-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Shurtleff [mailto:gaijin@sfcmd.com] 


Anyone who does not understand *why* there is a 95% 
conviction rate for 
arrests in Japan hasn't bothered to do any research on the 
criminal justice 
system in Japan.

	Actually, I have. That's why I know, for example, that Japanese
penitentiaries use tactics that would seem to be "cruel and unusual" by
our standards. Such things as requiring prisoners to sit on the floor
staring at a blank wall with their hands on their laps for hours during
the typical day, and punishing them with a beating if they sit or lay on
the bed; that's one item that comes to mind.

	Of course, the flip side is the fact that they seem to feel
inhibited about taking action in some very strange ways as well. One
example of that which I've read is an incident in which policemen in a
patrol car answered a neighborhood complaint about a motorcycle gang
being too noisy and rowdy at night. They followed the gang up and down
the street with their car, lights flashing, in an attempt to "shame" the
gang into behaving better, and did not take any other action.

	Anyway, the comments were about the plot device, not the actions
of the characters.

        I say "on the surface", because up until now, you've been 
doing a much better job than that. I'll stay hopeful that in the 
future, you'll be presenting scenes that will justify it. Still, it 
does leave a poor impression for now.

Sorry. I do tend to assume my readers do basic research on 
real-life facts. 
A failing of mine, I'll admit, but one I am very comfortable with.

Thanks - and please note that most of my comments are 
intended for the 
"audience at large" - just like yours were. :)

	No prob. No offense taken.



     Ja mata,
     Larry F

     The Lost Library of Florestica
     http://rakhal.com/florestica/

     La Biblioteca Perdida de Phantasia
     (The Lost Library of Phantasia)
     http://phantasiaca.tripod.com/ 

     Nuke 'Em 'Till They Glow!! The Early Years
     http://nettg.simud.org/



             .---Anime/Manga Fanfiction Mailing List----.
             | Administrators - ffml-admins@anifics.com |
             | Unsubscribing - ffml-request@anifics.com |
             |     Put 'unsubscribe' in the subject     |
             `---- http://ffml.anifics.com/faq.txt -----'