Asian confusion - Page 4

Forbin · November 7 2012, 04:10 AM

I occasionally use the word "Oriental" occidentally.

Forbin · November 7 2012, 04:12 AM

Oh yeah - I was in my favorite deli, owned by a Korean fella and his Chinese wife, when a curious customer asked the owner if he was Japanese. He was visibly offended!

Gary7 · November 9 2012, 12:23 AM

^ That bugs me. Why should anybody be offended by such a mistake, especially when it's easy to make for an outsider? If someone thought I looked like I'm Russian (and I really don't--if anything, French, German or Norwegian), I couldn't care less.

People being easily offended is a continuing epidemic across human cultures... enough where some people will kill you for your offense (you know who).

Christopher · November 9 2012, 12:49 AM

Forbin wrote:

Oh yeah - I was in my favorite deli, owned by a Korean fella and his Chinese wife, when a curious customer asked the owner if he was Japanese. He was visibly offended!

Gary7 wrote:

^ That bugs me. Why should anybody be offended by such a mistake, especially when it's easy to make for an outsider? If someone thought I looked like I'm Russian (and I really don't--if anything, French, German or Norwegian), I couldn't care less.

There is a lot of bad blood between the Japanese and Korean peoples. The two nations have a long history of wars and invasions, most recently the Japanese invasion and occupation of Korea (and other countries) in WWII, and even today, Koreans living in Japan are subject to a lot of institutionalized discrimination.

Forbin · November 9 2012, 04:12 AM

^That's what I assumed.

Also, what the hell business is it of the customer to ask such a personal question?

Christopher · November 9 2012, 04:32 AM

I don't think it's that personal to ask where someone is from. It's a pretty routine question when getting acquainted with someone. The only problem was making an assumption instead of just asking.

Forbin · November 9 2012, 02:04 PM

I depends, I guess. Getting acquainted is one thing. The way the guy walked into the store and said "Gimme and ham and Swiss on a roll. What are you, Japanese? Chinese?" seemed kinda rude to me at the time.

Christopher · November 9 2012, 03:13 PM

Oh, I see. That was rather rude.

Shawnster · November 10 2012, 02:17 AM

Forbin wrote:

Oh yeah - I was in my favorite deli, owned by a Korean fella and his Chinese wife, when a curious customer asked the owner if he was Japanese. He was visibly offended!

I think it's kinda silly that, by the 23rd and 24th centuries and after another World War and the Eugenics Wars that everyone from Earth is still considered pretty homogenous.

In my idea for a fan fic I had a female Captain of mixed Asian decent. One of her parents would have been mixed Chinese/Japanese ancestry and her other parent would have been mixed Korean/Vietnamese ancestry (or some other multiple combination for both parents). She would have spent summer and winter vacations at her grandparents and, as a result, would have a vast and varied background and interest in different Asian cultures, customs, foods and dialects.

Wally · November 11 2012, 10:52 PM

For Star Trek. I don't mind.

This is a fictional universe taking place hundreds of years in the future. After a World War that has obliterated a decent chunk of civilization, contact with aliens, and quick and near ubiqitous travel.

Over time I would imagine ethnic breakdowns of countries and entire regions could be radically different than they are now in only a few years time.

Intermarriage and old prejudices dying away, and it being no big deal to pick up and move to another planet, much less another country. No reason a Brit couldn't be French. No reason there couldn't be a sizable Japanese population in China. Heck, I think there is little info that certain countries even exist anymore.

So, basically. I don't let it bother me. Maybe if a series was taking place a little closer to now, like right after First Contact. But in the 23rd/24th centuries.

November 7 2012, 04:10 AM	#46
Forbin Admiral Location: I said out, dammit!	Re: Asian confusion I occasionally use the word "Oriental" occidentally. __________________ My kitbashes: http://www.inpayne.com/models/kitbash/trekpage.html My Kitbash Wallpapers: http://www.inpayne.com/models/wallpa...allpapers.html My kitbash calendar: http://inpayne.com/calendar/kbcalendar2013.html

November 7 2012, 04:12 AM	#47
Forbin Admiral Location: I said out, dammit!	Re: Asian confusion Oh yeah - I was in my favorite deli, owned by a Korean fella and his Chinese wife, when a curious customer asked the owner if he was Japanese. He was visibly offended! __________________ My kitbashes: http://www.inpayne.com/models/kitbash/trekpage.html My Kitbash Wallpapers: http://www.inpayne.com/models/wallpa...allpapers.html My kitbash calendar: http://inpayne.com/calendar/kbcalendar2013.html

November 9 2012, 12:23 AM	#48
Gary7 Rear Admiral Location: Near Manhattan ··· in an alternate reality	Re: Asian confusion ^ That bugs me. Why should anybody be offended by such a mistake, especially when it's easy to make for an outsider? If someone thought I looked like I'm Russian (and I really don't--if anything, French, German or Norwegian), I couldn't care less. People being easily offended is a continuing epidemic across human cultures... enough where some people will kill you for your offense (you know who). __________________ Remembering Ensign Mallory.

November 9 2012, 04:12 AM	#50
Forbin Admiral Location: I said out, dammit!	Re: Asian confusion ^That's what I assumed. Also, what the hell business is it of the customer to ask such a personal question? __________________ My kitbashes: http://www.inpayne.com/models/kitbash/trekpage.html My Kitbash Wallpapers: http://www.inpayne.com/models/wallpa...allpapers.html My kitbash calendar: http://inpayne.com/calendar/kbcalendar2013.html

November 9 2012, 04:32 AM	#51
Christopher Writer	Re: Asian confusion I don't think it's that personal to ask where someone is from. It's a pretty routine question when getting acquainted with someone. The only problem was making an assumption instead of just asking. __________________ Christopher L. Bennett Homepage -- Includes purchasing links for Only Superhuman, on sale now! Updated 12/30/12 with annotations for the novel. Written Worlds -- My blog

STAR TREK

CSI

ABOUT US

November 9 2012, 02:04 PM	#52
Forbin Admiral Location: I said out, dammit!	Re: Asian confusion I depends, I guess. Getting acquainted is one thing. The way the guy walked into the store and said "Gimme and ham and Swiss on a roll. What are you, Japanese? Chinese?" seemed kinda rude to me at the time. __________________ My kitbashes: http://www.inpayne.com/models/kitbash/trekpage.html My Kitbash Wallpapers: http://www.inpayne.com/models/wallpa...allpapers.html My kitbash calendar: http://inpayne.com/calendar/kbcalendar2013.html

November 9 2012, 03:13 PM	#53
Christopher Writer	Re: Asian confusion Oh, I see. That was rather rude. __________________ Christopher L. Bennett Homepage -- Includes purchasing links for Only Superhuman, on sale now! Updated 12/30/12 with annotations for the novel. Written Worlds -- My blog

November 11 2012, 10:52 PM	#55
Wally Lieutenant Commander	Re: Asian confusion For Star Trek. I don't mind. This is a fictional universe taking place hundreds of years in the future. After a World War that has obliterated a decent chunk of civilization, contact with aliens, and quick and near ubiqitous travel. Over time I would imagine ethnic breakdowns of countries and entire regions could be radically different than they are now in only a few years time. Intermarriage and old prejudices dying away, and it being no big deal to pick up and move to another planet, much less another country. No reason a Brit couldn't be French. No reason there couldn't be a sizable Japanese population in China. Heck, I think there is little info that certain countries even exist anymore. So, basically. I don't let it bother me. Maybe if a series was taking place a little closer to now, like right after First Contact. But in the 23rd/24th centuries.