Oriental -- round 2

The BBQ Pit
1

Just came across this bit on Netscape News:

That’s right, those ignorant Chinese are using the term “oriental” as if it doesn’t offend them. Given that they’re using it to name a unique dinosaur, they seem downright proud of it.

Oh, how can these ignorant Chinese do such a thing, when we, their PC protectors, know so much better than them that Oriental is a term that demeans and degrades them? Don’t they realize that only through strict adherence to Politically Correct language can true freedom be found?

I’m shocked, really shocked.

2

I guess I missed the memo that told us “Oriental” is offensive. And here all this time I’ve still been using “chink” and “gook”*.

    • No, not really.
3

Checking in as someone whose never heard anyone claim to be offended by “oriental”. I use it occasionally when Asian seems too vague (after all, Iranians, etc. are asian). For the record my vietnamese friend claims she’s never thought of it as offensive.

After all, the word just means easterner in latin right, the same as calling somebody from the western hemisphere “westerner”, which is a pretty common usage.

4

so I guess what I’m asking is, if this is oriental round 2what was oriental round 1

5

From here

Y’all lemme know when you start viewing the South as exotic lands full of romance and intrigue, the home of despotic empires and inscrutable customs so I can start being offended by “Southerner” :smiley:

(Seriously, never thought ‘oriental’ was offensive)

6

Not to be a party pooper, but the Latin word “orientalis” just means “of the west”, not necessarily “of the Orient”. That translation was probably the work of whoever wrote the press release in English.

7

:smack: Um, of the EAST. Not west.

8

I’m orien…err…asian.

And I fully resent the use of “Oriental”.

Anyone who uses “Oriental” to describe us japs and chinks should be tarred and beaten with smelly socks full of pissed off cats.

:smiley:

9

Heck, that’s how I regard all of the United States on occasion. :slight_smile:

10

I was “taught” that the term Asian applied to people and **Oriental ** applied to things. An Asian student walks over to the oriental rug.

11

Even though people find “oriental” a problem in English, the scientific names of plants and animals are in Latin (as LaurAnge alluded to). Rules about what’s “PC” differ from language to language: even if you can’t say “actress” in English, you still have to refer to Jane Fonda as “une actrice” in French.

12

My Filipino best friend always resented being called “Oriental” by her unknowing classmates…but I think she was slightly more justified in her indignation. :smack:

13

Not that anyone here probably cares, but D. orientalis was a protorosaur, not a dinosaur.

14

To put it in context for those who haven’t encountered the discussion before,

here’s a fairly civil discussion on the topic from way back when

and here’s an over-the-top donnybrook of a Pit thread covering the topic to some extent

15

Damn! That changes EVERYTHING!!! :smack:

16

There you go again, trying to disrupt Pan-Dinosaurian Unity so you can keep them oppressed and extinct! Dinosaurians, Pterosaurians, Ichthyosaurians, and Protorosaurs Unite! Down with the Mammalian Imperialists!

17

And what makes the Phillipines further West than, say, China?

18

I can understand the despotic regimes and inscrutable culture, but romance and intrigue? Now you have me wondering what I missed, and why nobody told me :smiley:

19

I’m sorry, but I just have to point out that now we know what Chun Li did when she retired from Interpol. Makes sense to me. Spinning Bird Kick!

20

I’m just glad that Chun Li has found work now. Strap a chisel to her leg, I bet she’s a dynamo at clearing away debris from the bones!