Comments on: Save Japan Probe! James is being deported?!

By: Claytonian

Claytonian — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 11:44:30 +0000

talk about keeping us in suspense forever!
Oh well, all in good fun!

By: Arudou Debito

Arudou Debito — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 11:30:01 +0000

Sorry guys, I didn’t get a single one. Good April Fool jape, though!

By: Juji F

Juji F — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 11:45:47 +0000

How could all this have happened? Was James implicated with Falun Gong? Or Culture Club? If James is in the general population inside prison, maybe someday he will call us. But if he is in solitaire confinement, they may be subjecting him tonight to shaving the head, to amputate and deflower his sense of self. Creatures all in the dark cell, rodents scramble over his breakfast eggs. His loins cleansed with hyper pulsate hoses. His screams echoing in the chamber. I am on tenterhooks just considering the fate of him. Where is Debit? Why does everyone dismiss the peril James is in as April Fools? James was no fool! A charlatan, a buffoon, a man boy who cries out during a tender interlude I CAN’T HOLD IT! Maybe. My tensions are at the boiling point! Like Willy Wonka when Grandpa goes grovelling to get Charlie’s prize. This is just like another famous James, Pufnstuf. When they took me to the center, they removed one of his eyes. Like a daruma. Look at kind James in the photo. Congenial James. Please stop James from being plucked too! Let the happy people be happy! Will they sew it closed considerately? Or, leave it gaping like the woman at the Grits and Gas truck stop in Appalachicola?

By: the overthinker

the overthinker — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 02:45:41 +0000

John – jokes aren’t always at the expense of another. Now you’re the one who is over-analysing.

James: the problem with suddenly coming out and saying you’re Chinese is fine except that we don’t know you’re not – at least not something like Chinese-American.

Actually, it would have been great if the banner title page thing could have read “China Probe” – I wonder how many would have picked up on that?

By: the overthinker

the overthinker — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 02:42:13 +0000

I assure you, I know very well what an “Anglo” is. I am one. And it was obvious it was a joke.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 01:14:18 +0000

I'm not sure how else to take the meaning of Anglo but this is what is written on Wikipedia:

The term Anglo is used as a prefix to indicate a relation to the Angles, England or the English people, as in the phrases 'Anglo-Saxon', 'Anglo-American', 'Anglo-Celtic', and 'Anglo-Indian'. It is often used alone, somewhat loosely, to refer to a person or people of English ethnicity in the The Americas, Australia and Southern Africa. It is also used, both in English-speaking and non-English-speaking countries, to refer to Anglophone people of other European origins.

By: koan

koan — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 00:39:26 +0000

@overthinker

You don’t know what Anglo means but whatever meaning you thought it had you’re trying to replace “Chinese” with another racial division.

I guess you didn’t realise this was all a joke anyway, but it’s no excuse.

By: James

James — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 22:52:35 +0000

When Claytonian and I were brainstorming for this post, we had two ideas: deportation and switching to China Probe. I was made Chinese in this post so that both ideas could be used. Also, making James an entirely different nationality added some extra shock value to the post, contributing to the progression of ridiculous things that served as hints that this post was a April Fool’s joke.

By: Mummy

Mummy — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 20:34:59 +0000

It’s call “subconscious racism”. Yes there might be no conscious intention, but “look down on/prejudice against Chinese” is so ingrain in you that you aren’t even aware of it.

The joke work just as fine with James being as he is (Anglo) anyways. But no you have to play the joke in the expense of a stereotype/bias of a race (which neither of you are part of).

By: Xiongmao

Xiongmao — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 19:40:44 +0000

I thought that latinos were the only ones who were deported from foreing countries xD

By: morningstar

morningstar — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 19:24:36 +0000

He don’t look Chinese to me. April fool.

By: April Fools in Japan/Otaku Blogosphere (Part II) | alafista.com

April Fools in Japan/Otaku Blogosphere (Part II) | alafista.com — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 17:23:10 +0000

[...] was nearly deported back to China and he was contemplating to change Japan Probe to China Probe instead. [...]

By: Ali

Ali — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 15:53:09 +0000

hahaha! you guys!! you almost got me too…. after a long day at work that was the last thing i wanted to read! thank goodness i’m smiling now and not writing my deepest, most heartfelt condolences…. BIG UP JAPAN PROBE!!

By: RYO

RYO — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 15:23:27 +0000

Classic.

By: Juji F

Juji F — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 15:19:40 +0000

I am writing in regards to the arrest and impending deportment of a Chinese national who owns the blog, Japan Probe. I am not only apoplectic, I have several sypmtoms of spasmasticism brought on by the terror of this unjust action by the authorities. I looked forward daily to the odds and ends, youtube clips, minutae, bricabrac, memorandi in addition to cornicopious whatnots offered generously on the website. Now, shattered, violated…James Zhuang, an upright contributor to society has been more than likely caged in a kennel-like cell. Is he abused? Will mitt-like coarse, callous and callused hands grab at him, hold him in humiliating positions for hours, no, days on end? Will the baths he took as a young man, full of soap, mystery and self discovery, be transfigured into showers of dread, something like the fantasies of a hunchback? Or that lady from Throw Momma From The Train? Today I am a flabby, flacid gelatinous heap, a babbling brook of teardrops…the borders of dementia have no gates, no barbed wire, and no German shepherds or guards with bayonets or mace or even shivs fashioned with dried chicken bones, Nay, the hordes of the lost beckon to me like smug smiling smirking presumptuous gingerbread men…they say, come over here, to Dementia, we have issued your visa, your permanent residence status is Permanent, come hither…as I drift into the fog, the tinkle warm down my pantleg…frogs giggle. Japan Probe- Website has been removed by Japan Government, SORRY! Have nice day!

By: JonJon

JonJon — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 13:25:17 +0000

Nice april folks’ guys, I almost believed it =p

By: Karisu

Karisu — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 12:30:28 +0000

Great April Fools guys Honestly had me going for awhile!

By: Danno

Danno — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 12:10:08 +0000

Damn, you got me. I was totally fooled. I guess having lived in Japan and knowing how often this kind of thing *really does happen*, I took it hook, line and sinker – Zhuang even seems like the kind of Chinese name that would get anglicized to “James”. Well played boys!

By: Claytonian

Claytonian — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 10:35:37 +0000

Ug, guys please don’t over-analyze a joke; it’s not like that and no offense is intended towards any group.

By: tomat

tomat — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 10:33:00 +0000

I agree, knowing it was an April Fools joke and reading it, I’d say it’s a very low brow joke if James is indeed not Chinese. I say this because from my stay with other white Westerners, I’ve found them to participate quite often at looking down on Chinese residents, especially at bars with their Japanese buddies.

By: Brian B

Brian B — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 10:32:06 +0000

Hahahaha! Almost tricked me, till I read the “James had a pre-scheduled post around midnight, but it may be the last we hear of him for a long time I fear” part, then checked the date. Happy April Fools!

By: Timotei

Timotei — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 10:28:16 +0000

Another good joke. I actually got pretty fooled by this one but thank god that it’s a joke.

By: Claytonian

Claytonian — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 10:09:47 +0000

A lot I hope

By: Claytonian

Claytonian — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 10:09:20 +0000

Ha ha you found me out, Median!

By: David

David — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 08:56:10 +0000

You had me but I realised what date it was just as I was about to comment and make a fool of myself *phew*

By: the overthinker

the overthinker — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 08:37:36 +0000

Actually, I wonder why the ‘information’ that James is Chinese was needed? Why was it not sufficient to say “James, an American (Anglo) overstayed his visa”? This seems to me to play into the idea that it’s the Chinese who are more likely to be overstayers – that the fact James ‘is Chinese’ was used to make the story more convincing.

Unless of course that photo really is James, full name James Zhuang, of New York (parents from Beijing).

By: Limabeans

Limabeans — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 08:19:30 +0000

Haha, at first I thought a lot of the people that didn’t mention April Fools were just playing along, but on later down the page I see that they realized it was a joke. It might’ve gotten me, but I was thinking jokes up all day. After a very brief moment of o.O I checked the date.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 08:16:15 +0000

Time to do some follow-up reading: April Fools' Day

By: the overthinker

the overthinker — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 07:40:21 +0000

Yeah, okay, I was suckered into the bit at the beginning – I was perfectly prepared to accept that “James” was actually Chinese (presumably something like Chinese-American though), but it got more and more suspicious as the article wore on, and by the end it was obvious. Good effort though.

By: Oops

Oops — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 07:25:48 +0000

ummmm……YAY!

By: Victor

Victor — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 07:03:54 +0000

Viva la revolucion. Debito must have received some sizzlers

By: shazzb0t

shazzb0t — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 06:09:46 +0000

you are an idiot.

By: Donkihote

Donkihote — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 06:08:31 +0000

I met him once spouting on about fingerprinting and universities- inaccurate, unsupported generalizations. You would have to be really desperate to listen to his drivel.

By: Erika

Erika — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 05:40:35 +0000

HAHAHA You got me

I’m sure Debito got a bit of a surprise. That weeaboo deserves it.

By: Bad Wolf

Bad Wolf — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 05:03:12 +0000

My Militia is standing by in case any paramilitary action is called for.

By: Julián Ortega Martínez

Julián Ortega Martínez — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 04:19:43 +0000

Come on!!! Japan Probe rules!!!

Happy April Fools’ Day!!!

By: brian

brian — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 04:09:49 +0000

CHINAPROBE?

never.

thank goodness for april fools.

By: Level3

Level3 — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 03:59:05 +0000

I say we gaijin, especially the “sankokujin” should riot in the streets over this! Burn and plunder! Laugh at the police! Break James out of jail and go to soapland in a rocket car!

BTW, today is a good day to report all of your freinds on the “rat-out-a-gaijin” hotline and website in Tokyo.

By: Togu

Togu — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 03:39:04 +0000

Whatever it is. if he overstayed his visa. Then he should be deported. Thought he was american smtn smtn but ended up being chinese who claims to be an american? hmmm. Most of the chinese overstayes the visa.
And he is going to take it to the court? just because he runs JapanProbe? that’s silly. His ass should be deported no matter how ppl love JapanProbe.

By: shazzb0t

shazzb0t — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 03:32:35 +0000

haha. chinaprobe… it just makes sense..

nice.

By: Neil Duckett

Neil Duckett — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 03:12:33 +0000

And now i finally get it …. yep, you got me.

By: Turner

Turner — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 02:55:25 +0000

Clever, clever – but think how many emails Debito has gotten in the past few hours calling for help.

By: Gosuu

Gosuu — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 02:52:06 +0000

Noooooooooooooooooooooo!!!
WE LOVE JAPANPROBE !!

By: Jarvik7

Jarvik7 — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 02:23:40 +0000

It surprises me that people still fall for April fools jokes despite having experienced them yearly on the internet.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 02:12:59 +0000

Nice April fools =)

By: Dr. Rek

Dr. Rek — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 02:12:16 +0000

happy holidays

By: median

median — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 02:06:52 +0000

Wait until they find out Claytonian’s Korean. Don’t let the videos fool you, that’s just an actor he hired…

By: zassounotsukushi

zassounotsukushi — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 02:05:58 +0000

Wow, Debito really is like a Japan superhero. If I ever meet him, I expect him to be wearing a cape.

sort of like
http://xkcd.com/239/

Ok, enough of that. Best of luck clearing everything up! You’re in the prayers of all the lurkers too.

By: Deep Fried Chimichanga

Deep Fried Chimichanga — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 02:05:38 +0000

Uh, people:

Look at your calendar.

By: somegirl

somegirl — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 01:48:45 +0000

ok. . .I started to type that this was a very very “foolish” thing for James to do. . and I realized as I typed that word I realized that today is April Fool’s Day. You almost got me. . .I actually panicked. Happy April Fool’s day to you too.

By: Mitch

Mitch — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 01:46:24 +0000

If this is site gets changed to “chinaprobe” then i am out of here!

By: AIB

AIB — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 01:33:32 +0000

Nice touch.

Good to see some people replying are very KY!

Keep it up Japanprobe!

By: kaito

kaito — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 01:32:50 +0000

I’m so stupid. April Fools!

By: alafista

alafista — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 01:31:33 +0000

Yeah haha nice try at April Fools.

By: kakusei

kakusei — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 01:26:33 +0000

yeah for real guys, april fools already. i give this a 5/10.