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Answerman - Is Japan Over-Reacting To Ai Takabe's Arrest?

I think it's awfully hypocritical for any American person including Justin and people commenting in this thread to be outraged at Japan and Japanese society for coming down hard on one of their own for perceived petty offenses.

Our drug laws specifically, yes, are very different and are trending away from heavy-handed enforcement after 40 years of the ineffective War on Drugs.

I can't read about this situation and not be reminded of Scott Freeman. Say what you will about child pornography, he and Takabe are both accused of nonviolent victimless possession

Who's right? How can we pat ourselves on the back for running him out of town and criticize Japan for doing the same thing to her? It's hypocritical.

I think it's awfully hypocritical for any American person including Justin ... to be outraged at Japan and Japanese society for coming down hard on one of their own for perceived petty offenses.

configspace wrote:

Alcohol and tobacco are drugs too. So why isn't the entire adult population there in jail?

She had cocaine which is scientifically proven to be more addictive and harmful than either alcohol or tobacco; second only to heroin. It's not like she was caught with marijuana or something. All the more reason she needs treatment

I meant more with American celebrities that basically have zero self control. If they don't want to be a role model, then don't be a celebrity; it's that simple. No one holds a gun to their head and forces them to become athletic stars or pop stars. It comes as a price what with the mammoth tons of money they make. I don't think they should be role models either; but the fact is that people do look to them as that regardless of if they should or shouldn't... and to me it's harder to blame the a preteen for idolizing someone they shouldn't than an adult with no self control burning out their life.

There is nothing of value in cocaine asides in very rare medical use. Ever met a crack user? I have and it's not pretty. There are reasons why this stuff is illegal.

You call it draconian, while I call it disciplined. While they have the "choice" to ruin their lives, everyone else has theirs to condemn their actions especially if it's against the law. Takabe Ai is an adult and she should've foreseen the consequences, but decided not to. This is all on her.

That's pretty rich coming from someone who wants to literally hold a gun to other people heads, even just by government proxy, for taking some particular substance.

maoyen wrote:

They have meth in Japan

Meth can be made anywhere and pure pseudoephedrine used in meth usually comes from Asia.

I think if you are in the public eye then you should be held to a higher standard. I actually like that companies do this in japan. They care more about someones character then making money. I think american companies can learn a lot about these incidents. She committed a crime and now she must deal with the affects of it. I think these companies handle it the right way and I applaud them. Imagine what american artists would learn if american companies did this to them. Oh wait they wont because its all about the money. In America you can have mulitple DUIs and still make millions of dollars as a singer or actor in America but the Japanese want nothing to do with that and I like it.

In the U.S., there are plenty of celebrities that do plenty of questionable stuff and the public generally seems indifferent and/or relishing of it.

It makes someone wonder how she'd turn to something hard as cocaine for whatever reason.

I don't really get why people are so eager idolize those who are rich or famous, simply because they're rich and/or famous. I understand it intellectually, but not emotionally. But regardless, I don't think it's healthy or a wise thing to do.

After his 2 year ban was up he briefly returned but didn't recover his form and retired. I feel sad that they gave a young skater such a harsh punishment for such a lenient crime because the amount of years a figure ice skater is at the top of their game is only a handful of years. After you turn 25 landing triples becomes increasingly difficult. Most skaters beyond age 30 that sill compete are in Pairs skating or ice dancing where the focus is on lifts and not on landing 8 triples in a 4:30 minute program.