That they are better in math than me.
Hell, I’m Indian and I understand that Asian means Far East. But we’re Asian, too! Sometimes I’ll say Southeast Asian. Most of the time I just consider us an entity unto ourselves and say Indian.
It’s a matter of political correctness, and as you pointed out, it makes no sense.
That they drive poorly.
I think it’s weird that all people aren’t called by what they call themselves, in their own language, but then again, I reckon folks need to be able to call other people names that are meaningful to them, in their own language, as well.
I’m 29 and live in (and grew up in) the U.S.
This statement most closely resembles my thought process, too.
The OP’s friend could, of course, use the “problem” as a way to filter out the less-enlightened or less-educated. But it would also filter out people who think like this … one of whom could potentially be a real hottie. 
I vote to change the profile text a little.
33, Canadian from Montreal, and I usually think of an Asian person as being Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, or Korean. Others seem to use this meaning, for example when describing restaurants. But the Canadian Asian News is actually aimed at the South Asian community, as is the Asian Television Network. So I suspect Canadians use both the American and British connotations of the term.
To me it means someone from China, Japan or geographically in between.
And I have to post this joke from King of the Hill when the Souphanousinphones first move in next door and Khan wonders over to introduce himself.
Paraphrased:
Hank: So are you Chinese or Japanese?
Khan: Neither. I am Laotion. I’m from Laos.
Bill: The Ocean? What Ocean?
:smack:
Hahaha, my half-Pakistani friend actually had a problem with this very issue when she had to take a bullshit cultural sensitivity course for one of her jobs.
“Asian” applies in two different ways: “race” Asians are people from countries like Japan, China, and Korea; “continent” Asians are people from the Asian continent, some of whom are Caucasian (e.g., people from Pakistan, India, Iraq, etc.). So, if your Indian friend was talking about his race (which is a silly social construct anyway, but that’s another topic), it would be inaccurate for him to say Asian. But if he’s talking about area of origin, then it would be accurate.
I think of India as a sub-continent, so Asian means Chinese/Japanese/Korean/Viet Namese.
There are a lot of Hmong folks in my area. They’re Asian. There are a lot of Indian folks that I work with. They’re Indian.
Regards,
Shodan
It means they don’t know how to communicate well. Asia is the home (or ancestral home) to half the world’s population, at least, and are of so many racial groups that saying “I am Asian” supplies no real information.
This is wacky.
I am an american living in an american home which houses an american car. Much of the stuff I own is asian; I don’t have any oriental stuff although we do have a bunch of stuff made in China…
Who comes up with these ways to be politically correct, anyway?
You’re right, Chief Pedant. It’s a bunch of nonsense.
A lot of people have said, “I think of Asian as…” With all due respect though, there can be a big difference between what we “think of” as being true and what actually is true. A lot of people think of slanty-eyed folks as being Chinese, but that doesn’t make their usage of this term accurate.
Whether we like it or not, Asia is not limited to China and its surrounding nations. Asia does include India and Pakistan, among other nations. One could admittedly argue that Indians and Pakistanis are geographically Asian but not “racially” Asian. In such situations though, the term “Mongoloid” would be more specific and technically accurate, albeit somewhat unsavory.
If I really wana fuck with an American’s mind, I tell him I’m technically Asian, Caucasian and of Aryan descent…
Well, I would first think of East Asians - Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Taiwanese. Then, I would think of the Southeast Asians - Malaysians, Vietnamese, Cambodian, etc.
I live in a part of the US where there is a significant Asian population… also went to a university where there was a significant Asian population. None of us referred to ourselves or each other as “Oriental”. In the context of America, I feel as though most of the people who use that term to describe people are non-Asians or white washed Asians.
I (American) think of “Asian” as East Asian. I’m aware it encompasses more than that, but that’s what I think of first.
“East Indian” would be more precise, but not necessarily less confusing. Until recently I thought it referred specifically to people from Indonesia (the former Dutch East Indies).
Your friend could always use “Indian (Asian)”
The historic Orient Express ran from Paris to Istanbul. An oriental rug might come from central Asia. Merriam-Webster defines oriental as “of, relating to, or situated in Asia.”
There may be valid reasons for bemoaning the deprecation of the word “oriental,” but a loss of precision isn’t one of them.
And Swiss for Cheese.
I know you guys think that the sensitivity around oriental is a bunch of hooey, but when real Asian people say they don’t like it, isn’t it polite just to drop it?
Personally, I feel kind of wistful over An Arky’s comment - but I don’t think most people could pronounce “Bharati”! I suppose Punjabi would do in a pinch, though.
Or maybe just American. 
I think it is as useful term as any, it’s deliberately generic because a lot of people don’t really care to delve in the details. I mean I was born in the UK but my parents were born in South Africa and most of my extended family still lives there, I regularly go there on holiday. I’ve never been to India or Asia.
Yet the info people want to know is more accurately conveyed by saying Asian as opposed to South African or Indian. I could be more specific and say Telegu, but who is that honestly going to help?
On the other hand I when I’m on Holiday I’ll say British, because that’s what people want to know.
Man I’m rambling a lot today.
I’m another (American) one who would picture someone from East Asia. I would also think that someone who lists"Asian" on a profile is either being pretentious or trying to hide something.
Also, all of the many English people I know use the term “Oriental” with no malicious intent at all. I agree with Anaamika that if a person is offended by the term I won’t use it( but I still think to myself that it’s a bunch of hooey;))