2006-12-22 17:51:53 · 20 answers · asked by Frazer_James 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
SARS virus
2006-12-22 17:54:00 · answer #1 · answered by mongo_wood 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I believed the Japanese and the Koreans are one of the most civic-conscious people in the world; they wear masks in public when they have a cold (influenza) so that others won't be infected, or when atmospheric conditions are not ideal. They are to be admired.
I disagree with the Asian generalization above; only the 2 cultures i mentioned practise the highest standard in hygiene; and regard for civic consciousness. No other Asian countries are anywhere near the Japanese, Koreans.
2006-12-22 18:00:44 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
They are germ phobic freaks. I once saw a huge R/V pull up in a camp ground at a national park, a family of Japanese tourists get off, and put masks on the kids and then passing out cooking tongs to the children so they could collect sticks for kindling...I am not playing here. I thought I would DIE laughing at them
2006-12-22 18:05:55 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
This is due to a high degree of consideration for the people around them when they have a cold or flu. It is a form of politeness. They do not want to spread their germs. They think that we are rude because we don't do that. Healthy people generally do not wear face masks. Only sick ones.
2006-12-23 21:35:26 · answer #4 · answered by Madame 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Politeness. They wear masks when they're sick so that no one else will catch their cold or flu. This is an especially good idea when you live in a congested city and take a crowded train.
2006-12-22 18:01:08 · answer #5 · answered by Victoria 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Fear of contracting SARS or Bird Flu. IT was what the medical professionals reccomended, since the population centers are so densely packed with people.
2006-12-22 17:55:12 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Japanese wears mask when they have flu. This is common courtesy in Asian so as not to spread the flu to others.
2006-12-22 18:00:10 · answer #7 · answered by SingGirl 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Wearing a medical mask is not a cultural custom - it is a phobia. A neurotic fear.
The Japanese are neurotic because they are superstitious and germaphobic.
2006-12-22 17:55:54 · answer #8 · answered by Ashley 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Fear of cooties.
Much of Japanese culture can be understood by visualizing the nation as a 30-year old shut-in with obsessive compulsive disorder.
The people downmodding me are morons. You CAN understand Japanese culture by visualizing the nation as a 30-year old shut-in with obsessive compulsive disorder. They really do wear the masks for fear of cooties. It's not to protect against disease; it's to protect against "gross" germs, like how an obsessive-compulsive would freak if you sneezed on him--even if he knew for certain that you were not sick.
If you spend several years reading Japan blogs, you'll read lots of articles about these masks.
2006-12-22 17:54:52 · answer #9 · answered by Sabrina H 4 · 0⤊ 5⤋
It's so that you don't spread the cold/flu to anyone else...it's more out of politeness of not letting other people catch the cold.
Japanese people are not worried about bird flu or sars....it's the norovirus that's going around currently.
2006-12-23 09:38:32 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
For safety! Possibly due to outraging environmental pollution and danger expected from a number of cults who target the ordinary ones!!
2006-12-22 17:56:05 · answer #11 · answered by SESHADRI K 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋