Japanese Earthquake

Spenner · Post by **Spenner** » Thu Mar 17, 2011 3:31 am

I do have an extremely dark sense of humour and found them pretty funny, but that doesn't mean I personally hold any disrespect towards the people of Japan by any means... I still feel equally as bad for everything going on

IanRedpoint · Post by **IanRedpoint** » Thu Mar 17, 2011 7:47 am

Julian Candy wrote:...and also remember that saying "too soon" is just as offensive as saying the joke itself.

Please explain because I just don't see the connection. "Too soon" is simply a very polite way of asking someone to back off when they have caused offence. Would it have been better if the response had been more vitriolic? I know my initial response would have been far harsher.

For the record, I've a pretty warped dark sense of humour but kicking a man when he's down has never been funny in my book.

rik0000 · Post by **rik0000** » Thu Mar 17, 2011 8:53 am

While I can appreciate some sarcasm/dark humor and in case of disaster humor can relieve, in this case it's like joking to the family of a comatose patient about the funny noises the mechanical ventilation makes. With Dp and Hexagon son being there, Mexicola having a friend over there and all three posting about their worries, I don't think this has much to do with humor, more with lack of compassion/human skills(/good taste?).

(I think I start sounding like a moralist... didn't know I had that high morals... or don't I??)

hexagon son · Post by **hexagon son** » Thu Mar 17, 2011 11:35 am

I just want to ask everyone for patience, their understanding. Emotions are running high here, a lot of us are on edge. I also ask for forgiveness for anyone I may had inadvertently offended in these trying times.

I woke up at 0700 today, a full hour before I usually do, wide awake. No idea why. Also, my power was on. I was due for a cut-off from 0600 until 1000.

Went to work as usual, I find that both my boss and the secretary of our office had their power cut. Once again, I've been lucky. A college of mine spent 5 hours in a queue just to get 15 litres of gas (petrol).

"Borrowed" a couple of batteries from my workplace for my flashlight. Shops didn't have any, and they are better off sat in my flashlight than in a drawer.

It's really cold and windy today! It feels like the promise of spring we had last week was just a lie. No power from 1400 until 1700. I had to teach with no lights or heating. It wasn't so bad. Teaching almost took my mind off of things for a bit.

The situation with the nuclear reactors is going from bad to worse. Again, my mind just comprehend how bad it is. They are threatening sweeping power cuts across the whole east of Japan, they say they just cant generate enough electricity. I hope it happens when I am asleep.

I think I am starting to get ill. Not from radiation but from worry and stress. Its hard to focus with a splitting headache and a nasty cough from smoking too much.

1000's of foreigners are queuing up outside immigration offices to get re-entry permits so they can get back in to Japan when it's all safe.

Me? I'm staying.

"A man does what he must - in spite of personal consequences, in spite of obstacles and dangers and pressures - and that is the basis of all human morality. "
(<taken from my daily FB blog about life in eastern Japan)

A_Northern_Soul · Post by **A_Northern_Soul** » Thu Mar 17, 2011 1:01 pm

rik0000 wrote:While I can appreciate some sarcasm/dark humor and in case of disaster humor can relieve, in this case it's like joking to the family of a comatose patient about the funny noises the mechanical ventilation makes. With Dp and Hexagon son being there, Mexicola having a friend over there and all three posting about their worries, I don't think this has much to do with humor, more with lack of compassion/human skills(/good taste?).

(I think I start sounding like a moralist... didn't know I had that high morals... or don't I??)

That sums the whole joke issue up fairly eloquently, I think. There's a time and a place, and that time is not when bodies are still being pulled out of wreckage, and the place is not somewhere alongside other poster's 1st hand accounts and concerns for friends/family.

Hexagon Son - thanks for posting your updates here - it gives us an extra human dimension to the rolling news footage.

radiateme · Post by **radiateme** » Thu Mar 17, 2011 1:38 pm

A_Northern_Soul wrote:Hexagon Son - thanks for posting your updates here - it gives us an extra human dimension to the rolling news footage.

Definitely. It's good to know that you and dp are alright.

Mexicola · Post by **Mexicola** » Thu Mar 17, 2011 5:17 pm

Julian Candy wrote:... remember that saying "too soon" is just as offensive as saying the joke itself.

Sorry, but I beg to differ.

Julian Candy · Post by **Julian Candy** » Fri Mar 18, 2011 12:34 am

IanRedpoint wrote:
Julian Candy wrote:...and also remember that saying "too soon" is just as offensive as saying the joke itself.

Please explain because I just don't see the connection.

Because you're still implying that it will be a subject of humor in the future.

Also, I never said that the tsunami was funny. (even though my sense of humor goes dark enough to where I actually laugh at death, don't judge me on that) I have sympathy for people like dp, Hexagon Son and Mexicola as they would be in the line of fire in this situation, but for the rest of us who have nothing to fret about, we shouldn't get so butthurt when Gilbert makes a joke, all he was trying to do was make us laugh. He's a comedian, that's his job. Seriously, he has made several jokes about other tragedies but suddenly he's the devil because he makes a joke about the tsunami.
http://www.examiner.com/howard-stern-in ... -holocaust

turquoise70 · Post by **turquoise70** » Fri Mar 18, 2011 1:33 am

I understand your perspective, and I completely disagree.

The Friendly Stranger · Fri Mar 18, 2011 2:17 am

turquoise70 wrote:I understand your perspective, and I completely disagree.

Spenner · Post by **Spenner** » Fri Mar 18, 2011 3:08 am

Maybe if you were in Japan you'd feel differently.

It's good to see your updates Hexagon, you have my wishes for pulling through :/

Post by **Aesthetics** » Fri Mar 18, 2011 10:11 am

Humor is all about timing and in many cases also to put things into perspective. In my opinion it has nothing to do with involvement as humor sometimes is being made by people who are the victim themselves. I sometimes try to make a joke just to distract attention from the matter.. but where does one draw the line? This is very personal and will always be a hot topic. Jokes about the middle east and the (still) ongoing violence is not done because people are still dying each day? Jokes about WW II are not-done because millions of people died? The same joke Gilbert made would be considered "ok" if he makes it next year? Or are we to blame the media for blowing this up and transport the joke to those who don't want to hear this?

I find it very difficult to decide to be honest. I won't quote a joke Gilbert did because I know some on here might find it offensive, but I have to admit when I read a certain joke he made I had an inner laugh for a split second but at the same time I felt guilty about it as there died and suffer a lot of people at that moment. Does that make me or Gilbert bad? I don't think so. Although I laughed for a split second my heart still goes out to the people in Japan.

Thanks Hexagon for taking time to update us about your situation.

EDIT: typo

rik0000 · Post by **rik0000** » Fri Mar 18, 2011 10:35 am

Aesthetics wrote:Humor is all about timing and in many cases also to put things into perspective. In my opinion it has nothing to do with involvement as humor sometimes is being made by people who are the victim themselves. I sometimes try to make a joke just to distract attention from the matter.. but where does one draw the line? This is very personal and will always be a hot topic. Jokes about the middle east and the (still) ongoing violence is not done because people are still dying each day? Jokes about WW II are not-done because millions of people died? The same joke Gilbert made would be considered "ok" if he makes it next year? Or are we to blame the media for blowing this up and transport the joke to those who don't want to hear this?

I find it very difficult to decide to be honest. I won't quote a joke Gilbert did because I know some on here might find it offensive, but I have to admit when I read a certain joke he made I had an inner laugh for a split second but at the same time I felt guilty about it as there died and suffer a lot of people at that moment. Does that make me or Gilbert bad? I don't think so. Although I laughed for a split second my heart still goes out to the people in Japan.

An interesting discussion on ethics. On most points I agree with you. Your questions are good ones and I also like to add two: Is it okay to tell jokes about WOII to a Jew? And what if they make them among themselves, can I also make a joke and tell it to them? Well apparently some think they can and some think they cannot (<-me).

Maybe it should be treated as the N-word? Colored people can use it, white can use it among themselves, although it isn't considered sophisticated, but whites can *never* use it in front of colored people?

hexagon son · Post by **hexagon son** » Fri Mar 18, 2011 1:01 pm

I haven't heard his jokes about the situation in Japan. I think perhaps it's a bit knee-jerk reaction from public because it reaches so many people. If it was told between two friends, obviously the reaction would be different. Guilbert's jokes have no effect on what happens here in Japan. I heard a Gaddafi/Japan joke the other day, can't even remember what it was. but anyway, today's experience.

---------------------------------

I can't believe it has been a week already. It was strange marking the "occasion" in the exact same place I had experienced it.

Wasn't feeling too well this morning. Thought it must be a cold, then I thought hay fever. Anyway, it was gone by the time I went to my school to teach. No good thinking about feeling ill when you're at work. All my students showed up but one, due to having flu. It's amazing how people are just trying to get on with their lives here. I love my students, I hope they know that I do.

No power cuts where I was teaching but the whole drive home was in pitch black with six lane roads. No traffic lights working. No power. Everyone doing 70 in a 50. Less traffic than usual for a Friday night. Made it home safe, I hope all my friends and colleagues have as well.

Was pitch black in my house, but I've got candles, flashlight, radio with batteries and running water and natural gas. still made spaghetti bolognese! I admit the power came on half way through cooking though.

Some good news today! I got a call from an English school in Hiroshima prefecture considering me for a job! If they offer it to me, I would be able to see my family on weekends, as its only 2 hours away by train.

Only saw one place with gas (petrol) today, didn't have time to queue for it though.

The news? Sounds like its getting better. Sounds like its getting worse. Sounds like...

If you wish for an interesting life, you just may get it. Be careful what you wish for. Those people sacrificing their lives at the nuclear power facility flighting the impossible in Fukushima, I love each and every one of you like you were my brother. You will die for me so I can live.

I feel lucky today.

Mexicola · Post by **Mexicola** » Fri Mar 18, 2011 2:20 pm

Hex - is the postal service running over there? Is there anything simple that you need that we can sort out for you maybe? A box of candles, warm jumper, anything?

hexagon son · Post by **hexagon son** » Fri Mar 18, 2011 2:51 pm

Mexicola wrote:Hex - is the postal service running over there? Is there anything simple that you need that we can sort out for you maybe? A box of candles, warm jumper, anything?

unless you can post gasoline! no, i am doing good. as i said, its just inconvenient here, and we are all worried about the reactors. but i've got everything i need. thank you for your thoughts though. i worry about the people more north east of me. anything you can do for them...

Mexicola · Post by **Mexicola** » Fri Mar 18, 2011 5:01 pm

hexagon son wrote:unless you can post gasoline!.

Not since Interpol started monitoring my emails... :wink:

Mexicola · Post by **Mexicola** » Fri Mar 18, 2011 5:05 pm

Really cool looking Warp T-shirt just went on sale to benefit the Japan relief effort - all proceeds going to Red Cross Aid.

Go, go, go!!!

IanRedpoint · Post by **IanRedpoint** » Fri Mar 18, 2011 5:27 pm

Lovely. Liking that t-shirt a lot.

We (as in Andy and I as Redpoint) are on a compilation coming out, I believe, this weekend. All proceeds to the Red Cross relief effort. I'm hoping the organisers will email me some more concrete details so I can spread the word.

747Music · Post by **747Music** » Fri Mar 18, 2011 7:19 pm

Hexagon Son, I really appreciate you taking the time to tell us whats going on there. My prayers go out to you and to all the Japanese people and families affected.

That would be cool if you get that job in the Hiroshima prefecture. Visiting your family must be all you want to do in times like these.

All the best my friend.