"they found discrimination because they were looking for discrimination" That's the gold nugget here.

I’m glad the Dartmouth Scar Experiment is getting more recognition.

Language policing is a dystopian nightmare.

There are so many differences between Japanese and American culture. However, with all their differences, they do have one thing in  common. In both cultures, their HR departments making life a living hell by overcomplicating things.

I’ve lived in North America for over 20 years, and honestly, I think a lot of what we’re seeing now comes from people avoiding responsibility in how they raise their kids. That mindset gets passed down, and after a few generations, the results become very obvious.

So when people argue about “fat shaming,” I sometimes wonder if that label is being used to dodge a deeper issue. Is it really about shaming, or is it a way to avoid uncomfortable conversations about habits, accountability, and long-term consequences?

In many parts of Europe and Asia, cultures are built around extended families. When grandparents comment on your weight, it’s usually not meant to humiliate you. It’s a form of care, even if it comes across bluntly. They see your health as something shared, not purely individual.

That kind of family-based accountability doesn’t really exist in American culture. Everything is framed as personal choice, personal boundaries, and personal feelings. Over time, that also means personal responsibility gets diluted.

"It's illegal to be fat in Japan"
The guy who sang "big in Japan": 😰

Microaggressions is how businesses infantilize their employees and destroy internal communication and trust.

I remember comedians back in the 80's/ 90's talk about the Oprah effect. One day the comedians were in perfectly healthy relationships, and the next day their wives and girlfriends were angry and hostile. The punchline was along the lines of "Dang, you've been watching Oprah again?!?" or "Oprah's been telling you again that you're not living your best life!?!". I don't like using the word toxic, but that's how I've always felt about her.

I love how all these criticisms of Japan were just making arguments that just prove fat shaming actually works at the social level of a society 😂

Thanks Joseph, Happy New Year.  Your videos mean so much more to me now that I travelled to Japan last November.  I found the people to be nothing less than wonderful.  So polite, disciplined and welcoming.  Must visit again.

That was the most perfect segue into a sponsor I’ve ever witnessed 🤝

"The easily offended are easily manipulated"

As an adult, I've been skinny shamed a lot more than fat shamed.  (American).

日本人は体質的、身体的にそんな太れないんです。欧米人のように太る前に、絶対に病気になって痩せるか、死にます。太ってる人を嫌うというより本能的に不健康に見えて不安な気持ちになるんだと思います。ただ、もちろん痩せすぎもよくないです。

Social pressure is different to bullying and “fat-shaming” - if it’s a cultural norm and understanding in your society to be slim and healthy, you’re more likely to stick with it, and less likely to find it offensive if someone you know enquires about your weight and health, it’s probably seen as a kindness rather than shaming.

I was slimmer/more muscular my whole life. During covid, eating to fight boredom became a hobby, and I had to get bigger pants.

Moved to Japan last year, in my slightly bigger size. Went surfing during the summer. Lost a couple inches on my waist and the six pack I had in college has reappeared. A female friend who's old enough to be my mom and has been rooting for me to find a nice Japanese girl says, "You lost weight, haven't you." I was offended. Japanese people only fat shame you AFTER you lost the weight. Haha.

See, Japan is actually a serious country. They regulate who can live there and do not allow their citizens to be unhealthy and draining on healthcare systems.

Also something unique to north american bullying and similar behavior. Is that, that person is thrown out, outcast, not part of the group or even neighborhood. In other parts of the world even if they joke around or even have a nick name for that person he still even uf way over weight would be at pool with the rest of them. North american culture is a lot more lonely

I MOVED TO BULGARIA IN 2009 where people don't LOOK for reasons to be offended like they do in the US and the UK - and honestly, you have NO IDEA how much of your life you spend LOOKING for things to be offended by!

I know - cos looking back I did, and I was NOT the easily offended type, its just the culture

Love this video. It shows how easily people are influenced by media.