[arcsin]

I think it's the difference between an individualist and collectivist culture. I'd guess that especially the kind of people that would come to hackernews will have a hard time seeing the upside of collectivism and the downside of individualism (subservient having a strong negative connotation), but I think it's really mostly a tradeoff. Yes individualism is probably better for generating entrepreneurs. But you don't see things like people refusing to wear masks in Japan. There's lots of stories of things like Japanese people taking a long trip to return a lost wallet or picking up after each other at sports stadiums. I would say that in general there are more social obligations but also as a result more social trust. Probably if you grew up in a collectivist society then a lot of the things that you can see happening in the West will seem dysfunctional. Also I doubt more people are lonely in Japan than America, and some brief skimming the internet, research seems to support this.

[bamboozled]

You do see people refusing to wear masks, I'm at a cafe (need internet) and people don't have masks on extremely rudely right now. Even thought there are sign asking them too.

In my opinion, the issue with this collectivist society attitude is, very few people think for themselves unless they're explicitly told what to do. This has been the issue in Tokyo and Japan in general, it's wear masks, social distance, but get on a packed commuter train. People just do it, although it makes no practical sense and everyone knows it's stupid, it's just done.

Look at the case numbers in Tokyo though, not going well.

[hutzlibu]

Well, having a mask in a packed train is probably better tgan no mask, so it makes some sense, when there is no alternative. (is home office enforced?)

But I get your point. People doing collective things is not necessarily good. "Hey everyone, lets go to war" Ok.

[arcsin]

Regarding masks I don't think you can really compare what is happening in Japan to America. People screaming and getting kicked out of stores and airplanes. The reasoning is different also, I imagine in Japan it's mostly about laziness but in America it's more about freedom and not being told what to do.

Of course in the ideal world only the people that are correct would think for themselves or everyone would be correct all the time. But it doesn't work that way, usually people that think for themselves are wrong. When a culture has more people willing to go against the grain sometimes they will be right and make things better but more often they will be wrong and make things worse.

[tonyedgecombe]

In my opinion, the issue with this collectivist society attitude is, very few people think for themselves unless they're explicitly told what to do.

That's not limited to Japan, we have plenty of it in the Anglo-sphere as well.

[flippinburgers]

Come on now. The numbers are incredible when you consider how tightly people live together in Japan.

I go out and I almost NEVER see people without masks.