I had a rare encounter with a racist today.

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OP, good for you for standing up to racism. Your roomates dad sounds like a scumbag. To even argue with you about the definition is crazy.

Some people don't even know it's offensive. Our asian community isn't vocal enough.

You can't say shit about black people nowadays. I hope one day it will be the same for mexicans, asians, and everyone else.
 
I believe it's not a racial pejorative in the U.K., but is in the U.S. So when a person in the U.K. is discussing the issue with a person in the U.S., perhaps it is reasonable to assume, that unless you deliberately want to be offensive, you ought not to use language deemed to be demeaning a person based on race.

The word nigger for example is used frequently in African American lexis; and through the globalisation of Hollywood, I heard it being said in an Asian country, namely Bangladesh. I hastily informed this person about its roots and why it is an offensive word, and they, whilst disagreeing on the term being offensive, at least acknowledged that they ought not to use it, if they did not wish to be offensive.
 
Mineshaft_Gap said:
Sorry, I read "Amiga" as "Aryan"

He and I have the same problem as we both seem completely unable to fucking comprehend what one another are writing.
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I have a question. Do you find the word "Asian" offensive? It is exactly the same word. Is it the "weight" of the word that is carried in some parts of the world really the issue? Asian is essentially a condensed Oriental. It just excludes the middle east and other countries.
 
I have to admit I find it really hard to keep up with what's offensive and what's not. I've dealt with a lot of people who could be considered minorities in my time though and it's never been a huge problem for me so I must be doing something right. Perhaps it's my aversion to labelling people in general.
 
As an asian I've always found oriental to be on the same category as negro. Both terms are outdated terms for the races of asians and african(americans)/blacks respectfully, but as such since they are outdated they've been replaced. Using these outdated terms raise eyebrows and in some cases to the point of offense.

Personally I don't find the term as offensive to derogatory racial slurs but I still wouldn't want to be called that. At first hearing it makes me think of some ramen flavoring actually. Weird.

Edit: I'm surprised at the amount of people on this thread that think oriental is held as a regular term to describe asians. Wondering why, asian sounds so much better. Now if the continent was named "Orient" then it'll be a different story.
 
OP I can understand you being offended and asking him to stop, but it seems like you both handled this situation pretty poorly. If you asked him to stop and explained why that term is offensive to you, he obviously should have stopped and let it go instead of trying to come up with reasons why it's ok for him to use that term. If you were then met with resistance after politely asking him to not use that term to describe you, you should have just excused yourself from the conversation instead of equating his defense of the word oriental to the use of the word nigger. If someone is unwilling to listen to your opinion, you're not going to suddenly change their mind by getting upset.

It seems like you have a history of getting more upset about things than you need to
Getting fired. I'm livid pissed. Help me GAF.
Met a guy on craigslist, things went craiglist...
Your co-worker is drinking on the job. Do you report them?
Do you have a friend/SO/family member who forces you to sit through awful TV?
I'm so pissed off at Comcast right now I can't even sleep.
Names that just piss you right off.
and let's not forget this gem

I think you should try to practice being more level headed during difficult situations and not let things upset you so much.

Colin. said:
It's a word I've rarely heard used in the UK, especially to describe a persons race. It's a really outdated term that isn't suitable to describe someone's ethnicity. It's the Asian equivalent of "coloured"
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OT, but what's the difference between saying "colored" and referring to someone as a "person of color"?
 
and really, what is oriental flavoring anyway? It just tastes like kind of soy sauce flavor.

edit: i don't think OP has asked for input on this one. I'll have to go back and check, but I'm pretty sure not. She feels that this guy was a dickbag and a racist, and hey, that duck already quacked. So there's not a lot to debate here guys, I dunno what to tell ya.
 
Nephtis said:
How is that even relevant to the conversation?

"Chinaman" has a much different connotation than "oriental". Putting the word "oriental" in the same category as "negro" is also in a different category. Calling all black people "African" is more apt and even then it's a bit of a stretch.

Anyway, oriental is a word a lot of us grew up with. In Mexico, we call people from Asia "orientales", and "asiaticos" interchangingly. Likewise with people from the middle east, we call them "medio orientales".

Should middle eastern people be offended, too?
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So you're saying that because a word that has antiquated racist connotations in the US, but is perfectly fine to use in Mexico (in a another language altogether), means that the word is OK everywhere.

Understand context, please.

And Chinaman is just an outdated term as Oriental and has no place in the 21st century to describe an Asian person. (Well, in the US at least).
 
How else do you describe an eastern Asian in the UK?

In the US, I used to say Asian which generally refereed to the Eastern Asian Population
In the UK, The word Asian incorporates all of Asia. So I would use oriental to describe the eastern Asian population.

Not seeing how this is racist in the UK.

He did overreact a bit though, will say that.
 
AnathemicOne said:
As an asian I've always found oriental to be on the same category as negro. Both terms are outdated terms for the races of asians and african(americans)/blacks respectfully, but as such since they are outdated they've been replaced. Using these outdated terms raise eyebrows and in some cases to the point of offense.

Personally I don't find the term as offensive to derogatory racial slurs but I still wouldn't want to be called that. At first hearing it makes me think of some ramen flavoring actually. Weird.
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Yep. And imagine being called oriental in the same conversation where someone is drawing attention to your race in the way I said before "So where are you really from?"
Is it as bad as being called a chink or a gook? No, is it annoying as fuck? Yes.
 
Sketchbag said:
I have a question. Do you find the word "Asian" offensive? It is exactly the same word. Is it the "weight" of the word that is carried in some parts of the world really the issue? Asian is essentially a condensed Oriental. It just excludes the middle east and other countries.
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Asian is not a condensed Oriental. "Oriental" as a word has been used for ages as an offensive remark towards the Asian population. "Asian" has been used as a classification of people from Asia and akin places
 
Darren870 said:
How else do you describe an eastern Asian in the UK?

In the US, I used to say Asian which generally refereed to the Eastern Asian Population
In the UK, The word Asian incorporates all of Asia. So I would use oriental to describe the eastern Asian population.

Not seeing how this is racist in the UK.

He did overreact a bit though, will say that.
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fader said:
Asian is not a condensed Oriental. "Oriental" as a word has been used for ages as an offensive remark towards the Asian population. "Asian" has been used as a classification of people from Asia and akin places
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Guess this is an issue of English fucking everyone over. The UK really uses 'Asian' to incorporate Russia as well?
 
fader said:
Asian is not a condensed Oriental. "Oriental" as a word has been used for ages as an offensive remark towards the Asian population. "Asian" has been used as a classification of people from Asia and akin places
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Not really. Got any sources? The things I find with Google say otherwise and it's more local populations who dislike it similar to other words like "cunt" but even a smaller scope than that.

Orient really means "east". The peoples, cultures, foods, etc. Over time what really changed was the definition of where "Orient" was.
 
It's not even comparable to "coloured" in the UK. There are loads of food shops and restaurants with oriental in the name or on their shop signs here. We even have a university in London with oriental in its name.
 
NoLoveForFailWheelDrive said:
Yes... Asians born in America often look down on immigrating Asians (in my experience; they refer to them as "FOB's"), which I always found to be odd.
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It goes both ways. I've heard of American-born Chinese being referred to as "ABC's". I can't count how many times other Asians have remarked on my inability to speak Chinese, either.

I think it's largely a cultural thing. A lot of American-born Asians are ashamed of their parents and other Asian immigrants for not acting like "normal" Americans (accent, etc.). On the other hand, a lot of first-generation Asians look down on American-born Asians for not being "Asian" enough.
 
Freaky Fred said:
OP I can understand you being offended and asking him to stop, but it seems like you both handled this situation pretty poorly. If you asked him to stop and explained why that term is offensive to you, he obviously should have stopped and let it go instead of trying to come up with reasons why it's ok for him to use that term. If you were then met with resistance after politely asking him to not use that term to describe you, you should have just excused yourself from the conversation instead of equating his defense of the word oriental to the use of the word nigger. If someone is unwilling to listen to your opinion, you're not going to suddenly change their mind by getting upset.

It seems like you have a history of getting more upset about things than you need to
Getting fired. I'm livid pissed. Help me GAF.
Met a guy on craigslist, things went craiglist...
Your co-worker is drinking on the job. Do you report them?
Do you have a friend/SO/family member who forces you to sit through awful TV?
I'm so pissed off at Comcast right now I can't even sleep.
Names that just piss you right off.
and let's not forget this gem

I think you should try to practice being more level headed during difficult situations and not let things upset you so much.



OT, but what's the difference between saying "colored" and referring to someone as a "person of color"?
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Fred, are you exposing OP? He's not gonna like that. It might make him... upset.
 
ISOM said:
OP you'd be surprised at how many people on neogaf that don't know oriental is an outdated term referring to asians.
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I wouldn't ever call someone 'oriental' but I had no idea it was racist. Just though it was kind of old fashioned word. What's racist about it actually?

As an asian I've always found oriental to be on the same category as negro. Both terms are outdated terms for the races of asians and african(americans)/blacks respectfully, but as such since they are outdated they've been replaced. Using these outdated terms raise eyebrows and in some cases to the point of offense.
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Is kind of how I figured it as well actually.
 
People get way too hung up on words sometimes. Racism = hate. Nothing in the OP suggests this man harbours any hate towards asians.

You were right to correct him if you didn't like the word, and he was wrong to persist. But I see no need to throw around the word "racist" here. Especially when the term in question is so mild.
 
foxtrot3d said:
Ha, ha, very funny. Clearly, we meant using the term in English alongside its English meaning.
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it's funny to learn that your use of the term isn't shared by the rest of the world?

didn't you read my post? i said we use it freely because we use their definitions the way they're intended to be used and not the definitions 'usa usa usa' imposed on it. that is why you see people from the uk and even some chinese in this thread not seeing 'oriental' as racist or offensive. one more thing, we pronounce it as neh-gro, it's pronounced the way it's spelled. so i'm sorry to disappoint you. i am not racist, and i use the term even in combination with other terms as a descriptor for the colour black. it also helps to learn that not everyone who uses these words are racists or they use it "the american way". i wonder who's actually ignorant now.

as i've said, it depends upon the person and their intent.
 
Mineshaft_Gap said:
Sorry, I read "Amiga" as "Aryan"

He and I have the same problem as we both seem completely unable to fucking comprehend what one another are writing.
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You just can't help insulting people who disagree with you can you? That is when you actually address them instead of ignoring every single post that disagrees with your opening rant.

Maybe you should posts your blogs on a site that doesn't involve discussion.
 
DECK'ARD said:
You just can't help insulting people who disagree with you can you? That is when you actually address them instead of ignoring every single post that disagrees with your opening rant.

Maybe you should posts your blogs on a site that doesn't involve discussion.
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I apologize you weren't within earshot of the horn I usually honk whenever I make a sarcastic comment.
 
Cipherr said:
Not to be mean, but I am not at all surprised that you were unaware that its a racist term at all dude.
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but he did a google search and found some people that didn't think it's racist, and also Asian is the same as oriental, and people don't get offended, so why get offended at oriental? noodles.
 
catfish said:
I wouldn't ever call someone 'oriental' but I had no idea it was racist. Just though it was kind of old fashioned word. What's racist about it actually?
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It's as racist as calling a black person a negro. It's not particularly offensive but it recalls older times that both minorities aren't fond of (in relation to the dominance of white/western culture). Atleast that's how I view it.

Plus, why use the term(s) when we've new politically correct terms that replace it? Not to mention said newer terms make sense as they name people of the continent (Africa isn't called Negroa and Asia isn't called Orient).
 
Mineshaft_Gap said:
I apologize you weren't within earshot of the horn I usually honk whenever I make a sarcastic comment.
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I don't know. You can't really call someone who you're arguing against part of the Aryan Brotherhood sarcastically. It seems more loaded than you may want it to be.

Wait, that may have parallels with this thread.
 
AnathemicOne said:
Guess this is an issue of English fucking everyone over. The UK really uses 'Asian' to incorporate Russia as well?
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No, would be considered European I'd say.

It took me a while to get used to it. I was confused at first why my Indian friend would call himself Asian.
 
akira28 said:
but he did a google search and found some people that didn't think it's racist, and also Asian is the same as oriental, and people don't get offended, so why get offended at oriental? noodles.
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Yes. This is a great response. If you cannot add anything to the subject why post? You really seem to have a hard on for me. You follow me in other threads and specially reply to me. Then when I bring up that you're adding nothing to the conversation you back off faster than a prostitute who just finished a guy off and got paid.
 
Sketchbag said:
Yes. This is a great response. If you cannot add anything to the subject why post? You really seem to have a hard on for me. You follow me in other threads and specially reply to me. Then when I bring up that you're adding nothing to the conversation you back off faster than a prostitute who just finished a guy off and got paid.
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that never happened

but please, continue to tell us how this is all about you
 
NoLoveForFailWheelDrive said:
Fred, are you exposing OP? He's not gonna like that. It might make him... upset.
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please don't use the term "exposing" around me, as I find it highly offensive because it gives the impression that I harbor some ill will toward the OP. I would appreciate it if you used the term "shedding light" to describe posts like this in the future. And OP please don't get mad at me and make me "suck your fat one"

Sketchbag said:
Yes. This is a great response. If you cannot add anything to the subject why post? You really seem to have a hard on for me. You follow me in other threads and specially reply to me. Then when I bring up that you're adding nothing to the conversation you back off faster than a prostitute who just finished a guy off and got paid.
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unless you're a clown stripper, Akira doesn't have a hard on for you
 
Sketchbag said:
Not really. Got any sources? The things I find with Google say otherwise and it's more local populations who dislike it similar to other words like "cunt" but even a smaller scope than that.

Orient really means "east". The peoples, cultures, foods, etc. Over time what really changed was the definition of where "Orient" was.
Click to expand...

Look. I don't care what Google or a Dictionary says, it is a dated derogatory term towards Asians but it's still offensive. We have an Asian GAF member who stated how they were offended by it, and I know plenty of Asians who stated how it's an offensive term because it classifies objects not people.
 
fader said:
Look. I don't care what Google or a Dictionary says, it is a dated derogatory term towards Asians but it's still offensive. We have an Asian GAF member who stated how they were offended by it, and I know plenty of Asians who stated how it's an offensive term because it classifies objects not people.
Click to expand...

It's ridiculous the amount of effort people will put in to tell minorities why they shouldn't be offended, isn't it?
 
Sketchbag said:
Yes. This is a great response. If you cannot add anything to the subject why post? You really seem to have a hard on for me. You follow me in other threads and specially reply to me. Then when I bring up that you're adding nothing to the conversation you back off faster than a prostitute who just finished a guy off and got paid.
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You tend to stick out
 
I always thought the term oriental was racist, but there's an asian grocery store near me called "The Oriental Market." Are they being racist by using that term? Or is it ok to refer to a store or item as Oriental. I don't know.
 
Fiction said:
I posted a bunch in the exotic thread, but people call me exotic a lot as well. I never know how to take it. I try to take it as a compliment, but then I had this exchange with a customer at work the other day:

Him: "You sure your legal?"
Me: *laughing uncomfortably* "What?" (I though he meant in a age way, since I get hit on so often at work)
Him: "You just got that exotic look about you. Where you from?"
Me: *blink* "New Mexico. I'm Native American, not Spanish."
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SMH

I hear ya girl. Although I think it would be almost as awkward (albeit in a different way) had he actually been referring to your age.
 
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