NationStates Jolt Archive

Whenever I'm walking down the street or around the shopping mall, people are always saying stuff behind my back, such as "That Chinese guy looks pretty hot." Which I s'pose is a nice compliment but I find it quite annoying because of the fact that they are referring to me as "that Chinese guy."

Well, I am a Chinese-Canadian, but why must people refer to people of East Asian decent as "Chinese". Even though Chinese-Canadians make up a majority of the visible minority population in and around the greater Toronto area, I find it sooooo freaking annoying how people can just generalize East Asians as being "Chinese."

I would find it even more ignorant and annoying if people referred to me as Chinese if I was actually say Vietnamese, Filipino, Japanese or Korean. Its like assuming anyone who looks Mediterranean as "Italian" or referring to anyone who has blondish hair/blueish eyes as "English".

I know referring to Europeans as "White" or Africans as "Black" is also a generalization, but referring to someone as "Chinese" because they look East Asian is just plain dumb.

Sometimes I wish I could go up to those people who referred to me as "Chinese" and smack them behind the head. Grrr.... Why do people perpetuate such generalizations?! :eek:

Back in the old days, western civilization only had real contact with China in the Eastern Asia realm. As a result, the Asian looking people that Westerners would see would almost always be Chinese.

I understand that this is annoying and I wouldn't really want a similar situation to happen to me. However, the West has already been conditioned to recognize people of East Asian decent as Chinese, and it will be hard to deprogramme them.

I don't know what to say but ignore them, or correct them. Just don't get angry when you explain the difference, it won't change how they view you and will make them forget why you are upset.

For the record, those not of East Asian decent generally have trouble distinguishing between things like Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Filipino, and Taiwanese. Unfortunatly for us we don't carry around eye and face shape charts in our wallets. Ever tried to tell if a black guy is from Niger or Libya?

For the record, those not of East Asian decent generally have trouble distinguishing between things like Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Filipino, and Taiwanese. Unfortunatly for us we don't carry around eye and face shape charts in our wallets. Ever tried to tell if a black guy is from Niger or Libya?
Good point. Other than the difference between North Africa and the rest of the continent, I wouldn't be able to ID which country a specific African came from. I might also have a hard time with Europeans, and South Americans. Really, it is hard to ID which country someone comes from just by looking at them.

Honestly, I can't really differentiate between ethnic groups of any race or location; this is especially difficult in the US because so many people are of mixed ethnicity (I'm 50% English, 30% German and like 20% Russian).

There are many many thousands of East Asian students at my uni. Generally I can tell which part of Asia they're from, but obviously not geographical boundaries.
But I also find that it rarely ever matters. If I don't know, I can call them "Asian", otherwise I can ask.

For the record, those not of East Asian decent generally have trouble distinguishing between things like Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Filipino, and Taiwanese. Unfortunatly for us we don't carry around eye and face shape charts in our wallets. Ever tried to tell if a black guy is from Niger or Libya?

True as that may be, but there is a difference, Blacks are just generally decended from the African continent. What I'm saying is, why must people refer to East Asians from one particular geographical boundary, why can't they just see the East Asian as simply that, East Asian, and not as "Chinese"?

Well, I am a Chinese-Canadian, but why must people refer to people of East Asian decent as "Chinese".

Well, it is pretty easy to distinguish East Asians. Ever consider that they called you Chinese because it was obvious that you were?

True as that may be, but there is a difference, Blacks are just generally decended from the African continent. What I'm saying is, why must people refer to East Asians from one particular geographical boundary, why can't they just see the East Asian as simply that, East Asian, and not as "Chinese"?

Because Americans suck at geography. Not sure what's up with Canadians...

Well, it is pretty easy to distinguish East Asians. Ever consider that they called you Chinese because it was obvious that you were?

Actually no, a lot of people thought I was a mixed Asian/European (or "Eurasian") before I told them I was 100% Chinese. Apparently I don't look like a typical East Asian, so I'm told. :p

Well, it is pretty easy to distinguish East Asians. Ever consider that they called you Chinese because it was obvious that you were?
:confused:

But it's not! Chinese people are just one group from many in East Asia. And besides, would they mean "Han Chinese"? Or perhaps any other of the 56 officially recognised ethnic groups in that country alone (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnic_groups_of_China)?

Because Americans suck at geography. Not sure what's up with Canadians...
Is this a geography issue? It doesn't matter where they came from, but what you call them. Or at least that's what this thread is about.

I'll probably fall asleep before seeing a response to this, but I'm struggling to see evidence of a problem. Based only on information in the first post, all I can infer is that non-Asian-origin Toronto...nians are likely to identify the OP as of Chinese extraction... which he is. If he were of Japanese extraction and they still said that, fair enough, that might be irritating after a while, but I saw no significant evidence that the people who've said, "That Chinese guy's pretty hot, eh?" don't then go, "Oh, hey, look at that Laotian girl's cool shoes, eh!" while noting the footwear of a recent arrival from Vientiane.

If they don't, then fair enough, but since you're not living the life of a Chinese-origin guy and a Laotian (or other) girl (or guy), do you even know any better than I do?

Edit because that may read more hostile than it was written, and I want to clarify that it isn't supposed to be read as confrontational!

I usually say that someone's asian or oriental rather than assume they're chinese... unless I know what country in asia they or their ancestors are from (which only happens if they tell me, really). I've met a lot of asian people who take great offense to being mistaken for being from a different country.

:confused:

But it's not! Chinese people are just one group from many in East Asia. And besides, would they mean "Han Chinese"? Or perhaps any other of the 56 officially recognised ethnic groups in that country alone (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnic_groups_of_China)?
Are you serious?
Now we have to distinguish the difference between different regions in a country?
I understand the complaint about different countries, but this is too far.

It really must be a canadian thing, I would never call an asian a chinese, there are lots of other ways to refer to that sort of thing, and I'm careful in my language.

I say "chinaman."

I'll probably fall asleep before seeing a response to this, but I'm struggling to see evidence of a problem. Based only on information in the first post, all I can infer is that non-Asian-origin Toronto...nians are likely to identify the OP as of Chinese extraction... which he is. If he were of Japanese extraction and they still said that, fair enough, that might be irritating after a while, but I saw no significant evidence that the people who've said, "That Chinese guy's pretty hot, eh?" don't then go, "Oh, hey, look at that Laotian girl's cool shoes, eh!" while noting the footwear of a recent arrival from Vientiane.

If they don't, then fair enough, but since you're not living the life of a Chinese-origin guy and a Laotian (or other) girl (or guy), do you even know any better than I do?

Edit because that may read more hostile than it was written, and I want to clarify that it isn't supposed to be read as confrontational!

Yeah, but why refer to people from that area as Chinese at all though? Just see them as a general East Asian population.

God there are like 1.5 billion chineese people, it's unormal other east asians get mistaken by them...
When I'm outside Europe, I'm mistaken as a german. I'm not offended.

Well, it is pretty easy to distinguish East Asians. Ever consider that they called you Chinese because it was obvious that you were?
It's easy to distinguish east asians? I really can't tell the difference between someone who's korean and someone who's chinese or japanese or vietnamese. I know very few non-asians who can. I'm amazed that asian people can tell where other asian people are from actually, I'm of european descent and I couldn't tell you what country in europe someone came from.

Really, it is hard to ID which country someone comes from just by looking at them.

No it isn't. Arguably, white people are the hardest. With Asians and Black Africans, you have substantially more interregional "inbreeding"* than with Caucasians due to the migratory tendency of the latter. Thus, the features of non-white groups tend to be more pronounced, than that of say, an Italian or German (ignoring hair color.)

Also, the emphasis on nationality/region in discerning Asians and (to a lesser extent) Black Africans is arguably less a matter of import in Caucasian cultures.

*Note that I don't mean this in the derogatory or genetically detrimental family "inbreeding" sense

It really must be a canadian thing, I would never call an asian a chinese, there are lots of other ways to refer to that sort of thing, and I'm careful in my language.

I say "chinaman."
It's not a strictly canadian thing, I don't say it either.

If anything, it might be a canadian who rarely interacts with asian people thing.

Are you serious?
Now we have to distinguish the difference between different regions in a country?
I understand the complaint about different countries, but this is too far.

Yeah, I kinda agree, we don't have to be toooo specific.

Now we have to distinguish the difference between different regions in a country?
No, I just mean you can't make an accurate assessment of someone being "Chinese" since the Chinese aren't exactly homogenous.

It's easy to distinguish east asians? I really can't tell the difference between someone who's korean and someone who's chinese or japanese or vietnamese. I know very few non-asians who can. I'm amazed that asian people can tell where other asian people are from actually, I'm of european descent and I couldn't tell you what country in europe someone came from.

Actually no, I can't distinguish where an East Asian person is from either, most can't upon first glance. But thats not the point, the point is that most people refer to East Asian people as being solely Chinese, and neglect to recognize the other parts and nationalities of East Asia.

It's not a strictly canadian thing, I don't say it either.

If anything, it might be a canadian who rarely interacts with asian people thing.


Well, I was joking, as I'd hoped the "chinaman" bit let on.

At any rate, some asians are easy to tell apart once you know what to look for.

Its fairly easy to tell a cantonese or a vietnamese from a mandarin or a japanese, but not always so much with other, less overwhelmingly clear differences.

I grew up with quite a few asians, mostly mandarins, a few canontese and a spattering of the rest though, so I've had practice and able teachers.

Actually no, I can't distinguish where an East Asian person is from either, most can't upon first glance. But thats not the point, the point is that most people refer to East Asian people as being solely Chinese, and neglect to recognize the other parts and nationalities of East Asia.
I don't refer to every east asian as being chinese either. I don't think that most people do either... I can't think of anyone I personally know who does at least.

I don't refer to every east asian as being chinese either. I don't think that most people do either... I can't think of anyone I personally know who does at least.

Well thats good in your part. There are just some places in this world that go overboard with the generalizations of Asian ppl, Toronto being one of them. I rarely ever hear the word "Asian" (or if you're really PC, "East Asian") being used in the context to refer to someone of East Asian decent.

I think its just down to ease of use when you are talking. For instance folks would prefer to say "Hey look at that chinese guy over there" than "Hey look at that guy of East-Asian or possibly Han Chinese origin over there". It rolls off the tongue easier.

My 2 cents is that its pure lazyness

DISCLAIMER : I don't aim to offend ^^

Sometimes I wish I could go up to those people who referred to me as "Chinese" and smack them behind the head. Grrr.... Why do people perpetuate such generalizations?! :eek:
I-G-N-O-R-A-N-C-E.

Next time it happens, walk to them and ask "Can't you tell that I'm African??"

Yeah, but why refer to people from that area as Chinese at all though? Just see them as a general East Asian population.

But why do that? I'm confused. Where's the cut-off point? You see a Chinese person, and you call him East Asian... why bother to distinguish at all, in that case? (A good question in general, perhaps, hey)


Anyway, regarding a white person's ability to recognise one Asian race from another? It's largely down to exposure and experience, isn't it? Saying that you can't tell the difference between an ethnically Japanese person and a Thai person is basically similar to saying that all black people look the same. Again, I don't mean that to sound accusatory -a Korean friend of mine lately told me that she still can't for the life of her figure out which non-Asian people are supposed to be pretty and which are not, and has trouble remembering white faces- but that sort of thing goes away with exposure, and so for white people who may perhaps be living, say, near China town in a western city, they may genuinely be quite able to make an educated guess on ethnicity.

You may say that an educated guess isn't good enough, but bear in mind that we're just talking about passing comments and casual social interaction, here... if it were a matter of life and death I'm sure that things wouldn't be said so lightly.

I-G-N-O-R-A-N-C-E.

Next time it happens, walk to them and ask "Can't you tell that I'm African??"

Hahaha... good one. I'll keep that in mind. :D

Anyway, regarding a white person's ability to recognise one Asian race from another? It's largely down to exposure and experience, isn't it? Saying that you can't tell the difference between an ethnically Japanese person and a Thai person is basically similar to saying that all black people look the same. Again, I don't mean that to sound accusatory -a Korean friend of mine lately told me that she still can't for the life of her figure out which non-Asian people are supposed to be pretty and which are not, and has trouble remembering white faces- but that sort of thing goes away with exposure, and so for white people who may perhaps be living, say, near China town in a western city, they may genuinely be quite able to make an educated guess on ethnicity.



Of course, exposure is always a good thing. Some people just say the weirdest things when they don't know something...

What are you complaining about? You're really Chinese, and they're calling you Chinese; at least they're not trying to look smart and say something like "Look at that Vietnamese guy."
(sarcasm)
What then?

What are you complaining about? You're really Chinese, and they're calling you Chinese; at least they're not trying to look smart and say something like "Look at that Vietnamese guy."
(sarcasm)
What then?

I'm simply saying, why must they even refer to East Asian people as Chinese in the first place? Why make assumptions as to what nationality they are, at all? Its ignorant, which makes it annoying.

I'm simply saying, why must they even refer to East Asian people as Chinese in the first place? Why make assumptions as to what nationality they are, at all? Its ignorant, which makes it annoying.

It helps tell people who you're refering to. I can only imagine there's a lot of people in, say, your school.

I'm simply saying, why must they even refer to East Asian people as Chinese in the first place? Its ignorant, which makes it annoying.

Well, look at it this way; EAST Asia, is China, Taiwan(Which is technically part of China) Japan, Korea, The Phillipenes and I'll throw in Vietnam too, though I'd call that more south-east. Of those, China has a majority of the land area and population. So that goes to say; maybe they saw eastern Asian, and took a guess at what was statistically their best shot?

What do you know, they got it right too :D

I do agree, however, it is mildly ignorant. But not enough for me to change myself for it. I'll still call an asian person Chinese, because its convenient. If they go to therapy over it, I won't lose sleep.

And according to a Chinese kid I know (He is really chinese), All white guys look the same, except Americans are fat. So there you go. We've got a more damaging stereotype than you.

They're all statisticians. Given an a value of .05, and that there are way more Chinese than any other East Asian, it is safe to assume that any East Asian that one sees is Chinese.

I know that this isn't exactly on topic, but what about the Chinese people who view all of Eastern Asia as still a part of their country? They did, at one time or another, control most of that area.

It helps tell people who you're refering to. I can only imagine there's a lot of people in, say, your school.

Well, going to university in Toronto, the student body is pretty diverse. But for the most part, I'm simply baffled as to why non-Asians refer to people of East Asian decent as simply "Chinese." They are making an assumption, they are putting all people of East Asian decent (whether they be Vietnamese, Taiwanese, whatever) into one single category of "Chinese", and for the most part its incorrect. What I'm trying to say is, why assume their nationality? Why can't we just look at their general continental ethnicity? In this case, Europeans, Africans, Asians, etc.

I know that this isn't exactly on topic, but what about the Chinese people who view all of Eastern Asia as still a part of their country? They did, at one time or another, control most of that area.
Those people are like some Americans who act like they own the world. This thread, along with many other threads on NS at the moment bugs me. Why must people seperate themselves or others on their races? If there are people in America acting like they own everything, why can't there be Chinese who act the same way, and vice versa? We're all humans, aren't we?

Those people are like some Americans who act like they own the world. This thread, along with many other threads on NS at the moment bugs me. Why must people seperate themselves or others on their races? If there are people in America acting like they own everything, why can't there be Chinese who act the same way, and vice versa? We're all humans, aren't we?
Wow, way to really take my question and turn it totally away from the topic of the thread.

If you don't like the threads out there, make your own, don't ruin someone elses.

Well, going to university in Toronto, the student body is pretty diverse. But for the most part, I'm simply baffled as to why non-Asians refer to people of East Asian decent as simply "Chinese." They are making an assumption, they are putting all people of East Asian decent (whether they be Vietnamese, Taiwanese, whatever) into one single category of "Chinese", and for the most part its incorrect. What I'm trying to say is, why assume their nationality? Why can't we just look at their general continental ethnicity? In this case, Europeans, Africans, Asians, etc.
Well, the University of Victoria has a pretty diverse student population too, but what I noticed is that even though some white people KNOW your nationality, like Chinese, Japanese, Korean, etc, they still refer to that person as Asian. So what is up with U of T?

I know that this isn't exactly on topic, but what about the Chinese people who view all of Eastern Asia as still a part of their country? They did, at one time or another, control most of that area.

Umm... well then they're geographically incorrect. :p
Time to get with the program.

Well, the University of Victoria has a pretty diverse student population too, but what I noticed is that even though some white people KNOW your nationality, like Chinese, Japanese, Korean, etc, they still refer to that person as Asian. So what is up with U of T?

Nothings up with U of T, I'm pretty sure U of T is fine. I was just simply saying that I attended university in Toronto, which would be Ryerson University (but transferring to York University this fall :D )

BUT... your Caucasian acquaintances are at least referring to Asian people as ASIAN, not as a particular nationality like Chinese. Its the more accurate thing to do.

Well, look at it this way; EAST Asia, is China, Taiwan(Which is technically part of China) Japan, Korea, The Phillipenes and I'll throw in Vietnam too, though I'd call that more south-east. Of those, China has a majority of the land area and population. So that goes to say; maybe they saw eastern Asian, and took a guess at what was statistically their best shot?

What do you know, they got it right too :D

I do agree, however, it is mildly ignorant. But not enough for me to change myself for it. I'll still call an asian person Chinese, because its convenient. If they go to therapy over it, I won't lose sleep.

And according to a Chinese kid I know (He is really chinese), All white guys look the same, except Americans are fat. So there you go. We've got a more damaging stereotype than you.

Why stereotype at all? Why assume at all? Why perpetuate the stereotypes, you know?

And its not about who has the worst stereotype, ignorance is just plain dumb. I'm pretty sure you'd get annoyed if people kept referring to you as Australian, even if you weren't. Everywhere you go, "You see that Australian guy?", "Yeah, which one? That one? Oh yeah, that Australian guy..." You know? :rolleyes:

Maybe because Chinese make up the majority of Asia.

If you were to heard someone say "that Asian man" if wouldn't be an Indian. Which is why racism takes its course. It always has to refer to an Chinese man. Koreans, Vietnameses, and Japaneses are pretty mad about how Americans say it like that, but its just why Chinese is the majority in population in Asia.

Well, look at it this way; EAST Asia, is China, Taiwan(Which is technically part of China) Japan, Korea, The Phillipenes and I'll throw in Vietnam too, though I'd call that more south-east. Of those, China has a majority of the land area and population. So that goes to say; maybe they saw eastern Asian, and took a guess at what was statistically their best shot?

What do you know, they got it right too :D

I do agree, however, it is mildly ignorant. But not enough for me to change myself for it. I'll still call an asian person Chinese, because its convenient. If they go to therapy over it, I won't lose sleep.

And according to a Chinese kid I know (He is really chinese), All white guys look the same, except Americans are fat. So there you go. We've got a more damaging stereotype than you.

Westerners also apparently have big noses.

http://www.theorientalcaravan.com/images/sLICK%20rOD/Big%20Nose.JPG

*snicker* It isn't meant to offend, though.
Well, I'm Chinese, and I definitely can't distringuish between Chinese and Vietnamese people for example. Heh.

If you were to heard someone say "that Asian man" if wouldn't be an Indian. Which is why racism takes its course. It always has to refer to an Chinese man. Koreans, Vietnameses, and Japaneses are pretty mad about how Americans say it like that, but its just why Chinese is the majority in population in Asia.

Yeah... Asia is a particularly large continent. And calling someone East Asian isn't necessarily the easiest to roll off your tongue as opposed to say just Asian, but calling an Asian person ASIAN is at least more accurate than calling them Chinese.

I think we should create a new lingo to refer to certain peoples of Asia. Perhaps East Asians can be referred to as "Tasians" and South Asians referred to as "Sasians"? I dunno, those are cheesy, but not a bad idea, no?

Westerners also apparently have big noses.

http://www.theorientalcaravan.com/images/sLICK%20rOD/Big%20Nose.JPG

*snicker* It isn't meant to offend, though.
Well, I'm Chinese, and I definitely can't distringuish between Chinese and Vietnamese people for example. Heh.

You and I both buddy.

It's been my experience that asians in general are very sensitive about their "race." There seems to be a fairly strict social stratafication among asians. The "higher" status groups get horribly offended when they are mistaken for "lower" social status asians.

I used to work with many Hmong (from Laos) people. But when I asked a woman from Laos if she was Hmong too, she reacted as if I'd just called her the "n word." It was too weird. And I've heard many similar stories.

Europeans used to be that way too, of course (and still can be sometimes). But they are getting over it. Asians will too. People are always mistaking me to be of Scandinavian decent. Even though I'm not, I take no offence to it and rarely bother correcting them unless I know them well. People are people, who cares what someone thinks you are.

Europeans used to be that way too, of course (and still can be sometimes). But they are getting over it. Asians will too. People are always mistaking me to be of Scandinavian decent. Even though I'm not, I take no offence to it and rarely bother correcting them unless I know them well. People are people, who cares what someone thinks you are.

You're right, who does care? Especially when you don't even know them. I just don't like how people make such assumptions, I spose thats just human...

What I can never fathom is how the Brits refer to ppl from the Indian sub-continent as Asian.
Always confused me when the news reports would talk of Asian riots and show a bunch of Pakistanis clashing with police.

What I can never fathom is how the Brits refer to ppl from the Indian sub-continent as Asian.
Always confused me when the news reports would talk of Asian riots and show a bunch of Pakistanis clashing with police.

Yeah, I think the media should clean up its act and be more specific as to which Asians they're referring to, Asia's a pretty damn big continent.

Whenever I'm walking down the street or around the shopping mall, people are always saying stuff behind my back, such as "That Chinese guy looks pretty hot." Which I s'pose is a nice compliment but I find it quite annoying because of the fact that they are referring to me as "that Chinese guy."

Well, I am a Chinese-Canadian, but why must people refer to people of East Asian decent as "Chinese". Even though Chinese-Canadians make up a majority of the visible minority population in and around the greater Toronto area, I find it sooooo freaking annoying how people can just generalize East Asians as being "Chinese."

I would find it even more ignorant and annoying if people referred to me as Chinese if I was actually say Vietnamese, Filipino, Japanese or Korean. Its like assuming anyone who looks Mediterranean as "Italian" or referring to anyone who has blondish hair/blueish eyes as "English".

I know referring to Europeans as "White" or Africans as "Black" is also a generalization, but referring to someone as "Chinese" because they look East Asian is just plain dumb.

Sometimes I wish I could go up to those people who referred to me as "Chinese" and smack them behind the head. Grrr.... Why do people perpetuate such generalizations?! :eek:
Well, at least you are Chinese. I can't count the number of times I've been called Chinese or asked if I'm Chinese, and as far as I know there is no one in my family from China. I'm half Filipino. Now, maybe this is just me, but if you stuck a person from the Philippines next to a person from China, I wouldn't have any trouble distinguishing the two. I have to say though, most people I know would simply say "Asian" if they weren't sure what country someone was from.

Anyone here heard of The Hapa Project? A coworker emailed me this link (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2006/03/30/apop.DTL&hw=hapaness&sn=001&sc=1000) to an article in the SF Chronicle about hapa-ness. Also, here's a link to some sample pages (http://www.seaweedproductions.com/hapa/samples.aspx) from the book. Interesting stuff.

In Britain we use the term 'Oriental' to denote anyone of East Asian stock, I take it this is considered un-PC in many other parts of the English-speaking world, but the word 'Asian' is already taken up to refer to people from the Indian subcontinent.

I take it most English-speaking nations then refer to people from the subcontinent as being 'Indian'. But I have met many more Pakistani-Britons who object to being called Indians than I have met Orientals who object to that word.

Whenever I'm walking down the street or around the shopping mall, people are always saying stuff behind my back, such as "That Chinese guy looks pretty hot." Which I s'pose is a nice compliment but I find it quite annoying because of the fact that they are referring to me as "that Chinese guy."

Well, I am a Chinese-Canadian, but why must people refer to people of East Asian decent as "Chinese". Even though Chinese-Canadians make up a majority of the visible minority population in and around the greater Toronto area, I find it sooooo freaking annoying how people can just generalize East Asians as being "Chinese."

I would find it even more ignorant and annoying if people referred to me as Chinese if I was actually say Vietnamese, Filipino, Japanese or Korean. Its like assuming anyone who looks Mediterranean as "Italian" or referring to anyone who has blondish hair/blueish eyes as "English".

I know referring to Europeans as "White" or Africans as "Black" is also a generalization, but referring to someone as "Chinese" because they look East Asian is just plain dumb.

Sometimes I wish I could go up to those people who referred to me as "Chinese" and smack them behind the head. Grrr.... Why do people perpetuate such generalizations?! :eek:

You could be called Paki as well, you realise that?

In Britain we use the term 'Oriental' to denote anyone of East Asian stock, I take it this is considered un-PC in many other parts of the English-speaking world, but the word 'Asian' is already taken up to refer to people from the Indian subcontinent.

I take it most English-speaking nations then refer to people from the subcontinent as being 'Indian'. But I have met many more Pakistani-Britons who object to being called Indians than I have met Orientals who object to that word.


The word Asian ought to be subject to the Chopsticks-test.

The word Asian ought to be subject to the Chopsticks-test.
What would that be?

What would that be?


If you don't eat your meal with chopsticks ( like any good Chinese, Japanese, Hakka, Filipino, whatever ) - you don't count as Asian.

Pakistan, India, Turkey and even Israel - consider yourself warned. ;)

Where I'm from we call East Asians 'Asians', Indians 'Indians', Native Americans 'Indians', Africans 'Blacks', Europeans 'Whites', the Arabs 'Arabs', the Persians 'Arabs', the Hebrews 'Jews', and the South-East Asians 'Asians'.

If you don't eat your meal with chopsticks ( like any good Chinese, Japanese, Hakka, Filipino, whatever ) - you don't count as Asian.

Pakistan, India, Turkey and even Israel - consider yourself warned. ;)
Lol. I actually have a Chinese-American friend whose parents wouldn't let her use a fork until she could pick up marbles with chopsticks, once she was old enough to learn how to use them.

Also, I don't know any Filipinos who use chopsticks on a regular basis. My mom actually didn't know how to use them until my dad taught her. Although, when I was in university someone identified me as hapa because I was holding chopsticks "correctly".

What if you were non-Asian and you were able to hold and eat with chopsticks perfectly during meals... what does that make you into? :p