Comments on: Google Street View: Right and Wrong Ways to Criticize http://www.awh.org/2008/08/28/google-street-view-right-and-wrong-ways-to-criticize/ Drew Hamilton's Home Page -- Serving No Useful Purpose Since 1994 Wed, 30 Jun 2010 08:21:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: RMilner http://www.awh.org/2008/08/28/google-street-view-right-and-wrong-ways-to-criticize/comment-page-1/#comment-211 RMilner Thu, 28 Aug 2008 07:54:50 +0000 http://www.awh.org/2008/08/28/google-street-view-right-and-wrong-ways-to-criticize/#comment-211 Mr Higuchi's letter was polite and also wrong. We British live in small houses close to the road. We decorate our houses with plants, and we shovel snow off the pavement. We also disapprove of peering into people's front rooms. And some of us don't like Google Street View. Many Japanese seem to think Japan is unique -- which is absolutely true, every country is unique. But they seem to think Japan is completely different to all other countries, which is absolutely false. Mr Higuchi’s letter was polite and also wrong.

We British live in small houses close to the road. We decorate our houses with plants, and we shovel snow off the pavement. We also disapprove of peering into people’s front rooms. And some of us don’t like Google Street View.

Many Japanese seem to think Japan is unique — which is absolutely true, every country is unique. But they seem to think Japan is completely different to all other countries, which is absolutely false.

]]> By: DBR http://www.awh.org/2008/08/28/google-street-view-right-and-wrong-ways-to-criticize/comment-page-1/#comment-210 DBR Thu, 28 Aug 2008 03:14:02 +0000 http://www.awh.org/2008/08/28/google-street-view-right-and-wrong-ways-to-criticize/#comment-210 His letter certainly could come across as patronizing if you were in a mood to take it that way in the first place but it is fairly mild in it's "We Japanese-ness" than other examples I've had come my way and I think it's an overreaction to see it as such. To me, the "we-japanese" thing is about Japanese people making assumptions about other cultures without any evidence that the contrary is true in the other country. This guy has assumed that Google Street View has been accepted elsewhere in the world, particularly in the States and so that is his evidence that people in countries elsewhere take a different view to privacy. I think it is a very fair assumption especially when you consider that he comes from a culture where the government would intervene and put a stop to something which was widely objected to. Taken from that point of view his letter is actually a polite cry for understanding and he writes far more politely than many netizens would! If he has been reading other people's comments and decided that there is an element he thinks he can clarify to help the situation then he has every right to do so and it's what 90% of the web is made up of! He is simply a person who is genuinely trying explain something to people which he thinks they are not grasping. If it were me I would certainly have researched whether there were any objections anywhere else (as there was in Australia for example) but that's obviously not his style and I doubt it would be the style of many others either. His letter certainly could come across as patronizing if you were in a mood to take it that way in the first place but it is fairly mild in it’s “We Japanese-ness” than other examples I’ve had come my way and I think it’s an overreaction to see it as such.

To me, the “we-japanese” thing is about Japanese people making assumptions about other cultures without any evidence that the contrary is true in the other country. This guy has assumed that Google Street View has been accepted elsewhere in the world, particularly in the States and so that is his evidence that people in countries elsewhere take a different view to privacy. I think it is a very fair assumption especially when you consider that he comes from a culture where the government would intervene and put a stop to something which was widely objected to.

Taken from that point of view his letter is actually a polite cry for understanding and he writes far more politely than many netizens would! If he has been reading other people’s comments and decided that there is an element he thinks he can clarify to help the situation then he has every right to do so and it’s what 90% of the web is made up of! He is simply a person who is genuinely trying explain something to people which he thinks they are not grasping.

If it were me I would certainly have researched whether there were any objections anywhere else (as there was in Australia for example) but that’s obviously not his style and I doubt it would be the style of many others either.

]]> By: www.japansoc.com http://www.awh.org/2008/08/28/google-street-view-right-and-wrong-ways-to-criticize/comment-page-1/#comment-208 www.japansoc.com Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:42:43 +0000 http://www.awh.org/2008/08/28/google-street-view-right-and-wrong-ways-to-criticize/#comment-208 <strong>Google Street View: Right and Wrong Ways to Criticize...</strong> In which I explain why I have a problem with the famous "letter to Google about Street View Japan". If you're going to complain about something, don't do it in such a way that will get people's defenses up!... Google Street View: Right and Wrong Ways to Criticize…

In which I explain why I have a problem with the famous “letter to Google about Street View Japan”. If you’re going to complain about something, don’t do it in such a way that will get people’s defenses up!…

]]> By: awh http://www.awh.org/2008/08/28/google-street-view-right-and-wrong-ways-to-criticize/comment-page-1/#comment-207 awh Wed, 27 Aug 2008 23:56:47 +0000 http://www.awh.org/2008/08/28/google-street-view-right-and-wrong-ways-to-criticize/#comment-207 @akibare: But, but, but... Japan is the only place with 4 seasons! @akibare: But, but, but… Japan is the only place with 4 seasons!

]]> By: woekitten http://www.awh.org/2008/08/28/google-street-view-right-and-wrong-ways-to-criticize/comment-page-1/#comment-206 woekitten Wed, 27 Aug 2008 23:15:46 +0000 http://www.awh.org/2008/08/28/google-street-view-right-and-wrong-ways-to-criticize/#comment-206 Yeah, that was kind of a weird post. Every blogger says clueless things once in a while, but how can someone even assume that North Americans don't value privacy? Yeah, that was kind of a weird post. Every blogger says clueless things once in a while, but how can someone even assume that North Americans don’t value privacy?

]]> By: akibare http://www.awh.org/2008/08/28/google-street-view-right-and-wrong-ways-to-criticize/comment-page-1/#comment-205 akibare Wed, 27 Aug 2008 22:56:09 +0000 http://www.awh.org/2008/08/28/google-street-view-right-and-wrong-ways-to-criticize/#comment-205 I read it now you linked, and yeah, it rubs me the wrong way too, for similar reasons that you mention. Of course, I am the sort of person who when asked about what I like about the town I live in now (in Illinois) make a point of explaining that in 100% real honest truth, one of the best things I like about the US Midwest is that it has wonderful four seasons and amazing autumn leaf color. Occasionally the looks I get are priceless. I read it now you linked, and yeah, it rubs me the wrong way too, for similar reasons that you mention.

Of course, I am the sort of person who when asked about what I like about the town I live in now (in Illinois) make a point of explaining that in 100% real honest truth, one of the best things I like about the US Midwest is that it has wonderful four seasons and amazing autumn leaf color.

Occasionally the looks I get are priceless.

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