The Imperialist wrote:For me, I only watch the World Cup to see the glory of Japan.
(Well, and the jock/nerd conflict is not as big in Japan due to the fact that to survive in the test, test, and more test system, you actually need some sort of intelligence, and a lot of parents expect you to be if nothingelse, nerds. However, this trend is starting to crumble, but it is good that at the least the two groups keep their respect for each other. Too bad there are no military training...)
I don't think Japan did that bad in this year's World Suck. (That's what I call it, as I am somewhat of an active sports-UNenthusiast in real life.) They did better than England. I hate to bring sports-related discussion to this board, but did they get knocked out in the Last 16 or quarter-final of the tournament this year? Just curious. If the latter is true, they did better than England.
Yes, I just asked a sports-related question. Have at me.
There isn't much of a jock/nerd conflict over here either. Well, there are less-popular students getting picked on by people who are more-popular, but over here it's all less sports-based. Most bullies are just general morons who enjoy victimising the more reserved, intellectual types in a hope of hindering their education and perhaps demoralising them enough to knock their grades down a bit. We call the morons who spend all their free time smoking, drinking and pissing around "Chavs" over here. An expression which wasn't used back when I was at high school in the 90's, but I can still clearly remember which people would have been referred to as Chavs nowadays.
That sounds a good system over there in Japan, where intellect is looked upon more kindly in the test-heavy system. You say you're expected to be a nerd, which seems to be the opposite over in America, where near enough all boys are expected to play rough contact sports like football or risk having to endure bullying and having their sexuality questioned, topics which Earl has mentioned in many of his posts. Though I do believe that in all cultures, sports and physical fitness will influence high school social life and popularity to some extent, but the extent will vary between cultures.
Best regards,
i_like_1981