NationStates Jolt Archive

I was just watching television whilst eating tea, and an article popped up in regards to a female who was paid a million yen, which is around $10,000 for the fact that she had a child - the idea is to promote the idea of more child birth.

Now, here are a couple of questions I need answered:

1) Females in Japan are now exercising their right to either have less children, no children or simply remain single; why haven't the government looked at a proactive immigration programme that encourages the people with the skills needed, to move to Japan?

2) I am looking at moving from New Zealand within the next 3-4 years, and funny enough, after that story, Japan came up on my radar; I have heard mixed stories about Japan and immigration, can anyone give a first hand experience at it.

All I know is that Japanese people can be a little peculiar towards foreigners.

Either you're Japanese, then you're cool, or you're not, in which case you get tolerated - but a Gaijin (sp?) is never really "in". You'd always be an outsider.

I was just watching television whilst eating tea, and an article popped up in regards to a female who was paid a million yen, which is around $10,000 for the fact that she had a child - the idea is to promote the idea of more child birth.

Now, here are a couple of questions I need answered:

1) Females in Japan are now exercising their right to either have less children, no children or simply remain single; why haven't the government looked at a proactive immigration programme that encourages the people with the skills needed, to move to Japan?

2) I am looking at moving from New Zealand within the next 3-4 years, and funny enough, after that story, Japan came up on my radar; I have heard mixed stories about Japan and immigration, can anyone give a first hand experience at it.

Why would a white person want to move to japan?
You will never fit in, they can see your not from there, do you even know japanese?

And they have those demned pokeemons

Why would a white person want to move to japan?
You will never fit in, they can see your not from there, do you even know japanese?

And they have those demned pokeemons

Stir some shit, look for cute guy and experience something outside the 'western culture'.

Sd got fitting in, sorry, I have a more difficult time fitting into US culture than I would if I went to Japan.

Cute guy, fine for you, maybe you don't like white guys:p

BUt what i mean is why go somewhere they would not accept you, where you would never be their equal. The Japanese had a bunch of anti white\european racisam, and it would be like for a black dude to moove volenteraly from his home in afrika to the south of the US.

Remember, these people were also once at war with you, and their grandparants tell tales to their children how they fought against the people with round eyes. I mean and they have looong hours.

Racisam and long hours?
Why

1) Females in Japan are now exercising their right to either have less children, no children or simply remain single; why haven't the government looked at a proactive immigration programme that encourages the people with the skills needed, to move to Japan?
And there you've put your finger on a huge ongoing argument in Japan right now. The reasons why the Japanese goverment has not pretty much boils down to the domentic myth of Japan being inhabitied by a single homogenous race that shares the same culture and language, and has done so for thousands of years. It's a myth, it's actually a very silly myth, but it's one that the Japanese hold very dear and is more or less used to keep the nation from exploding. It also explains why Japan can be, at the same time, extreamly curious and welcoming of anything new from the outside, and extraordinarily xenophobic and protectionist about its culture.

An example of such is Japan pumping billions of yen into a Welcome to Japan program to promote tourism and immigration, featuring comericals by the Prime Minister. And then the Diet passing laws that heavily punish any visa violation and requires gaijin to get cards with eletronic chips in them.

2) I am looking at moving from New Zealand within the next 3-4 years, and funny enough, after that story, Japan came up on my radar; I have heard mixed stories about Japan and immigration, can anyone give a first hand experience at it.
I'm here on an exchange program, but may immigrate in the future. For myself, I can say that I have enjoyed my time here and willingly signed up to stay an extra year. In my prefecture, I rarely encounter gaijin shock and have found the people here welcoming and warm. But I've also had encounters such as emptying out the bath at a hotel just by going in there. Getting looks no matter where I go, as if I was a passing freak show attraction (including one time when walking behind a woman who turned, saw me and exclaimed "GAIJIN!"). I've also seen the "Japanese Only" signs that can be found in various areas and have been more or less ignored because I am obviously not Japanese.

In other words, it's a very mixed bag. I love it, and wouldn't mind spending the rest of my life here. I've also had a friend who came and after two years couldn't get home fast enough and now extreamly dislikes Japan.

BUt what i mean is why go somewhere they would not accept you, where you would never be their equal. The Japanese had a bunch of anti white\european racisam, and it would be like for a black dude to moove volenteraly from his home in afrika to the south of the US.
Depends on the people and the area. I've never been made to feel that way in the town I live in. Never.

Remember, these people were also once at war with you, and their grandparants tell tales to their children how they fought against the people with round eyes.
And we were at war with them, and our grandparents state how they fought against the Japs.

*amused* Of course, then you get into situations where an American whose grandfather fought the Japanese in WWII is now marrying a Japanese girl whose grandfather was at Hiroshima that terrible day... and both familes are more than happy with the union.
(Well, mine would be happier if we settled in the US and her's would be thrilled if we live in Japan, but ya can't please everyone all the time)

I mean and they have looong hours.
何だHell? What do you mean long hours?

Cute guy, fine for you, maybe you don't like white guys:p

I like all guys :D Too bad none of them approach me :(

BUt what i mean is why go somewhere they would not accept you, where you would never be their equal. The Japanese had a bunch of anti white\european racisam, and it would be like for a black dude to moove volenteraly from his home in afrika to the south of the US.

Remember, these people were also once at war with you, and their grandparants tell tales to their children how they fought against the people with round eyes. I mean and they have looong hours.

Racisam and long hours?
Why

My cousin doesn't seem to have any problems, and he is as white as a ghost.

As for the Japanese, two things I find funny; females spend thousands on making themselves look more European, from skin lightening to blonding their hair.

As for the other funny thing; "I'm not Asian! I'm Japanese!" to which I said, "yeah, and like a German is going to say, "I"m not European! I'm German!"", to which the individual felt like a right fuckwit.

Believe me, I'm as about politically incorrect as you can get with thick skinned as well - if I were to encounter and problems - being a giant in a land of ewoks, I think they would be rather hesitant about saying anything, be it in Japanes or English :P

I was just watching television whilst eating tea, and an article popped up in regards to a female who was paid a million yen, which is around $10,000 for the fact that she had a child - the idea is to promote the idea of more child birth.

Now, here are a couple of questions I need answered:

1) Females in Japan are now exercising their right to either have less children, no children or simply remain single; why haven't the government looked at a proactive immigration programme that encourages the people with the skills needed, to move to Japan?

2) I am looking at moving from New Zealand within the next 3-4 years, and funny enough, after that story, Japan came up on my radar; I have heard mixed stories about Japan and immigration, can anyone give a first hand experience at it.
couple things , first off their immigration policies are a little tough to get around for foreigners, and they arent as welcoming as they could be (my brother is looking to emmigrate there from canada in a couple years, and has spent a fair amount of time looking at it).
another thing is that proactive immigration policies arent require, if you make immigration a fairly simple and painless process, and say for example japan needs more doctors or engineers, then these professionals will get paid more which will attract them from abroad.

And there you've put your finger on a huge ongoing argument in Japan right now. The reasons why the Japanese goverment has not pretty much boils down to the domentic myth of Japan being inhabitied by a single homogenous race that shares the same culture and language, and has done so for thousands of years. It's a myth, it's actually a very silly myth, but it's one that the Japanese hold very dear and is more or less used to keep the nation from exploding. It also explains why Japan can be, at the same time, extreamly curious and welcoming of anything new from the outside, and extraordinarily xenophobic and protectionist about its culture.

True, but at the same time, I'm surprised how open Chinese are when compared to the Japanese, same with the Koreans - it seems that both China and Korea realise it is 'embrace the world or die'.

You're right about the myth, how many actual native, that is, indigenous Japanese are left? I mean, most of the population is pretty much a fusion of Chinese, Mongolian and Korea, with a few other things thrown in for good measure. Its like trying to find a pure English or Scottish person, its non existant :P

An example of such is Japan pumping billions of yen into a Welcome to Japan program to promote tourism and immigration, featuring comericals by the Prime Minister. And then the Diet passing laws that heavily punish any visa violation and requires gaijin to get cards with eletronic chips in them.

True, and the sad part, there are academics who shake their heads everytime something stupid like that happens - as one said, "we can either bury out heads in the sand and watch the slow decline, or we can open up our country".

What Japan needs is a good kick up the ass, like what NZ needed in the 1980s - a radical opening and liberalisation; a realisation that there is a world beyond the borders, and it needs to be embraced.

I'm here on an exchange program, but may immigrate in the future. For myself, I can say that I have enjoyed my time here and willingly signed up to stay an extra year. In my prefecture, I rarely encounter gaijin shock and have found the people here welcoming and warm. But I've also had encounters such as emptying out the bath at a hotel just by going in there. Getting looks no matter where I go, as if I was a passing freak show attraction (including one time when walking behind a woman who turned, saw me and exclaimed "GAIJIN!"). I've also seen the "Japanese Only" signs that can be found in various areas and have been more or less ignored because I am obviously not Japanese.

In other words, it's a very mixed bag. I love it, and wouldn't mind spending the rest of my life here. I've also had a friend who came and after two years couldn't get home fast enough and now extreamly dislikes Japan.

Meh, I guess it depends; for me, I tend to slink into alot of things quite nicely - having been in the situation of being 'the only white guy in the suburb" where I am now, I'm not overly concerned.

As for the Japanese, two things I find funny; females spend thousands on making themselves look more European, from skin lightening to blonding their hair.
The skin thing is rather ancient and has a lot to do with notions of beauty that are hundreds of years old and well before Japan had contact with Europeans. The blonde (and pink, blue, purple, orange, rainbow) colored thing is just silly though.

As for the other funny thing; "I'm not Asian! I'm Japanese!" to which I said, "yeah, and like a German is going to say, "I"m not European! I'm German!"", to which the individual felt like a right fuckwit.
*Lol* A better analogy would be a Brit and Europe, but yeah. And it flips. Japan looked to China and Korea for the longest time. During the Meiji Restoration it looked West. The end of Taisho and the begining of Showa found it looking back towards Asia (as a place to take over I admit) and after WWII it looked back out to the West. Currently its not too sure WHAT it's doing and both Asia and the West have massive influance here.

being a giant in a land of ewoks, I think they would be rather hesitant about saying anything, be it in Japanes or English :P
Doesn't stop them. The ones who would say anything are the ones who think that no gaijin could possibly know Japanese, something that when they find the ones that do, gets them into a lot of trouble.

If you're planning to move to Japan, as cliché as it is, teaching English would be a good gig.

Personally, I loved Japan when I went there last summer (stayed on Honshu the whole time). However, that was as a tourist. (Haha, in the countryside, random people took pictures of us, probably because they'd never seen the races of my classmates for themselves before). To echo what many people have said, the Japanese aren't even very accepting to Japanese-Americans, let alone anyone outside the Japanese race. There are even certain bars that have "No Gaijin Allowed" signs (you might be able to get in if you have a bunch of Japanese friends with you, maybe). Teaching English (or other languages maybe) is about the only respectable thing you can do, because otherwise you'll never move up any rank in any job if there's a Japanese person they can promote instead of you.

However, I'm black (mixed half-white, half-black, but that's seen as black), and I'm definitely planning on living there for at least a year. So despite the warnings, don't completely rule Japan out. It's very safe and clean, the food is good, and the language and culture are fascinating. Just because you won't be absolutely accepted by everyone doesn't mean you can't find friendship or have a good time.

True, but at the same time, I'm surprised how open Chinese are when compared to the Japanese, same with the Koreans - it seems that both China and Korea realise it is 'embrace the world or die'.
Actually Japan can be very open, it depends on what you mean and what you're trying to make Japan open to. Japan is just very good at taking things that it likes, then implanting a Japanese heart into it. The result is shrimp burgers at McDonalds.

You're right about the myth, how many actual native, that is, indigenous Japanese are left? I mean, most of the population is pretty much a fusion of Chinese, Mongolian and Korea, with a few other things thrown in for good measure. Its like trying to find a pure English or Scottish person, its non existant :P
The Ainu population? Last I checked, less that 5,000 'pure' Ainu exist, and even then, many anthropolgists believe that they are actually gone and no full blooded Ainu are left.

What Japan needs is a good kick up the ass, like what NZ needed in the 1980s - a radical opening and liberalisation; a realisation that there is a world beyond the borders, and it needs to be embraced.
It's getting there. Change comes very slowly in Japan, but the uptic of xenophobic reactions on the fringes seems to indicate a general acceptance of needing to open up again. But Japan being Japan, you're looking at a good 10 or 15 years before it really does.

Doesn't stop them. The ones who would say anything are the ones who think that no gaijin could possibly know Japanese, something that when they find the ones that do, gets them into a lot of trouble.

LOL, well, they'll just have hear the Japanese spoken in the same way I speak German - it ends up coming out as me addressing a platoon of soldiers :)

Yeah, it will require me learning Japanese, but having seen a little that my sister learned, it'll be interesting; I would be shitty at using their characters, but speaking I wouldn't be so bad at, and with some help from my cousin, I'm sure I could improve.

LOL, well, they'll just have hear the Japanese spoken in the same way I speak German - it ends up coming out as me addressing a platoon of soldiers :)

Yeah, it will require me learning Japanese, but having seen a little that my sister learned, it'll be interesting; I would be shitty at using their characters, but speaking I wouldn't be so bad at, and with some help from my cousin, I'm sure I could improve.

Learning Japanese isn't as hard as its made out to be. It only looks impressive.

Actually Japan can be very open, it depends on what you mean and what you're trying to make Japan open to. Japan is just very good at taking things that it likes, then implanting a Japanese heart into it. The result is shrimp burgers at McDonalds.

Well, for me, I just 'blend in', I certainly wouldn't be the 'white guy trying to look for white guy food to eat' - its the old story of 'when in rome, do what the romans do', and I'll be doing likewise - so yeah, for some Japanese it might come to them as a shock seeing a white fella doing the Japanese thing, and getting on with life.

The Ainu population? Last I checked, less that 5,000 'pure' Ainu exist, and even then, many anthropolgists believe that they are actually gone and no full blooded Ainu are left.

Which makes the whole 'keep Japan pure' argument even more stupid; its the equivilant of the 'white only' policy that was in place in Australia in the 1950s.

It's getting there. Change comes very slowly in Japan, but the uptic of xenophobic reactions on the fringes seems to indicate a general acceptance of needing to open up again. But Japan being Japan, you're looking at a good 10 or 15 years before it really does.

True, I understand to a certain extent that they don't want to lose their culture, but at the same time, I would hardly say taking a more open approach to immigration and foreigners in general is going to cause the appocolypse that is feared by some.

watashi no nihongo warui desu

I can't remember how to say easy...anyway the language is pretty easy as long as you don't want to say something amazingly difficult. So the language is not really a barrier to going there.

Well, for me, I just 'blend in', I certainly wouldn't be the 'white guy trying to look for white guy food to eat' - its the old story of 'when in rome, do what the romans do', and I'll be doing likewise - so yeah, for some Japanese it might come to them as a shock seeing a white fella doing the Japanese thing, and getting on with life.
If that's what you're going to do, you should have very little problems in Japan.

Which makes the whole 'keep Japan pure' argument even more stupid; its the equivilant of the 'white only' policy that was in place in Australia in the 1950s.
Yeah, like I said, it's a very silly myth, but it does keep the country together.

True, I understand to a certain extent that they don't want to lose their culture, but at the same time, I would hardly say taking a more open approach to immigration and foreigners in general is going to cause the appocolypse that is feared by some.
I believe so as well, and I'd say a sizeable chunk of the population also believes so, but there's always someone...

So the language is not really a barrier to going there.
*Reads... re-reads... starts to snicker* Until you're out in the middle of inaka, your heater stops working in the middle of a friken freezing winter, and the nice folks at the denkiyasan next to you, while always willing to help, can't understand a word of English.

BUt what i mean is why go somewhere they would not accept you, where you would never be their equal. The Japanese had a bunch of anti white\european racisam, and it would be like for a black dude to moove volenteraly from his home in afrika to the south of the US.


That whole African moving to the southern US and experience racism isn't as large a problem as you make it out to be. If you look as far as the demographics of many southern towns, cities, states and what have you, you'll notice a larger population of African Americans than you would if you compared them with Wyoming or Michigan. I'm from Georgia, one of the more liberal states of the South (we've had a liberal state government as long as I can remember). Atlanta (the capital of Georgia) is a central metropolitan area for the hip-hop culture. More than most people expect, the Southern half of the United States is quite possibly the most diverse in the whole continent of North America - that's my opinion. I suppose the root of the whole "southern racism" comes from the troubled times of the Civil War and Civil Rights Movement. But times have changed, and for the large part, those days are over. I've been through Indiana and Kentucky and a number of several states to the north, and in my entire time that I was in Indiana, I saw two African Americans. Needless to stay, I was happy to return to the south, where diversity is more appreciated. But perhaps next time you could use a better example, or at least put a time frame so that such an analogy would be more accurate.

*Reads... re-reads... starts to snicker* Until you're out in the middle of inaka, your heater stops working in the middle of a friken freezing winter, and the nice folks at the denkiyasan next to you, while always willing to help, can't understand a word of English.


doomo sumimasen watashi no kuruma wa shinda na soshite anata no denwa arimasu ka. Demo dono wa eigo o hanashimasu ka

That should solve that problem

First, my creds: I have 14 (going on 15 at the end of March) years on the ground here.

I was just watching television whilst eating tea, and an article popped up in regards to a female who was paid a million yen, which is around $10,000 for the fact that she had a child - the idea is to promote the idea of more child birth.



Now, here are a couple of questions I need answered:

1) Females in Japan are now exercising their right to either have less children, no children or simply remain single; why haven't the government looked at a proactive immigration programme that encourages the people with the skills needed, to move to Japan?

As NERVUN said, there's a long standing debate on proactive immigration. However, it's fairly easy to get in, particularly if you are a citizen of a "western" state (Africans and Asians have a tougher time, as I understand it).

2) I am looking at moving from New Zealand within the next 3-4 years, and funny enough, after that story, Japan came up on my radar; I have heard mixed stories about Japan and immigration, can anyone give a first hand experience at it.

I've enjoyed my time here. I haven't gone for my permenant resident visa yet, but I know I'd qualify for it easily. Several long term friends and aquantances have it. It helps if you're married to a Japanese.

A lot will depend on what you want to do, what skills you have, and how long you want to stay. The English teaching gig (as mentioned above) is the most common foot in the door, but entertainment, business, and missionary work are all fairlyt common. I know a number of people who've come over on spousal visas (either married to Japanese or married to someone on other business) who've been involved in trades ranging from welding to computers.


Citizenship is a heck of a lot harder, but not impossible. http://www.debito.org/naturalization.html has good info if that's the route you want to go (it's from a US citizens standpoint, but it applies generally).

doomo sumimasen watashi no kuruma wa shinda na soshite anata no denwa arimasu ka. Demo dono wa eigo o hanashimasu ka

That should solve that problem

;) That might work if you have car trouble and want to call the JAF. But it asasumes that you can get though Seward's "baka barubu" and get ahold of an English speaking JAF rep (I'm not a member - don't even drive back home in the US, so I can't say for surer, but experience tells me it's unlikely).

Getting a heater fixed is another story...
Espcially in the inaka areas like that where that yamaimo NEVRUN lives... ;p

I think the Japanese government is going to wait till they don't have a ridiculous population density (I beleive Japan is the most population dense counrty in the world) before they start encouraging other people to come on to their tiny island.

I think (what little of it there is) rural Japan may be one of the most beautiful places in the world, its always been a fantasy of mine to move there (among other places).

They were discussing this on Outpost Nine's section about an American guy in Japan as an English teacher. I know I would sign up for Operation: Get Japanese Women Pregnant.

I think the Japanese government is going to wait till they don't have a ridiculous population density (I beleive Japan is the most population dense counrty in the world) before they start encouraging other people to come on to their tiny island.

Japan's not even close to the densest. Bangladesh, Taiwan, ROK, and the Netherlands all beat it out. A large number of city-states, micronations, and
territories also beat it.

And the govenment doesn't need to wait. The shinking population crisis is at hand. http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200512270448.html


I think (what little of it there is) rural Japan may be one of the most beautiful places in the world, its always been a fantasy of mine to move there (among other places).

You might be surprised how much of the country is rural. That would be especially true if you go by the standards of some Japanese I know - I've had people tell me a suburban sprawl is "the countryside". :eek: Fortunately I know what rural Japan is. Unfortunately, I knoiw what increasing areas of it look like. :(

Well, to be blunt, I'm no fan of Japan. I like the manga and anime, but other than that, there is little I care for. It's sexist, racist, collectivist, capitalist, and monarchist, all the things I oppose.

As NERVUN said, there's a long standing debate on proactive immigration. However, it's fairly easy to get in, particularly if you are a citizen of a "western" state (Africans and Asians have a tougher time, as I understand it).

True, but then again, further on I said I would be doing the Japanese thing - I certainly won't be the white guy in Japan trying to recreate a small mini NZ in another country, which I see alot of white people do when they go to other countries.

Citizenship is a heck of a lot harder, but not impossible. http://www.debito.org/naturalization.html has good info if that's the route you want to go (it's from a US citizens standpoint, but it applies generally).

I had another chat, apparently NZ'ders are pretty much welcomed, I guess it has to do with the fact that we're a piddly little country that has the ability to be a friend to any nation :D

My friend is Japanese.

He says, as Japan was in its history, it is now.

Roughly his words -

"Isolationism always ruled Japan, and immigrants will be looked down upon and hated. Xenophobia was a major part of Confucianism, which was held dearer than ever to the East Asian Nations.

Japan, Germany, and Italy have declining populations, but Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has now pledged to promote child birth.

Another thing is that South Korea is having a falling birth rate too, hopefully they will increase their birth rates sometime soon."

My friend is Japanese.

He says, as Japan was in its history, it is now.

Roughly his words -

"Isolationism always ruled Japan, and immigrants will be looked down upon and hated. Xenophobia was a major part of Confucianism, which was held dearer than ever to the East Asian Nations.

Japan, Germany, and Italy have declining populations, but Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has now pledged to promote child birth.

Another thing is that South Korea is having a falling birth rate too, hopefully they will increase their birth rates sometime soon."

True, but another thing they can't ignore is this; there are a number of Japanese who leave Japan, who are highly educated, who can't be bothered putting up with that shit - so they say 'bugger it'.

So its not only a declining birth rate, but trying to bring Japan kicking and screaming into the 21st century.

As for the xenophobia, it really can't be any worse than the crap that occurs in the US, and out right dismissal of anyone who happens to be educated and an immigrant, little wonder why all the immigrants who come to the US gather together, away from the American employees.

Japan, Germany, and Italy have declining populations, but Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has now pledged to promote child birth.
Just why do people think there is a population decline in Germany? Right now, the growth rate is 0%: Less people get born than die, but that's cancelled out with immigration.
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/gm.html

Italy's is 0.07%, Japan's is 0.05% and Russia's is -0.37%.

And for reference, the US is 0.92%.

Just why do people think there is a population decline in Germany? Right now, the growth rate is 0%: Less people get born than die, but that's cancelled out with immigration.
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/gm.html.

The thing that's hurting Germany is that its population is aging so much, and has been for a while. However, it and Japan are luckier than Eastern Europe, since they have developed economies that can better handle the age problem.

Japan's also got the advantage of having a lot of technology devoted to maximizing the health of the elderly, which does cancel out some of the issues with population stagnation.

Cute guy, fine for you, maybe you don't like white guys:p

BUt what i mean is why go somewhere they would not accept you, where you would never be their equal. The Japanese had a bunch of anti white\european racisam, and it would be like for a black dude to moove volenteraly from his home in afrika to the south of the US.

Remember, these people were also once at war with you, and their grandparants tell tales to their children how they fought against the people with round eyes. I mean and they have looong hours.

Racisam and long hours?
Why

Is English your native language?

I'm here on an exchange program, but may immigrate in the future...snip... I've also seen the "Japanese Only" signs that can be found in various areas...

Why would you want to immigrate to a country that obviously discriminates against you? Isn't that "Japanese Only" sign a little like the "No dogs or Irishmen" signs that appeared in the US in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the US?

Actually Japan can be very open, it depends on what you mean and what you're trying to make Japan open to. Japan is just very good at taking things that it likes, then implanting a Japanese heart into it. The result is shrimp burgers at McDonalds.

When can I get one of those shrimpburgers at McDonalds in Tulas, Oklahoma USA. It sounds great...can you tell I like shrimp?

When can I get one of those shrimpburgers at McDonalds in Tulas, Oklahoma USA. It sounds great...can you tell I like shrimp?
About that...I'm thinking the existance of shrimp burgers is more thanks to McDonalds marketing strategists than the Japanese acceptance of foreign things.