More Evidence that the Japanese are Just F-ing WEIRD

[gblowfish]

They've invented the Robot Handie....

http://tinyurl.com/mnaeluc

The Second Law of Robotics is: A robot must obey the orders given to it by human beings.

Over the weekend, a virtual sex simulator debuted in Japan, Kotaku reported. The "VR Tenga" is the product of a joint effort from adult toy company Tenga and virtual reality pioneer Oculus VR, the company behind an immersive virtual reality headset called the Oculus Rift.

The VR Tenga was unveiled at an Oculus Rift game jam in Tokyo and, as can be seen in the NSFW video above, has at least a few people excited. Buzzfeed explains how the contraption gets the robo-job done:

The device attaches a Novint Falcon—a grip-based, haptic controller—to a Tenga, a Japanese industrial masturbator. Used as intended, the user would insert his penis into the Tenga, which would be manipulated by the Falcon. All the while the user views on his Oculus some sort of visual stimulation synced to the movement of the hybrid Falcon/Tenga.

In a HuffPost/YouGov survey conducted in April, eighteen percent of respondents said they believed sex robots would be available by 2030, while only nine percent said they would have sex with a robot if they had the opportunity.

Who could resist?

[DaneMcCloud]

This is what a society living in the nearly complete absence of Judeo-Christian values looks like.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

This is what a society living in the nearly complete absence of Judeo-Christian values looks like.

Japan's taken a bizarre turn.

They have to encourage folks in their early 20s to have sex. For many it's seen as too much hassle or just kinda dirty. Japanese officials are worried about a population collapse.

Here's the first article I could find on it, but there are several out there:

http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor...in_sex_or.html

They're fast approaching a culture of extreme isolationism.

There are a ton of lessons to be learned from Japanese society, I just have a hard time figuring out exactly what they are. I guess your point regarding judeo-Christian values has some merit, but that sure seems simple. Afterall, I know plenty of secular folks that have no problem interacting with the opposite sex.

I think it's far more complicated than that.

Either Japan will lead the world in 30 years, or it will be completely irrelevant. It's hard to see a middle ground here and the latter seems far more likely.

[Garcia Bronco]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Japan's taken a bizarre turn.

They have to encourage folks in their early 20s to have sex. For many it's seen as too much hassle or just kinda dirty. Japanese officials are worried about a population collapse.

Here's the first article I could find on it, but there are several out there:

http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor...in_sex_or.html

They're fast approaching a culture of extreme isolationism.

There are a ton of lessons to be learned from Japanese society, I just have a hard time figuring out exactly what they are. I guess your point regarding judeo-Christian values has some merit, but that sure seems simple. Afterall, I know plenty of secular folks that have no problem interacting with the opposite sex.

I think it's far more complicated than that.

Either Japan will lead the world in 30 years, or it will be completely irrelevant. It's hard to see a middle ground here and the latter seems far more likely.

More and more men feel that way in this country. Not enough to matter, but it's just such a hassle to raise a family anymore. Especially the more educated males. Why would I ever get hooked up with some female for a long period of time to mate with her and raise a family? If we ever disagree enough to dissolve the contract, males are looking at not being around their child and losing half their possessions/wealth. It's not a good agreement and as a male you're making a 50 percent bet to get taken to the cleaners.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Garcia Bronco

More and more men feel that way in this country. Not enough to matter, but it's just such a hassle to raise a family anymore. Especially the more educated males. Why would I ever get hooked up with some female for a long period of time to mate with her and raise a family? If we ever disagree enough to dissolve the contract, males are looking at not being around their child and losing half their possessions/wealth. It's not a good agreement and as a male you're making a 50 percent bet to get taken to the cleaners.

I may get skewered for this but I think Dane's point applies somewhat to our society as well...

[Garcia Bronco]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

I may get skewered for this but I think Dane's point applies somewhat to our society as well...

It's certainly a contributing factor from where we were.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by Garcia Bronco

More and more men feel that way in this country. Not enough to matter, but it's just such a hassle to raise a family anymore. Especially the more educated males. Why would I ever get hooked up with some female for a long period of time to mate with her and raise a family? If we ever disagree enough to dissolve the contract, males are looking at not being around their child and losing half their possessions/wealth. It's not a good agreement and as a male you're making a 50 percent bet to get taken to the cleaners.

I think that's a sad statement, to be honest.

Family provides us with many of our greatest successes. Sure, going it lone-wolf is easier, but so is settling in at middle-management. Ambition is a bitch and sometimes it hurts more than it helps. But if done well, that ambition will serve you greater than ambivalence ever will.

The same applies to family life. Marry poorly and make a marginal investment and it's not going to work to your advantage. Marry well and work on it and you'll live a happier, more well-rounded life for it.

It's tougher at times, but I think your life is far more fulfilling and far more rewarding for the effort.

But your mileage may vary.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

I think that's a sad statement, to be honest.

Family provides us with many of our greatest successes. Sure, going it lone-wolf is easier, but so is settling in at middle-management. Ambition is a bitch and sometimes it hurts more than it helps. But if done well, that ambition will serve you greater than ambivalence ever will.

The same applies to family life. Marry poorly and make a marginal investment and it's not going to work to your advantage. Marry well and work on it and you'll live a happier, more well-rounded life for it.

It's tougher at times, but I think your life is far more fulfilling and far more rewarding for the effort.

But your mileage may vary.

This is a ****ing excellent post.

[Just Passin' By]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

I think that's a sad statement, to be honest.

Family provides us with many of our greatest successes. Sure, going it lone-wolf is easier, but so is settling in at middle-management. Ambition is a bitch and sometimes it hurts more than it helps. But if done well, that ambition will serve you greater than ambivalence ever will.

The same applies to family life. Marry poorly and make a marginal investment and it's not going to work to your advantage. Marry well and work on it and you'll live a happier, more well-rounded life for it.

It's tougher at times, but I think your life is far more fulfilling and far more rewarding for the effort.

But your mileage may vary.

We live in a society where we're told that everyone is equal, yet men are clearly treated as second class citizens in family courts. We also have states where a woman can have an affair and get knocked up by the lover, yet the husband is still legally stuck with the check, even if the child is proven not to be his. With that sort of thing going on, it's not surprising to see that more and more men are wary of the entire notion of marriage.

[Garcia Bronco]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

I think that's a sad statement, to be honest.

Family provides us with many of our greatest successes. Sure, going it lone-wolf is easier, but so is settling in at middle-management. Ambition is a bitch and sometimes it hurts more than it helps. But if done well, that ambition will serve you greater than ambivalence ever will.

The same applies to family life. Marry poorly and make a marginal investment and it's not going to work to your advantage. Marry well and work on it and you'll live a happier, more well-rounded life for it.

It's tougher at times, but I think your life is far more fulfilling and far more rewarding for the effort.

But your mileage may vary.

It's more than sad.

Of course the struggle of experience serves one better, but one can achieve this without off-spring. It's just a different way of going about things. Of course I see the value in teaching and raising children. To share in their failures and successes. Nature desires this IMO and my post's existence proves your point in terms of the experience's value.
.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

There are a ton of lessons to be learned from Japanese society, I just have a hard time figuring out exactly what they are. I guess your point regarding judeo-Christian values has some merit, but that sure seems simple. Afterall, I know plenty of secular folks that have no problem interacting with the opposite sex.

I think it's far more complicated than that.

The difference is that while many people in America choose to be agnostic or atheist, the overwhelming majority were raised, at least to one degree or another, with Judeo-Christian values and teachings.

When you have an entire society raised in absence of those values and teachings, especially in the technological and cold world that we live in today, what appears "bizarre" to outsiders seems perfectly normal to those living within that society.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

The difference is that while many people in America choose to be agnostic or atheist, the overwhelming majority were raised, at least to one degree or another, with Judeo-Christian values and teachings.

When you have an entire society raised in absence of those values and teachings, especially in the technological and cold world that we live in today, what appears "bizarre" to outsiders seems perfectly normal to those living within that society.

Fair point.

But do you suspect we're terribly far behind it in the west? Look at how ruthless kids are becoming, in large part due to the impersonal nature of social media. That 'code' is being eschewed more and more by younger generations that have realized you can blast someone digitally without having to look them in the eyes or witness the immediate impact.

Perhaps a purely secular upbringing led to an easier/faster adoption of the technological lifestyle, but I wouldn't be surprised at all to see something similar 10-15 years down the road out here. Especially with the rise of things like Google Glass that will make digital experiences seem more and more real.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Fair point.

But do you suspect we're terribly far behind it in the west? Look at how ruthless kids are becoming, in large part due to the impersonal nature of social media. That 'code' is being eschewed more and more by younger generations that have realized you can blast someone digitally without having to look them in the eyes or witness the immediate impact.

I truly don't know the answer to that question.

The media distorts everything these days. It's bizarre. We're led to believe that many things are of equal or greater proportion when in reality, it's a infinitesimal fraction.

[Fish]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

This is what a society living in the nearly complete absence of Judeo-Christian values looks like.

Divorce rates are actually much lower for non religious people.

http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_dira.htm

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Fish

Divorce rates are actually much lower for non religious people.

http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_dira.htm

My point isn't about being religious versus non-religious. It's that Japan's society and societal thinking is completely different than America's, which that can be traced directly to the absence of Judeo-Christian "morality".

For example, while I might choose to be agnostic or atheist, it would be virtually impossible for me to forget and disregard the Christian teachings I learned at church and in CCD during the first 12 years of my life. They're ingrained, regardless of whether or not I believe that the God of Abraham and Isaac or Jesus exists.

That is very, very different than a entire society of millions of people that have never been raised, nurtured or taught those same values and teachings.