Which country that you have lived in has the most freedom?

[Spencer]

@Yohan
I have come to the conclusion that Japan is one of the least free countries in the world.

I have no idea how you go this impression.
Long long have you been in Japan?

I am here since 40 years and never had the feeling to be in a country which is one of the least free ones in this world.

I really have to think it over if there is something which I could consider as 'not free' ...

What might be my restrictions? Honestly, I don't know....

Maybe you get gaijin pass for japan man may see you same other forner that not inside japan society game but lowkey think you outcaster

japan man sho so polite face outside can pretending you all good but gaijin who go japan as adult never but ever ful-on understand nuanciing of japan social culture

in japan yohan same elder autistic man back home that learn social skil by study peoples then mimic but never but ever can autistic man have da social instincts for rather he rely on observation people group then mimic

so we see yohan funcion same gaijin outsider man so he not havin much clue bout what reality hapen in mind heart of japan man groups

yohan in blisful ignorant 40 years make self delude in japanlan

[Spencer]

@Yohan
I have come to the conclusion that Japan is one of the least free countries in the world.

I have no idea how you go this impression.
Long long have you been in Japan?

I am here since 40 years and never had the feeling to be in a country which is one of the least free ones in this world.

I really have to think it over if there is something which I could consider as 'not free' ...

What might be my restrictions? Honestly, I don't know....

japan to much restricing not even alowed decongest spray no gun no weed no open funclub to forner man and have apartment sign say no dog no forner hoy hoy

[Outcast9428]

I feel like searching for freedom is a midwit's quest.

As much as I hate people who talk about subjectivity, freedom is kind of subjective. One person talking about freedom could be talking about not getting injected with COVID vaccines, another person could be talking about business regulations, another person could be talking about their freedom to sleep around and be a degenerate, another person may be talking about the freedom to not live around people they don't want to live around.

Every society and country dictates its culture by determining which actions/behaviors are good, neutral, or harmful and creates rules and laws based on the perceived severity of those actions. There's no society on Earth, except one like North Korea, where you really have more or less freedom then in another country. Its a matter of which freedoms do you value, which freedoms do you not want other people to have.

Japan, depending on how you look at it, could be argued as either the least free, or most free nation in the developed world...

Arguments for Japan being the most free...

- No government surveillance program.
- Unlimited artistic/media freedom.
- No COVID lockdowns or vaccine requirements.
- Government often turns a blind eye towards older men dating younger girls.
- Legal prostitution, to the point of ignoring underage prostitution even.
- Large porn industry.

Arguments for Japan being the least free...

- Lots and lots of social rules dictating personal behavior, smoking underage could cause you to lose opportunities for jobs forever, crime is punished extremely harshly, smoke a joint and get caught and your life is ruined, get a tattoo and your life is ruined, strong condemnation from society towards promiscuous behavior and picking up girls.
- Cannot own guns, even fighting in self defense may be illegal.
- Extreme emphasis compared to other countries on virtue and behaving in a polite manner.

Depending on your personality, Japan could seem like heaven or hell. As far as sexual things go, every society has things which its more permissive about and other things it is less permissive about. There really isn't any society that is truly more unrestricted about this. Let's take Medieval Europe for example. On its face, Medieval Europe might seem to modern people as one of the most sexually restrictive societies in history. Girls were supposed to be virgins when married and there were fairly severe consequences for both the girl and the guy if the girl's virginity was taken before marriage, adultery had serious legal consequences, the church went after not only peasants for polygamy or promiscuity but attacked powerful aristocrats and even royalty if they were not monogamous. The brothels in Medieval Europe were run by the church itself and would kick out and blacklist men who asked for things that seem minor by today's standards like anal sex.

On the flip side though, as you may have noticed, brothels and prostitution was legal all throughout the middle ages. Not only that but it was a huge industry back then. Even more shocking by today's standards is that a lot of the guys who went to them were only 15 or 16 years old. Fathers would sometimes pay prostitutes to spend the night with their son. Prices were cheap enough back then that young men could spend several nights in a row at brothels. Furthermore, the Medieval church really glorified sex within marriage and basically prescribed it as the cure to every mental issue you could think of in women. Hysterical? Have sex with your husband. Depressed? Have sex with your husband. The church was so insistent on how important sex within marriage was that refusing to provide sex to your husband or wife was one of the only permissible grounds for annulling your marriage. People could also get married and have sex at very young ages back then compared to now. What may be most shocking of all, however, is that the late Medieval period even had public bathhouses where married couples, as well as prostitutes and clients regularly went and had sex in the bathtubs in front of numerous other people likely doing the same thing.

So going back to the original question, did the middle ages have more or less sexual restrictions then the modern age does? It just depends on your personal values and what matters to you. If you don't like having sex with a married partner, then Medieval sexual norms would look like hell. If you love sex within marriage, Medieval sexual norms would feel like paradise.

[Voyager1]

I'm in EE now and I feel like I have less freedom. For example the other day I was in the supermarket and I was hot so I took my winter jacket off and put it in the shopping cart. I did my shopping and placed the products in the shopping cart. When I got to the checkout I put my jacket back on, paid for the goods and started exiting the store. I was confronted by two employees who asked to see my receipt. At first I resisted but then I gave in because I just wanted to go. The lady employee then accused me of stealing sausages. I guess because I had my jacket in the cart they figured I could slip something in there. They then took me to a more private area and the lady began putting her hands on the jacket and checking the pockets. I was really getting upset and saying, What's the problem. When she was satisfied that I didn't have sausages in the pockets they let me go. She still had that look on her face of suspicion and no apology.

If I was in my home country I'd kick up a shitstorm. I'd demand they call the police and start shouting. I'd basically become a male Karen.

Because I'm a foreigner here I try not to make waves and live quietly.

[Voyager1]

In Russia, you have to carry your passport in the street and you can be asked for it at any time by police. If you don't have it you can be taken to the police station.

Also Russia is a country where you have a dictator who won't ever leave. He persecutes his political enemies and journalists. He annexed Crimea and probably will do the same to the rest of Ukraine if the world doesn't stand up to him.

[Tsar]

I'm in EE now and I feel like I have less freedom. For example the other day I was in the supermarket and I was hot so I took my winter jacket off and put it in the shopping cart. I did my shopping and placed the products in the shopping cart. When I got to the checkout I put my jacket back on, paid for the goods and started exiting the store. I was confronted by two employees who asked to see my receipt. At first I resisted but then I gave in because I just wanted to go. The lady employee then accused me of stealing sausages. I guess because I had my jacket in the cart they figured I could slip something in there. They then took me to a more private area and the lady began putting her hands on the jacket and checking the pockets. I was really getting upset and saying, What's the problem. When she was satisfied that I didn't have sausages in the pockets they let me go. She still had that look on her face of suspicion and no apology.

If I was in my home country I'd kick up a shitstorm. I'd demand they call the police and start shouting. I'd basically become a male Karen.

Because I'm a foreigner here I try not to make waves and live quietly.

Is that because you're a non-White foreigner? I have a suspicion that many people in EE would have more suspicion to a black person because blacks are outsiders.

If someone wanted to see a receipt then I would assume it's store security.

I personally wouldn't be too offended as a foreigner with being asked to show a receipt. The fact you didn't want to show your receipt likely gave them more suspicion if you were an outsider, especially a non-White outsider.

I was in a store in Europe and I was paying with cash and there was an employee that wouldn't accept the 5 denomination paper money I was carrying because it was a bill I forgot in a pocket when I had laundry done and it washed away some of the metallic security tape. It was genuine. I just paid with a higher denomination so I got about 15 in paper money in change. I used the 5 to pay a taxi. I wasn't offended that the store didn't accept it because I knew they didn't want to take any chances. But honestly, whoever would counterfeit 5 denomination notes and then pay 30-40 in genuine bills but try to use a counterfeit 5 would honestly be a total Loser. But it's possible people have counterfeits they don't know which is much more likely. But I was respected and they pointed out why they weren't willing to accept the 5, which I know was damage from forgetting it in a pocket during laundry. The laundry removed all the metallic from my designer clothing too. I was a little annoyed because it was a genuine 5 but I didn't care.

If I operated a business I would have machines that can detect UV security features and have all employees use a counterfeit detection pen. It's to protect profits. People need to look at it from a store's or business owner's perspective. The simple fact of not showing a receipt when requested means it was escalated.

Maybe you looked dishonest or weren't dressed well?

Here's the factors:
1. You put your coat in the cart (I would never do that. I know all about perception)
2. You didn't show your receipt. If someone asks for the receipt, it's not an inconvenience. I would want the same thing done if I had a business and someone seemed suspicious enough. Being resistant to showing the receipt increases suspicion.
3. Foreigners don't get special treatment despite being much less likely to steal. It's common sense if a foreigner if from a wealthy nation there's almost no chance they would be stealing. Unless the foreigner is a refugee or a migrant, there really isn't much reason to search a foreigner. But foreigners can receive discrimination which brings me to #4.
4. If you're Black (which I suspect you are) then in EE you will likely encounter a lot more people with prejudice (or even racism) and that could have had a role in why you were searched. It's common sense that in many nations, Blacks and Africans will receive more negative bias.

[Voyager1]

Why is it you suspect I am black? I already took a picture of my white hand and posted it in this forum.

[Voyager1]

.

[Tsar]

Why is it you suspect I am black? I already took a picture of my white hand and posted it in this forum.

I saw someone else online who posted a picture of themselves and it was a black guy and his username was VoyagerOne. He was also American. Also more foreign oriented. I always assumed you and him were the same person, but you did seem to have a White personality so I imagined you had an Obama-black personality.

But your picture just proved you're White (or Jewish).

The other picture you posted your hand a few years back made it seem like you were a lighter toned black probably because of the lighting.

[Voyager1]

Christian. Believer in Jesus Christ.

[Tsar]

I've got blue eyes, of Royal German descent. Is that white enough for you?

Christian. Believer in Jesus Christ.

Royal German? Does that mean you are somehow a descendent of a Kaiser?

[publicduende]

@Yohan
I have come to the conclusion that Japan is one of the least free countries in the world.

I have no idea how you go this impression.
Long long have you been in Japan?

I am here since 40 years and never had the feeling to be in a country which is one of the least free ones in this world.

I really have to think it over if there is something which I could consider as 'not free' ...

What might be my restrictions? Honestly, I don't know....

I have visited Japan a few times and had a relationship with a Japanese girl, for 2.5 years, while living in London. I read a few books about Japanese culture and some recent phenomenon, like hikikomori. I can speak basic Japanese. I can't claim more than this.

From what I gathered, normative pressure on Japanese citizens is very high, especially in the workplace. Foreigners are usually discounted most of this pressure, usually at the price of never really being able to integrate. I flirted with the idea of living in Japan, at least for a few years, a few times in my life. The last was just last year, when my wife C applied to study at Tohoku University, in Sendai.

I will agree that life as a Gaikokujin is, at least for a few years, interesting. You get to enjoy one of the best organised, cleanest, most efficient human societies, while subscribing to very few of their social norms. You are somewhat a privileged observer.

Even from afar, one could also observe that Japanese society is also changing, and my impression is that more and more Japanese, especially in the 20-40 age bracket, are questioning whether adhering to the strict life routine for the collective good is going to make them successful, or even happy. There is still a majority of people who comply and work hard, like their parents and grandparents did. There is a healthy measure of rebellion, which usually spurs innovation and positive change.

There is also a growing apathy towards life and norm which, as in case of the hikikomori, manifests in a passive, isolationist way. Even if not as extreme as total withdrawal from public life, apathy and nihilism is resulting in low birth rate, which soon enough will push the government's ability to take care of a growing elder population with a diminishing tax base, to a mathematical impossibility.

I for one would love to visit Japan often, especially now that we live a mere 3.5 hours away from it, as soon as travel ban rules relax, which God only knows when. I would like Japan to stay the model society it has been, for almost a century, but I am not optimistic about its future.

[Yohan]

@publicduende

Which country that you have lived in has the most freedom? This is the subject of this thread and I see nothing how a hikikomori outsider can interfere in any way in your personal freedom.

I do not really understand your reply.

Hikikomori people, estimated to be about 0.5 % of the population in Japan are only possible because some stupid do-gooders, often parents, feed them and give them a home full with videogames, internet, mobile phones etc. - It happens in general in middle class families, where some family members support such an outsider who is unwilling to learn and unwilling to work anything productive. - And not only in Japan you find such families with children who are good for nothing.

But what has this to do with your own personal freedom in Japan? These people are not criminal gang members, they do not harm you in any way.
Same with these homeless in Japan, they are few, sitting somewhere around but never disturb people.

The pressure related to a workplace does not apply to every Japanese. Many Japanese are owning their own small shop, or working in rural areas etc. Many other Japanese work only part-time, sometimes in two or three different companies and don't care at all about the company - they just leave in case of any problem or pressure.

All this workplace pressure applies only to a number of usually male workers, who earn very good money but are expected in return to offer their energy as full time employees to a certain company - nobody is forcing you to join this group of workaholices.

It's solely up to you what kind of work you prefer to do. But what has this all to do with you considering yourself as personally being less free as a foreigner while in Japan?

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

As I said before, I do not feel myself to be restricted in any way here in Japan as a foreigner - a Japanese permanent resident has rights often similar to a Japanese citizen (almost same except voting rights). I can leave Japan anytime and can return anytime, I can do any kind of work - no restriction (except some government related jobs), I can own my house and land (but I prefer a condominium unit), I have a health insurance for life same as the Japanese etc., no restriction to transfer money to and from abroad, I can go out day and night everywhere in Japan without being worried about my safety, stores are full with goods of any kind - I also did not notice much about covid-19....

I cannot criticize the Japanese government or the Japanese people in general, as I do not know about what I should complain.

And now 65+ this is the best time for me, as I need not even to work anymore. Play with my computer, ride my motorcycle, drive to some places with my wife or visit our daughters and grandchildren, use the public bus/streetcar for half price, free entry to city swimmingpools and museums...

The only complaint I have is about international travel, but I cannot say, it's the fault of Japan, I blame China for this mess. I could also complain about the present weather, but luckily I am not living in Western Japan with meter-high snow blocking all traffic.

Complaining about Japanese people in general? Well, they are not very communicative people even against each other, it's their life-style, but at least nobody is bothering me here - discrimination? Of course not all Japanese people are friendly, but compared to the huge majority of Japanese who gave me a good impression so far, I can say the number of unfriendly Japanese people against me was minimal. Also my two daughters, 50/50 Japanese/European - after spending some years abroad in USA, Canada, Russia and France, came back to Japan, consider Japan as the better place for living...

[Tsar]

...Also my two daughters, 50/50 Japanese/European - after spending some years abroad in USA, Canada, Russia and France, came back to Japan, consider Japan as the better place for living...

No one that comes from a superior nation wants to live in the USA...anyone from the UK, Europe, Japan, South Korea, and other really wealthy nations would get a really terrible downgrade if they went to the US because it's first world for the rich and third world for everyone else. America is too overpriced and doesn't offer as much personal freedoms. I don't think I am being too harsh on America.

Money = Freedom in the USA.

[publicduende]

@publicduende

Which country that you have lived in has the most freedom? This is the subject of this thread and I see nothing how a hikikomori outsider can interfere in any way in your personal freedom.

I do not really understand your reply.

Hikikomori people, estimated to be about 0.5 % of the population in Japan are only possible because some stupid do-gooders, often parents, feed them and give them a home full with videogames, internet, mobile phones etc. - It happens in general in middle class families, where some family members support such an outsider who is unwilling to learn and unwilling to work anything productive. - And not only in Japan you find such families with children who are good for nothing.

But what has this to do with your own personal freedom in Japan? These people are not criminal gang members, they do not harm you in any way.
Same with these homeless in Japan, they are few, sitting somewhere around but never disturb people.

The pressure related to a workplace does not apply to every Japanese. Many Japanese are owning their own small shop, or working in rural areas etc. Many other Japanese work only part-time, sometimes in two or three different companies and don't care at all about the company - they just leave in case of any problem or pressure.

All this workplace pressure applies only to a number of usually male workers, who earn very good money but are expected in return to offer their energy as full time employees to a certain company - nobody is forcing you to join this group of workaholices.

It's solely up to you what kind of work you prefer to do. But what has this all to do with you considering yourself as personally being less free as a foreigner while in Japan?

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

As I said before, I do not feel myself to be restricted in any way here in Japan as a foreigner - a Japanese permanent resident has rights often similar to a Japanese citizen (almost same except voting rights). I can leave Japan anytime and can return anytime, I can do any kind of work - no restriction (except some government related jobs), I can own my house and land (but I prefer a condominium unit), I have a health insurance for life same as the Japanese etc., no restriction to transfer money to and from abroad, I can go out day and night everywhere in Japan without being worried about my safety, stores are full with goods of any kind - I also did not notice much about covid-19....

I cannot criticize the Japanese government or the Japanese people in general, as I do not know about what I should complain.

And now 65+ this is the best time for me, as I need not even to work anymore. Play with my computer, ride my motorcycle, drive to some places with my wife or visit our daughters and grandchildren, use the public bus/streetcar for half price, free entry to city swimmingpools and museums...

The only complaint I have is about international travel, but I cannot say, it's the fault of Japan, I blame China for this mess. I could also complain about the present weather, but luckily I am not living in Western Japan with meter-high snow blocking all traffic.

Complaining about Japanese people in general? Well, they are not very communicative people even against each other, it's their life-style, but at least nobody is bothering me here - discrimination? Of course not all Japanese people are friendly, but compared to the huge majority of Japanese who gave me a good impression so far, I can say the number of unfriendly Japanese people against me was minimal. Also my two daughters, 50/50 Japanese/European - after spending some years abroad in USA, Canada, Russia and France, came back to Japan, consider Japan as the better place for living...

They say that the official number of hikikomori is much, much higher than that reported by the authorities. Of course those who are completely withdrawn from social life are an extreme. The more general phenomenon I am contesting is the general apathy that is embracing the younger generation, the refusal to comply to a strict social etiquette now that most see it's not worth it - the money isn't as good and the career isn't as assured as it was in the 80s.

By all means, I do believe Japan is still one of the safest places in the world to live in. I just see the pressure to comply as an index that individual freedom is sacrificed on the altar of the Greater Good, of collective freedom. And the way generations are starting to notice this, I don't know how the current structure will be sustainable in the next 20, 30 or 50 years.