Important points when writing in Japanese

[maboroshi638]

Thank you for this thread. It is very interesting.

I think that learning the different politeness levels is particularly difficult for native English speakers as the English language does not really differenciate between polite and casual speech when compared to other languages.

But as this forum shows it is not impossible to learn. I think once you get your head around it, it actually makes a lot of sense and you start to understand why it upsets people when you use the incorrect form of politeness.

I get upset aswell when people do the same in my native language. My native language also has different levels of politeness. And I fully understand Japanese people when they get upset when a total stranger speaks to them in a casual way. It sounds very disrespectfully and you have the feeling that the other person is looking down on you.
And it is equally upsetting when a close friend or even a family member speaks to you in a polite manner rather than a casual one. You then have the feeling they are distancing themselves from you.

[SomeCallMeChris]

Wow, this thread is an incredible waste of time :O It started out so well too. Anyone else hitting this thread at the end for the first time because it has recent posts.... the first page is well worth reading but you can stop after that and be the happier for it!