Race Factor in Friendships | Asian American Poll

THE RACE FACTOR IN FRIENDSHIPS
(Updated Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008, 05:17:44 PM to reflect the 100 most recent valid responses.)

Assuming you are Asian American, what race is the majority of your closest friends?
Asian | 48%
White | 47%
African American | 3%
Latino | 2%

Assuming you are Asian American, what's the best thing about making Asian friends?
Shared experiences | 29%
Shared cultural and social customs | 13%
Not wondering about subtle prejudices | 50%
Similarity of attitude and temperament | 8%

Assuming you are Asian American, what's the best thing about making non-Asian friends?
Expanding social/cultural horizons | 45%
Escaping the prejudices of other Asians | 36%
More acceptance from society at large | 0%
Freedom from cultural restraints | 19%

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

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WHAT YOU SAY

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

I make friends with just about everybody. I don't have just asian friends, but a lot of different friends of a lot races...Honestly when I'm with friends of another race, I DON'T SEE THE COLOR DIFFERENCE. I see more of who they are as a person, and it's all about love and respect. I think that's how God sees all of us. The best thing about making friends with non-asians are the different cultures YOU ACTUALLY LEARN MORE ABOUT. When you make friends with other people other than your own kind, you eliminate those racial stereotypes and you get to see people for who they are and not how society and most especially the media portrays different races to be.
Asian girlfriend to all Wednesday, December 18, 2002 at 19:08:34 (PST) [198.81.26.166]

I've never used the race card when it came to friendships. I have easily been able to make friends of different races. Race to me doesn't matter. It's how I'm treated as a individual that counts. I have friends who are asian, white,hispanic, black...etc. I have always found things in common with people..no matter what background. I noticed If you treat people the way you want to be treated..most likely they will treat you the same way. Although, I have encountered people who act like were a different species...If you show them that your really not that much different..then they start seeing you as a person..instead of that ORIENTAL person. I'f you show them that your not intimidated..because of so-called preconceived stereotypes and treat them with respect.. that will always help you in the long run.
Helen Saturday, December 14, 2002 at 19:28:16 (PST) [207.132.131.54]

I know most asians at our campus don't give a crap about making friends with other non asian groups. Wether they're U.S born asians or FOBs we enjoy each others' company more than any other races. Yeah, you see once in a blue moon see a asian male or female mixed with bunch of whites and hanging around together in the PA lounge, but that's very rare. I see quite few white folks here complaining about how closed minded we are, but most of the time, they are the ones who are racist towards to us.
Jun K Thursday, December 05, 2002 at 00:50:31 (PST) [198.81.26.166]

young white female,

the differences are so striking that you can guess from a post here who's East Asian, Indian or white without getting the information from the posting name.
It's not similar traits which friends of different races have in common, they have similar problems. E.g.: when I spend my time together with whites it does not mean that I would be similar to them. Usually we only have in common that we're both not interested in soccer or that we both dislike the actual politics of a country.
travelled to less? Sunday, November 17, 2002 at 16:40:42 (PST) [62.227.111.190]

Jamaican man,
It's great to see your post. If more people think like you, this world would be so much better.
negeo Sunday, November 17, 2002 at 12:57:25 (PST) [162.83.150.240]

Tell me:

Didn't you read my original post?I posted a message to Mr. Holly.I told him he could of made his point about no one race being better than the other, without doing the same EXACT thing 'jealousy and fear' did. So he's talking the same scat to the person AND people he is complaining about.Did you read that in my original post on: Tuesday, November 05, 2002 at 19:42:45 (PST)?And if you want to go that route, I don't remember seeing you speaking up at all about the things he, and others said about non-asians.If you did or would, than we have nothing to argue about.
Jamaican man srj325@hotmail.com Friday, November 15, 2002 at 13:09:28 (PST) [172.165.196.171]

mr holley's post is pathetic, I think he is threaten by asians and saying anything negative to put them down. The reason for his post is because he don't seem to like asians doing well and find every little spit to criticize them. He puts asian downs mainly because of his jeolousy. We are human and we can't be perfect but at least we come close ok, holly man. NOt to put white people down but this is my opinion that white people are a joke, they are just as racist as anyone else and yet claims not to be. I mean, those people that aren't racist are great and kool. But we all know there are many white people that don't fall into this category. And Young white female just don't fall into it. This world is just as f**K up as it is in the 1900s.

Tell me,
I don't know why these non-asian people start bashing counter punch when it was holly who started with his anti-asian view.

Counter puncher,
you are correct here, it's called defense mechanism. And you aren't putting anyone down or regard as racist. You are just defending asians b/c they are being bash on by holly. Good job, we need more asians like you. You'll be one that makes a difference for us. Good bless.

peace everybody
keekee Friday, November 15, 2002 at 11:44:49 (PST) [205.232.102.18]

tell me- what's with the hostile response? I respond to posts when and if I feel like it. I don't represent the entire white race, and I don't understand the thought patterns of every white person, so how would I know why some of them hate Asians? Your guess is as good as mine. Why don't you tell me- why do some Asians hate whites so much? or blacks? or hispanics?

travellers- I know that people from different cultures behave differently and have different cultural norms. I have traveled and I'm not dumb. My point was that even though we do come from different cultural backgrounds, our similarities outweigh our differences.
young white female Friday, November 15, 2002 at 11:11:56 (PST) [207.183.118.60]

young white female,

yes, of course. You won't ever make friends with people of other races if you don't don't accept that behave differently. One example:

most North Asians dislike it if people shout at them. It's innate that they are calm people. Meanwhile Southerners are loud people. Even as an adoptee it depends partly on your genes which your preferences are. So don't try to train anyone against his nature.
travellers know best Thursday, November 14, 2002 at 15:49:07 (PST) [193.159.24.89]

Jamican man and white young female,
It occur to me that you took the time to reply to Counter Puncher's and other asians responses but didn't denounce Mr. Holley's anti asian comments? Why is that ? Are you bunch of anti asian hypocrite trolls?
White young female, I would like you to explain why some whites would be racist toward asians? Care to explain that?
Tell me Wednesday, November 13, 2002 at 18:48:26 (PST) [205.188.208.167]

Are people of different races REALLY that different? Yes we might eat different foods or speak different languages at home, go to different churches or mosques or temples, etc. Is it really that impossible for people of different races to be friends? It can't be, because I see it all the time, not to mention the increase in interracial dating over the past few decades. I think it is very easy to just associate with people that are very similar to you. But judging others that you don't know so harshly the way that some on this forum have done is just wrong.
young white female Monday, November 11, 2002 at 11:50:42 (PST) [207.183.117.60]

To 'Get serious'

"Are you suggesting that Asian American crime rate is close to black crime rate"

never said that. Nor did I imply that.

"Only ignoramuses like you are in denial."

Look man, all I'm saying is that we can talk about statistics,and what the FBI says all we want. NO RACE IS BETTER THAN THE OTHER! Not every black man is a criminal, and not every asian is a good citizen incapable of crimes.That's all I'm trying to say.I'm not in denial.I'm not trying to argue WHO does WHAT the most(like you).That's not the point.The point I am trying to make is nobody is better than the other.That's all.

"Come back on here when you decide to get serious"

I AM serious. 'jealousy and fear' tried to make it seem like any other race that is not asian is lower,unqualified, or even below asians. I bet that if some non-asian was saying the same things about asians, you would not stand for that and speak up. Rightfully so. I don't need to talk about what others "do or don't do" to make myself better than others. Is that what you are trying to do?
Jamaican man srj325@hotmail.com Friday, November 08, 2002 at 18:12:41 (PST) [172.175.210.61]

[Okay, that's it for socioeconomics. Let's get back on topic. --Ed]

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