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GOLDSEA |
ASIAMS.NET |
ASIAN AMERICAN ISSUES
WHAT FOBs THINK OF AMERICAN-BORN ASIANS
y FOBs we mean anyone who has ever been called an FOB. -- "fresh-off-the-boat", anyone not born here. In other words, half the AA population. Even the 2 million AA who immigrated as kids and speak English like -- or in some cases, better than -- native-born Americans rarely escape the sting of being dismissed by American-Born Asians (ABAs) based on real or imagined differences.
The stereotype of the hopeless FOB who just doesn't get American culture is all too familiar. But intra-Asian prejudice is a two-way street.
No less insulting are the images held by FOBs. ABAs are the descendants of the lowliest of peasants forced to flee their homelands to become indentured servants, sniff some FOBs. Born and bred to accept second-class status in a white society, sneer others. Slackers who don't know the meaning of ambition and sacrifice -- and who lack the guts to do anything about it in any case.
FOBs run the socio-economic gamut. A significant minority (perhaps a tenth) are highly successful trans-Pacific business families seeking a safe haven for their fortunes. The vast majority are engineers, scientists, physicians and academics braving the uncertainties of new lives for a chance to work hard for more money and better opportunities. A few are refugees and illegals risking their lives to escape hopeless, grinding poverty.
It's safe to say few FOBs feel in any respect disadvantaged relative to American-born Asians. In fact, given a dozen years most do as well or better than ABAs financially, if not socially. They can be excused, then, for harboring some less-than-flattering assessments of ABAs. By the same token, in their struggle to acculturate, FOBs often come to appreciate the trails blazed by the ABS, or at least, by their ancestors.
Assuming you're FOB or straddling the FOB-ABA fence, what's your image of ABAs? Let's hear the good as well as the bad.
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WHAT YOU SAY
[This page is closed to new input. --Ed.]
(Updated
Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008, 06:03:27 PM)
AC Dropout,
On the Headline of “How Asians Boosted Microsoft”, of course I see you behind it. I agree that Asians have contributed a lot to Microsoft. However your reasonings don’t make sense. In fact, it looks like it is you, who needs studying of the PC market.
CPU:
All x86 compatible CPUs are produced by American companies. Intel, Cyrix, and AMD are the big three. There maybe manufacturing plants in Asia but no Asian companies produce x86 compatible CPU. There are many Asian companies that produce circuit boards (including motherboards), non-CPU microchips that goes into PCs, and other hardware for PCs. This is just letting you know that either you are using the word CPU incorrectly or you don’t understand what it is.
Beginning of PC Clone price reduction:
Compaq was the first company that “reverse engineered” IBM PC and produced the first PC motherboard compatible with x86 Intel CPU. Compaq was also the first company that significantly reduced the price of the PCs in attempts to increase its PC market share. Other clone companies had to follow Compaq in price competition in order to survive in the market. The PC production cost and consumer price reductions are driven by market share competition (captitalistic environmet). Not entirely because Asians or Asian nations entered PC hardware production.
IBM:
IBM is still a major player in the PC business. They did not fail. It may not have the dominance it had when it started in the PC market but the nature of this market would have eventually diluted its dominance no matter what IBM did.
Microsoft and PC clones:
Microsoft never went after PC clones because PC clones benefited Microsoft (of course), but more so because it did not see itself as a hardware manufacturer.
Microsoft and copyright issues in Asia:
Microsoft has always gone after the domestic copyright violators. In the case of Asian countries like China, Microsoft pressured US government, which in turn tried to pressure China. I doubt Microsoft has benefited from copyright violators or “software clone” businesses in Asia.
Copyright/patents/trademarks and business schools:
What do you mean that business schools would never admit social benefit of non-copyright-license society? Of course they admit it. However, “Business schools” or the whole capitalistic society see higher benefit in setting environment for (potential) high return for innovation, risks, and investment. That, my friend, will result in more innovative ideas and products that society can potentially benefit from (and we do).
AA with too much time
Tuesday, April 02, 2002 at 13:18:29 (PST)
Remember if you are rich cantonese that moved out of NYC, well you political power just evaporated as you removed yourself from your possible constituents.
Exactly! When will the Cantonese remedy this pathetic situation or better yet, when will they realize it? Every year, we see the same ol' people in the Cantonese community running for so & so in NYC, and worse, these people are idiots in the eyes of their own people! It's appears that the brightest and the most talented of the Cantonese are neither respected nor appreciated in their communitues, so therefore they relocate, and all is remaining are the underdogs or underachievers.
Regarding the Cantonese vs the Taiwanese, or Manhattan's Chinatown vs Flushing issue.
Cantonese are more focus on short term goals. This is the vision of most Cantonese, as they are sometimes labeled as "too practical" or who only care about earning the quick buck. They are less focus with education as a means to be educated. Instead, they only see education as way to move ahead or acquire new skills. This is always beneficial, but it prevents them from being "well-rounded".
The Taiwanese are quite the opposite, just look at the number of PHD degrees candiates in their community, and compare to the almost "non existent" PHDs in the Cantonese community. This has nothing to do whether one group comes from a more educated background or socioeconomic level, but the desire to acquire more and perhaps, a different education is the stark difference between the Cantonese and Taiwanese outlook.
John Liu was elected not only because he was strongly supported by Asians, but because he was "well rounded". He was able to convince Whites, Jews, Blacks, Hispanics and others that electing him would make a difference in the community. Something, that the many Cantonese candidates were not able to do or even carry out.
However, there is also the germ of truth the after generations of living the good life, whites have become complacent in their status. Hence, asian will just out compete them at their own game.
Yes, and older Asian Immigrants and children of these people will be replaced, and eventually be displaced by the more recent Immigrants, who are more hungry and motivated....This is a lash back to the constant Cantonese trash rant "we have been here for over 100 years, so therefore the more recent Chinese groups would have bow to us". If so, shouldn't we bow to the Whites, who will be displaced by the Asians, according to you?
Your reading comprehension skills need improving. I was referring to the CPU unit and the OEM parts coming out of asia for affordable PC. With affordable PC allows Microsoft to dominate the OS market.
OK, demonstrate a bit how the production of CPUs and OEMs in Asia benefit MS directly? How does this "Asian" phenomenon is a contribution to the US? PC Clones or what we call "IBM Compatibles" existed way before Asians (in Asia) had their hands on them or those parts that you have mentioned.
CFC!
Tuesday, April 02, 2002 at 10:06:01 (PST)
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