NationStates Jolt Archive

I am a United States sailor stationed in Yokosuka, Japan. I do my best to portray a positive image of Americans to the local populace by doing things like giving my seat on the train to old ladies and by generally not acting like a jackass in public. Unfortunately, most of my fellow Americans don't seem to give a shit what the Japanese think of them.

On more than one occassion, I've had to escort a drunken American back to base because he was acting like an idiot and harrassing the local women or being obnoxiously loud (which Americans have a tendency to be even when they're sober). Almost all of the problems are alcohol related. The idiots of the Navy, who are usually 18-22 years old, go out and get way too drunk, then look like complete and utter fucktards in front of the natives. The next morning they brag about it, like "Dude, I got so fucking wasted last night that I pissed all over the street!"

Not all of the problems are alcohol related though. Part of the problem is the way we try to be "gangsta." Some of us who have cars like to "roll down the street" at night and play our rap music extremely loud. Now, you're probably aware that most Japanese speak Engrish, so they fully understand the words coming from the car's speakers; words that mostly consist of, "fuck," "shit," "bitch," and "******."

The Navy is trying to improve our image by instituting a dress code, and by inundating us with "be nice" propaganda, but they can't control what sailors do off base. All they can do is throw the book at them when they get arrested and turned over to us, but that doesn't deter most of us, because we think, "well I won't get arrested."

Unfortunately, Americans who try to act respectable Over Here seem to be in the minority.

If it makes you feel better, I'm proud to have at least someone represent the American armed forces over there in a respectable manner (even if you are Navy :p). Keep it up.

I feel sorry for you, I really do. You seem like a fine, upstanding person, who is surrounded by louts. It's the same all over the world, and not just in the military. I'm only 16, and my Cadets (lives in UK) are proud of what we are, and on the camps we hold our standards. However, it pisses me off to see other cadets pissing around. It's not really the same thing, but you get the general jist of it

I am a United States sailor stationed in Yokosuka, Japan. I do my best to portray a positive image of Americans to the local populace by doing things like giving my seat on the train to old ladies and by generally not acting like a jackass in public. Unfortunately, most of my fellow Americans don't seem to give a shit what the Japanese think of them.

On more than one occassion, I've had to escort a drunken American back to base because he was acting like an idiot and harrassing the local women or being obnoxiously loud (which Americans have a tendency to be even when they're sober). Almost all of the problems are alcohol related. The idiots of the Navy, who are usually 18-22 years old, go out and get way too drunk, then look like complete and utter fucktards in front of the natives. The next morning they brag about it, like "Dude, I got so fucking wasted last night that I pissed all over the street!"

Not all of the problems are alcohol related though. Part of the problem is the way we try to be "gangsta." Some of us who have cars like to "roll down the street" at night and play our rap music extremely loud. Now, you're probably aware that most Japanese speak Engrish, so they fully understand the words coming from the car's speakers; words that mostly consist of, "fuck," "shit," "bitch," and "******."

The Navy is trying to improve our image by instituting a dress code, and by inundating us with "be nice" propaganda, but they can't control what sailors do off base. All they can do is throw the book at them when they get arrested and turned over to us, but that doesn't deter most of us, because we think, "well I won't get arrested."

Unfortunately, Americans who try to act respectable Over Here seem to be in the minority.
This has been a problem with the military since time immemorial and is unlikely to change. The military has options to limit this sort of behavior, including threatening to "lock down" the base or ship or whatever. At least we're not still allowing soldiers to the right to "rape, pillage and plunder" conqured towns and villages as part of their reward for winning. For most of human history, that was the norm.

I know the feeling. sometimes, when I heard about israeli youngsters that get drunk, steal things or vandalize lobbies at other country, I want to bury myself. I think some hotels already ban entering from young israeli tourists. they don't help us very much with all the anti-semitism.

btw, I saw global survey that tell the british and the francish tourists aren't loved either, but I think the germans and the japaneese get high rank.

I feel sorry for you, I really do. You seem like a fine, upstanding person, who is surrounded by louts. It's the same all over the world, and not just in the military. I'm only 16, and my Cadets (lives in UK) are proud of what we are, and on the camps we hold our standards. However, it pisses me off to see other cadets pissing around. It's not really the same thing, but you get the general jist of itDo you go to a military academy?

At least we're not still allowing soldiers to the right to "rape, pillage and plunder" conqured towns and villagesYeah, right. Where were YOU stationed? ((rhetorical question, I know it was 'Nam)) It's still going on in Africa. Tribes attack other tribes, plunder everything of value, take the children as soldiers or slaves, rape women, kill men. We haven't gotten past the period of the ancient Roman warfare yet. :headbang:

Yeah, right. Where were YOU stationed? ((rhetorical question, I know it was 'Nam)) It's still going on in Africa. Tribes attack other tribes, plunder everything of value, take the children as soldiers or slaves, rape women, kill men. We haven't gotten past the period of the ancient Roman warfare yet. :headbang:
I think he means that it's no longer the norm, at least not for Western countries.

Do you go to a military academy?
No, but I intend to go to RMAS (Royal Military Academy Sandhurst) and gain a commision when I leave university

I think he means that it's no longer the norm, at least not for Western countries.The Western Countries =/= the world, no matter what some people think. :p

Japan's pretty screwed up socially, regardless. Coming off as respectable is a good goal, but I doubt that you're grossly offending Japanese people on the whole.

The Western Countries =/= the world, no matter what some people think. :p
Really??? Noooo! I am shocked, SHOCKED, I tell you! :eek:

I am a United States sailor stationed in Yokosuka, Japan. I do my best to portray a positive image of Americans to the local populace by doing things like giving my seat on the train to old ladies and by generally not acting like a jackass in public. Unfortunately, most of my fellow Americans don't seem to give a shit what the Japanese think of them.

On more than one occassion, I've had to escort a drunken American back to base because he was acting like an idiot and harrassing the local women or being obnoxiously loud (which Americans have a tendency to be even when they're sober). Almost all of the problems are alcohol related. The idiots of the Navy, who are usually 18-22 years old, go out and get way too drunk, then look like complete and utter fucktards in front of the natives. The next morning they brag about it, like "Dude, I got so fucking wasted last night that I pissed all over the street!"

Not all of the problems are alcohol related though. Part of the problem is the way we try to be "gangsta." Some of us who have cars like to "roll down the street" at night and play our rap music extremely loud. Now, you're probably aware that most Japanese speak Engrish, so they fully understand the words coming from the car's speakers; words that mostly consist of, "fuck," "shit," "bitch," and "******."

The Navy is trying to improve our image by instituting a dress code, and by inundating us with "be nice" propaganda, but they can't control what sailors do off base. All they can do is throw the book at them when they get arrested and turned over to us, but that doesn't deter most of us, because we think, "well I won't get arrested."

Unfortunately, Americans who try to act respectable Over Here seem to be in the minority.
As far as I'm concerned, (having been in the Army) the Military is NOT a democracy, and any "Rights" you have are at the sufferance of your CO.

All US military personnel overseas are representatives of our Government and should be held to the highest standards of conduct - no less than that of Embassy Staff anyway.

The above mentioned behavior deserves a Capitan's Mast and appropriate punishment... I'd favor Keel Hauling, but I understand you Squids don't do that sort of thing any more... :p

Japan's pretty screwed up socially, regardless. Coming off as respectable is a good goal, but I doubt that you're grossly offending Japanese people on the whole.Outsiders can manage to piss of even the worst behaving locals simply by being outsiders... It's always the bad ones that get remembered...

The above mentioned behavior deserves a Capitan's Mast and appropriate punishment... I'd favor Keel Hauling, but I understand you Squids don't do that sort of thing any more... :pI hear the French were the last Western power to abolish it. But considering how big modern ships have gotten... must suck to have that done to you on an aircraft carrier... :p

At least we're not still allowing soldiers to the right to "rape, pillage and plunder" conqured towns and villages as part of their reward for winning. For most of human history, that was the norm.
What do you mean? The "victoriuos" American soldiers are expected to burn,rape and slaughter in Tokyo.And so getting drunk,hanging around,pissing of the people around is not a big deal compared to what they could do?!?

Outsiders can manage to piss of even the worst behaving locals simply by being outsiders... It's always the bad ones that get remembered...And Easterners have really strange customs too, socially anyway (for us Americans...well, I was born in America, I count!). We have some Chinese aliens living on our block, who always snub us and do lots of other strange things. Not that Chinese = Japanese, I know how different they are....but, yeah...

Yeah, right. Where were YOU stationed? ((rhetorical question, I know it was 'Nam)) It's still going on in Africa. Tribes attack other tribes, plunder everything of value, take the children as soldiers or slaves, rape women, kill men. We haven't gotten past the period of the ancient Roman warfare yet. :headbang:

Unfortunately this is a very real fact, especially in the Sudan. The current regime supports certain tribes, and backs them with millitary aid (weapons, food, etc...). Any relief aid that is sent to this region is diverted by the militias and used to fund this genocide. People are literally having their noses measured to determine their tribal race. A certain length, and they have a limb amputated. Another length, and they're simply executed. The government backed militias will go through ANYTHING, and they excell in psychological warfare.

It is just as you said, they'll go through entire villages, stripping it of anything useful. They use rape as a terror tactic. The sad thing about rape in this part of the world; it is the victim that is ostracized by the population, believing them to be "impure". What's worse, with the rampant HIV and AIDS expidemic in Africa, disease spreads like wildfire.

The men and children, they usually don't survive.