Advice regarding rude people?

[CDNSushi]

this might sound odd... but instead of asking us.... why not ask a trusted Japanese... if its a cultural issue.. wouldn't it be best dealt with in a cultural manner?... and might give you some respect for dealing with it in their manner...

It doesn't sound odd, but I'm asking the rabble rather than a Japanese for a specific reason. A Japanese can only react the way that is culturally and socially appropriate for him. For me to attempt to react in a way that is "Japanese" will be misunderstood, because I am not seen (or accepted) as Japanese, and never will be. The expectation is in place for me to behave and react as a foreigner.

I know that sounds like a lot of backtalk but like just about everything in this country, it's complex. Let me illustrate it this way: I've had numerous experiences of walking into McDonalds where I walk up to the counter and without saying a word, the McWorker immediately pulls out an English McMenu... They assume that 1) I am an English-speaking foreigner and 2) I don't understand any Japanese.

When someone walks into our office, they've already decided that no matter what words come out of my mouth will be unintelligible to their ears, and they've already resolved to behave in a certain way even before they knock on the door. Therefore, they are not expecting me to react to them in the "Japanese" way.

Anyway, since I posted up this thread, I've adopted one simple strategy that's been at least somewhat successful. When someone knocks, I've stopped saying "come in." Simple, dumb? Yes. Effective? Oh yeah -- about 50%. For the other 50% who will come in anyway, even when I don't say "come in" I think I'll try what people have been recommending for the past 2 pages of posts. One word answers. "Yes" or "No" and that's IT.

[beowulf67]

Smack them in the B@!!$ with a trout and call it a day. Some people need to be racked.

[Bigkahuna]

Lock your door and tell them to go away. You're busy!!!

[dfmacliam]

I understand your feelings... and that was my first instinct... I have had dealings with people of different cultures, and in the past I did have good success by attempting to "fit" in... but again that was a different group of cultures.
I have a basic understanding of the Japanese culture, and the "pompus" attitude some perceive.. My son is in Japan at the moment.. and I am sure he is getting a crash course on the Japanese culture.. as a Marine at Fuji, I am sure he has received some of that same stereotypical attitudes.. and being Navajo Indian, his appearence will throw them off...
I hope you are able to resolve this current situation, and in a way you can gain respect... for them.. I know respect and honor are important.. at least for themselves..

[SgtKmack]

"I killed them and ate their liver" is my go to answer. I get a head shake and then the inquiring party turns and walks away.

[CDNSushi]

"I killed them and ate their liver" is my go to answer. I get a head shake and then the inquiring party turns and walks away.

Hmm. I know how to say that in Japanese. Don't know if it would come out right to convey the fullness of the meaning.

However, I COULD just say: "I ate him." That requires only one word. And for added emphasis, I would just conjugate the verb "to eat" into the past regretful tense... So the figurative meaning would be: "Regretfully, I ate him."

I like that!

[WeaselMender]

After hearing the last advice it brings to mind something in my life. For years my mother and later my wife both have the misconception that I have an encyclopedic memory of the current location of every item in the known universe. They will regularly ask "where is ......."even if the item was just put down by them a nanosecond ago and is still in thier direct line of sight. My go to answer became "I ate it" the confusion is slowly curing them. Perhaps it will work for you.

Weasel :ootd:

[NewGuise]

I COULD just say: "I ate him." That requires only one word. And for added emphasis, I would just conjugate the verb "to eat" into the past regretful tense... So the figurative meaning would be: "Regretfully, I ate him."

Go for it!

But can you rig a camera to capture the reactions?