Chapter 63 Finding Rules in the Forum
5ch, you searched for this webpage first, and it turns out it's one of the largest anonymous online forums in Japan.
Clicking on it, the webpage automatically translates it into the meaning of flowers. Although the wording is a bit off, it's still understandable.
The information inside is so complex and confusing that it might make your eyes blurry.
That girl, Xiaodong, recommended this webpage to you like a riddle; surely she's not just another self-talking lunatic?
You scroll down with your mouse, browsing the posts on the webpage.
At the top of the homepage are several prominent news links:
The Japanese cabinet plans to introduce new policies to improve the efficiency of visa processing for foreign students.
Whether or not you get a visa is irrelevant to you right now, but since you're a foreigner, you still clicked in out of curiosity to take a look.
The original policy mainly focused on easing the difficulty of the overseas study approval process and conveyed a more favorable attitude towards students studying abroad. However, the tone in the comments section was not so friendly.
Some criticized the government for favoring foreigners, while others commented, "These stupid foreigners come here and have no sense of respect. If this continues, we might as well all explode."
As you ponder the emotions of the locals behind these comments, you seem to understand some of the male neighbor's motives.
So, by browsing this webpage, you can understand the mindset of locals and thus avoid some risks?
You used to search for information on platforms like Xiaocame or Heixia, but the results were often not as good as searching directly on Xiaolvshu.
To be honest, you really couldn't find anything useful on Little Green Book this time.
You suddenly realize, "Oh, I see." You have indeed seen some people discussing that Japanese forums are still stuck in the era of over a decade ago, where moderators were responsible for their words. That means the information obtained here is more reliable.
Is it possible that the universal rule is right here?
Enter the Japanese translation of "international student" in the search box and scroll down.
Why do international students always seem to get the best dorm rooms?!
Why are foreigners always so reckless and lacking in tact?
Well, most of the search results are anonymous user complaints, and almost all of them are prejudiced against foreigners.
With a flick of your mouse, you click on "Is the newly launched limited-edition ramen at the convenience store really worth buying?"
The original poster shared a picture of ramen from a convenience store, but the replies below were quite varied:
"With prices doubling, I might as well go to a ramen shop."
"Easy to heat up, a lifesaver in the middle of the night."
"If you eat this, you won't be able to get up tomorrow."
...Maybe you shouldn't click in, I'm hungry again.
Finally, you found a post that seems to be related to the rules.
"A discussion about the recent trend of 'overly politeness'"
The post explored the phenomenon that Japanese people's excessive emphasis on etiquette can make them seem insincere, sparking a heated discussion in the comments section:
"Excessive politeness is actually a form of alienation from people."
"You can't be rude either, what do you know!"
"Everything else is secondary; the most important thing is to be able to read the atmosphere."
——Tens of thousands of likes and comments.
In just half a day, you've already noticed the importance of reading the air, which is indeed very useful as a weapon to attack people. But the content of this post has opened a door to your understanding.
"Honestly, yesterday's meeting made me realize that 'reading the air' is the highest level of human communication. Reading the air truly is an art that transcends language. There were 30 people in the room, so quiet you could hear the second hand. Everyone was waiting for the manager to finish sharing his fishing experiences; that subtle sense of synchronization was practically a spiritual unity."
"Yes, if you interrupt or change the rhythm, the atmosphere gets chaotic! Every time our section chief talks about her dog's eating habits, even though it's something unrelated to work, we're all completely absorbed, our breathing perfectly synchronized. At that moment, the air feels alive."
"I think 'reading the air' is our reverence for the world. It's entirely a cultural contract of the Japanese. When only you and your alter ego remain in the whole world, it truly feels like a sacred power."
"Exactly! I remember a new colleague who was ostracized for interrupting. People like him really shouldn't exist in society; they should just go home. Only by conforming to the will of the majority can you avoid being isolated and losing your sense of purpose."
...
This is absurd.
Connecting your previous flash of inspiration with the general rule you've grasped, you've come to understand it.
That means there are no rules, only the collective will to obey the current situation.
That's interesting, but what if the will of the group is to kill you?
For example, in this half-day language class, it is obviously a scenario that lacks a supervising teacher and is dominated by the student—that is, the fat pig man. So why were you able to successfully turn the tables on the fat pig man?
Was it because the fat pig man shook his perception? No way, you can't always find someone's weakness first and then be the king of verbal sparring.
Looking at the screen full of fanatical obedience to "reading the air," you suddenly feel like playing a little prank.
You registered an account and then commented on each of the most liked comments:
"Hahaha, you guys are so stupid! Your manager bringing up this kind of topic in that kind of setting is so unprofessional. You didn't even argue back, saying you were just reading the room, but you're just typical office workers who are too timid to speak up!"
—But you feel like you're insulting yourself by saying this, so you paused for a few seconds before handing it to your chest before sending it.
"Huh? What kind of slaves are you? What do you gain from this foolish obedience to power and rules? If you're performers, where's the audience? You're utter trash!"
"Thread Master, you're so good at reading the room, I wonder what would happen if you encountered a 'room destroyer'?"
After sending out such a message that would be attacked even on a popular Chinese social media platform, you wait with a mixture of anticipation and unease.
You watch your comment get likes and views skyrocket, and then—
That's all.
Not only what you posted, but the entire comment section is gone.
That's it?
Just because you disrupted the "air," they ran away? What's this? Or is it—
No, still. You soon saw the exact same discussion in the newly pushed related hot posts, and the number of replies immediately surged, creating a thriving discussion atmosphere where everyone seemed to have forgotten about your existence as an annoying person and were immersed in the new "air".
You were stunned.
You're prepared for monsters to come and beat you up through the internet cable, and your hand holding the vapor can is ready to strike.
They ran away?!
So, if you don't follow the rules—that is, the rules—the worst outcome is that a group of people will simply ignore you and run away.
This could explain why, despite the vast majority of male classmates disapproving of you, you ultimately managed to turn the tide.
There must be some negative effects.
You stubbornly follow that person's post, wanting to say something even more "annoying," only to find that your anonymous account has been blocked.
You can no longer speak.
That's all. Your account still exists; you can still read, share, and like, but you can't speak.
If forums could reveal a corner of reality, it would probably be that once you break the rules, you will be "abandoned" or ignored by everyone.
How much damage does it have?
You quickly stumbled upon another discussion thread about school bullying.
The people who gathered together for mutual support posted the most common content about being bullied, which was simply being ignored.
All forms of bullying are painful and should not exist, which you can understand. Being treated like you're invisible is indeed a very difficult thing to accept.
But given that most of the punishments you've seen are bloody and difficult to approve, you really feel that this could even be considered a reward.
Who wants to be constantly watched by the locals?
Will something disappear if it's ignored for too long?
This is the only worst-case scenario you can think of.
But your account hasn't been deleted.
You scratch your head and think, "Fine." It's not difficult to avoid disrupting the atmosphere others have created as long as you're not threatened. Besides, you're not addicted to being a troublemaker and have to do something outrageous.
So, what are some things you need to pay attention to in your life?
You changed a few keywords, and the following content was compiled:
1. Skirts that are 5 centimeters above the knee look refreshing without being too revealing.
2. Choose stiletto heels around 5 centimeters high; they will make your legs look longer without appearing too casual.
3. Natural nude makeup is the ideal everyday look. Keep the foundation light and the blush subtle, and avoid looking "bad."
4. When conversing with others, try to avoid speaking too quickly or using an overly forceful tone. Using words like "maybe" or "probably" appropriately shows consideration.
5. In public places, women's loud laughter or speech can appear 'rude,' especially when eating. Try to use soft 'chuckles' instead.
6. Don't walk with big or hurried steps. The sound of slippers or stomping too loudly on the floor is considered impolite.
7. In discussions, especially when communicating with men, try to avoid directly refuting their opinions. Expressing your opinion with "Oh, I didn't think of that" is more feminine.
8. Even if you perform exceptionally well, try not to show it off directly; being too outstanding is not a good thing.
Commentary: Women are required to downplay their professional achievements in order to protect the self-esteem of the men around them.
9. Keep your home tidy, especially the kitchen and living room. A woman's lifestyle should reflect an orderly elegance.
10. No matter how hungry you are, eat slowly. Especially when eating with others, eating small portions is the most attractive behavior for a woman.
"Wait, wait a minute..."
As you slid down, you were filled with rage.
There are dozens of them, all trivial matters that make you, especially girls, subservient or weak and easily bullied.
What about the boys?
You search again, and the results are only a few lines long:
1. Neat and tidy appearance
2. Do not burden others
3. Emotional control
4. Moderate social interaction
That's all.
You can't sit still anymore; no wonder the fat pig guy was so smug. They only need to exist to easily pass the level, while the girls have to pay attention to these little details all the time—isn't that hellish difficulty?
You reread those requirements for girls several times, and then slammed your hand on the table in a fit of frustration.
Through these scattered, trivial matters, one can almost draw a conclusion.
While the punishment for breaking the rules is unclear, when both boys and girls engage in behavior that goes against the rules to protect themselves, boys benefit from conforming to the rules that apply to them, while girls do not.
In the fight with the fat pig man, his size kept increasing, while you simply stopped shrinking.
What you need to focus on now is not just the rules themselves, but how to break free from the constraints that bind you.
Even if you can avoid some of the negative effects by not reading these airs, there will always be moments or instants when you meet these requirements.
You can't always stand out just to avoid being led by the rules!
You frantically scroll through your mouse, your stomach rumbling again.
bother!
Your mouse hovers over a post you saw earlier, and a brilliant idea pops into your head.
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Author's note: How come it's already this time when I opened my eyes??
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