My favorite (sub)thread<p><a href="http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=328819" rel="nofollow">http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=328819</a><p>from 1211 says ago described Japan during its "lost decade" in the context of a thread about predictions of a downturn in venture capital funding for start-ups.<p>"Q: Anyone here lived through the Japan depression care to share their experiences with us?<p>"A: It was terrible. People were forced to eat raw fish for sustenance. They couldn't get full-sized electronics, so they were forced to make tiny ones. Unable to afford proper entertainment, folks would make do by taking turns to get up and sing songs."<p>That made me feel a lot less bleak about the recession in the United States, which may now be ending.