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

ATTITUDE TOWARD F.O.B.S
(Updated Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008, 05:18:21 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.]

Most white Americans think that I was born in the US partially because of my English. In reality..I was born in Beijing and lived there for the first nine years of my life. I have no problems relating to White Americans or FOBs. However...I really don't agree with the mentalities of many US born Chinese. Many of them seem to have identity issues that are very annoying. I can feel certain empathy for them...however...their personalities because of identity issues are things that I rather not deal with. Many of them seem like they are trying too hard..to be SOOOO American...in a sense.
It reflects their insecurity ...and sometimes,I find some people's efforts amusing. "When you are in Rome, do what the Romans do." I totally agree with that..however...if people goes to the extreme for it...then it's almost a form of denial for something that's a part of them. That's probably why when it comes to friendships, I rather choose either White Americans..or FOB chinese. One of which is willing to appreciate my culture..and one that can indentify with my culture. It's ironic that there aren't many US born Chinese that are somewhere in between appreciation and recognition.
Angelique Monday, March 11, 2002 at 14:16:13 (PST)

AC dropout,

What VA girl said was right? I sensed hostile attitudes sometimes from USBC too. Funny that their attitude changed to a less hostile one or befuddlement when my white girlfriend appeared with me (How screwed up that is. Sigh!) There is no need to show hostility towards your own kind. If you don't like the guy just because he is a FOP, just simply leave him alone. Sometimes, I think USBC deserves the injustice they receive from mainstream America, they have no rights to complain about racism if they don't ever treat their own kind from overseas with respect.
FOP (A HK Born Chinese) Monday, March 11, 2002 at 13:46:02 (PST)

VA Girl,

I'm sure your husband is very well adjusted. Sounds like he might be from Shanghai, due to its international history as a conquer port of call.

I associate with a lot of MBC and ABC. So I usually go by age groups and background for a general behavior profile.

But those that actually participated in the Cultural revolution as youth are like 30-40. Those that are victims of the cultural revolution are at least late 40-.

Depends how you wish to value despair. MBC and USBC all have their own demons to get through.

But if the understand your description of your husband he will just as easily put down a China college person who wants to play a game of "making poetry" as snobbery, as he would put down a WASP for snobbery.
AC Dropout Monday, March 11, 2002 at 10:15:21 (PST)

AC Dropout,

I'm quite sure if you met my husband you'd think he grew up here too. Americans think he grew up here, Chinese Americans think he grew up here, MBC think he grew up here (just by looking at him, if they don't speak Chinese with him)...and his English is virtually unaccented save a very occasional grammatical error. It's not just his lack of an accent, but also his sense of humor, mannerisms and style of speaking which I think he's picked up from me and my family since he's been here. His English was great when I met him, but I am also very picky with him (to help him get ahead, not because I care myself) so I think I've helped him some too. I've known Asians who grew up in the US who still have accents because they always spoke their native language at home, so you can't always tell. People mistake him for being USBC for the way he dresses too though.

I don't think my husband would develop an attitude towards Americans. If ignorant people gave him a hard time it wouldn't matter because they don't know better and he'd ignore them. He wouldn't waste his time on them (he's far too efficient for that). If he had trouble at work or people didn't take him seriously just because he's Asian, he'd plow straight ahead and show them what he's worth, or if the situation seemed impossible he'd change jobs and still make them regret it in the long run. He wouldn't waste time complaining.

Believe me, his family went through much worse at the hands of other Chinese than would ever be remotely conceivable in this country...if he could get where he is in spite of that he can survive anything else. Those who escaped the cultural revolution and came to places like the US were very fortunate, but those who stayed AND made it through have inner strength which is incomparable. They don't waste time complaining because they know it won't help.

I'm not blaming Asian Americans for complaining about injustices in the US, but I am saying I think they've had it a lot easier in many ways and MBC probably don't understand what they're complaining about. Maybe many USBC have a right to distrust white Americans, but can you imagine distrusting your own people?
VA Girl Monday, March 11, 2002 at 00:19:40 (PST)

NEWEST COMMENTS | EARLIER COMMENTS