# US Dopers - reaction to this supermarket sign?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-dopers-reaction-to-this-supermarket-sign/592675>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [August 14, 2011, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-dopers-reaction-to-this-supermarket-sign/592675 "2011-08-14T12:38:09Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 5

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**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\
**Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-dopers-reaction-to-this-supermarket-sign/592675/81 "2011-08-16T06:56:28Z")

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> [@spark240](#):
>
> Well, whether people are _offended_ isn’t necessarily the point. Even if no one is really put off by it, there can still be a question of whether it’s the _best_ word. At least three different understandings are referenced in this thread of which region is meant.

You do have to consider the context. On an internet message board, with people of widely varying backgrounds posting from all over the world, _of course_ there are differing interpretations. In a supermarket in Solihull? Not so much, I think.

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**Author:** ![Namkcalb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c89c15/32.png) [@Namkcalb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Namkcalb)\
**Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-dopers-reaction-to-this-supermarket-sign/592675/82 "2011-08-16T07:06:14Z")

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> [@amarinth](#):
>
> And I would wonder why the store made that choice.

Because Asian is too vague, Chinese is too specific, North-East Asian is too long and sl\*\*\*s is too racist. 🙂

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**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\
**Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-dopers-reaction-to-this-supermarket-sign/592675/83 "2011-08-16T09:33:58Z")

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> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#):
>
> Maruchan, a US noodle company, offers [ramen](http://www.meijer.com/assets/product_images/styles/xlarge/1001029_041789002144_A_400.jpg) in “Oriental Flavor” without any apparent controversy.

There’s plenty of controversy. For starters, while the Chicken flavor tastes like chicken and the Beef flavor tastes like beef, the Oriental flavor doesn’t taste _anything_ like Orientals.

I’m not winning any friends here, am I…

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