Turning Japanese at Duke

Japan is an interesting place. One of the interesting things about Japan is how the language and the culture are intertwined. In Japanese, there is in-group and out-group. What group you are referring too changes the words you use. The groups are constantly changing. So, when talking to a co-worker, in the office, I would use in-group language as we are peers. However, if I see that person in a bar, while out with friends, I would use the more formal/polite out-group language for them, but the in-group language when referring to my friends. You are constantly thinking about people’s relation to you when speaking with them. It is interesting and may be part of why the Japanese are so (outwardly at least) polite.

The concept of a changing in-group/out-group is interesting when looking at how we identify as Americans. What lines do we draw in terms of race, class, gender, geography, etc? In the Duke lacrosse rape case, you have a group of white, upper class, male lacrosse players from Duke accused of raping a poorer, black woman. So, how do white, upper class, female lacrosse players from Duke identify? Well, so much for the sisterhood. "Innocent" arm bands.

I am curious what it was that caused them to identify that way: race, class, school, stupid sport?