(Based on an earlier thread of mine.)
Is the term "dot " still considered offensive by you when used by others to note your race?
No, but it does seem odd. Not all of us wear bindis! However while I won’t use it, I don’t mind the “Indian, dot-not-feather” thing.
Usually I just say “E. Indian”, or “Indian from India.” It irritates me ever so slightly that I even have to differentiate, after all, a) we had the name first, and b) we didn’t come here and do what was done, but it really isn’t a big deal and I understand that, so please don’t jump all over me.
I find it a bit crude, and I am not indian … though more an ignorance name and not a perjorative, though I will also note that I can see someone using it in a derogatory manner indicated by perhaps either context or tone of voice.
I prefer to call them Indians, and differentiate by using native American or amerind for the north american native population.
Although if I know which region they are from, I may instead substitute Pakistani or Bengali or wherever.
I’ve never heard anyone use the term “dot head” in an endearing fashion. It’s always with a sneer and usually preceded by “fucking.” I’m against it.
(Not Indian, but my team is)
Not a fan of it, but I don’t really care. HOW you say it gives me more of an idea where you’re coming from with it anyways.
I prefer Indian (Vs. Native Americans) or South East Asian (best if you’re just not sure where). If they can actually pull of Pakistani or Bengali- well that’s not Indian, and I’d think less of you if you called THEM dot-whatevers. Because yeah- dot to mean usually means you were attempting to try for Indian and so that’s a Geographic Fail on your part (though yes, they do have “dots” too). Who goes around calling Native Americans “feathers” anyways? If you do that one- I put it on par with the term Redskins- even less a fan of that.
So yeah- don’t really care, but it’s not something that’s going to win you any points in my book.
I’ve only heard the “dot” thing in the sense of someone differentiating between Asian Indians and American Indians. As in “dot, not feather,” or “feather, not dot.” I’ve never heard it used in a derogatory way.
Didn’t we just have this coversation? 
I don’t know why you say it’s odd to use “dot” to describe Indians even though you don’t all wear bindis. Not all American Indians wear feathers on their heads either.
There is something about using a lame qualifier like “dot” that just doesn’t sit right with me.
I haven’t heard anyone actually use the term, but it seems like I wouldn’t like it if I did.
The Japanese use Indo-jin (Indian person) which doesn’t bother me.
(Emphasis mine.)
Are you confusing Indians with Indonesians? I’ve often heard Indians, Sri Lankans, Nepalis, etc., referred to as South Asians, but never East or Southeast Asians. The latter term in my experience always refers to the Thai, Vietnamese, Indonesians, etc.
Whoops. Brain fart- dunno why I slipped that extra one in there.
Just go with South Asian.
Is there a glitch in the matrix?
I recall this question being asked on these boards a few weeks/months ago. The first search failed me and I cant wait another 5 minutes.
I call Indians Indians, and I call Native Americans Native Americans.
India is big enough to warrant its own cultural term.
“Dots, not feathers” is fine by me; it’s just a stock, semi-jocular phrase that doesn’t mean anything worth getting offended over. It’s not like anyone thinks Native Americans all go around wearing plumed headdresses either.
On the other hand, something like “dothead” is weird and uncomfortable, and I can’t imagine anyone saying it without meaning it as a slur. Then again, I’m not sure if I’ve ever actually heard anyone say this in person.
Do people actually refer to Indians as just straight-up “dots”? I’ve never even indirectly been exposed to this, as far as I can remember. I guess I’d need to see some of it in context to decide how it rubs me; it’s impossible to tell otherwise.
There isn’t really any logic to any of it; it’s just what terms are you accustomed to normal, well-intentioned people using and what terms are you only familiar with being used more derisively. It’s not intrinsic to the terms themselves.
I heard some TV show( I think on my name is Earl) use Helpdesk Indian vs Casino Indian
Of all the creative terms that you could use to describe Indians, “dot” is the best you can come up with?
For what its worth, back in Uni what we used to rile Indians up was “Khatri”.
I actually kinda like this.
Because it’s silly? Not accurate? I can’t think of a comparable analogy, but I haven’t worn a bindi in many years, even though I have worn Indian clothes plenty. I feel pretty much the same about the feathers, too. It’s just a way of simplifying both cultures down to the stereotypes, IMO. Not rude but lazy.
Thanks, Mosier.
Like I said, I’d never use the word “dot” or refer to Indians as “dots” - but I know to pick my battles and don’t care much if others do. If someone says “dothead” though, that sounds kind of rude and would tell me something about the speaker.
I can’t decide. Pretty sure my coworkers would not be amused (engineers are generally not happy when asked about desktop issues), so I don’t think I’m going to say it out loud anytime soon.
It’s not a stereotype as much as a symbol. Do you think it’s a negative symbol? It makes me think of beauty.
Hi. I’m a Native American. I was born in Queens. Both terms are inaccurate.
Shiva help me, I LOL’ed at this.
BTW–I’ve never heard an Indian person called a “dot” or a “dothead.”