# Oh God- Anchor straight reads racist joke names of Asiana pilots **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 13, 2013, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-god-anchor-straight-reads-racist-joke-names-of-asiana-pilots/663380 "2013-07-13T01:59:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2013, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-god-anchor-straight-reads-racist-joke-names-of-asiana-pilots/663380/21 "2013-07-13T05:00:03Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#): > > I didn’t get “Sum Ting Wong” or “Wi Tu Lo” until I heard the anchor actually read them. But c’mon, the name “Ho Lee Fuk” should’ve been a red flag that sum ting was wong. I took the link off the plane crash thread. I had no idea what was up. As soon as Sum Ting Wong appeared on the screen my face went :eek::dubious::D:p:smack: in 0.2 seconds. That was some funny shit. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2013, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-god-anchor-straight-reads-racist-joke-names-of-asiana-pilots/663380/22 "2013-07-13T05:01:17Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Different guy. The restauranteur was Lee Ho Fook. I hear you can get a big dish of Beef Chow Mein there. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2013, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-god-anchor-straight-reads-racist-joke-names-of-asiana-pilots/663380/23 "2013-07-13T05:12:02Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > PING: Dan Rather. Forged documents are somewhat harder to confirm in a few minutes that obviously fake names. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2013, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-god-anchor-straight-reads-racist-joke-names-of-asiana-pilots/663380/24 "2013-07-13T05:13:57Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > It’s a Fox affiliate. Since when did fact-checking become part of their job? I hate Fox News as much as any sane person but the local affiliates aren’t really the same as the network. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2013, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-god-anchor-straight-reads-racist-joke-names-of-asiana-pilots/663380/25 "2013-07-13T05:48:07Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > It’s a Fox affiliate. Since when did fact-checking become part of their job? KTVU is probably the most respected local television news outfit in the Bay Area. They certainly have the least fluff in their newscasts out of any of the local stations. Other than having access to footage and content from Fox News, they basically have nothing to do with them. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2013, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-god-anchor-straight-reads-racist-joke-names-of-asiana-pilots/663380/26 "2013-07-13T06:30:28Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Ben Dover, Ima Hog, Ura Hog and others have made people laugh for a hundred years. Really? Then only because those people were simpletons. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2013, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-god-anchor-straight-reads-racist-joke-names-of-asiana-pilots/663380/27 "2013-07-13T07:27:36Z")
Guess you don’t like name puns then. Too bad, its your loss. Ima and Ura were popular women’s names between 1880 and 1930. Basically our grandmothers and great grandmothers. > **[Nickelodeon Parents](https://www.nickelodeonparents.com/)** > > Printables, coloring pages, recipes, crafts, and more from your child’s favorite Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. shows. > **[Nickelodeon Parents](https://www.nickelodeonparents.com/)** > > Printables, coloring pages, recipes, crafts, and more from your child’s favorite Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. shows. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2013, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-god-anchor-straight-reads-racist-joke-names-of-asiana-pilots/663380/28 "2013-07-13T09:20:04Z")
After she struck out as a weather girl, it looks like Kelly Bundy tried being an anchorwoman. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2013, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-god-anchor-straight-reads-racist-joke-names-of-asiana-pilots/663380/29 "2013-07-13T11:39:36Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#): > > I didn’t get “Sum Ting Wong” or “Wi Tu Lo” until I heard the anchor actually read them. But c’mon, the name “Ho Lee Fuk” should’ve been a red flag that sum ting was wong. She read it as Ho {pause} Lee {pause} Fook. It almost sounded authentic that way. Besides, she was pretty deep into it at that point. Probably better to pretend ignorance than admit the names sounded wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Flywheel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Flywheel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flywheel)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2013, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-god-anchor-straight-reads-racist-joke-names-of-asiana-pilots/663380/30 "2013-07-13T12:44:14Z")
> [@Accidental\_Martyr](#): > > I hear you can get a big dish of Beef Chow Mein there. Nah, I’ll have the Cream of Sum Yung Gai. ---
**Author:** ![6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/e19adc/32.png) [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2013, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-god-anchor-straight-reads-racist-joke-names-of-asiana-pilots/663380/31 "2013-07-13T13:11:03Z")
Wei Lo Tu Ha Ha ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2013, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-god-anchor-straight-reads-racist-joke-names-of-asiana-pilots/663380/32 "2013-07-13T13:23:06Z")
> [@](#): > > Really? Then only because those people were simpletons. Man, that’s low. I mean, Sofa King low. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2013, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-god-anchor-straight-reads-racist-joke-names-of-asiana-pilots/663380/33 "2013-07-13T14:06:48Z")
> [@Flywheel](#): > > Nah, I’ll have the Cream of Sum Yung Gai. That’s a favorite amongst visiting sailors. They love the pan fried seamen. ---
**Author:** ![NotBob13](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e19b73/32.png) [@NotBob13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotBob13)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2013, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-god-anchor-straight-reads-racist-joke-names-of-asiana-pilots/663380/34 "2013-07-13T14:42:28Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Guess you don’t like name puns then. Too bad, its your loss. > > Ima and Ura were popular women’s names between 1880 and 1930. Basically our grandmothers and great grandmothers. > > [Nickelodeon Parents | Printables, coloring pages, recipes, crafts, and more from your child’s favorite Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. shows.](http://babynamesworld.parentsconnect.com/meaning_of_Ima.html) > > [Nickelodeon Parents | Printables, coloring pages, recipes, crafts, and more from your child’s favorite Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. shows.](http://babynamesworld.parentsconnect.com/meaning_of_Ura.html) I just wish Carrie Nation`s daughter had been namednamed Ura. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2013, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-god-anchor-straight-reads-racist-joke-names-of-asiana-pilots/663380/35 "2013-07-13T15:49:02Z")
> [@Accidental\_Martyr](#): > > I hate Fox News as much as any sane person but the local affiliates aren’t really the same as the network. CNN describes it as a CNN affiliate. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2013, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-god-anchor-straight-reads-racist-joke-names-of-asiana-pilots/663380/36 "2013-07-13T16:33:41Z")
The worst part is that the “names” don’t even _look_ Korean. The individual syllables look more like Chinese stereotype names, and they’re also formatted incorrectly for Korean names. Korean given names are typically represented in Roman characters by connecting the two syllables with a hyphen. That said, I have to admit that I don’t get “Bang Ding Ow”. ---
**Author:** ![turtlescanfly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@turtlescanfly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/turtlescanfly)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2013, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-god-anchor-straight-reads-racist-joke-names-of-asiana-pilots/663380/37 "2013-07-13T16:36:33Z")
+1 for the idea that the anchor had likely not said or heard the names out loud prior to broadcast. Even if she had read them ahead of time, her eyes would likely have glossed over them, saw no difficult pronunciation problems, and moved on. Half way through, she realizes she’s likely being pranked, but what can she do? Unlesss she is _absolutely certain_ (and who thinks that fast?) do you really think she would stop and say “These names are fake!”. I mean, what if they weren’t? THAT might come off as racist. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2013, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-god-anchor-straight-reads-racist-joke-names-of-asiana-pilots/663380/38 "2013-07-13T16:37:27Z")
> [@Mister\_Rik](#): > > The worst part is that the “names” don’t even _look_ Korean. The individual syllables look more like Chinese stereotype names, and they’re also formatted incorrectly for Korean names. Korean given names are typically represented in Roman characters by connecting the two syllables with a hyphen. > > That said, I have to admit that I don’t get “Bang Ding Ow”. Bang-impact of plane, Ding-impact of pilot’s head, Ow-reaction of impact of pilot’s head. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2013, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-god-anchor-straight-reads-racist-joke-names-of-asiana-pilots/663380/39 "2013-07-13T16:42:54Z")
> [@Mister\_Rik](#): > > The worst part is that the “names” don’t even _look_ Korean. I guess they do all look alike to round-eyes. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2013, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-god-anchor-straight-reads-racist-joke-names-of-asiana-pilots/663380/40 "2013-07-13T17:16:56Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > I guess they do all look alike to round-eyes. Apparently. I can’t claim that I can easily tell Koreans from Chinese from Japanese simply by appearance, but if I see the person’s name it’s usually a dead giveaway. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-god-anchor-straight-reads-racist-joke-names-of-asiana-pilots/663380.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-god-anchor-straight-reads-racist-joke-names-of-asiana-pilots/663380.md?page=3)