tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8528686231765021097.post4290216735924828266..comments2023-09-12T16:52:48.733+09:00Comments on Antisthenes' corollary*:: Doing the Japanese' work, because they won't.Ἀντισθένηςhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06199983680204710885noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8528686231765021097.post-23656031750204269362014-04-09T21:36:02.283+09:002014-04-09T21:36:02.283+09:00Yes. You simply have to imagine all the options, ...Yes. You simply have to imagine all the options, as nobody will do it for you. It took my visiting friend three times to stop suggesting I ask someone for directions or information. Me: "Trust me. I can figure this out faster myself, with or without my smart phone. Japanese don't do lateral or heuristic thinking."Ἀντισθένηςhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06199983680204710885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8528686231765021097.post-12947018142562816842014-04-09T16:39:45.268+09:002014-04-09T16:39:45.268+09:00This. Oooh yeah. The best one that happened to me ...This. Oooh yeah. The best one that happened to me was trying to book a last minute train ticket during a busy weekend. I asked about tickets for the 11 am train and was told the reserved seats were all gone, but I could buy unreserved and should line up from around 10 am to ensure I got on. I had literally opened my wallet to pay when it occurred to me to ask if there were any reserved seats free on the 10 am train. Why yes, he said, there are. Would you prefer one of those then?Sopheliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09891110033136610235noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8528686231765021097.post-48800250866929536802014-04-06T22:58:12.802+09:002014-04-06T22:58:12.802+09:00And THAT Is why I don't. One of my best gal p...And THAT Is why I don't. One of my best gal pals is in the industry, I feel for her sometimes with the douche baggery she has to put up with ..... but I would never want to cross her because she controls the liquor.<br /><br />"He who controls the spice, controls the universe." - F. Herbertthegypsiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01019720222734603445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8528686231765021097.post-89724681187464856842014-04-05T19:13:43.901+09:002014-04-05T19:13:43.901+09:00'Don't fuck with the help.' is one of ...'Don't fuck with the help.' is one of my mantras. Not just because I've done those jobs, and not because I am to the left of Che, but because of 'Fight Club'.<br /><br />http://youtu.be/xWVxI6XZAuEἈντισθένηςhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06199983680204710885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8528686231765021097.post-10092725131913291782014-04-05T19:10:58.671+09:002014-04-05T19:10:58.671+09:00I find gold-level customer service in rote-situati...I find gold-level customer service in rote-situations here, no question, apart from the effluvia of polite Japanese. But when I really need help, when anyone does, it is for the stuff off of the official script, and in that case give me a non-Japanese most of the time.Ἀντισθένηςhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06199983680204710885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8528686231765021097.post-951418423253854022014-04-05T19:08:44.512+09:002014-04-05T19:08:44.512+09:00Yes, this! There are people in Japan who speak En...Yes, this! There are people in Japan who speak English in every organization, at a passable level. Hell, I helped a few of them learn it: those I taught in a class, and those horizontally and in a few other positions; as have many of the people commenting here. They are not put at the front desk, and why? Japan.Ἀντισθένηςhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06199983680204710885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8528686231765021097.post-40261164039299158882014-04-05T16:34:15.753+09:002014-04-05T16:34:15.753+09:00This might not make you feel better... or maybe is...This might not make you feel better... or maybe is the reason why gaijin are treated to AWESOMELY? While in Alaska, we were told by several waitstaff... as if we were local about how shitty the tourists are. You think that might have part to play in it? {{Or am I just being delusional and Alaskans are right.... most gaijin are rude travelers?}} Not to sound like an ass but most of the tours we took that specifically stated tips were a way of life, folk.... no matter from what walks of life (I am talkin' the Rodeo Drive woman) people were from they felt tipping was only a city in China. And the service they got reflected it. Recent observations is all....thegypsiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01019720222734603445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8528686231765021097.post-45701300975082823042014-04-01T09:04:38.205+09:002014-04-01T09:04:38.205+09:00For me, this mirrors the same kind of crap custome...For me, this mirrors the same kind of crap customer service you can run into back home; It happens often enough in both places in my experience, the only difference being that a lazy facking doosh can't cover up his/her laziness/ineptitude back home by speaking politely and apologizing the way they can here. That being said, I've never gotten exceptional customer service as consistently as I have here in Japan. If there were a customer service olympics, Japan might just get the gold every time.<br />The saddest thing about here is that idiots in customer service are never motivated to improve by being called out for being useless; they're only called out when customers complain about lack of 'omotenashi' or whatever... Will Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07927492067445164618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8528686231765021097.post-4934725125454543692014-03-30T23:22:02.017+09:002014-03-30T23:22:02.017+09:00Ah yes, the overwhelming inability to answer simpl...Ah yes, the overwhelming inability to answer simple 'yes/no' questions in less than 20 words (or 30 words if speaking to any service industry staff who are using keigo), because 'time is money', except when it's my time, as a customer, that you are wasting.<br />'O-mo-te-na-shi'? yeah, in your dreams, along with 'safe Japan', and 'polite Japan', and 'in Japan everyone is middle class!'.<br /><br />JDGAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8528686231765021097.post-47266981504542157522014-03-30T18:35:26.164+09:002014-03-30T18:35:26.164+09:00I couch surfed once with a woman who worked at the...I couch surfed once with a woman who worked at the ward office in the international section. She was fluent in English and very well travelled and worldly but because of the stupid moving workers around every 3 year policy, said she could end up anywhere. You'd think they'd make an exception for people with special skills.<br /><br />Having said that, I never had a problem with my ward offices in Japan. I did ring the "English" language helpline for AU once though. LOLZ!Kathrynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08699328937978331608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8528686231765021097.post-55398017828783300392014-03-30T11:32:10.556+09:002014-03-30T11:32:10.556+09:00What I find most astonishing is going to those tou...What I find most astonishing is going to those tourist informations booths, and not being able to get an English speaker.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8528686231765021097.post-21389416620639791262014-03-29T23:52:21.849+09:002014-03-29T23:52:21.849+09:00A personal fave is the hotel/hospital/bank/governm...A personal fave is the hotel/hospital/bank/government office with 'International'/'kokusai' in the title, but nobody who speaks English/Korean/Chinese...Ἀντισθένηςhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06199983680204710885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8528686231765021097.post-24677203755011782172014-03-29T10:27:50.051+09:002014-03-29T10:27:50.051+09:00I think I blogged about my experience in Osaka. I...I think I blogged about my experience in Osaka. I wanted to leave the karaoke place to buy a pack of cigarettes. The girl on the front desk kept telling me in keigo that I couldn't because I was there alone. I actually understood her but was trying to get to - what is the solution for this - when she got another staff member to explain... not in Engish but in non-keigo Japanese! WTF! <br /><br />I get a bit annoyed with tourists who expect all Japanese to speak English but if it's at a ski resort or other place that's aimed at tourists, I don't think it's unreasonable. Japan is so heavily flogged as a ski destination in Australia that you'd expect some English speakers (real ones not the Japanese version) on staff. <br /><br />I've had a few experiences like the ones you mention and you can only deal by asking someone else. Once someone tells you something's not possible, it's pretty much all you can do unless you like wasting a shitload of time trying to talk to someone who doesn't want to listen.Kathrynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08699328937978331608noreply@blogger.com