Hi there. I would like to direct you to a post written and presented in The Japan Rants blog.
I put forth a request for interesting stories about Japan via LinkedIn and Twitter, and lo and behold - social effing media works!
The Japan Rants listened and offered me this - and one other story.
I read it, and was immediately impressed by the actions taken by the writer. It shows guts to become involved.
Before I ask you to go and read it, I'll briefly say that involves a man coming to the rescue of a stranger - a Japanese woman on a subway train, and noticing that while everyone else has seen the situation unfold, no one else does anything.
I've stuck my own neck out more than a few times - with a less than ideal conclusion that my fellow writer enjoyed.
For example, 10 years back (more since I was single at the time), I was at a bar in Mississauga, just west of Toronto, called Blue Suede Sue's, what I affectionately called a cougar bar - the place was filled with women in their late 30s on up. I have no idea why i was there at the time. Sure I like that age group now that I am in my 40s... but back then, I liked them younger.
Anyhow, I'm sitting at the bar enjoying a wobbly pop (beer), when I notice a guy trying to chat up a woman nearby. Normally, I'm just jealous of his forwardness, but this time, this drunk fellow is being rather forward and not accepting the woman's polite refusal of further interaction.
Despite being in a crowded bar, I observe people watching, but no one doing anything to help the old broad (she must have been 40) out of her predicament.
So I got involved and walked up to the guy and told him (politely), to give it a rest - he tried, she said no thanks, now be the gentleman you are and move along.
That's when it got ugly, and the guy started yelling and swearing and interjecting a bunch of racial slurs - nothing I haven't heard before.
Now... even though at this time I am probably at my physical peak as a man - the best shape of my life - and being enough of an asshole to not back down from a confrontation - this guy thinks he can take me.
I think a lot of people look at a guy who appears 'Indian' (dot not the feather), and assumes we're a bunch of wimps. Naw... growing up in Canada and facing a lot of racism during the 1970s and 80s, I've been in more fights than most people have ever seen on TV. And... even if I lose, I make sure the other guy knows I'm not afraid, because I'll gladly take two shots to get one in - and I'm strong enough - especially at that point in my life - to make it count.
So... I've just about had enough and I'm about to lay this guy out when all of a sudden the bartender, Lars, nods his head and gives a signal and two huge bouncers come out and grab my would-be combatant and toss his ass out.
I turn to see if the woman is okay, but in typical Toronto fashion, she is long gone. Thankful for the distraction, but not thankful enough to offer me thanks.
The bartender is, however, and shoots me a double rum and Coke.
It certainly wasn't as dramatic as what The Japan Rants writer went through, because he had a far better outcome.
You should all read this blog article HERE, that was posted originally on April 2, 2012.
While it would be easy for me to say - hey, everyone should get involved when someone is in trouble, but I know that excluding Japan, in most other countries helping out will get you involved in a fight - either with fists or a weapon.
That doesn't mean we shouldn't get involved. It means perhaps that while a physical confrontation may not be needed, at least a verbal one may scare off the aggressor.
Of course... what it really means is that rather than sit on your ass, people should find a way to get involved.
That was just one instance for me, and I can think of at least six others. Sucks... but... I still haven't had to physically beat the crap out of anyone in 30 years.
Read The Japan Rants blog. It's well-written, and I think quite thoughtful, though I can figure out if it's written by one person or many. We here at Japan - It's A Wonderful Rife admire that.
And you still got over 750 words from me in this Andrew's-too-lazy-to-write blog.
Cheers
Andrew Joseph
By the way - between Lars the bartender and myself (at that time) we had enough long curly hair to make the Cowardly lion cry in his Purina Cat Chow.
I put forth a request for interesting stories about Japan via LinkedIn and Twitter, and lo and behold - social effing media works!
The Japan Rants listened and offered me this - and one other story.
I read it, and was immediately impressed by the actions taken by the writer. It shows guts to become involved.
Before I ask you to go and read it, I'll briefly say that involves a man coming to the rescue of a stranger - a Japanese woman on a subway train, and noticing that while everyone else has seen the situation unfold, no one else does anything.
I've stuck my own neck out more than a few times - with a less than ideal conclusion that my fellow writer enjoyed.
For example, 10 years back (more since I was single at the time), I was at a bar in Mississauga, just west of Toronto, called Blue Suede Sue's, what I affectionately called a cougar bar - the place was filled with women in their late 30s on up. I have no idea why i was there at the time. Sure I like that age group now that I am in my 40s... but back then, I liked them younger.
Anyhow, I'm sitting at the bar enjoying a wobbly pop (beer), when I notice a guy trying to chat up a woman nearby. Normally, I'm just jealous of his forwardness, but this time, this drunk fellow is being rather forward and not accepting the woman's polite refusal of further interaction.
Despite being in a crowded bar, I observe people watching, but no one doing anything to help the old broad (she must have been 40) out of her predicament.
So I got involved and walked up to the guy and told him (politely), to give it a rest - he tried, she said no thanks, now be the gentleman you are and move along.
That's when it got ugly, and the guy started yelling and swearing and interjecting a bunch of racial slurs - nothing I haven't heard before.
Now... even though at this time I am probably at my physical peak as a man - the best shape of my life - and being enough of an asshole to not back down from a confrontation - this guy thinks he can take me.
I think a lot of people look at a guy who appears 'Indian' (dot not the feather), and assumes we're a bunch of wimps. Naw... growing up in Canada and facing a lot of racism during the 1970s and 80s, I've been in more fights than most people have ever seen on TV. And... even if I lose, I make sure the other guy knows I'm not afraid, because I'll gladly take two shots to get one in - and I'm strong enough - especially at that point in my life - to make it count.
So... I've just about had enough and I'm about to lay this guy out when all of a sudden the bartender, Lars, nods his head and gives a signal and two huge bouncers come out and grab my would-be combatant and toss his ass out.
I turn to see if the woman is okay, but in typical Toronto fashion, she is long gone. Thankful for the distraction, but not thankful enough to offer me thanks.
The bartender is, however, and shoots me a double rum and Coke.
It certainly wasn't as dramatic as what The Japan Rants writer went through, because he had a far better outcome.
You should all read this blog article HERE, that was posted originally on April 2, 2012.
While it would be easy for me to say - hey, everyone should get involved when someone is in trouble, but I know that excluding Japan, in most other countries helping out will get you involved in a fight - either with fists or a weapon.
That doesn't mean we shouldn't get involved. It means perhaps that while a physical confrontation may not be needed, at least a verbal one may scare off the aggressor.
Of course... what it really means is that rather than sit on your ass, people should find a way to get involved.
That was just one instance for me, and I can think of at least six others. Sucks... but... I still haven't had to physically beat the crap out of anyone in 30 years.
Read The Japan Rants blog. It's well-written, and I think quite thoughtful, though I can figure out if it's written by one person or many. We here at Japan - It's A Wonderful Rife admire that.
And you still got over 750 words from me in this Andrew's-too-lazy-to-write blog.
Cheers
Andrew Joseph
By the way - between Lars the bartender and myself (at that time) we had enough long curly hair to make the Cowardly lion cry in his Purina Cat Chow.
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