I think, perhaps, Japanese paramedics shouldn't take their shoes off...
Please don't rearrange our shoes when we turn up, paramedics in Japan urge
161–170 of 189 posts
Re: Please don't rearrange our shoes when we turn up, paramedics in Japan urge
#162Earlier quoted context omitted.
The behavior sounds like superstition. Is there a belief that something bad will happen if the ritual is not performed?
All of this crap including taking your shoes off indoors is predicated on superstitions that are simply not politically correct to call out.
The book thing, sure, but I take my shoes off indoors because they are dirty and gross, and I don't want that tracked into my home.
Re: Please don't rearrange our shoes when we turn up, paramedics in Japan urge
#163Earlier quoted context omitted.
Yes, I think that it's a good example where politeness and respect ingrained in society can be taken a step too far. I don't want my rescuers waste 30-45s on taking shoes off and after I had a stroke and minutes decide whether or not I ended up with a permanent brain damage...
TBF getting shoes on and off is literally 2s. There's photos in the article, those aren't dress shoes with laces to be done and undone, they're fit for the purpose. Also in cases where it's really dire they'll just step in with shoes on, it's just extremely rare and it might actually be another team altogether, operating under a different protocol.
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Re: Please don't rearrange our shoes when we turn up, paramedics in Japan urge
#164Earlier quoted context omitted.
Where I grew up (suburbs in the Midwest in the US) it was common and expected all around that you'd leave your shoes just inside the door and walk around in your socks, at least for family/friends/guests. Can't remember about service workers.
Where I grew up (suburbs in the Midwest in the US) no one took their shoes off, ever, until it was bedtime. I cannot remember a single time taking my shoes of at a friend's house, or when visiting somewhere with my parents, or going off to see family. I guess the only exception would be if the shoes were exceedingly dirty, like you'd just stepped in mud or such. Similarly in the military. We got un-booted at bedtime,…
The New York (city?) connection makes sense; it would be difficult to walk around outside in NYC and end up with shoes cleaner than your socks.
Re: Please don't rearrange our shoes when we turn up, paramedics in Japan urge
#165Earlier quoted context omitted.
Most (literate, educated) Indians have been trained the same, and it has very little to do with religion. When you do accidentally step on a book though, each religion has their own format - Hindus touch the book then touch their head then chest in penance, Muslims lightly kiss the book or touch the book/bag and kiss their hand, Christians touch the book and cross themselves. This is something I've noticed is uniquel…
The behavior sounds like superstition. Is there a belief that something bad will happen if the ritual is not performed?
No premonition of anything bad that will happen. Just that it is considered being dismissive or disrespectful towards the abstract concept of knowledge and learning. So you say 'sorry' in some way.
Re: Please don't rearrange our shoes when we turn up, paramedics in Japan urge
#166Earlier quoted context omitted.
Most (literate, educated) Indians have been trained the same, and it has very little to do with religion. When you do accidentally step on a book though, each religion has their own format - Hindus touch the book then touch their head then chest in penance, Muslims lightly kiss the book or touch the book/bag and kiss their hand, Christians touch the book and cross themselves. This is something I've noticed is uniquel…
I also try to teach my children to be careful with books but beating a child surely cannot be the the right way. If we adults strike children for them treating possessions badly, are we then not saying that they are less worthy of good treatment than possessions? That would be deeply humiliating to me. And I highly doubt that, in general, 'whacking' children will make them grow up kinder more compassionate adults.
It was a different time and age, which is why I'll excuse her. Today, I would go full retard even on my own parents if they did that with my children (and rightly so).
Re: Please don't rearrange our shoes when we turn up, paramedics in Japan urge
#167It is mind blowing to me that the shoes-off-inside rule is so deeply entrenched that emergency responders remove their shoes at the front door
I guess Japanese could say the same thing in reverse ?
Oh, for sure. It's definitely one of these things that's only surprising because our cultural context is very different
Re: Please don't rearrange our shoes when we turn up, paramedics in Japan urge
#168Earlier quoted context omitted.
Obviously, in an emergency, yea, keep them on. That said, > In Dutch culture it is far more common to keep shoes on literally everywhere It is in many cultures, including my own family's, but having gotten used to taking them off from living in Japan, I find it extremely strange taking them off is not more common. It feel similar to doctors refusing to wash their hands during surgery, though I get I'm not doing surge…
I also take my shoes and off and find it gross when people don’t. That said, I don’t think it’s really rational. Our houses are full of bacteria and dirt one way or another anyway. It’s impossible to avoid that without having some kind of airlock equipped with a shower in your porch.
I think these practices come from more rural but also tropical origins?
One part is purely practical, making it easier to keep the living space clean when you are coming in from the farm etc. Places with messy winters have similar concepts for muddy boots, snow boots, etc.
Some regions also have (or historically had) real risk of parasite transmission from soil and short grass. Taking off shoes reduces the chance of bringing their eggs or tiny larva into your living space.
I can imagine some cultural practices here being early memetic/evolutionary in nature, much like some religions codifying what are essentially food-safety rules from a time before microbiology was scientifically understood. We think about the parts we can see, but also have some instincts and practices that seem aligned with threats we can't actually sense.
Re: Please don't rearrange our shoes when we turn up, paramedics in Japan urge
#169I lived in Japan for 5 1/2 years. I slept on a futon in a tatami room in my apartment most nights. I have a getabako (shoe cabinet) at my home in the US that I actually brought back from Japan. I understand the depth of the ritual, and the cultural respect for the home, but my American culture runs more deeply I am afraid, and I can't help but say "Please emergency workers, just leave your shoes on and say 'shitsurei shimasu' (sorry for my rudeness) as you enter the home".
Re: Please don't rearrange our shoes when we turn up, paramedics in Japan urge
#170Earlier quoted context omitted.
Of course one should not put the feet down where the shoes are stored.
So do you levitate from the place you remove your shoes?
The living area is usually elevated and so you can simply sit down, take off your shoes, and easily change into slippers that are ready at the edge of the living area. Or, one simply steps out your shoes (easy enough at least with sneakers) and to the living area. Easy to do unless one is infirm.