Why no looting in Japan?

[Okla-homey]

A British blogger takes a crack at it.


The landscape of parts of Japan looks like the aftermath of World War Two; no industrialised country since then has suffered such a death toll. The one tiny, tiny consolation is the extent to which it shows how humanity can rally round in times of adversity, with heroic British rescue teams joining colleagues from the US and elsewhere to fly out.

And solidarity seems especially strong in Japan itself. Perhaps even more impressive than Japan’s technological power is its social strength, with supermarkets cutting prices and vending machine owners giving out free drinks as people work together to survive. Most noticeably of all, there has been no looting, and I’m not the only one curious about this.

This is quite unusual among human cultures, and it’s unlikely it would be the case in Britain. During the 2007 floods in the West Country abandoned cars were broken into and free packs of bottled water were stolen. There was looting in Chile after the earthquake last year – so much so that troops were sent in; in New Orleans, Hurricane Katrina saw looting on a shocking scale.

Why do some cultures react to disaster by reverting to everyone for himself, but others – especially the Japanese – display altruism even in adversity?

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/edwest/100079703/why-is-there-no-looting-in-japan/

[tcrb]

The Japanese society does not teach 'entitlement'.

[texaspokieokie]

Good question.

[StoopTroup]

It's because their shoes were on the front porch and they have nothing to protect their feet. Duh!

Anyone got a light? This baby is all twisted up and ready to RYFO!

http://www.deuceofdavenport.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Charlie-Sheen-Platoon-4.jpeg

[SoCaliSooner]

Rioting and looting is part of the contingency plan we are dealing with. Hence at every place I own I have a nearly 3 month supply of food, supplies and ammo. The family should be able to get to at least one place easily.

I saw first hand how the people of New Orleans were as concerned about how the government was going to locate them for their next check as they were about safety. The mindset of many is "Why should I go buy emergency supplies when me and my boys can just go take what we want or wait on somebody to put me somewhere and feed me?"

[StoopTroup]

At least we know folks like you got supplies. Once the grocery stores are empty we will at least be able to shop from house to house....lol

[lexsooner]

No unsecured Heinekens to take? Seriously, I think it is cultural. On a crowded island, the Japanese culture emphasizes the group or the whole instead of the individual, so taking from others is not acceptable, even in crisis situations. Similarly, the order and cooperation among the survivors is amazing by our standards. What we are seeing is Japanese culture at its best. There is much I do not like about the culture, but what we are witnessing now is Japanese honor and dignity, humanity being expressed at its highest levels.

I saw a tv news crew approach a group of ragged survivors sitting around demolished buildings, and one of the survivors stood up and reached out and offered food to the news crew. I think that said it all.

[texaspokieokie]

My wife saw that. Very touching !!!

[StoopTroup]

So they are more like monkeys than WINNERS!

Good stuff

http://blahblahblahscience.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/sheen.jpg

[MR2-Sooner86]

They don't have large amounts of black people.

*looks around*

Who said that?

[picasso]

One culture.

[StoopTroup]

The cops who raided my house don't live there?

I know I just won something?

http://static.igossip.com/photos_2/february_2011/Charlie_Sheen_wenn.jpg

[OULenexaman]

One crowd.

[SicEmBaylor]

There was no looting because there are not a lot of black people in Japan.

[STUpendOUs]

There was no looting because there are not a lot of black people in Japan.

He may be small... But Sic'ems got some big brass balls I must say....;)

[OutlandTrophy]

It's funny when SicEm tries to make fun of people.


anyone know what the difference between a Katrina victim and SicEm is?

SicEm has never lived in Louisiana

[JohnnyMack]

:pop:

[3rdgensooner]

Predictable thread.

[Aldebaran]

.... and predictable responses.

[Mongo]

Who wants to loot radioactive flat screen tv's?

[royalfan5]

It's funny when SicEm tries to make fun of people.


anyone know what the difference between a Katrina victim and SicEm is?

SicEm has never lived in Louisiana

I was going to go with most of them having a job once.

[stoops the eternal pimp]

because all their good **** they send here to sell

[C&CDean]

Predictable thread.

How so? And why do you think there's no looting over there?

[StoopTroup]

After you loot it all....where are you going to go?

THEY ARE ON AN ISLAND IN THE OCEAN! THE REST OF THE ISLAND IS WONDERING WHERE THEY ARE GOING TO PUT THEM? THE TRAIN SYSTEM THEY HAVE ISN'T FULLY FUNCTIONAL? DID YOU NOTICE ALL THE GETAWAY CARS WERE FLOODED OUT?

Freaking hilarious especially those of you with the comments that bash other people's responses. We are trying to work here. Homey deserves an answer. If you have something better then lay it on us.

Now...where was I...oh yeah....winning.

Ahhhhhhhhh....

http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/gawker/2010/10/sheen_02.jpg

[Aldebaran]

How so? And why do you think there's no looting over there?

It's a predictable thread because no one lets a natural disaster go by without finding a way to pile on katrina victims about it.

[C&CDean]

It's a predictable thread because no one lets a natural disaster go by without finding a way to pile on katrina victims about it.

That's what you see? How is anyone "piling on katrina victims?" :confused:

[STUpendOUs]

It's a predictable thread because no one lets a natural disaster go by without finding a way to pile on katrina victims about it.
well there was one good thing to come out of Katrina.... OKC got a basketball team out of it....

[Aldebaran]

That's what you see? How is anyone "piling on katrina victims?" :confused:

wait for it....

[OutlandTrophy]

wait for it....

the suspense is killing me!!

[Mississippi Sooner]

No rooting in Japan?

[stoops the eternal pimp]

watching for rava aftra vorcano

[StoopTroup]

Help is on it's way....

http://www.livehunt.com/content/5e2a_BadAssBowFisherman.jpg

[dwarthog]

It's a predictable thread because no one lets a natural disaster go by without finding a way to pile on katrina victims about it.

Victims? WTF?

They knew Katrina was coming for days and they just sit there on their asses and their victims?

Although I suppose if you want first crack at the good stuff you have to take your chances.

[STUpendOUs]

OK.... I am watching CNN and a reporter is going after Gilbert for his remarks and others for their insensitive remarks on social networking sites... she closes with this little gem of a quote...

Black Comedy I get, but this is just mean and callus


What...the...****!

[SicEmBaylor]

It's funny when SicEm tries to make fun of people.


anyone know what the difference between a Katrina victim and SicEm is?

SicEm has never lived in Louisiana

You ought to take this show on the road.
You're a riot.

[OutlandTrophy]

You ought to take this show on the road.
You're a riot.

thank you, I will be here all week.

[StoopTroup]

Victims? WTF?

They knew Katrina was coming for days and they just sit there on their asses and their victims?

Although I suppose if you want first crack at the good stuff you have to take your chances.

I'm gonna say victims. Victims of bad decisions? Yeah probably. New Orleans had seen Hurricanes before but they made a bad decision and then it turned into a bigger mess because they didn't evacuate. If the Gov't would have gone in there before the Hurricane hit and forced them out....we would have something else to bitch about....

They didn't leave...so what....A bunch of them realize they made a mistake and have never been back. Some didn't. Would they do it again? Would we force them to get out? It's sad it turned into such a mess down there but I still believe we learned a lot from that disaster. Sometimes bad stuff has to happen to prepare us for another. Anyone with a brain knows that New Orleans was a real rich City with lots of History and although it's still there....I doubt it will ever be the same. People who live on the Coast just saw again how deadly Mother Nature can be when you live on the Coast and it doesn't matter if it's an Island Coast or a huge land mass....you take big risks living in an enviroment like that. The people who do though...they bring us food from our Oceans and that leads to others moving there over time.

At the end of the disaster...what's good is how we treat people who were affected. I know the ones that looted in New Orleans reacted badly...but the ones that left and came for help in our State are pretty good hard working people who never thought they'd ever have to leave the place they grew up. I'm glad it wasn't me.

[SicEmBaylor]

thank you, I will be here all week.

Don't forget to tip your waitress.

[ouwasp]

...because Japan doesn't have activist cultural icons to stir up segments of the populace?
...because the affected areas are homogenous and don't include "working class" Koreans, Philipinos, Malaysians? (honestly don't know, wondering if this applies)
...because the Asian mind-set is more disciplined?
...the Japanese are not aware of their unalienable right to behave like a**holes?

[OhU1]

64% of people in Japan do not believe in a god. No looting and less crime than in our "Christian Nation". Weird huh. :pop:

[StoopTroup]

There are lots of Americans there. Why aren't they taking over?

[Breadburner]

To much work to pick up all that spilled rice......

[SoCaliSooner]

Predictable thread.

I've seen this very same topic discussed on almost every TV news show and on 4 different radio stations out here. The point slowly starting to be drawn on several media outlets, at least out here, is how many cops, firefighters and other resources are tied up while on city/county wide tactical alert for Laker games due to looting. The area affected is less than 2 square miles. Factor in a large earthquake with a much larger area affected and multiply the problem by 1000.

Kids have earthquake drills in school, and any time a major disaster hits the media here constantly reminds people to stock up on supplies now, yet most are completely unprepared and believe "somebody" will come save them.

People are looking for insight from this disaster with a culture that is mostly homogeneous, lives in very crowded conditions and is very non confrontational in general.

[Leroy Lizard]

After you loot it all....where are you going to go?

THEY ARE ON AN ISLAND IN THE OCEAN!


It just happens to be a very big island. :rolleyes: (StoopTroup is doing all he can to explain this one away. Solid effort, though.)

[StoopTroup]

It's not me....it's Charlie.

[StoopTroup]

Hey Leroid....

Are the folks helping at the Nuclear Power Plant driving there or taking the train?

http://www.free-press-release.com/uploads/news/2011/03/07/1299550476_img0.jpg

[Leroy Lizard]

Hey Leroid....

Are the folks helping at the Nuclear Power Plant driving there or taking the train?

Surfing.

[Aldebaran]

People are looking for insight from this disaster with a culture that is mostly homogeneous, lives in very crowded conditions and is very non confrontational in general.


I don't think America has any lessons to learn about collective behavior. Nice try, PINKO!!!1

[SoCaliSooner]

I don't think America has any lessons to learn about collective behavior. Nice try, PINKO!!!1
Didn't that governor in Wisconsin outlaw collective behavior?

[StoopTroup]

Surfing.

You won't be getting any calls from AFLAC with stuff like that Mister....

http://www.free-press-release.com/uploads/news/2011/03/07/1299550476_img0.jpg

[Bourbon St Sooner]

I'm gonna say victims. Victims of bad decisions? Yeah probably. New Orleans had seen Hurricanes before but they made a bad decision and then it turned into a bigger mess because they didn't evacuate. If the Gov't would have gone in there before the Hurricane hit and forced them out....we would have something else to bitch about....

They didn't leave...so what....A bunch of them realize they made a mistake and have never been back. Some didn't. Would they do it again? Would we force them to get out? It's sad it turned into such a mess down there but I still believe we learned a lot from that disaster. Sometimes bad stuff has to happen to prepare us for another. Anyone with a brain knows that New Orleans was a real rich City with lots of History and although it's still there....I doubt it will ever be the same. People who live on the Coast just saw again how deadly Mother Nature can be when you live on the Coast and it doesn't matter if it's an Island Coast or a huge land mass....you take big risks living in an enviroment like that. The people who do though...they bring us food from our Oceans and that leads to others moving there over time.

At the end of the disaster...what's good is how we treat people who were affected. I know the ones that looted in New Orleans reacted badly...but the ones that left and came for help in our State are pretty good hard working people who never thought they'd ever have to leave the place they grew up. I'm glad it wasn't me.

You apparently need to be reeducated to the SO way of thinking. All people in New Orleans are lazy, on welfare and spit on Sooner fans going into the Superdome. There, you have been corrected.

[badger]

There was once this acclaimed professor whose brain research was the basis for "Brain Age," a series of games that had mind-stimulating activities (math, sudoku, speaking the colors of text instead of the word itself, etc). He was apparently offered large royalties ($11 million to $22 million) for his involvement, which he declined.


Not a single yen has gone in my pocket... Everyone in my family is mad at me, but I tell them that if they want money, go out and earn it."

I wonder if that's the mindset - that you have to get your own, not take from others if you haven't earned it. Here's another quote from that article, just because it's funny:


The man is, however, extremely hardcore when it comes to the issue of letting his own sons play video games. Kawashima's four boys (ages 14-22) are only allowed them play games for a single hour on the weekend, and those who fail to observe the time limit get their disks broken as punishment. "What is scary about games" he reports "is that you can kill as many hours as you want. I don't think playing games is bad in itself but it makes children unable to do what they should do such as study and communication with the family. Having fun is not studying. Making [kids] study is not to entertain children but to pressure them to make efforts. People fall to lower and lower places unless they are driven to go higher."

[StoopTroup]

All people in New Orleans spit on Sooner fans going into the Superdome.

This is a different topic all together

[crawfish]

I'm guessing the lack of looting in Japan has more to do with their unique view of honor than anything else. It's not really a moral issue.

[StoopTroup]

Maybe the amount of loss of human life has something to do with it. Many of us saw hoards of people looting and coming out of the disaster in New Orleans....with this one maybe the entire landscape is changed so much that they are in massive shock as to where everyone went?

[Jacie]

People are looking for insight from this disaster with a culture that is mostly homogeneous, lives in very crowded conditions and is very non confrontational in general.

Just don't call them "sexless" . . .

[SoCaliSooner]

Just don't call them "sexless" . . .
If they were to meet me, they'd feel sexed....

[Mongo]

64% of people in Japan do not believe in a god. No looting and less crime than in our "Christian Nation". Weird huh. :pop:

So you are saying if there werent any black christians, there wouldnt be any looting?

[KABOOKIE]

...because the affected areas are homogenous

So that's the reason Chuck Bao lives in Thailand?

[JohnnyMack]

So that's the reason Chuck Bao lives in Thailand?

Nope.

[C&CDean]

C'mon JM, too easy.

[C&CDean]

So you are saying if there werent any black christians, there wouldnt be any looting?

Satan worshippers are kinda dumb, huh?

[Ton Loc]

There are a lot of reasons. My main one is because they believe in a strong family and community. There aren't tons of single moms with 8 kids with no dad on welfare.

Its where all problems start - at home. It is who is raising you, what they are teaching you, and the values and knowledge you gain from them.

[lexsooner]

I'm guessing the lack of looting in Japan has more to do with their unique view of honor than anything else. It's not really a moral issue.

Do you mean to say there are people in this world who actually have personal honor and believe they are fully accountable for their actions and take full responsibility for them and don't immediately hire a lawyer and show up on tv denying everything? Say it ain't so!

[royalfan5]

I think you all are missing the obvious answer here. Mothra ****ing hates looters, and nobody wants to **** with Mothra.

[Leroy Lizard]

Maybe the amount of loss of human life has something to do with it. Many of us saw hoards of people looting and coming out of the disaster in New Orleans....with this one maybe the entire landscape is changed so much that they are in massive shock as to where everyone went?

Just won't admit the truth, will you?

[AlboSooner]

It's hard to do a social study on the internet when many factors need to be considered. Certainly the Japanese response to the disaster should be admired and emulated. They are not as self-disciplined and moralistic we may think them to be. They indulge greatly in technology, and have a large porn industry which almost favors pedophilia. It would be irrational for me to conclude that the Buddhist religion is the cause of their indulgence in child pornography.

[Leroy Lizard]

It's hard to do a social study on the internet when many factors need to be considered. Certainly the Japanese response to the disaster should be admired and emulated. They are not as self-disciplined and moralistic we may think them to be. They indulge greatly in technology, and have a large porn industry which almost favors pedophilia. It would be irrational for me to conclude that the Buddhist religion is the cause of their indulgence in child pornography.

The Japanese are not particularly religious.

[C&CDean]

They're not particularly negro either.

[StoopTroup]

Kind of sounds like our Country to me. I'm sure both Japan and the US have areas which are more devout than others just like us.


Shinto and Buddhism are Japan's two major religions. They have been co-existing for several centuries and have even complemented each other to a certain degree. Most Japanese consider themselves Buddhist, Shintoist or both.
Religion does not play a big role in the everyday life of most Japanese people today. The average person typically follows the religious rituals at ceremonies like birth, weddings and funerals, may visit a shrine or temple on New Year and participates at local festivals (matsuri), most of which have a religious background.

[tcrb]

I'm guessing the lack of looting in Japan has more to do with their unique view of honor than anything else. It's not really a moral issue.

I'd say that honor and morality fall pretty much in the same bucket.

[StoopTroup]

They're not particularly negro either.

Because they never enslaved them and then freed them? Or was it because Chinese, Koreans and such worked harder and were more plentiful? :D ;)

[StoopTroup]

Also....I don't see a whole lot to loot...

I did see this ship that was sitting on a concrete sea wall that was in good shape I think. I'd steal that bad boy ASAP. Anyone got a crane I can borrow?

[GKeeper316]

the japanese aren't necessarily opposed to theft. in a class last week we read about the day final fantasy 2 was released in japan. it was on a tuesday, and so many kids skipped school to either buy the game or, as retailers said, steal it, that the japanese government prohibited the release of electronic entertainment (video games) on a weekday.

[jkjsooner]

To be sure, Japanese culture is a major factor in the lack of looting. However, I think there's a strong link between altruism and the lack of looting. If you can get that bottle of water and if strangers on the street are providing assistance, you will feel a sense of gratitude. Not only will a person have the necessary essentials but he will also be much less inclined to develop a feeling of being victimized.

I'm not saying it would work this way in New Orleans but I do think in the Japanese culture there is a symbiotic relationship between those providing assistance and those who need assistance. If that happened to break down, I think you could see problems even in Japan.

[picasso]

.... and predictable responses.

Agreed. Yours is brilliant.

[soonercoop1]

No unions?

[I Am Right]

To easy

[Jacie]

Because they never enslaved them and then freed them? Or was it because Chinese, Koreans and such worked harder and were more plentiful? :D ;)

Now you touched on it and in this way, the Japanese are no different from anyone else. Every culture has some other culture they dump on. In the case of the Japanese, it is the Koreans.

[StoopTroup]

No unions?

In Japan, three main labor federations represent Japan's labor unions. They are in order of number of members:

RENGO (日本労働組合総連合会?, "National Federation of Private Sector Unions"), 6.6 million members;
ZENROREN (全国労働組合総連合?, "National Confederation of Trade Unions"), 846,362 members; and
ZENROKYO (全国労働組合連絡協議会?, "National Trade Unions Council"), 139,424 members.

[C&CDean]

In Japan, three main labor federations represent Japan's labor unions. They are in order of number of members:

RENGO (日本労働組合総連合会?, "National Federation of Private Sector Unions"), 6.6 million members;
ZENROREN (全国労働組合総連合?, "National Confederation of Trade Unions"), 846,362 members; and
ZENROKYO (全国労働組合連絡協議会?, "National Trade Unions Council"), 139,424 members.

Dude, a total of about 7 million japs? That's like 23rd St. in Tokyo, all things considered.

[StoopTroup]

Dude, a total of about 7 million japs? That's like 23rd St. in Tokyo, all things considered.

I was actually amazed there were any.

When I found that I figured I'd post it. There was more info on them and the one thing that stuck out was that the numbers of Union People had drastically reduced over the last few decades....same as in the US.

Either that or those are the amount of total representatives and they don't count the actual workers....lol

[SunnySooner]

64% of people in Japan do not believe in a god. No looting and less crime than in our "Christian Nation". Weird huh. :pop:

Their Buddhist...really Buddhist, as in, leave the sick starving kid to die because in his previous life, he must have done something to deserve that. Not Hollywood Buddhist. Big difff. A deep belief in karma can make you want to be good, or else it will bite you in the beehind.

Also, I don't recall hearing a bunch about looting after the May 99 tornadoes, no?

[C&CDean]

Their Buddhist...really Buddhist, as in, leave the sick starving kid to die because in his previous life, he must have done something to deserve that. Not Hollywood Buddhist. Big difff. A deep belief in karma can make you want to be good, or else it will bite you in the beehind.

Also, I don't recall hearing a bunch about looting after the May 99 tornadoes, no?

Actually, I remember several news stations expounding the virtues of the average dumbassed hick Okie sumbitch for NOT looting. I was danged proud.

Of course if the tornado hit anywhere in the vicinity of NE 23rd and MLK all bets are off...not being ugly, just the facts, maam.

[tcrb]

There's alot of Baptists in OK.

[C&CDean]

There's alot of Baptists in OK.

Can't be. That one satan worshipping caveman dude said all christians loot and steal ****.

[tcrb]

Is there such a thing as Buddhist Baptists?

[C&CDean]

I don't know. I'm kinda feeling all zenned out but still really feel like I need one more beer.

[SanJoaquinSooner]

Sic 'em, thank you for not being an OU graduate.

[royalfan5]

I was actually amazed there were any.

When I found that I figured I'd post it. There was more info on them and the one thing that stuck out was that the numbers of Union People had drastically reduced over the last few decades....same as in the US.

Either that or those are the amount of total representatives and they don't count the actual workers....lol

Unions in Japan function a lot differently than unions here. They are tied very tightly to management. Japanese companies are very tightly wound together, and the expectation is that the company will take care of the worker through thick and thin. You see a lot of that in Japan's lost economic decade as they have propped up zombie firms to take care of workers.

[StoopTroup]

Unions in Japan function a lot differently than unions here. They are tied very tightly to management. Japanese companies are very tightly wound together, and the expectation is that the company will take care of the worker through thick and thin. You see a lot of that in Japan's lost economic decade as they have propped up zombie firms to take care of workers.

Again...about like the US or the direction it's headed.

[MamaMia]

I'm only speaking from my own experiences with the American/Japanese families I've known personally. They do have a strong belief in, and a huge respect for Karma. The Japanese people I've known also believe in reincarnation. They believe that the blessings they will have in their next lives are based upon the goodness they project in their present lives. They believe that if you do something negative that it will be done to you in your next life, only to a higher degree.

I don't know why, but Japanese children are extremely respectful to their parents. Its not uncommon for Japanese parents to totally disown forever, a grown child for showing blatant disrespect. They will forgive them, and they will weather the pain, but there will be no coming home.

[Soonrboy]

maybe there is, but their media doesn't play it up.

[OhU1]

Also, I don't recall hearing a bunch about looting after the May 99 tornadoes, no?

Sunny, we've got a lot of good folk here in Oklahoma. No doubt about that. That's one of the things that make it great to live in Oklahoma.

[MamaMia]

Sunny, we've got a lot of good folk here in Oklahoma. No doubt about that. That's one of the things that make it great to live in Oklahoma.

We really do. That was evident when we lost so many in the Murrah Federal Building bombing. :(

[royalfan5]

Again...about like the US or the direction it's headed.

Except that the expectation is shared by management too.

[StoopTroup]

Except that the expectation is shared by management too.

Or really a complete lie to get rid of them all by 2025....lol

[GKeeper316]

Their Buddhist...really Buddhist, as in, leave the sick starving kid to die because in his previous life, he must have done something to deserve that. Not Hollywood Buddhist. Big difff. A deep belief in karma can make you want to be good, or else it will bite you in the beehind.

Also, I don't recall hearing a bunch about looting after the May 99 tornadoes, no?

most are buddhist, but there is also a very large shinto populace... shintoism is basically ancestor worship.

[SactoSooner]

The answer to the OP's question lies within a Buddhist and Shinto understanding of the question...not a Judeo-Christian understanding.

In other words, y'all gotta dig deeper if you want to know why the Japanese aren't looting their country.

[yankee]

I bet they're not looting because there's nothing left to loot after the tsunamis. Just a thought. ;)

[StoopTroup]

I bet they're not looting because there's nothing left to loot after the tsunamis. Just a thought. ;)

yeah I mentioned that earlier along with possibly being in shock that not to long after they were walking to high ground they saw a lot of people in town not walking to high ground and not having time to react. After you go back down there after the water receded and they were all just gone...I wouldn't think looting would be on my mind. These were fishing villages and towns and not cities like New Orleans. There is way to many differences for it to happen like New Orleans did. I've also been watching video of the towns some of these people had of these towns before the tsunami and they seemed a lot more peaceful and laid back than the Ward and really any part of new Orleans I ever visited.

i know lots of folks are still upset about peoples reaction after Katrina but I think that hopefully people in our Country learn how stupid it all was so in the future it stands as what not to do and Japan stands as what to do.

When we were kids we had Nuclear Bomb Drills. You don't see that anymore. The Japanese have earthquake and Tsunami drills for everyone and a really good disaster plan that includes the people being involved. For what ever reason....we do little or nothing. I think that's why my Utopian Thread of what would a draft look like would also serve to train people to react properly when put under stress.

We are probably screwed as a Country if we don't move towards a Civil Service Type Requirement for all Americans if we ever face a WTC times 1000.

[OklahomaTuba]

At Christmas time in Tokyo, in The Ginza (the main shopping street in Tokyo) they put up Christmas trees. The ornaments are just hung on the trees. No one steals them.

It's a very rigid culture there, lots of good, but a lot of bad as well. Face is everything, even if it means covering up mistakes, lying, etc.

[olevetonahill]

Rioting and looting is part of the contingency plan we are dealing with. Hence at every place I own I have a nearly 3 month supply of food, supplies and ammo. The family should be able to get to at least one place easily.

I saw first hand how the people of New Orleans were as concerned about how the government was going to locate them for their next check as they were about safety. The mindset of many is "Why should I go buy emergency supplies when me and my boys can just go take what we want or wait on somebody to put me somewhere and feed me?"


I never understand the appraiser hate. Many times the "improvements" made, while costing money, don't raise the value of the house, it just makes it more to your liking. I've put in 2 pools/spas for my own enjoyment and in SoCal most people want a pool/spa so it generally helps the appraisal, but it wasn't an aspect of my decision.

People often want to re-fi to lower rates to save some coin when they are either upside down or even neutral and blame the appraiser for having some type of agenda. The appraiser gets paid the same amount either way. He can't value a home at $400K when all the others in the hood are selling for $325K...

WE have a "BRUCE":D

[SoCaliSooner]

WE have a "BRUCE":D
I believe in being prepared. I also believe in owning things that make me money.

[olevetonahill]

BRUCE ;) :D

[Chuck Bao]

Is there such a thing as Buddhist Baptists?

Yep. I'm one.

[dwarthog]

At Christmas time in Tokyo, in The Ginza (the main shopping street in Tokyo) they put up Christmas trees. The ornaments are just hung on the trees. No one steals them.

It's a very rigid culture there, lots of good, but a lot of bad as well. Face is everything, even if it means covering up mistakes, lying, etc.

Seppuku....

It also means jumping off buildings and stepping in front of commuter trains during rush hour. I was actually at the subway station in Tokyo waiting for a train when that happened. Brought the whole system to a screeching halt for hours.

[Bourbon St Sooner]

To be sure, Japanese culture is a major factor in the lack of looting. However, I think there's a strong link between altruism and the lack of looting. If you can get that bottle of water and if strangers on the street are providing assistance, you will feel a sense of gratitude. Not only will a person have the necessary essentials but he will also be much less inclined to develop a feeling of being victimized.

I'm not saying it would work this way in New Orleans but I do think in the Japanese culture there is a symbiotic relationship between those providing assistance and those who need assistance. If that happened to break down, I think you could see problems even in Japan.

The problem is there's a subset of Americans who grow up in a culture that tells them they are victims and deserve whatever they can get. And, of course, there's people that make a lot of money propagating that culture.

[Condescending Sooner]

There was no looting in OKC after the bombing and in Iowa after the floods. It is not just Japan. It is the morals of the people in the vicinity.

[SoCaliSooner]

There was no looting in OKC after the bombing

Well...that was a federal building and crime scene. If a massive tornado hits a major city, or if the Thunder win a championship...then we'll see....

[Condescending Sooner]

Well...that was a federal building and crime scene. If a massive tornado hits a major city, or if the Thunder win a championship...then we'll see....

Nice try. If I remember correctly, a fairly large tornado hit in 99. Also, the Murrah building wasn't the only one damaged. There were several others in the area, and no looting occurred.

[pphilfran]

Nice try. If I remember correctly, a fairly large tornado hit in 99. Also, the Murrah building wasn't the only one damaged. There were several others in the area, and no looting occurred.

Hell, instead of looting, Okies were too busy sitting on the porch looking for the nader...

[texaspokieokie]

i lived in Long Beach during the Watts riots in 1965.
as we all know, looting was rampant. lots of folks were looting that didn't even know how the riots got started.

they were having a ball.

one lady (?) sued the Sat. Evening Post for "invasion of privacy" after they published a photo of her son, carrying some loot.

they seemed to look upon looting as an entitlement.

(might have been some mag other than Sat Evening)

[C&CDean]

Well...that was a federal building and crime scene. If a massive tornado hits a major city, or if the Thunder win a championship...then we'll see....

Oh? We've never had massive tornadoes rip through here huh? We've never seen OU win a National Championship huh? Sometimes you need to STFU.

I was in Norman when we won the 2000 NC. Tens of thousands of partiers in the street all over the place. We were passing bottles of booze from the back of one pickup to another. Party city. I talked to an OU cop the next day and he said "we only made a couple arrests last night, one for DUI, and one for public drunk."

I was in Lansing, Michigan when MSU won their last basketball title. Staying at the downtown Marriott. I watch most of the game from a bar down the street, then go to my room and watched the rest of it. Within a few minutes of the game ending I start hearing noise in the street out front, and see light flickering through the curtains. POS thugs were tearing the town apart. A cop car was on fire, people were throwing bottles and crap, breaking out store windows and stealing ****, etc.

The difference between the two? Demographics. That's it.

If the Thunder win the NBA title it will be party city. I'll lay a very large bet that there won't be any looting. Probably be a little shenanigans over in the NE 23rd area, but downtown will be fine.

[olevetonahill]

But Dean , Bruce Holds all Okies and in fact the entire State in such High esteem.:rolleyes:

[SoCaliSooner]

I was in Lansing, Michigan when MSU won their last basketball title. Staying at the downtown Marriott. I watch most of the game from a bar down the street, then go to my room and watched the rest of it. Within a few minutes of the game ending I start hearing noise in the street out front, and see light flickering through the curtains. POS thugs were tearing the town apart. A cop car was on fire, people were throwing bottles and crap, breaking out store windows and stealing ****, etc.

The difference between the two? Demographics. That's it.

If the Thunder win the NBA title it will be party city. I'll lay a very large bet that there won't be any looting. Probably be a little shenanigans over in the NE 23rd area, but downtown will be fine.

I wasn't disagreeing in part. Demographics make up a large part of who feels the need to "go get theirs". Japan also has extremely large swaths entirely wiped out. In tornado ravaged areas you can often go a few blocks over and not have any damage and getting supplies to the affected sometimes takes hours instead of days or weeks. I don't think the sheer panic sets in over a large area like in NOLA, Haiti, Indonesia, NZ where there is square miles of devastation and tens of thousands of structures/people obliterated.

[soonercoop1]

I was actually amazed there were any.

When I found that I figured I'd post it. There was more info on them and the one thing that stuck out was that the numbers of Union People had drastically reduced over the last few decades....same as in the US.

Either that or those are the amount of total representatives and they don't count the actual workers....lol

Me too...I am amazed there are any...

[crawfish]

Do you mean to say there are people in this world who actually have personal honor and believe they are fully accountable for their actions and take full responsibility for them and don't immediately hire a lawyer and show up on tv denying everything? Say it ain't so!

Along with splitting their insides with a sword if their department loses money. :texan:

[soonercruiser]

I believe in being prepared. I also believe in owning things that make me money.

Yup! 3 bags of chips, just in case the son drops by.
:rolleyes: