# What do Americans think of Asian-Indians? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 22, 2008, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-americans-think-of-asian-indians/464610 "2008-09-22T00:29:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![anu-la1979](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/47e85d/32.png) [@anu-la1979](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anu-la1979)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-americans-think-of-asian-indians/464610/81 "2008-09-25T23:02:19Z")
This has been the most unintentionally hilarious thread I’ve read on the Dope to date. I don’t know why it’s cracking me up so much-maybe the innocently observant way so many of you are describing the Indian mentality towards bargaining. > [@](#): > > They are very interested in bargains, whenever we’ve had a yardsale there have been long bargaining sessions over almost any item, even if the price is low to begin with. Jesus, this is my parents to a T. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-americans-think-of-asian-indians/464610/82 "2008-09-25T23:19:32Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > This is only common amongst business and working class types. You won’t see very many professionals anglicizing their names completely. That is, Rakesh might be called “Ricky” informally, but he would never tell you that his name is “Richard.” Educated Indians tend to be very loyal to their cultural backgrounds. Uhhh, James is a multi-multi-millionaire, and I don’t know of any adult in his rather large family who has less than a masters or J.D. degree. That includes Mike, Kevin, Nick, Jay, etc . . . They are loyal to their cultural background and love America and American culture at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-americans-think-of-asian-indians/464610/83 "2008-09-26T00:34:50Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > Uhhh, James is a multi-multi-millionaire, and I don’t know of any adult in his rather large family who has less than a masters or J.D. degree. That includes Mike, Kevin, Nick, Jay, etc That might be so, but I’m saying that this is not the norm. > [@](#): > > . . . They are loyal to their cultural background and love America and American culture at the same time. Most Indian-Americans take the viewpoint that “American culture” =/= “Anglo culture,” that “Rakesh” is no less American than “Richard” and thus choose to keep Indian-origin names. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-americans-think-of-asian-indians/464610/84 "2008-09-26T01:39:00Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > That might be so, but I’m saying that this is not the norm. Ok, fine, but I said in my original post that my views were highly biased and colored almost entirely by the family that I grew up next door to, so in that light I don’t see why you needed to point it out. But ok. I’m not going to disagree because for all I know you’re right. Just not in my experience. > [@acsenray](#): > > Most Indian-Americans take the viewpoint that “American culture” =/= “Anglo culture,” that “Rakesh” is no less American than “Richard” and thus choose to keep Indian-origin names. Are you, personally, an amalgam of most Indian-Americans or did you take a poll or something? I’m pretty sure we could find name data from [ssa.gov](http://ssa.gov) that suggests Richard is quite a bit “more American” than Rakesh. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-americans-think-of-asian-indians/464610/85 "2008-09-26T01:57:32Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > I’m pretty sure we could find name data from [ssa.gov](http://ssa.gov) that suggests Richard is quite a bit “more American” than Rakesh. You’re actually going to argue about what’s “more American” and do it based on numbers when I described a _viewpoint_? ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-americans-think-of-asian-indians/464610/86 "2008-09-26T02:02:59Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > You’re actually going to argue about what’s “more American” and do it based on numbers when I described a _viewpoint_? Coming from the person who felt the need to dispute my _viewpoint_ with his (or her) _viewpoint_ upthread? We can prove that more Americans name their kids Richard than Rakesh a lot easier than we can prove most Indian Americans do this or that or take this or that attitude towards whatever. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-americans-think-of-asian-indians/464610/87 "2008-09-26T03:26:19Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > Coming from the person who felt the need to dispute my _viewpoint_ with his (or her) _viewpoint_ upthread? Why do you take the presentation of an alternative viewpoint as a dispute that has to be answered with an argument? And your statistical argument is completely nonsensical. If I say “X Minority Ethnic Group views Y as being no less American than Z,” how can you prove or disprove that by showing that “Z is more common than Y”? “More common” is proof of “more American”? ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-americans-think-of-asian-indians/464610/88 "2008-09-26T04:15:12Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > Why do you take the presentation of an alternative viewpoint as a dispute that has to be answered with an argument? Are you punking me or something? Everything you’re accusing me of doing, you did first. > [@acsenray](#): > > And your statistical argument is completely nonsensical. If I say “X Minority Ethnic Group views Y as being no less American than Z,” how can you prove or disprove that by showing that “Z is more common than Y”? “More common” is proof of “more American”? Not nonsensical at all. If I give you two names: Kazuyuki and Charles, which one is more Japanese? A Japanese person could have either name, but which one is _more Japanese_? ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-americans-think-of-asian-indians/464610/89 "2008-09-26T11:25:18Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > Are you punking me or something? Everything you’re accusing me of doing, you did first. My intent was to prevent an alternative viewpoint, not to engage in some pointless pissing match over who was more correct. > [@](#): > > Not nonsensical at all. If I give you two names: Kazuyuki and Charles, which one is more Japanese? A Japanese person could have either name, but which one is _more Japanese_? Under what definition of “Japanese”? “I am more American than you are” is not a claim about statistics. It’s a claim about value/loyalty/worth/standing. I began by telling you the assumption for the viewpoint underlying my statement, which is that American culture is not the same as Anglo culture. That’s not a viewpoint that’s based on statistics. It’s an ideology based on the notion that American culture is an amalgam of all the cultures of the individuals who identify as “American.” Under this view point, it doesn’t matter how many Richards there are compared to Rakesh. So long as there are at least one of each, they are equally American. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2008, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-americans-think-of-asian-indians/464610/90 "2008-09-28T08:43:52Z")
> [@Cosmic Relief](#): > > Edited to add: As far as Indian women, I’d say the hotties and not-hotties occur with about the same frequency as any other group, but Indian hotties are a special smoking kind of hot. Agreed. I find Indian women especially attractive and interesting- the one or two I’ve known from College Classes long ago were also extremely intelligent. But it’s kind of a shame, because I would never approach them because of this cultural insularity and marrying along racial lines that I have heard about, and I wouldn’t expect to have any success with them myself from a cultural standpoint or expect the interest to be returned. I’ve not had many experiences with Indians on a personal level, but the one time I did, it left me thinking of them as extremely bigotted. It was a very slow night at the Restaurant that I worked at and there was one lone Indian Gentleman in the Restaurant and I assume he was a Doctor or a Medical Professional of some type because the Restaurant was located very near a Medical College Campus and we got many Doctors and patients as clientele. Anyways, I don’t remember the exact ins and outs of our conversation but somehow we got into social issues or something and he was basically espousing how great the caste system in India was and how some people were meant to be lower than others and weren’t suited for certain things and it was good that they were seperated from other parts of society. This was all stated in a rather pointed and condescending way towards me, as I assume being an American of apparently lower caste than him I probably contaminated his food. I didn’t argue too much, but it did seem rather odd that he would espouse a caste system in America of all places. I hope the food left a bad taste in his mouth because he certainly left a bad taste in mine. ---
**Author:** ![bundykala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3da27b/32.png) [@bundykala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bundykala)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2008, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-americans-think-of-asian-indians/464610/91 "2008-09-28T09:18:11Z")
> [@devilsknew](#): > > Agreed. I find Indian women especially attractive and interesting- the one or two I’ve known from College Classes long ago were also extremely intelligent. But it’s kind of a shame, because I would never approach them because of this cultural insularity and marrying along racial lines that I have heard about, and I wouldn’t expect to have any success with them myself from a cultural standpoint or expect the interest to be returned. Speaking as an Indian girl who is more attracted to your average white guy than Indians, I must say that this saddens me. Then again, I probably wouldn’t be interested in someone who wouldn’t approach an Indian girl because he assumes she’s only into people of her own race. I mean, I’m sure many people have that mindset. But to not even bother finding out? That’s just silly. We’re not _all_ like that. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2008, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-americans-think-of-asian-indians/464610/92 "2008-09-28T09:51:22Z")
> [@bundykala](#): > > Speaking as an Indian girl who is more attracted to your average white guy than Indians, I must say that this saddens me. Then again, I probably wouldn’t be interested in someone who wouldn’t approach an Indian girl because he assumes she’s only into people of her own race. I mean, I’m sure many people have that mindset. But to not even bother finding out? That’s just silly. We’re not _all_ like that. Oh, I realize that you’re not all like that… I guess I am just intimidated by the _possible_ implications. I don’t know any Indian girls to have a chance to approach and the very few opportunities that I have, they are usually surrounded by other family members. And, I think flirting with them then would be in very bad taste. …How you doin? ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2008, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-americans-think-of-asian-indians/464610/93 "2008-10-12T03:39:19Z")
I’m an American in Thailand, and I know a few Indians. They’re all pretty cool. What’s more, in our complex – four 36-story towers – we have a lot of Korean families renting and a lot of Indian families who own, and there are other Indian families in the area. The resident Koreans have frustrated the Thai building staff to such an extent – they’ve actually literally threatened to kill the Thai staff for asking them to follow simple building rules like don’t leave your shoes out in the hallway and don’t smoke in public areas – that the complex’s board says it won’t allow any more Koreans to live here. I hate to say it, but the Koreans living here really do seem to think they’re a law unto themselves. But how the Thais plan to keep them out is a mystery; the staff have no control over who the unit owners can rent to. The Indians who live here, however, all exude a sense of community and seem to go out of their way to try to be good neighbors. I’m big on Indians, but your average Thai tends to look down on them, because of the darker skin. ---
**Author:** ![SomeBodyUK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@SomeBodyUK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SomeBodyUK)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2008, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-americans-think-of-asian-indians/464610/94 "2008-10-12T10:01:17Z")
I have a friend who is a Thailand-based Indian with a Thai wife. His wife told me Thais on the whole don’t like Indians. One reason being that they don’t mix much with the local Thai population. The Chinese have intermarried to a great extent with the Thai, whilst this hasn’t happened with the Indians. As for Koreans - I went to an international students job recruitment fair in Orlando last year, there were international grad students from over 20 US universities. When I asked people which students were the most unfriendly, I always got the same answer - Koreans. I do have a few very good Korean friends, but these guys have spent a number of years in the US and are very Americanised. As for the guys I came across who were from fresh from Korea, they couldn’t give a shit about getting to know about non-Koreans. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2008, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-americans-think-of-asian-indians/464610/95 "2008-10-12T15:40:06Z")
> [@SomeBodyUK](#): > > I have a friend who is a Thailand-based Indian with a Thai wife. His wife told me Thais on the whole don’t like Indians. One reason being that they don’t mix much with the local Thai population. The Chinese have intermarried to a great extent with the Thai, whilst this hasn’t happened with the Indians. > > As for Koreans - I went to an international students job recruitment fair in Orlando last year, there were international grad students from over 20 US universities. When I asked people which students were the most unfriendly, I always got the same answer - Koreans. > > I do have a few very good Korean friends, but these guys have spent a number of years in the US and are very Americanised. As for the guys I came across who were from fresh from Korea, they couldn’t give a shit about getting to know about non-Koreans. Ironically, all things Korean are generally hugely popular in Thailand right now: Pop bands, imported TV shows and films, you name it. I hear the perceived unfriendliness is generally a cultural thing, that Koreans are just much more reserved naturally. I don’t have much interaction with the ones in my building, but the ones I do come across always seem rather surly. As for Indians and Chinese, the Thais believe the darker the skin, the worse you were in your previous life, and you probably ought to be avoided now, too, just to be on the safe side. It can also mean manual laborer out in the sun a lot, so maybe not the best match for your son or daughter. Light-skinned Chinese were “obviously” much better people in their previous incarnation. The Thai ideal of beauty is the light-skinned northern-Thai beauties, and those are the girls who populate those brothels oriented toward Thai men. The farang (Westerner) penchant for the dark-skinned beauties of the Northeast, generally considered the ugliest women in Thailand because of their dark skin, tends to convince Thais that farangs are indeed sick in the head. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-americans-think-of-asian-indians/464610.md?page=4)