Go Tokyo Your Experience
When you belong to a group and everyone wants to accomplish something together, are you the kind of person who will actively seek things to do, or do you not know what to do and can only watch everyone do things on the side?
These situations are common in team collaboration, especially in large projects or events where people’s roles and responsibilities may become less clear.
Recently, a story about the Japanese audiovisual website Niconico has resonated with a large number of netizens. Due to large-scale repairs, users saw a multi character illustration with the mascot “TV Lord” in the background when opening the website.
Among them, a character located in the bottom right corner resonated with many marginalized groups. He held a cloth in his hand, appearing at a loss, reminiscent of those who didn’t know what to do in collective activities.
This image accurately depicts those who cannot find their place in the group. They often find it difficult to actively integrate into collective work due to communication barriers or lack of confidence, and can only stand aside and daydream. This phenomenon is also jokingly referred to by many as a common feature of “marginalized people” and “daydreamers”.
After Niconico’s repair announcement was released, this illustration sparked heated discussions among netizens. A netizen nicknamed “Kanman Jifu” posted on social media mocking the “marginalized people” in this picture, which immediately sparked widespread attention and response.
Many people have commented that:
You’re talking about me at all
Every group has this kind of person, and it’s usually me
I always wander around nearby
Stay, shut up
These words reveal a profound resonance among netizens, who have experienced a sense of helplessness in collective activities since childhood, just like the characters in the illustrations.
We can see that this feeling exists in various age groups and occasions. Many people also have the same confusion when they are at work: “Someone is already doing it, why should I do it
Some people recalled the awkward moment when they were scolded by the class monitor for being “lazy” during collective activities at school, as well as the helplessness of having to hold a reflection meeting afterwards.
It’s just me preparing for the school anniversary
It’s just talking about me, I really want to die. Especially when asked ‘Is there anything I can do?’ I’m afraid of being criticized, so I don’t dare to ask
I’ve been like this all my life, I really want to die. And if I ask, I’ll be told, ‘Can’t you find something to do on your own?’
Don’t cry
In these comments, one can feel the helplessness and helplessness of netizens towards themselves, but it is precisely this experience of being at a loss that makes everyone empathize with this illustration.
This phenomenon is not an isolated case, but a psychological state that exists universally in different cultural backgrounds and social structures. Some people are born or influenced by their environment, making it difficult for them to actively integrate into the collective. The psychological state of this’ marginalized person ‘is sometimes due to fear of socializing, sometimes due to excessive concern for others’ evaluations, and even more so due to the gap between high self expectations and the inability to achieve them.
We cannot help but ask, how should such ‘marginalized people’ find their place in the collective? In fact, every member of the team has their unique value and role. Appropriate guidance and communication can effectively improve this state of confusion.
Team leaders and members should be aware that everyone has their own unique way of contributing, learn to pay attention to and understand each other’s strengths and weaknesses, respect and tolerate each other, in order to build a more harmonious and effective team atmosphere.
So, the next time you see someone behaving at a loss during a team activity, try actively asking them about their feelings and needs. Perhaps just a simple conversation can help them find their place and no longer be the silent “marginal people”.