AA Attitude toward F.O.B.s | Asian American Poll

ATTITUDE TOWARD F.O.B.S
(Updated Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008, 05:18:23 PM to reflect the 100 most recent valid responses.)

Assuming you are an Asian American, what's your definition of an F.O.B. ("Fresh-off-the-boat" immigrant)?
Anyone not born in the U.S. | 31%
Anyone who speaks with a noticeable accent | 30%
Anyone who acts or dresses old-country | 39%

Assuming you are an Asian American, what's your attitude toward F.O.B.s?
I am fully open to friendships/relationships with them. | 44%
I am friendly but would not want to get too close. | 41%
I generally avoid them on a social level. | 15%

Assuming you are an Asian American, what do you find most annoying about F.O.B.s?
They play into offensive stereotypes. | 15%
They are obsessed with flashy materialism. | 39%
They maintain Asian customs and values. | 0%
They are no more annoying than other AA. | 46%

This poll is closed to new input.
Comments posted during the past year remain available for browsing.

CONTACT US | ADVERTISING INFO

© 1996-2013 Asian Media Group Inc
No part of the contents of this site may be reproduced without prior written permission.

WHAT YOU SAY

[This page is closed to new input. --Ed.]

Let's extend the definition of FOB or FOP beyond Asian, shall we?

Caucasian can be FOPs too. Some are Irishmen from the old country. Some are Eastern Europeans from the former Soviet Republics. They dress different, smell different, speak differently and act fifferently. Do you AA find them 'equally annoying' as the Asian FOPs? Do you overlook their annoying-ness because they are Caucasian and they don't bother you as much?
FOP (A HK Born Chinese) Thursday, February 14, 2002 at 18:19:54 (PST)

Maybe I'm clueless. But at some point don't FOB become AA, after they been here long enough. Contrary to the popular belief that FOB never let go of old school thinking, assimilation does occur overtime where FOB are no longer confortable living in Asia.

Just like JK point out, American living in Asia for extended period of time will never be able to 100% assimlate to mainstream culture there. The same holds true for immigrants to the USA.

However, what I don't understand is why the animosity of AA toward FOB. Just because AA might have immigrated at an early age or were born here, they have intergrated more fully with American society. The kind of hateful message I see here are usually reserved for KKK and other xenophobic groups in the USA towards asians.

Conversely, FOB are sometimes miffed that AA counterparts are out of touch with their heritage, even though, AA usually grow up in environments that don't necessary promote asian heritage. I've seen this in the Black community, where successful African look down on their African American counterparts. It is just illogical to assume an Asian growing up in the USA can be as Asian as those in Asia.

I'm further shocked that people on this board believe that AA and FOB are two distinct groups in the Asian community. This is nonsense, one the extreme end there are recent immigrants from Asia that fall into the FOB spectrum. On the other are 4th generation Asian American, fully assimilated AA.

A majority of Asian here in this country fall somewhere between these two minority groups in the Asian community.
AC dropout Thursday, February 14, 2002 at 13:57:40 (PST)

JK,

We don't blame those expats who live in Asia on short term assignments. However, there are some who take tenures at universities or establish their buisness in Asia. They ve lived in Asia over 10 or 15 yrs and still refuse to learn the local custom and culture.
FOP Thursday, February 14, 2002 at 12:01:59 (PST)

FOBS and AAs are developing very distinct identities in the US. That doesn't mean FOBS will be forever unassimilated and AAs will never be bi cultural. Instead, I predict a fierce rivalry between the 2 groups in this ever increasing global society and world. It will be a battle between the traditionals vs. the radicals.

People will judge the 2 groups in accordance with these questions.

1. Who will be more successful? Wealthier?

2. Who will be more influential, creative, powerful?

3. Who will create the more everlasting Asian image?

the 21st century dynamics of AAs and FOBs Wednesday, February 13, 2002 at 10:14:24 (PST)

Asian FOB,

American whites living in Asia are usually there for business reasons, and don't plan to live there for the rest of their lives, UNLIKE you FOBS in America who'll live here forever, yet never learn the American ways.

"Don't be selfish you AA. You AA are the one that should learn how to appreciate Asian people and Asian culture more."

Where the hell does that come from? So since I'm AA, I have no respect for my heritage and my people. Yup you're right.
JK Saturday, February 09, 2002 at 13:54:40 (PST)

Waiwai,

I know what you are saying. But, many FOBs also look down on the American born Asians and their family background.

With Japanese Americans, it is mostly social-family background and origins. Most Japanese who immigrated to the USA are from poor, peasant backgrounds. So, the Japanese from Japan look down on the US born Japanese because of this class background and origin difference.

With Chinese Americans, it takes on the form of continuing regional and dialectal animosities brought over from China. Most of the long time, and American-born Chinese are of Cantonese descent, while the newcomers are of Mandarin descent. Both groups look down on each other even in China.

So, to bridge the gap is a big question mark? Much of the FOB-Asian American animosity is a carryover from Asia. We got to let go of that before we come together and see ourselves as one in the USA.
the real dynamics of it
Sunday, February 03, 2002 at 22:15:00 (PST)

NEWEST COMMENTS | EARLIER COMMENTS