I have recently noticed that a great majority of Asian Americans, femaie and male, have become quite pretentious, superficial, and materialistic. Maybe this is nothing new but I've just noticed it and Im concerned that this will add to the negative stereotypes that we already face.

Does anybody else see this or is it just localized to my region. I live in Dallas, TX and am refering to the Dallas, Austin, and Houston areas.

Oh yeah, I agree with you on that one. Being materialistic and superficial are pretty obvious. It must be an Asian trait because my mother repeatedly tells me that Asians love fancy cars. I'll admit that; in my head, I am VERY pretentious for sure. I feel (maybe leaning towards "know") I'm better that most other people, but I don't have the need to tell everyone everyday. People know if they did something wrong or if you beat them, but they react to you a lot better if you try to help them out rather than point a finger or gloat. It's universal, nobody likes a conceited prick.

In my opinion, I think AF are more superficial and materialistic, but AM are more pretentious because we put a higher value on our education and accomplishments.

I think it only adds to the negative stereotype if they flaunt it or go out of their way to make others notice.

Yep, true.

It stems from the harsh competitive comparisions between fellow asians.

Sad. Really.

I think one should not be too concerned. Since every ethnic groups have people that are pretentious. What it really depends on is social economic background of any particular group.

I notice this behavior mosting in groups where there are people with ability to move up or down the social economic ladder. If the group has no potential for movement either above or below its current standing the people in that group have no need to be pretentious.

However, it is this competitive nature that also give asians the advantage as an immigrant group. Instead of competing with groups that are content with their situation. Asian create a hyper-competitive evironment, this ensures not only that Asians can succeed among asians, but will have the proper mindset to compete against "foriegners" on their own "turf."

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Asian create a hyper-competitive evironment, this ensures not only that Asians can succeed among asians, but will have the proper mindset to compete against "foriegners" on their own "turf."

so why is it then that with YT, asians will bend over and love YT long time?

Asian American Actor

Asians in general do not bend over backwards for YT and act like a little *****. That's just you.

You want pretentious? The white guy who pretends to be your pal because he wants to meet your sister or your Asian female friends.

While he is with his white friends, i'm sure racist jokes are flying back and fourth. That is not to say it doesn't happen with Asians, but it is less common and less harsh.

Having grown up in a white town with white "friends" I know. Feel sorry for the blacks cuz that's who they poke fun of the most.

Anyways, Asians are just as materialistic as any other people out there.

i'm vietnamese, and i think we are rather materiallistic

i have not nown one vietnamese family that doesn't have a chick in it that doesn't own either a gucci, coach, louis vuiton, prada, or any other expensive brand

nor have i not known one vietnamese family that doesn't have at least ONE car that has a kick-azz sound system, or a custom, built computer

it's built this stereotype among a lot of other asian races that i know

vietnamese people are reich

that is not necessarily true

my family is... pretty well off, but i consider my family FAR from rich

most of my 4 sisters tend to LOVE expensive purses

i myself prefer my 25 dollar messenger bag from eddie bauer than the 200, 300, and even 500 dollar purses that they like to buy

but my sisters are in debt

they buy these expensive purses when they owe me, a 15 yr old, money (and it gets on my nerves)

they also owe their schools tuition money too!!

but i have money b/c i help out at my family's stores and i don't spend a lot

but it also surprises me when i hear that kids my age from other backgrounds have less than 20 dollars at a time

vietnamese however... tend to carry a lot of cash

but that's just what i've been noticing

does this occur in other asian races too?

My take on the relative pretentiousness or superficiality of people stems more from cultural norms and the socio-economic status they grew up in. For instance, in a a culture which frowns upon highly visible displays of ostentatious wealth (like the Dutch, for example) even successful, wealthy people do not flaunt it too much. However, I think that some Asian cultures, particularly those which have been heavily influenced by non-Asian cultures (the Vietnamese with the French, the Filipinos with the Spanish and American) are more inclined toward flaunting it.

The other factor is what socio-economic status someone grew up in. In my experience, the lower one was in youth, the more likely they are to flaunt whatever wealth they get in later years. So, a person growing up poor (in my experience) is generally the one who will buy the Mercedes, wear the fancy jewelry, buy the latest fashions, etc. The ones who have grown up with wealth aren't quite so mesmerized by the novelty of being able to splurge, and so, they don't - or at least not to the same degree. There are exceptions of course, but they are the ones who prove the rule.

basin, i think you hit it right on the mark.

in chicago, you can go to the university of chicago campus and the surrounding neighborhood (hyde park) and you'll see white (and black, asian, etc.) professors and professionals who work there all the time. as most of these people grew up middle class, that reflects in how they act. most of the whites have hondas, toyotas and volvos, many of which are old and rusting. but they go back to homes that are beautiful, and understanted.

many of the blacks have luxury cars, but they still go home to understated homes, and still a good number drive around in 'regular' cars.

many of the black and hispanic folks i know who grew up poor lust after things that don't appreciate in value, like cars. thats why even in a poor neighborhood, you'll see plenty of luxury car with those damned $10,000 spinning rims. ugly, tacky, gaudy...but everybody knows you had to spend (or are spending) a lot of money. its like they have to SHOW how much money they 'have', even if it means putting stuff on lay-a-way or going on the 9 year plan to buy a car, living at home during the process.

so i DO see where you're coming from, and it makes perfect sense. the rich are savvy enough to know that vulgar displays of wealth only draw trouble.

Additionally, gilette, tacky displays of wealth have the paradoxical effect of cheapening the displayer. I mean, who looks more distinguished and wealthy - the gentleman wearing an understated expensive suit, with but one nice Masons (or MBA, or Skull and Bones) ring, or the Mafiosi wearing the shiny-ass $2500 suit, with nine rings on his finger, the tenth being his trigger finger, free to fire his gold inlaid, jewel encrusted, nickel-plated showpiece pistol?

Where I grew up, you saw the phenomenon you spoke of all the time - middle class people with middle class mentalities generally spent their money on non-material things, like vacations and trips to health spas and the like, while people who came up poor generally went for material things, like cars, jewelry, expensive designer clothing, etc.

true that, basin...true that!

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Where I grew up, you saw the phenomenon you spoke of all the time - middle class people with middle class mentalities generally spent their money on non-material things, like vacations and trips to health spas and the like, while people who came up poor generally went for material things, like cars, jewelry, expensive designer clothing, etc.

The former reminds me about the family I grew up in. Well, tacky as the rag-to-riches materialists may appear, I am okay with with them as long as they don't let their acquired wealth screw them up in their heads and start belittling the less fortunate.

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The former reminds me about the family I grew up in. Well, tacky as the rag-to-riches materialists may appear, I am okay with with them as long as they don't let their acquired wealth screw them up in their heads and start belittling the less fortunate.

Well - in the family I grew up in, I got to see both sides in action. My Dad grew up basically middle class. My grandpa owned his own general store, and was able to send all seven of his kids to college (This was back in the Philippines). My Dad is by nature thrifty, but, (also like many middle class people) he will spend money on things that interest him or catch his particular fancy for the moment.

My Mom, on the other hand, came up poor. And I mean, real poor. Of her whole family, she was the only one with sufficient initiative to try to go to college, and emigrate to the US. However, (and I've observed similar behavior in her relatives and some of her long-time friends) she is fascinated by people who have wealth and is fascinated by the trappings of wealth. It can be rather embarassing at times. Also having grown up poor, she always felt the need to show off whatever wealth she acquired, in the form of jewelry and clothing.

Now, you mentioned that you wouldn't have a problem with such a person as long as it didn't screw them up in the head, but I'd say that in many people I've observed who had similar life circumstances as my Mom (grew up poor, but later became moderately successful) they really do look down upon people who are still poor but who haven't made it. Perhaps this is a Filipino cultural trait - I know that they can be extraordinarily class-conscious, something that I, growing up in the States, have always found puzzling and distasteful.

Hello to all,
Yes, I believe it fuels further negitive sterotype about Asians.
Yes, I noticed, then I laugh and then I pity those short-term thinkers.
You need not pay any attention to them. ( that's exactly what they want)
LOW SELF-ESTEEM MIXED WITH INSECURITY = PRETENTIOUS & MATERIALISTIC.
They believe hinding behind those "labels" will make them something they are not.
People with wealth need not to display it. (the reason why they're wealthy in the first place)
I'm not suggesting not to treat oneself. Just don't get caught up in the materialistic race i see so many people get into.
Any Finance majors out there? Let's finance something that depreciates. (think about that next time your in the BMW dealership)
Most of the people in this category are "BIG HAT, NO CATTLE".
Here's a little factoid: Warren Buffet, the world's second wealthiest man alive still lives in the house he purchased in the 1950's for $50,000.
Do you think he wears a Rolex or a Timex?

i didn't know that fact, GTX, but i'm not surprised.

back when spending $20,000 on a car meant a lot (we're talking early 80s) my dad used to say 'there's no way in HELL i'm putting $20,000 on the road to have some azz hole f*ck it up'.

as for me, i bought one new car in life, and have bought used cars ever since. as something like 70% of all resale value is lost in a car during the first two years, if you buy a new car, you're essentially paying for 2 years worth of depreciation.

i'm not where i want to be, financially yet. i still waste money on things i can't even trace. thus, i'm going back to how my parents were/are and i used to be: cheap as all HELL.