I’m Asian. And if you’re thinking “oh he’s just Asian, not Black or Hispanic, what does he know about racism?” just get the fuck out of my thread, I have no time for you.
Right now there’s a thread in IMHO, MPSIM and here at the Pit “inquiring” about Asians, started by the same guy (interestingly enough, the one here is the less offensive one). I personally can’t see those threads going anywhere positive, but that’s not what I am here about. But they do remind me of somethings that does piss me off though.
Why do some people think it’s acceptable to come up to an Asian and ask and make jokes about Asian stereotypes? Does this shit happen to any other race? I am not the stereotypical “submissive” Asian, I am not going to stand for that sort of snide, condescending bullshit and I’m gonna make sure you know what a fucking idiotic statement you’re making (usually with a smartass retort, in most cases).
Here’s something that happened to me fairly recently.
Last week I’m at a party and this drunk piece of shit comes up to me to inform me that “if you try to shoot me up, I’ll fuck you up” (referring to the Virginia Tech incident) as he walks away. So, I replied “if you try to shoot me up, I’ll fuck you up too”, which I admit was not terribly clever, but I compensated with volume. Hey, I’m not gonna start shit but I ain’t taking shit from some dumbfuck who thinks he knows who he’s dealing with.
I will admit that I have never experienced anything resembling a hate crime (although somebody once yelled “spic” at me as they drove by, which was humorous more than offensive) but I am so fucking sick and tired of people thinking that I will take shit just because I’m Asian.
Yes I am Asian. Yes I do know martial arts, but a lot of Asians don’t as well. No I am not from North Korea and that regime has very little to do with me. Yes South Korea is very different. No I do not have small penis. No I am not good at math. No we don’t actually all look alike.
Jesus fucking Christ, how are people so stupid?
You should have round kicked that redneck in the side of his fucking head.
I don’t know why people act that way. I’m sorry they do. I think racists are mostly losers who can’t think of any better way to feel good about themselves. An incident like VA Tech probably makes them feel like they have a socially acceptable justification for bullying Koreans (or Asians in general). Muslims get it even worse these days. People suck. Just remember that people who act like that are exposing themselves as morons to everyone else.
I’ve met Asians. Most of 'em I like. Most of 'em know how to use the “enter” button, too.
Dude, try not to get too worked up over those particular threads. The guy admits he needs responses for homework in this thread so he’s started like 8 threads and I have a sneaking suspicion he’s also the one responsible for this one.
Eh?
It’s more about what I encounter in real life than here on the SDMB. Those threads just reminded me. Anyway, I think if someone started a thread asking about African American stereotypes, I don’t think people would quite as eager to offer their “insight”.
It reminds me of an aquaintance I had in college. His name was Joe, he was ethnically Asian, he was quite good at math, witty as all hell and he learned to talk shit long before I knew him. I think he had basically the same defense mechanism as you and it seemed to work pretty well for him.
I had two exchange student roommates, one from Korea and one from Japan. They expelled a lot of my misconceptions about their cultures. I guess I got lucky, it was a great experience.
Chin up, bro. It’ll get better.
What redneck?
Sure thing, but my chin ain’t down. Far from it.
Incidentally, he was Black. Not completely relevant, but meh.
Yeah, I’d agree. He seems like a tool, and a lazy one at that. I wonder if he’s ever heard of this place with lots of books that are arranged in such a way that you can search for them by subject as well as by title or by author? :dubious:
I don’t mind Asian stereotype jokes per se. My friends tease me all the time about how I suck at math and how they can’t tell me apart from the other Asian girls on campus. I don’t think that would acceptable coming from a stranger, though. Fortunately I haven’t experienced too much of that (although I will get the random “Do you speak Chinese?” from the person behind the register).
Well, no wonder then…
I’m white, but my workplace of seventeen years is about 70% Vietnamese. All of them that I’ve discussed this with assure me that when they first set foot on Australian soil, we all looked the same to them. “Long, pale, and hairy” was one I heard. 
Of course, with the close friends I have there, the racist taunts would curl your hair - all in fun, of course.
Racism sucks, but by getting worked up so much by it, aren’t you in a way empowering it?
First off, I’m sorry that that idiot said that to you. (bolding mine).
Second, for the most part your answer is in your own post. Though I certainly wouldn’t call what that idiot redneck said as “casual racism”. It didn’t sound casual, it sounded like out and out racism in idiot mode to me.
Maybe, in his drunken state of mind he actually thought he was being funny. Anyway, as to the “maybe some of you think I’m ‘only’ Asian…” part of your post, unless a person is a middle-aged white guy, they have to deal with some sort of discrimination. Being jerks to people who are different, (or thought to be somehow lesser than others), because of their differences is second nature to some people.
What redneck?
Actually, it’s universal. I’m a not-far-off-middle-age white guy, and I would be discriminated against just about weekly. Both my workplace and my neighbourhood are places where white skin is a minority. Of course, the discrimination I encounter is very minor, and sometimes I’m not sure the person doing it even realises, as it’s hard to tell where discrimination starts. The only blatant example I’ve had happen was a few weeks ago in an Indian take-away food store that a (white) friend had recommended. I walked in as an Indian girl was being served before me, so I waited. While I waited, a second server came behind the counter but refused to make eye contact, and did lots of busy work. Then about a dozen Indian folk all came into the shop together, and both servers started calling over my shoulder to them, using tricks like saying “Can I help you?” to the next person while simultaneously making the previous one’s change, so I couldn’t get a word in. In the end (seven minutes waiting) I told them to shove their shop and walked out. I would have been a regular customer too. It was good in a way, as I felt humiliated and ostracised as a victim of “textbook” racism, and everyone needs to experience that. However, it’s the only example I can recall happening to me. Most times it’s more subtle.
So what is your suggestion, then? Ignore it, and maybe it’ll go away?
ETA - I don’t mean to sound snarky, but really, what is the appropriate reaction that will defeat racism as opposed to “empowering” it, as you say?
I do not follow.
That example was a recent event and I’ll admit it wasn’t casual, but it embodies the same attitude that’s all too common. He’s Asian, therefore it is acceptable to make offensive comments to his face.
For example in the thread mentioned earlier, do you think when someone asks about Black stereotypes the first reply would say “they like fried chicken, and from my personal experience it’s true.”
Why do I have to defend my outrage to begin with? Am I coming off too strong for an Asian? You don’t think my anger is justified?
I’m not sure, but there must be a middle ground between ignoring it and being enraged by it. I’ve had no personal experience with racism (being white), so I guess I’ll shut up now.
Your outrage is justfiied, and I dont see anyone criticizing you for being upset. If I was going to offer any advice, it would be that you seem awfully volatile right now, and that maybe you should take a break and post again later?
(bolding mine)
I think your anger is very justified, but I also honestly think you are coming off too strongly, period. You’ve mentioned the “submissive Asian” thing several times, but really, I doubt you’d find a single person on this site who would for a moment think there was any general truth in that.