11 votes

How to destroy people: Japan's untouchables

9 comments

  1. [2]
    39hp
    Link
    Def worth the watch. At first I thought it was weird that "genetically identical" was emphasized so much, but it's an important point. The de facto and de jure caste systems around the world are...

    Def worth the watch.

    At first I thought it was weird that "genetically identical" was emphasized so much, but it's an important point. The de facto and de jure caste systems around the world are totally arbitrary at their core, and that is made all the more clear when an imaginary line is drawn through a homogenous people and then centuries of burden is placed on those on the "unlucky" side.

    6 votes
    1. dredmorbius
      Link Parent
      Precisely. These are all fundamentally social constructs. Some of these might have other signifiers (distinguished from causes or origins), involving signifiers with heritable elements. But the...

      Precisely. These are all fundamentally social constructs.

      Some of these might have other signifiers (distinguished from causes or origins), involving signifiers with heritable elements.

      But the social behaviour is just that: social behaviour.

      Another element as regards Japan shows just how persistent the patterns can be, spanning centuries and millennia. Social behaviour may be stubbornly durable.

      5 votes
  2. dredmorbius
    Link
    Submission statement: An "ethnic minority" in Japan which is genetically and religiously identical to the majority. By Ethan Hatfield, Rare Earth.

    Submission statement: An "ethnic minority" in Japan which is genetically and religiously identical to the majority.

    By Ethan Hatfield, Rare Earth.

    4 votes
  3. [4]
    Tyrienne
    Link
    I wish this were a longer video, it seemed like a great introduction, but I felt there should be more depth as to the current ramifications and how else this plays out in modern Japan.

    I wish this were a longer video, it seemed like a great introduction, but I felt there should be more depth as to the current ramifications and how else this plays out in modern Japan.

    3 votes
    1. [3]
      dredmorbius
      Link Parent
      In both the notes and end credits, Ethan strongly encourages viewers to look into the topic on their own. If only to independently verify the information. Self-directed research is a useful skill.

      In both the notes and end credits, Ethan strongly encourages viewers to look into the topic on their own. If only to independently verify the information.

      Self-directed research is a useful skill.

      1 vote
      1. [2]
        Tyrienne
        Link Parent
        I enjoyed his delivery, a request for a full length documentary is a compliment.

        I enjoyed his delivery, a request for a full length documentary is a compliment.

        3 votes
        1. dredmorbius
          Link Parent
          Fair enough. Evan covers numerous other topics in Rare Earth, most quite well, all thoughtful.

          Fair enough. Evan covers numerous other topics in Rare Earth, most quite well, all thoughtful.

  4. [2]
    RapidEyeMovement
    Link
    This one line from the video really gave me pause and makes me question a lot of what I am seeing around me to day. "All it really takes to destroy a people is to take away their future. To take...

    This one line from the video really gave me pause and makes me question a lot of what I am seeing around me to day.

    "All it really takes to destroy a people is to take away their future. To take away the potential of their children "1

    1 vote
    1. dredmorbius
      Link Parent
      Oh yeah. I wrote that one down myself.

      Oh yeah. I wrote that one down myself.

      1 vote