Lol. Yeah.
I read that article, the latter portion was the most interesting.
It seems that in both cases the situation for us westerners is sort of vague. In either case, some people will love your attitude, others will hate it.
I myself, found myself (in America, my homeland) having something appreciated by someone "oh that's wonderful, how'd you do it?? etc., and it not measuring up to my ultimate goals I'd say I think it's rather crap, and their tune would change... "well I guess you're right". And they'd stop telling all their friends to take a look. But if I took something that I later decided was crap, and said "Hey, check this awesome thing out that I did!" they'd totally be on board even if it wasn't the kind of thing they'd normally like.
To me, the necessity for self inflation in this country symbolizes the overall lack of dedication to understanding and wishy washy opinions of a great deal of the country. Restaurants I can't even eat at they're so bad are touted as "the shit" cause they've got the right image or promotion, and others looked at AS shit because no one would even bother to try them, are 5 times better for half the cash.
I supppose this is the fault of modern pop culture and the death of the craftsman, the understanding of true quality in all realms is being lost to the power of media, brainwashing, and popular opinion. (trends).
Also, the loss of hands on experience with the world in general leaves us knowing only the side of the consumer with little understanding of what goes into making things. It only follows that one wouldn't understand the product.
The thing that I think defines the difference between Japanese and Western (American anyway) method, is that Japan is based on pre-existing systems that one is meant to learn to become a better individual (if in no other way, just in the assumption that one would want to learn from a master), whereas the epitome of ideal American thought is based in exploration and the forming of ones own opion on the matter. Total unfettered self accomplishment is the ultimate in pure original creation.
This probably makes us much better candidates for stumbling across new ideas, like an open petrie dish, but like the hundredth monkey writing Shakspear, it leaves the rest of the monkeys with a whole lotta gibberish spewing out all over the page and the world has to sort it out.
Living amongst such rubbish, having the word of the media preached at you on a daily basis, it's no wonder our empty headed youth are a hodgepodge and rarely sent in a direction that will acheive anything great, let alone understand what greatness is!
As a result, I'd have to say America's opinion/understanding is not very reliable.... Sometimes it's bloody awful... and sometimes it's incredible.
In the end, I guess the goal for anyone who wants to be understood is to learn how to mean what you say no matter who you're speaking with, recognizing that even in english, conversations may be had in several differend languages of understanding.
It must be hard then, to have one's words published, not knowing who's perception is contorting them into what view of you and their meaning.
hence I prefer not to speak at all, but if I do, I do so long windedly in an attempt at not being misunderstood! (which usually goes awry)
You seem to get alot of Broadcast play with your words, do you try to find the right words for your audience, or assume that the right audience will find your words?
Anyway the conundrum lies in diversity, and I guess that in that we must sacrifice unity and settle on elitism to satisfy the needs of those who wish to understand and be understood.
Hmmm, I seem to be rambling now, and who'd want to read such a tangent of rather crap words, though half brilliant if I may say so myself. lol. ;P
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