indifference

[notafanboy]

I went to Yokohama on a business trip yesterday. I finished my work relatively early and, as I walked a very long and steep staircase down the hill on my way back to the train station, I tripped and fell down. I was and still am pretty calm about what happened, but if I think about it again, I realize that I was extremely lucky or just physically

Comments

[harmlessbondage]

i'm glad you weren't seriously hurt! every time i miss a step or even get the feeling i've missed a step, i swear my life flashes before my eyes D: it sounds like you fell face first?!

but what kind of a person sees another human being in pain and completely ignores them?

i hate to say it, but a japanese person. :| it's not just a "you're a foreigner and i hate you" sort of thing. nobody helps the little old ladies either.

[notafanboy]

Yeah, I think I was lucky to get away with just scraped legs. I fell on my knees and then slid down, but I managed to lean back so I didn't go rolling all the way down.
I hate to admit it, but their manners in public transportation are the worst, but I'd like to think I was just unfortunate to meet a very shitty person without generalizing it to everyone here.

[harmlessbondage]

for what it's worth i don't mean it as a critical, just a reflection of cultural differences. i definitely don't need to tell you how much "being a nuisance" and "meddling" is frowned upon in japan. so i think it's just a manifestation of that - people don't ask for help lest they risk being bothersome, and passersby don't want to 巻き込まれる.

i still remember the time i saw a guy passed out drunk, covered in his own vomit, on a yamanote platform right between the train door and the stairs, and people were just stepping over him. i told the station attendant and he was confused as to why i was giving him this information. :|

BUT WHATEVER THAT IS NOT IMPORTANT! what is important is that you are okay. jesus i know "falling down the stairs" is not something we really consider dangerous unless we're like 85 but... i don't even want to imagine what could've happened. i'm really, really glad you're okay :)

[notafanboy]

I don't know about that, I have a very different experience seeing people immediately helping a drunk man falling on a train and calling a train attendant. Also when I once going back home really drunk a train attendant approached me and asked if I was OK and needed help. So I would not be too fast to generalize, though what you described is horrible.
Let's say the staircase was so long and steep that 85 or 30 or 15 didn't really matter >_<

[toujin1]

I've seen it in action when I was in Japan, and I'm not surprised...I think the fact that it isn't surprising to me is the worst part. I'm glad you're ok, but this reminds me of when I was walking to one of my schools and a highschool student on a bike ran into me, then got up and left without another glance in my direction. The teachers at my school were pissed enough to call the BOE and organize to be driven from that point on, but still...bloody kids.

[notafanboy]

Yeah, there was that part of that wasn't too surprised either ;( People's manners are so bad when it comes to the streets and public transport and I have a feeling young guys are the worst, not in an aggressive way, they are just indifferent of everything around them ;(

[kyotaku]

Oh my, I hope you heal quickly and it doesn't hurt too much!!
I think it's very sad to be so oblivious to what's happening around you :(
It kinds of make me wonder do people like that have any feelings at all? u.u

[notafanboy]

Thank you, I'm fine, scraped legs are nothing serious ;)
Yeah, it sucks that there are people who are so indifferent about everything around them ;(