If people could read what's in beer they'd know 'Guinness is REALLY good for you'. It's liquid bread.

BTW I don't even drink beer! But in a disaster, you bet I would. It doesn't get moldy like bread. ;)

[uppityperson]

82. Me too. Looting happens after many disasters and I don't see it as a slam on Katrina survivors

Whether media covers it nastily or not at all, still it happens. Could be a cultural thing here, or else media doesn't care to show anything, to focus on this.

[meow mix]

unrec. i hate these disgusting threads

[bbinacan]

119. I agree. n/t

[MichiganVote]

53. Hard to know what's happening other than pic's of the floods

There are probably aide stations scattered about. But in some places doesn't look like there's much left to loot.

[marmar]

55. Who gives a crap about some material bullshit when people are dying.......

..... and there's a potential nuclear catastrophe in the offing?

Talk about meaningless bullshit.

[PeaceNikki]

59. No shit. I would RATHER they "loot" as opposed to suffer any more.

Jesus fucking Christ.

[HuckleB]

60. On edit: The point is that there is no legitimate point in bringing up looting.

That is, unless you are providing for the local people in your area.

[bbinacan]

66. The point is

that I can bring up a point if I want to. You the thought police? If you have an issue, PM me.

[HuckleB]

77. You can bring up whatever you want to bring up.

Funny thing, and I can point out the ludicrous nature of what you bring up, if I need to do so.

Ho ho hooooooo... :rofl:

[bbinacan]

87. Is that you Santa?

:toast:

[Rex]

62. People are at an all time high stress level around here and are cracking

to the pressure. I know what you mean, it is REFRESHING to see a society not bent on looting and pillaging. Excuse the others, they need sleep.

[PeaceNikki]

63. Patronize much?

Fuck that.

[Rex]

70. Bullshit.

You can cry me a river about what you THINK he meant, obviously you are wrong and won't admit he said SOMETHING NICE. People around here are losing it.

[PeaceNikki]

75. lolz, if that were true, it could have been written in the context of:

"I am glad that people are taking care of one another so that they aren't left to fend for themselves".

It wasn't.

[ohheckyeah]

128. It could have, but it wasn't.

The OP isn't you so doesn't necessarily saying things just the way you would. Pretty simple concept.

[bbinacan]

95. Thanks! n/t

[bbinacan]

73. Thanks! n/t

[Rex]

79. It is nice to see civil people acting civil during uncivil times.

This 'you have no idea' bullshit people are throwing at you is what is out of context.

[godai]

89. So many people defending looting...totally strange. n/t

[bbinacan]

90. Very. n/t

[ZombieHorde]

108. Looting is awesome. I just wish people didn't need natural disasters for an excuse.

1000 people boycotting a business would probably go unnoticed. 1000 people looting a business would definitely be noticed.

The majority of DUers seem fine with stealing songs from artists they love, why not steal stuff from people they hate?

[uppityperson]

64. I was in a tornado in '54, had police out to stop looting. It seems to happen too often

in places. I'm not sure if the difference is cultural or that places are so trashed that people are trying to survive, or no news coverage or what. There will always be people pulling together and helping each other, and always an asshole or 2.

[rubberducky]

67. Katrina "looters" were left on thier own for days with NO HELP.

Please pay attention to how the Japanese are handling this and PLEASE remember how Bush left an American city to die. The inference in the OP is obvious. Days and days went by with NO HELP during Katrina. We all watched , we all saw the "looting" of the necessary items to survive. Were other things taken? Precisely, where were these "looters" going with a big screen TV? When I see the difference inhow Japan is coping compared to how Katrina was handled it just breaks my heart. So, please don`t talk about "looters", when WE had a city trying to just survive.

[bbinacan]

72. My OP has NOTHING to do with Katrina

It was a general observation about looting after a disaster.

[DainBramaged]

76. Here comes a hornet's nest, no guns, no criminals.....

[godai]

84. Seems like you struck a nerve.

Looting is pretty much unknown and unthinkable in Japan. Their patience waiting, lining up etc. is impressive. They just commemorated the firebombing of Tokyo in 1945 (100,000 killed), so they're somewhat used to hard times.

[Kookaburra]

88. Possibly no looting because

there was nothing to loot -- everything destroyed by quake or tsunami?

I don't know because I can't bear to watch the news coverage, but would think that's a possibility.

[Recovered Repug]

97. From the pictures posted (satellite images),

I'd say that is one of the biggest factors. Much of what was there seems to have been swept inland or back out to sea. There isn't much left to salvage.

[Balbus]

96. I, also, find it refreshing. And admirable.

[bbinacan]

99. Thanks. n/t

[Sonoman]

102. Good news for Orthopedic surgeons.

With all of the hysterical knee-jerk reactions you have wrought by posting your OP, there will be plenty of work for them.

Jeebus...

Sonoman

[godai]

103. lol n/t

[bbinacan]

105. I wonder if I can get a commission

Not only will there be a need for knee surgery, but also for jaw surgery. The knees jerked so hard that it broke some peoples jaws.

[Ter]

112. This surprises you?

Japan is a very, very high-tech, high class society.

[Ikonoklast]

114. No *reports* of looting.

Also, no poor people in Japan, no drunks on the streets, no racism, no xenophobia...none of that ever gets reported, either...but it doesn't mean it doesn't exist in Japan.

When you aren't looking for something, you seldom find it.

[bbinacan]

115. It would seem that you are accusing Japan

of racism, xenophobia, and lying about, well, everything you allege. Where does your hatred come from?

[Name removed]

116. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[bbinacan]

118. I like cats! n/t

[Mimosa]

121. I wubs the kittehs!

BB just in case you miss this upthread i'm posting it again. ;)

Sometimes we all make mistakes. I'm trusting yours was not ill intentioned. :) Just think and put yourself in the situation of chaos, broken systems, no electricity, no safe drinking water. Now imagine you're a woman with hungry children having your period. And you need sanitary supplies, paper goods, wipes, food crackers, something clean to drink....

You'll understand that photo of the black old guy with the tub of BEERS wading through Katrina flood waters. Beer is liquid bread, full of B vitamins. Do you know the FDA has forbidden brewers to list nutrients on beer labels? (They had actually asked to be allowed to put nutrient content on beer labels.) If people could read what's in beer they'd know 'Guinness is REALLY good for you'. It's liquid bread.

BTW I don't even drink beer! But in a disaster, you bet I would. It doesn't get moldy like bread. ;)

[bbinacan]

123. No comparison to Katrina

was intended. I have to agree, in an emergency situation, I'd stock up on beer!

[TriMera]

124. If I were you

I'd have one now. Rough crowd tonight.:toast:

[bbinacan]

125. Good idea

A beer and to bed. And to wonder why so many got pissed off for no reason. Thanks.:toast:

[BlueCheese]

122. I understood what you meant.

Looting seems to occur almost any time there's a breakdown in order. I certainly don't associate looting particularly with New Orleans, and I don't think it's fair to accuse the OP of making that comparison. I've heard of opportunistic looting during blackouts, during riots, during war, etc. (And I don't mean food and water or other necessities.) That there doesn't seem to be much of it in Japan is indeed good news.

[slackmaster]

126. bbinacan, I'm sorry your thread turned into such a cluster operation, but it's typical on DU.

No matter what you say about anything, chances are someone is going to choose the worst conceivable interpretation, attribute motives that are not really yours, and have an inappropriate negative emotional reaction.

Japan is a peaceful, orderly, advanced society. I enjoyed my week-long visit there tremendously, but I wouldn't want to live there.

:kick:

[Name removed]

131. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[PeaceNikki]

132. .

Fuck off

[nadinbrzezinski]

127. There are sevreal reasons for that

1.- The society would not tolerate it. THere is a matter of personal honor and social honor that is mostly alien to the West

2.- The Japanese strike to take care of the we in ways that again, are alien to us.

3.- I suspect that if there was any... it would not be reported, see points one and two

4.- We got a nuclear emergency that is also drawing huge amounts of attention.

[HEyHEY]

130. Yeah, when a reactor is about to blow, I ain't sticking around for free speakers either.

[JCMach1]

129. The 'Orientalism' I have seen in the news broadcasts has been annoying

-The 'stoic' Japanese...
-The military metaphors...

There are cultural differences, but the nation is in shock... simple shock. Remember America just after 911?

[Bluebear]

133. Yes, very "refreshing"

:crazy: