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News & ArtsThursday, April 30, 2009
Transportation / Science Re: A Bus Tale
Posted by Bethany Jean Clement on Thu, Apr 30, 2009 at 10:45 AM
E.C.B., did you wear your mask on the bus this morning? And can anyone clarify all the mask controversy in comments on that same post yesterday? IS THERE A DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE?
1
Here's a handy FAQ from BoingBoing. Question #2 talks about masks:
http://www.boingboing.net/2009/04/28/swi…
http://www.boingboing.net/2009/04/28/swi…
4
Now that I've seen the picture, no. She stole them from a trick from one of the many construction sites downtown. Or maybe it was the payment.
5
@2 And therein lies the difference between Japanese culture and American culture.
The Japanese ask "How can I prevent the spread of this disease to others?"
The Americans ask "How can I avoid getting this disease?"
The Japanese ask "How can I prevent the spread of this disease to others?"
The Americans ask "How can I avoid getting this disease?"
6
@5
It's not quite that simple. You'd get a lot of bad looks and comments and generally poor treatment in Japan if you were walking around sneezing and sniffingly and weren't wearing a mask. In America, people go around acting like vicious assholes all the time, so there cannot be a built-in societal mechanism to promote good behavior and discourage bad behavior
It's not quite that simple. You'd get a lot of bad looks and comments and generally poor treatment in Japan if you were walking around sneezing and sniffingly and weren't wearing a mask. In America, people go around acting like vicious assholes all the time, so there cannot be a built-in societal mechanism to promote good behavior and discourage bad behavior
7
@6 Andrew, I totally hear you, man. I lived in Japan for two years.
The first time I saw someone wearing a flu mask, I was confused.
The idea of donning such a mask to SELFLESSLY protect others, rather than SELFISHLY protecting oneself... well, that's just plain un-American.
In a time like this, the Japanese have a serious set of customs, manners, and traditional courtesies to rely upon.
Americans, on the other hand, fall back on individualism, selfishness, and fear.
In a urban epidemic, Japan for the win.
The first time I saw someone wearing a flu mask, I was confused.
The idea of donning such a mask to SELFLESSLY protect others, rather than SELFISHLY protecting oneself... well, that's just plain un-American.
In a time like this, the Japanese have a serious set of customs, manners, and traditional courtesies to rely upon.
Americans, on the other hand, fall back on individualism, selfishness, and fear.
In a urban epidemic, Japan for the win.
8
I hope we are not going to be inundated with awkward 'Doctor' jokes, because they just highlight the difference between a real doctor and a PhD.
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