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People love their objects in Japan.
8 years ago
I found this on youtube a few days ago. It's a short 20 minute documentary about Japanese people and how normal it is over there to believe objects are sentient, mostly robots in the case of this video. Since one of their top religions is Buddism, and it teaches that everything has a soul, I'm sure that's a major influence. Honestly it's just funny how much culture can change how people think. Of course the youtube comments from Western culture are the regular toxic comments you'd expect. But in this videos case it's people criticizing a whole race of people so it's not quite as annoying as seeing a bunch of youtube commenters absolutely destroying some poor individual mechiphile who's been made into a freakshow by some exploitative tv show.
Honestly it's funny the self-righteous attitude people get when they find out some people rather love objects. Most of them instantly label it as sad or pathetic, something to be pitied. I've recently been getting a real deep feeling that traditional human/human oriented people feel must feel somehow threatened by the idea that some people don't care about being with someone that's not human. I don't know weather or not it's the fact that it's a human with something that's not human, or if its the fact that such a relationship can't be reproductive. Because that's definitely a troll comment I see a lot "lol at least they wont be having fucked up kids lol" makes me think it's our biological urge to propagate our species that makes people have this kind of animal aggression towards the idea. Even though at this point with how dangerously overpopulated the planet is, having kids right now is more irresponsible and selfish then anything.
You guys have any thoughts on this? Honestly I think if Western culture could learn to be a little bit more like the Japaneses in this regard, the world would be a little better of a place. Would honestly like to know how families over in Japan feel about their cars over there. Because I've got a feeling they're treated as family over there too and when they pass it's actually treated with reverence. I saw another video a long ways back about how Japanese people hold annual events where old toys are ceremoniously put to rest. It's supposed to keep the toys from coming back as angry spirits for being abandoned.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzzDLujpat4
Honestly it's funny the self-righteous attitude people get when they find out some people rather love objects. Most of them instantly label it as sad or pathetic, something to be pitied. I've recently been getting a real deep feeling that traditional human/human oriented people feel must feel somehow threatened by the idea that some people don't care about being with someone that's not human. I don't know weather or not it's the fact that it's a human with something that's not human, or if its the fact that such a relationship can't be reproductive. Because that's definitely a troll comment I see a lot "lol at least they wont be having fucked up kids lol" makes me think it's our biological urge to propagate our species that makes people have this kind of animal aggression towards the idea. Even though at this point with how dangerously overpopulated the planet is, having kids right now is more irresponsible and selfish then anything.
You guys have any thoughts on this? Honestly I think if Western culture could learn to be a little bit more like the Japaneses in this regard, the world would be a little better of a place. Would honestly like to know how families over in Japan feel about their cars over there. Because I've got a feeling they're treated as family over there too and when they pass it's actually treated with reverence. I saw another video a long ways back about how Japanese people hold annual events where old toys are ceremoniously put to rest. It's supposed to keep the toys from coming back as angry spirits for being abandoned.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzzDLujpat4
what could be the difference then between human and robot? one is alive, other is mechanical - but both can behave nearly identical (well, to some degree). then imagine the robot would be made specifically to be your companion/lover - lover, that wouldnt cheat on you, never betrayed you: perfect
like who didnt experienced close-friend betrayal, right? that huge feeling of letdown, never wishing to experience again - now imagine it could be possible: who wouldnt want be with this?
(i know this may be off topic, but i though about it like this :D)
Interesting choice of words in that comparison though. "One is alive, other is mechanical" I know English isn't your first language so I don't want to read too much into how you say things. But it's just interesting, like you can either be mechanical, or you can be alive. It's funny how little people will accept that they too are mechanical. Not mechanical with bolts, wires, and steel. But with tendons, veins, and cells. To me we're just as much robots as robots are, just made out of different materials and of course.. more advanced. For now.
For me it was my toy collection and plushies. imagining my transformers coming to life
Various suits are another thing. They're perhaps only innately inanimate, but of course they become much more when occupied by a person. In most cases, I'm attracted to suits like fursuits. I see them as being a sort of separate entity in their own right, but lacking the necessary "life force" with which they would come alive. Then when someone dons the suit, I see it sort of like the suit is borrowing the wearer's life force, their animation and passing it of as that of the suit itself.
I also just generally find realistic androids creepy. And I'm not alone in that regard. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEikGKDVsCc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYQnjbe5FT0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PTLxfIgyBs
But when you SEE the kind of cars there? Jeez, it's unbelievable. We'd assume that the kind of cars there would just be the majority of imports we're use to like Mazdas, Toyotas, Hondas, etc, but the country literally thrives on Kei cars, which are basically super chibi-fied vehicles. You almost feel like you're in a different world when you see the cars out there.
... but! Back on the main topic at hand. You're right in that Japan shows a great deal of respect and appreciation for the things they have in their every day lives. You mentioned something about a toy cemetery in the comments up there and actually, there was something similar to that that was done for the Sony Aibo line, which was a product line of robot dogs. Apparently Sony discontinued making parts for them as well as manufacturing the toy line and, realizing that broken Aibos could no longer be repaired, there was a service done to give the robot dogs proper funerals of sorts. The link to the article is here: http://www.newsweek.com/japans-robo.....ks-away-312192
And in terms of how japanese families feel about their cars? I can't say for sure if their passion would be stronger than ours. I don't think I've ever heard of any stories where a whole japanese family felt passionate for their cars. But what I CAN say is that they treat their vehicles with respect. If a car needs maintenance, they don't half ass the job; They make sure everything is done to the fullest the right way. I think it's this particular feature that defines the biggest difference between the average japanese car owner and the average american car owner.
Anyway, sorry for that long rant. If you have any additional questions regarding Japan's culture, let me know!