Quote Originally Posted by Mamoru-kun
That's something I've learned with Japanese after all those years: insulting, or making jokes on a Japanese person is as bad as making him/her feel shame (ashamed?) because of you...
Haha, so I wonder how the woman at the train station kiosk felt when I asked if she was unable to speak Japanese?

Me: 地図が売りますか。
Kiosk lady: えええ。。。えええ。。。マッポ????ええ、ハット 、ハット、えええ(pointing to a man wearing a hat)
Me: 日本語話せませんか。
(Japanese guy behind me cracks up laughing)