If Hanako's scars looked like this...

[Jobriq]

Actually, I saw someone long ago, half his face was purple, like a black and blue mark or something. I was much younger then, so I may have been creeped out a bit. However, it wasn't someone I knew at all, just someone I passed by somewhere.

Oh well if they're only half purple it's probably not contagious

[KeiichiO]

Oh well if they're only half purple it's probably not contagious

What the fuck is wrong with you? Seriously.

[Xanatos]

"If there was someone who had purple skin, I'd want to be their friend right away."

I believe that was the thinking behind Barney the Dinosaur.

I'd check to see that they're not a zombie before befriending a purple-skinned person.

Zombies wouldn't be purple...

[Hisao&Hanako<3]

I know this is a bit off topic slightly, but this cosplay image comes to mind. I can imagine Hanako looking somewhat like this. She's pretty cute actually.

[pandaphil]

I know this is a bit off topic slightly, but this cosplay image comes to mind. I can imagine Hanako looking somewhat like this. She's pretty cute actually.
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m78ej ... o1_500.jpg

She is pretty, but I think her scars are way too crusty looking. Pink and pruplish makeup would have worked a lot better than any kind of latex appliance.

[Hisao&Hanako<3]

Well, no matter how the scars would really look, I'd be sure to give lots of lovin' to a girl like Hanako. She's not a real person, but I don't mind that. I know there's at least a few girls in the world like her. Preferably in Japan. I'd love to be there.

[Xanatos]

Well, no matter how the scars would really look, I'd be sure to give lots of lovin' to a girl like Hanako. She's not a real person, but I don't mind that. I know there's at least a few girls in the world like her. Preferably in Japan. I'd love to be there.

Are you sure about that? Japan's uptight as hell.

[pandaphil]

Are you sure about that? Japan's uptight as hell.

Thats certainly what I've heard. Its all about conformity and fitting in. Seems rather dull actually.

I guess that's why so much emotion gets poured into the arts, as a release mechanism.

As compared to America where ours are rather dull by comparison since we tend to express our drama in real life.

[Hisao&Hanako<3]

I don't care how uptight they are, I'm the kind of person that does anything but fit in. If I stick out like a sore thumb, who cares. I'll be smiling and laughing all the way, in my usual cheerful manner.

Well, PWI servers are back up. Time to kick some more ass.

[Xanatos]

Are you sure about that? Japan's uptight as hell.

Thats certainly what I've heard. Its all about conformity and fitting in. Seems rather dull actually.

I guess that's why so much emotion gets poured into the arts, as a release mechanism.

As compared to America where ours are rather dull by comparison since we tend to express our drama in real life.

Yeah, some places would be cool to visit but living there...Gah. No thanks. They don't take well to foreigners either.

[Guest Poster]

I don't care how uptight they are, I'm the kind of person that does anything but fit in. If I stick out like a sore thumb, who cares.

Everybody around you, most likely. The conforming-thing is pretty big there, apparantly. Most of them will be too polite to walk up and voice their disagreement, but why would you want to live in a place where people'd prefer not to associate with you because you attract too much attention. That said, smiling is good. Especially if you can also do it while you're secretly feeling miserable.

Yeah, some places would be cool to visit but living there...Gah. No thanks.

Kind of this for me. Especially the fact that communicating in Japanese society involves ignoring someone's literal words and having to read between the lines in order to determine what they really want to say would quickly drive me crazy. There'd be no end of miscommunications.

They don't take well to foreigners either.

Most of them aren't blatantly racist anymore and will actually greatly respect a foreigner who speaks the language and knows the culture a bit...but trying to BECOME a Japanese might still be a problem. You'd probably still be a foreigner to them for the rest of your life, no matter how well you speak Japanese.

[Xanatos]

but trying to BECOME a Japanese might still be a problem. You'd probably still be a foreigner to them for the rest of your life, no matter how well you speak Japanese.

Yes, this is what I meant. But then "I do the exact opposite of what their culture demands but who cares?" has to be an irritating mindset for them to put up with so maybe they're justified if that's a common issue.

And bleh, I'm very literal-minded. I can do read-between-the-lines stuff but I'd rather it not be necessary for communication. Damn Japanese, just say what you mean like normal 'Murican people!

[RichieBerry]

Are you sure about that? Japan's uptight as hell.

Thats certainly what I've heard. Its all about conformity and fitting in. Seems rather dull actually.

To an extent, yeah, but also, not really. It's kind of complicated. It's sort of... the Japanese are hyper polite and reserved most of the time, but when they let their hair down, they can be just as wild and not uptight as Americans or Europeans (or more). At least, that's how it seems from what I've seen and read.

As an example, I once went to the ramen place in this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztT8wFqpxWk (starting at about 1:20, also the sound's out of wack a bit). While I'd read it was in the "nightlife" district, the area was very nice and clean, just with a lot of neon, and it seemed like a perfectly normal mom-and-pop restaurant, except for one thing. Do you see those things that look kind of like enormous salt shakers in the video (the best view is in the very last shot, they're purplish and about the size of a Quaker Oats can)? It has an ad for a strip club on it, judging by the state of undress of the young lady prominently featured.

If you were to pick the time and place carefully, I think most of the crazy fantasy endings people come up with could be possible, up to, and perhaps including the harem ending.

[pandaphil]

One of my best friends is pretty high up at Microsofts XBox programming team and used to take regular business trips to Japan. He spoke the language, did his homework about the culture, and used to go out drinking with his associates after work. They actually treated him quite well, and he became "One of the guys". Of course, the fact that they were all gaming nerds in the first place probably helped.

But really, just like anywhere else, if you respect the customs and avoid acting like the typical 'ugly American' you should be fine.

A nice place to visit, but...

[Hisao&Hanako<3]

Even with my super excited online persona, I'm actually a bit more withdrawn and shy around people I don't know in real life. I'd probably just chill and try to fit in a bit, though my appearance makes that impossible. Plus, I'd be on a secret mission and that would put a smile on my face that no one could figure out. Yes, speaking the language would be great, I wish I had found the motivation to study, but there are other factors... long story.

But in any case, I'm anything but the typical American.