NationStates Jolt Archive

http://en.rian.ru/world/20080924/117067465.html

Taro Aso, a manga fan, is now the Japanese prime minister. And this thing has caused me to realize the emotional power of identity politics.

I disagree with him on almost every issue, and find some things he said repulsive, yet I actually felt glad for a while there that a manga fan (an otaku for us gaijins) had been elected.

It has made me realize that if I can feel glad for a (short) while that a person I so strongly disagree with is in a position of power because of such an insignificant trait, only later to realize how much I disagree with him, then the power of identity politics on bigger traits (race, gender) is that much stronger.

Taro Aso isn't only a manga fan I happen to disagree strongly with - or a person I disagree strongly with who happens to be a manga fan, as per the priority one's mind is putting on each issue - he's also quite a lesson for us liberals and otakus on how identity politics work. No wonder Sarah Palin gets photo ops while hunting, or Obama gets them while shooting hoops. If otakus were more powerful a group, we'd see Bush cosplaying as Kozo Fuyutsuki. And Cheney as Keel.

Because it works!

And because, in the last case, it would be VERY good a cosplay. >.>

McCain reads Magna.

McCain reads Magna.

Thanks for slapping some sense into me, I will NEVER be taken in by identity politics AGAIN. O_O

(To be sure, I stopped enjoying his election as soon as the "nice, he's an otaku" haze lifted)

Thanks for slapping some sense into me, I will NEVER be taken in by identity politics AGAIN. O_O

;).

This is a very good point, and a great illustration of it.

I like to think I'm too egotistical to be easily taken in by identity politics (because, according to me, none of them can even hope to ever be like me ;)), but can I be sure of that? How much self-awareness do we need to be able to tell when we are being led by the nose with familiar images of "like-us-ness"?

And in guarding against that, how much suspicion is too much? At what point do we risk closing our minds to someone with good ideas just because he/she fits our comfort zone too well?

This is one of the reasons I never listen to speeches, debates or campaign ads. Aside from the bullshit making my brain boil, I also don't want to be distracted by the packaging of a candidate. I only want to judge them by their records and their policies/proposals, so I only look at those, in print, without voices and performances or personal anecdotes to dress them up.

Thanks for slapping some sense into me, I will NEVER be taken in by identity politics AGAIN. O_O

(To be sure, I stopped enjoying his election as soon as the "nice, he's an otaku" haze lifted)
One good thing about it is that, when someone THAT egregious turns out to share a common interest with you, it can make you more resistant to being taken in by less obvious villains who also enjoy the same pastime, by shattering the assumption that Activity A is enjoyed by cool people.

This is a very good point, and a great illustration of it.

I like to think I'm too egotistical to be easily taken in by identity politics (because, according to me, none of them can even hope to ever be like me ;)), but can I be sure of that? How much self-awareness do we need to be able to tell when we are being led by the nose with familiar images of "like-us-ness"?

And in guarding against that, how much suspicion is too much? At what point do we risk closing our minds to someone with good ideas just because he/she fits our comfort zone too well?

This is one of the reasons I never listen to speeches, debates or campaign ads. Aside from the bullshit making my brain boil, I also don't want to be distracted by the packaging of a candidate. I only want to judge them by their records and their policies/proposals, so I only look at those, in print, without voices and performances or personal anecdotes to dress them up.

Nice.

And can you believe that even right now I'm thinking of what it would be like to discuss the psychology of these and those Bleach characters with him, though I consciously KNOW he was (in my view) a bad choice for Japan?

Heck, identity politics is indeed intoxicating! o_o

One good thing about it is that, when someone THAT egregious turns out to share a common interest with you, it can make you more resistant to being taken in by less obvious villains who also enjoy the same pastime, by shattering the assumption that Activity A is enjoyed by cool people.

To be sure, I don't think McCain DOES enjoy manga, that was just our good KoL slapping some sense into me - whether I needed it or not. ;)

But if he does, I'd be glad to recommend to him Blood +, that offers an Asian view on Vietnam at some points. :)

Mind you, I know the VAST majority of otakus, me included, are NERDS, not cool people. So, that assumption I don't have. :D

But, the "like-me-ness" issue, well, THAT is another story which Taro Aso did me a favor in uncovering.

To be sure, I don't think McCain DOES enjoy manga, that was just our good KoL slapping some sense into me - whether I needed it or not. ;)

But if he does, I'd be glad to recommend to him Blood +, that offers an Asian view on Vietnam at some points. :)

Mind you, I know the VAST majority of otakus, me included, are NERDS, not cool people. So, that assumption I don't have. :D

But, the "like-me-ness" issue, well, THAT is another story which Taro Aso did me a favor in uncovering.
You should write him a thank-you note.

"Dear Sir:

Thank you for opening my eyes to a potential vulnerability in my thinking. When you first took the position of head of Japan's government [or whatever he is], my immediate response was to feel happy because you are an otaku, just like me. Then, after only a few minutes, I remembered what else you are, and my pleasure immediately disappeared. This caused me to become aware of the insidious power of identity politics as a tool for getting past people's defenses and making them see what they want to see rather than what they should be paying attention to.

If I had been just a little less alert, I could have mistakenly thought of you as a trustworthy person just because we share a common interest. Thank you for highlighting this weakness in me. I am resolved never to be so misled again.

I remain, sir, your servant, etc.

H from Brazil"

:D

If he starts investing the nation's budget into "modernizing" the Self Defense Force with mechas and anti-Godzilla missiles then we'll know.

You should write him a thank-you note.

"Dear Sir:

Thank you for opening my eyes to a potential vulnerability in my thinking. When you first took the position of head of Japan's government [or whatever he is], my immediate response was to feel happy because you are an otaku, just like me. Then, after only a few minutes, I remembered what else you are, and my pleasure immediately disappeared. This caused me to become aware of the insidious power of identity politics as a tool for getting past people's defenses and making them see what they want to see rather than what they should be paying attention to.

If I had been just a little less alert, I could have mistakenly thought of you as a trustworthy person just because we share a common interest. Thank you for highlighting this weakness in me. I am resolved never to be so misled again.

I remain, sir, your servant, etc.

H from Brazil"

:D

I think tone and content are mismatched in that letter. ;)

Also, "otaku" carries a bad meaning in Japan.

If he starts investing the nation's budget into "modernizing" the Self Defense Force with mechas and anti-Godzilla missiles then we'll know.

Spending some of the budget on opening old-looking, mystical-styled houses in out-of-the-way places, too... ;)

(What? I like urban fantasy style mangas better. XXX Holic FTW!)

Also, Japan is weird.

Also, Japan is weird.

Oh sweet God yes.

I think tone and content are mismatched in that letter. ;)
Um..... ya think? ;)

Also, "otaku" carries a bad meaning in Japan.
You can edit it to make it more correct. :D

Um..... ya think? ;)

Just a tad. It's like "My dear sir, I must kindly inform you that you are a son of a bitch..." :p

Oh sweet God yes.

http://media.ebaumsworld.com/picture/star4ucker/japan01.jpg

Just a tad. It's like "My dear sir, I must kindly inform you that you are a son of a bitch..." :p

I love writing letters like that. Some day, when I have nothing else to do, I'll start a blog that will be all open letters in that vein, just for the fun of writing them.

http://media.ebaumsworld.com/picture/star4ucker/japan01.jpg
What the hell am I looking at?

Oh. Japan. Right. :D

You should write him a thank-you note.

"Dear Sir:

Thank you for opening my eyes to a potential vulnerability in my thinking. When you first took the position of head of Japan's government [or whatever he is], my immediate response was to feel happy because you are an otaku, just like me. Then, after only a few minutes, I remembered what else you are, and my pleasure immediately disappeared. This caused me to become aware of the insidious power of identity politics as a tool for getting past people's defenses and making them see what they want to see rather than what they should be paying attention to.

If I had been just a little less alert, I could have mistakenly thought of you as a trustworthy person just because we share a common interest. Thank you for highlighting this weakness in me. I am resolved never to be so misled again.

I remain, sir, your servant, etc.

H from Brazil"

:D
I wouldn't do that if I were you. PM Aso actually speaks English and is well known for his cutting sarcasm. You might bite off more than you can chew. :tongue:

http://s165.photobucket.com/albums/u42/FosB/De_motivational_Poster_by_yuki_snow.jpg

Also:
http://images.encyclopediadramatica.com/images/0/03/Japan.jpg
http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj2/cbarns/japan2.jpg
http://www.lowbird.com/data/images/2008/03/japan-wtf.jpg

I wouldn't do that if I were you. PM Aso actually speaks English and is well known for his cutting sarcasm. You might bite off more than you can chew. :tongue:
O-ho, the Mephisto you say! Please extend my personal invitation to PM Aso to join me here at NSG at his convenience. I am bored with the same old meat around here. *goes to get file to resharpen teeth* ;) EDIT: Hell, I don't even know anything about the man. I'd just be happy with a new opponent to spar with.

And if he's such a humdinger, let's see him handle Train Girl (above) while he's at it. :p

And if he's such a humdinger, let's see him handle Train Girl (above) while he's at it. :p

I think I can take her.

O-ho, the Mephisto you say! Please extend my personal invitation to PM Aso to join me here at NSG at his convenience. I am bored with the same old meat around here. *goes to get file to resharpen teeth* ;) EDIT: Hell, I don't even know anything about the man. I'd just be happy with a new opponent to spar with.
Well, it hasn't changed over yet, but the address to contact the Prime Minister is here: http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/index-e.html

And if he's such a humdinger, let's see him handle Train Girl (above) while he's at it. :p
Handle it? KNowing Aso, he probably sponcered it!

Well, it hasn't changed over yet, but the address to contact the Prime Minister is here: http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/index-e.html


Handle it? KNowing Aso, he probably sponcered it!
Well, he might be a total crook (allegedly, or whatever is alleged about him), but I guess he might be my kind of crook (or whatever), then. :D