I just had an arguyment with a friend who had a very different interpretation of the word racism. This stemmed from me referring to a picture of a car as a ‘ricemobile’. For those not familiar with the term it generally refers to cars which have been excessivley modified for purely cosmetic purposes (big shiny rims, rear spoiler on front wheel drive car that never travels over 100km/h, spoilers that actually give lift not downforce, etc.) and as a generalisation, asian cars. Now, this term can also apply to any car with said modifications, like an Australian car.
Now, said friend called me a racist for using this term, citing ‘rice’ as an insult towards people of asian descent. This interpretation I accept, being someone who is not interested in cars I can see she may not be overly familiar with the term applying to cars, not the asian race itself.
But I also found her interpretation of me being racist, had i referred to an asian person with the word ‘rice’, as a bit off the mark. I’ve always been told racism was when one person thinks they’re race is superior to another, which certainly is true. But thats not what she thought I was doing. She thought I was simply insulting them. Am I incorrect to take offense in her labelling me a racist, regardless of what my original comment was meant to say, but in relation to what she thought I was saying?
If it’s someone whose company you value; you should apologize, move on, and remember the person’s sensitivity. Otherwise, you’ve not done anything wrong. Unless you were referring to a person or a group of people and throwing the “rice” term around, it’s mildly offensive at worst.
I’m not fussed about annoying her See, that’s where my thinking is, I was referring to a car, not asian people, as ‘rice’. It just annoyed me that she initially thought the worst, that I was racist in her eyes, and secondly, doesn’t understand what racism really is, like a lot of people, which is one of my pet peeves.
No, it’s not off the mark. When you’re denigrating members of another race with comments based on stereotypes, it stands to reason you think they’re inferior to you.
But I would be offended if I were in your position. Your friend is supposed to know what you’re like as a person, and she called you a racist for using a term she didn’t even understand and had probably never heard before. Shouldn’t she at least give you the benefit of the doubt and ask what a ricemobile is? I’d be bothered that she leaped to that conclusion. I would calmly tell her what the word actually means, explain that it has nothing to do with race, and probably ask for an apology. If she kept complaining I’d be royally pissed off.
I just re-read the OP, and somehow the first time I missed the critical phrase “and as a generalisation, asian cars.” So, with that in mind, you can chuck much of the second part of my post.
Her use of the word racism is still not wrong, and I hope she didn’t go off on you too badly when you were not using the term in a racist way. If its origins are racist, she’s within bounds to say so. I’d guess “ricemobile” meant Asian cars first and other things later, so I would guess she is correct that it was originally a derogatory term for Asian cars.
I wouldn’t go crazy on a friend for something like that, especially if it’s a term I’m not familiar with. I would have said that the term is racist instead of calling you a racist. That’s a big distinction for me and it relates to the idea of giving my friends the benefit of the doubt. Anyway upon further consideration, I agree with her.
^ Exactly. We also import cars to the Middle East, unfortunately, we really only modify cars, as all our cars are based on an international chassis, engine, etc. Though Holden is making an all new model, the VE Commodore, based on all Australian body, though still the American V8, presumably the LS2 by then. Now, an Aussie chassis and Aussie 5L V8 would be something to behold
I think you were insensitive. I think the fact that the phrase bothers people is enough reason not to use it. I don’t understand the point of splitting hairs as to the exact definition of racism. What’s the difference between calling an over-modified car a “ricemobile”, and calling a low-rider a “beanermobile”, or a pimped Cadillac a “watermelon-mobile”?
I think a major misunderstanding is i’ve never used or really heard ‘rice’ as a racist remark to asians. I’ve heard other words of course, but I personally have never considered it an insult to asians in general that I’d think of.
It may have orignally meant something different, but due to the popularity of the “Rice-Boy” website, it’s now pretty much synoymous with cars owned by young asian men that have excessive, showy, tacky and useless modifications.
Oh, well then I apologize for saying you were insensitive. Obviously, if you didn’t know it was insulting, then you weren’t deliberately being insensitive.
But if you haven’t seen the Rice-Boy website, check it out. I think you’ll get an idea why it’s derogatory. The guy who runs the site claims to be Asian himself, and that he’s therefore not being racist, but that’s a whole different debate.
I think the disclaimer on that site sums it up though, even more so considering where I live most people who drive around in 'ricemobile’s arent even asian in the first place, which is probably why I’ve never considered it a racist comment.
Meant something else first? Where do you think the term “rice” comes from? Because it’s a stereotype of Asians (and to a lesser extent, Asian cars.) How would someone not know that?
In Britain the term “rice-rocket” means a high performance motorcycle - the machine not the rider. Similarly a Harley wil be known as a “yank-tank”. It’s not a racist term as it refers to the machine not the person on it.
(BTW The Asian boys in Britain (In Britain “asian” means from indian subcontinent) also have a fetish for buggering up their cars.)
See, that’s where my thinking is, I was referring to a car, not asian people, as ‘rice’. It just annoyed me that she initially thought the worst, that I was racist in her eyes, and secondly, doesn’t understand what racism really is, like a lot of people, which is one of my pet peeves.