As a white person, I am willing to attest that I have heard white people say every single thing that’s being parodied here. Literally.
White people, stop it. It’s so embarrassing and awful. If you wouldn’t appreciate it being done to you, don’t do it.
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Hahaha! That’s so real.
Of course, Asians do say those things (or their equivalent), just not in North America.
A comedic take on an experience with that kind of hilarity can be found here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLt5qSm9U80
I have mixed feelings about this. I found myself laughing but also hoping that this doesn’t get blown out of proportion. To be honest, it’s more about ignorance than an intent to demean or stigmatize. Yes, these insensitive remarks can be annoying, but are far from anything that injures someone. What is required and so deeply lacking is the ability for us to dialog in a respectful and forgiving manner. I honestly don’t get offended when remarks like this are made and fully appreciate it when others ask “dumb” questions about me being of Asian descent. On the far reactionary… Read more »
So I shouldn’t be insulted by the implication that because I’m white, I’m automatically racist? Not to mention the racist nature of this video in and of itself?
Amusing, in a sense, but also exceptionally racist. Of course, as a liberal white person in America, I don’t really care, and I’m not offended. But the clear difference in some of the things they are trying to illuminate in reverse is that the racism displayed toward Asians is usually displayed positively, whereas in this video they were saying disparaging things about white people and Western culture. In other words, “you Asians are great because they have positive traits” vs. “you whites are great because you’re fat, loud, angry, materialistic, etc.” I understand that there is probably a bit of… Read more »
I meant, I DO think they’re comparing apples and oranges. Anyway, I think America’s a better country for all of its cultural and racial influences. I try to be inclusive, friendly, and respectful to everyone I meet, but if I ever say something that seems racist, it’s because I’m making fun of racism itself, or, hopefully more rarely, I’m being clueless.
My third-generation Japanese-American colleague taught at a university in Texas. There, several highly educated people asked him what province he was from, as in what province of Japan he was from.
His answer: “Fresno.”
It would be a lot funnier story but for the fact that his parents, both U.S. citizens by the way, were put in internment camps during WWII just for being Nisei.
Too soon? Definitely too soon.
Well done. It drives home how stupid these comments are no matter who does them. Then again, I already thought these comments were stupid. To really make a true comparison, the Asian-American comments would have to assume that all white people are originally from one or two specific countries, like assume that all whites speak with a British accent, drink tea, and eat shepherd’s pie. Because for many white Americans “Asian” basically means “Chinese” or “Japanese” or stereotypes of those two countries. The whole concept of “Asia” is a racist caricature in the first place. Not a lot of “Asian”… Read more »
I live in Japan – and these things happen to me all the day long. Humans seem to just be the same everywhere. But aren’t you continuing the same racism in your header line? How about just dropping that “white” and “asian” all together, showing the other side as well, and using something like “What humans do to each other”?
It was a long scroll down many comments before I came across a comment about Japanese views. I must admit that in my experience the Japanese are the most racist society I have encountered and I am well traveled and have studied many languages and mastered a few. They are usually prejudiced against all other races, even other Asians. No wonder the Nazis made them honorary Arians because the two societies share the same views of other people.
Haha I love this video. Race is such a tough thing, people often don’t understand how they are being offensive, and its really hard to get people to walk in other people’s shoes. IN truth, Asian guys really have a hard time dating because of stuff like this–most people don’t understand that the small penis jokes really hurt people’s perceptions in the Dating world. Its why there’s whole sites for Asian guys and dating western women (heyamwf!). In the ideal world, it wouldn’t be necessary. But the fact that it is really says something. Why do women have to hid… Read more »
Sounds like whoever has these experiences is hanging out with the wrong (white) people…..
Forks and knives are farrrr easier than chop sticks 😛
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross-race_effect – This is why people do the “all X look the same” stuff.
Racism in any form (including videos that mock ‘white people’) is offensive.
That was great 🙂 now do one on if black people said the things white people said or thought about them :-)that would be interesting 😉 🙂
So, wait… you think it’s insulting to wear chopsticks in your hair and to decorate your house with various parts of Asian culture? Seriously?
I get the other stuff.
Yes, it is. It is part of the whole exotic Asian fetishization, and East Asians seemed to be targeted more. Think about it. If I put two forks in my hair, would that be cute. So, why do you think it is cute to put chopsticks in your hair?
I’m not sure “insulting” is exactly the right term, but I personally find it unsettling. To my mind, it’s a total rejection of one’s own (white) culture and heritage. If I were, for example, to decorate my home in all things French or that remind me of my grandparents’ home country, that would not be unusual — I want things around me that are directly linked to a culture that I, a second generation American, find familiar and that have relevance to me. Things that are “in my blood”. But why would I want to adopt a culture, even from… Read more »
What a crock of crap. Do we all have to live in our own little cultural bubble and ignore anything different to our previous experience? What a boring world you wish to live in, where no one can find relevance, influence or understanding from a different country or culture. The very ignorance of your statement on Buddhism (a religion adopted by Chinese Daoists on its arrival from India, i.e. another country and culture, as they cherrypicked parts of the religion that fitted into their beliefs) shows how underqualified you are to speak on this subject. There is very little to… Read more »
No religion has ever crossed significant cultural barriers without converts cherrypicking parts they like and ignoring or downplaying others. Buddhism is no exception, nor is Christianity, Islam, Zoroastrianism, Greco-Roman mythology, or any other multicultural religion in history.
“Pure, original Buddhism” is practically an oxymoron anyway. It’s virtually impossible in any religion to be a true fundamentalist, and it’s probably more impossible in Buddhism.
In fact, it may be a bit racist or Euro-centric to expect Buddhism to behave absolutely differently from Western religions.
Racist and sexist. Definitely American branded.
It’s really annoying to be subject of this narrow-sighted, prejudiced questions…not just east asians face that; latinos, arabs, african-americans hear that bsh*t too ¬¬
Wait, you’re annoying that white people are the subject, or that Asian-Americans are the subject, when every person who is in a minority group is “othered”?
Just so you know, this video was created by Asian-Americans.
I am Taiwanese, but I am white. Except for the eye pulling part, everything else and more has been said to me over the years, including, “Welcome to my country!” Also get called a foreigner “waiguoren” (semi-polite), “laowai” (rude) and “adogah” (literally means big nose – racist and rude). If I ever bring up any of these points I get told, “But you DO look like a foreigner!” So, not much sympathy here. Commiseration, perhaps. But if you think white people in general and white people in North America in particular have the market cornered woth these types of “micro-aggressions”… Read more »
So, now you know what it is like to be Asian in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and Europe. Actually, in some ways you still do not. Because the reality is that many non-whites who suffer from a certain element of internalized racism have a tendency to think white people are better, thanks to Western Imperialism. So, being a white person in Taiwan actually gives you some privileges. For example, a Taiwanese would rather pay a non-British European to teach them English than an Asian person who grew up in New York.
I like the way you just did that,you know,completely ignored the point that the white guy made about his experiences in Taiwan and then pointed out that he was ‘privileged’ to be able to work in a buxiban!awesome!!!
adogah” (literally means big nose – racist and rude) First it’s pronounced as Ado”ah” without the “G” sound It means a pointy nose , and like a beak of a bird, not that you have a big nose. It’s never meant to be something racist, it was just a way Taiwanese people describe white people when they first saw you (In Taiwanese the local language, not Mandarin). They were prob like oh man they got some pointy nose. It’s more or less if they just call you “Gold Hair” “White Skin” or other racial characteristics. Yes it’s created long long… Read more »
That is how a lot of racist words originated — from “observations” about physical appearance, for example. Just because the intent is ignorant rather than hateful, doesn’t mean you can invalidate someone for feeling insulted by explaining it away.
Ichiou beat me too it 🙁 “Because the reality is that many non-whites who suffer from a certain element of internalized racism have a tendency to think white people are better, thanks to Western Imperialism”. This is very much seen in every part of the world. Also, please don’t take your individual experience and just say “think again” when you obviously have not. You mix up fact with opinion, You are getting offended at people of your same ethnicity mistaking you as a foreigner, BECAUSE YOU LOOK LIKE A FOREIGNER, which is a FACT (which you admitted), not an OPINION… Read more »
@Jay, I strongly doubt you are Taiwanese. If you were Taiwanese or lived there for some time, you would understand that Taiwanese (and some other Asians) tend to be pretty blunt and direct with language. I have a uncle in Taiwan who has born with a birth defect which did not allow him use of his legs. The family calls him the “cripple”. Not really a big deal as he happens to be the most successful of his brothers. He doesn’t care. It’s an accurate description of one aspect of him. The point is, there is a certain decorum expected… Read more »
ah,brilliant,calling someone ‘the cripple’ is ok if the guy has some money in the bank!awesome.they sound so nice and polite!
marv, would you be willing to admit that these differing cultural rules of “decorum” may not be known by everything, and are simply cultural norms that don’t have moral value in themselves? If there is one thing that is okay for Taiwanese to say, but not okay for Americans to say, then it’s easily believable that not every single American will have grown up in a context where they understand what the more educated members of the society have decreed is okay to say or not to say. It’s more important to try to discern the intent behind the words… Read more »
“Whereas in Taiwan, seeing white people is extremely rare. My family spent two weeks visiting Taiwan in both the countryside and in Taipei. We saw maybe a total of four white people. My wife was one of them. Lots of people stared at her. Folks outside of the family called her the American “meiguoren”. What do you expect in a country where folks see white people rarely?” By this logic, it should be okay for white Americans in some small towns to make these jokes. There are still small towns and suburbs in the U.S. where there are very few… Read more »
Sorry, should say we should NOT have separate racial standards.
How’s this for a nice white/Asian racism curveball?
The Chines press, basically the Chinese government, referred to Gary Locke as a “banana man,” yellow on the outside and white on the inside.
http://www.nbcnews.com/#/news/world/chinese-government-media-calls-u-s-ambassador-racial-slur-n41486
So, is this anti-Asian racism, anti-Asian-American racism or anti-white racism? A combination?
But, of course, Asian cultures follow traditional, indigenous wisdom and don’t have Western inventions like racism….
Racism in China doesn’t look anything like racism in the US. Racism as seen in the US is largely an American invention. I spent nearly a year living in rural China and the racism I saw was mainly because we white people like to export movies that aren’t representative of who we are as people. Most of the rest of the racism is the result of westerners who go to China and then misbehave. Since in most cases they haven’t ever actually met a foreigner in person, they don’t have the option of choosing something other than what they’ve seen… Read more »
So we’re not allowed to say we love Italian food now FFS!?! I do – pizza dripping with mozzarella and olive oil running down my chin – yes yes yes…
its meant towards when you tell someone your race and they respond how they love it. For example. You’re chinese?!?! I love chinese food! that is what they meant
“Your English is so good!” Wish I had a $1 for every time someone said I didn’t have an accent. White people. Gotta love em.
Why? I just love all people. I am one of those people who pretty much likes everyone unless you wrong me personally. Like white people are the only ones who say stupid things?
Had to laugh because I have a coworker who told me that as a kid when he moved and changed schools a white kid told him that he speaks English good. He responded that yes, he speaks English well, though the kid didn’t get it.
“Hey, I eat cheese…!”
So funny..but true! On a family vacation to some place far away from NY, an older man with his wife and family shouted to us across the room in a restaurant: “Welcome to America!” ….my brothers and I would have cursed him out if our parents weren’t there…we had to settle for dagger looks his way….