What types of questions are suitable for the Japan section?

Question

I've been coming here nearly a year now, and I've seen all manner of questions that relate to Japan. Sometimes people ask about Japanese politics, or the economy, or about social/controversial stuff like whaling and the South China Sea.

Occasionally some people will say, "OK, this is the Japan TRAVEL section" so the foreign policy of the Democratic Party of Japan is not really an issue to bring up here.
Technically this is the true. The majority of questions are people planning on moving to or visiting Japan.
So which do you prefer? Let's make it multiple choice:

A. Only Questions related to life in Japan or travel as it relates to foreigners visiting the country: transportation, accommodations, language, passport/visa, sightseeing places, etc.

B. Everything mentioned in A + Broader questions that involve historical aspects, Japanese civilization, domestic politics and social trends, Japan's foreign relations, less superficial aspects of life in Japan (ex. the future of the pension system, the status of American military bases, disputed territories)

By "B" I don't mean that it would serve as an excuse to trash Japan, or talk about how horrible and racist everyone is. That is obviously out of place and will get reported.
For me, I think yahoo answers Japan section is a good place to ask "B" type questions, even though this is a travel section. The reason being there are both English speaking Japanese people, and foreign-born residents of Japan who frequently visit this area. Unlike the Politics or History or Economy sections.
However, if other users think this is inappropriate, I will retreat to the politics or current events section.

Answer 1

I'm with Robyn with B. I just don't like to see some users posting comments about whaling, accusing the Japanese of being racist, etc. But if they want to post, well, I'll either report them or come back right at them. Assistance for homework assignments are annoying and generally pretty obvious. But 'travel' can be a rather broad topic. Someone may want to know quite a few different things about Japan before deciding to come for a trip. Though I don't think something like "Who discovered Japan?" is really relevant.



To summarize, for me a broad range of questions is okay. But keep your homework assignments and racist/political rants to yourself.

Answer 2

First of all, I am a Taiwanese born Japanese and have been living in US for over 15 years. I noticed few stereotyping attitudes toward Japanese when I first came here--not all were negative. Since some people brought it up, I want to say that Japanese are not racist, at least not everyone is. It's the culture differences between the Eastern and the Western. I think section B is a good way for anyone who want to know the non-verbal culture aspects of Japan. You can learn the languages, but can't learn the unspoken social signs between human relationships over night. I think this can apply to any countries. Going back to the question, having any questions related to "Japan" under one category will make it easier for people to ask questions and find the answers as well. I certainly will like to have the opportunities for answer any travel, language, social related questions and more to whoever want to know!

Answer 3

I agree with you on B because there's nowhere else for people to ask Japan-specific questions. It's all very well people saying this is a travel section, but if someone goes to a politics section asking about Japanese politics they'll probably either get a copy and paste from wikipedia or they'll get people telling them 'this is the American politics section, go somewhere more appropriate.'



And for anyone who thinks people should go to chiebukuro, they're talking out of the wrong part of their anatomy. If people who ask questions here were fluent in written Japanese they would go there. The whole point is that this is the only place to ask questions in English that are relevant only to Japan, where people who are Japanese and/or who actually live there or have travelled there frequently can find them and hopefully answer them. Otherwise it's like putting a needle in a haystack and wondering why nobody notices it.

Answer 4

So far only the travel category is dedicated to the questions by region. It is not a time for the Japanese section to take option A because fruitless political controversies observed rarely unlike the other sections like Greece or Israel as I know.

Answer 5

I prefer option "A". As you rightly say there is a separate section for questions relating to political issues, the arts, or music. Option "B" risks the section being abused by myriads of "questions" about pop music, am I pretty/ugly, political infighting, and the like, this has already happened elsewhere, take a look at the TRAVEL-Korea, Malaysia, Egypt, Greece, or Israel to see what I mean.

Answer 6

It is quite simple.



The OPTION C is the answer.



What is Option C?

FOLLOW THE COMMUNITY GUIDELINES SET UP BY YAHOO.



What are some items included in the Community Guidelines?



Venting, ranting or using hate speech:

Yahoo! Answers isn't a soapbox to vent personal frustrations or rant about issues. We are a community of people with diverse beliefs, opinions, and backgrounds, so please be respectful and keep hateful and incendiary comments off Yahoo! Answers"



Every member when signing up agrees to abide by Community Guidelines.



As long as it is not a rant or to vent personal frustrations like "WHALING IS BAD" or "JAPAN SUX" posts. I don't really care much.

Answer 7

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