Ura & Omote (Front & Back)

Some people complain that Japanese people have ura & omote, or font & back. While all people everywhere have a front & back, what this actually means is that Japanese people are very polite to your face, but say mean things behind your back. 

One of my professors said "Intelligence, no matter how artificial, is always better than stupidity, no matter how genuine."

This is pretty much how I feel about ura & omote. While there's certainly something honest and authentic about someone who's an asshole even to your face, I think I'd prefer they save the assholiness for when I'm not around.

To me, Japanese people are plain nice. I'm sure now and then some of them have said something later about that weird foreigner. And, if I heard it, I'd likely agree with their assessment. I am a weird foreigner here. And when I'm in the US I'm a weird native. I can live with it.