Annoyances of Asian American Life | Asian American Poll

ANNOYANCES OF
ASIAN AMERICAN LIFE
(Updated Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008, 05:25:53 PM to reflect the 100 most recent valid responses.)

Which of the following is the most annoying occurrence to which Asian Americans are routinely subjected?
Being told you speak English well | 21%
Being asked where you're from, originally | 28%
Having (non-Asian) strangers address you with phrases in Asian languages | 23%
Being subjected to offensive media portrayals of Asians | 28%

Which of the following is the most common way in which racial hostility has been expressed toward you?
Hostile words spoken to your face | 9%
Hostile remarks to others within earshot | 41%
Slurs or taunts shouted from a distance | 17%
Spreading of malicious gossip about you | 6%
Pointedly excluding you from a conversation or event | 27%

In your experience what types of persons are most likely to show hostility toward Asians?
People with low educational levels | 24%
People from social backwaters | 17%
People insecure about their own places in society | 28%
People envious of Asian success | 11%
People with little contact with other ethnicities | 19%

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WHAT YOU SAY

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Albi,

As usual, your posts are barely coherent and have little focus. Are you bi-polar by any chance?
WTF Wednesday, May 29, 2002 at 23:31:35 (PDT)

I was adopted by an Irish American and have been living in the US for 27 or my 28 years. I've also served in the full time Army for 2 years and the National Guard for 8, so it annoys the heck out me when people think or say I'm not American.
Tran W-C tcunnane73@hotmail.com Monday, May 27, 2002 at 11:34:06 (PDT)

On a tangentially related topic: Koreans in the USSR
http://www.fortunecity.com/meltingpot/champion/65/soviet_k.htm

Yeah, they got treated like crap during WWII cuz of racism in the government and societal misperceptions too (Stalin thought they'd become Japanese spies $%?!@%?!) But now apparently they're mostly assimilated. I especially enjoyed the video of that dude singing cheesy Russian pop songs ... hehehe.
T.H. Lien Friday, May 24, 2002 at 00:09:36 (PDT)

Idealist:
your funny.."some Russians are indoubtebly racist as are Koreans, Chinese, Japanese, Norwegians (lol), Nepalese (LOL) etc...The last two were a bit random dont u think? i dont know a single Nepalese i dunno it was just a bit funny to read that
NdNgurl Thursday, May 23, 2002 at 17:00:55 (PDT)

Get over it. Russians are just like everyone else, some great people, some azzholes, what's this rocket science ?
get a real topic going Wednesday, May 22, 2002 at 14:26:18 (PDT)

Idealist,

Thanks for your post :) You put it very well. It's hard for me to describe Russians in words, because I have a few close Russian friends (including a boyfriend), and you know how it's a bit awkward to generalize about people you're close to? Anyway, in the face of vehement anti-Russian sentiments, i'm a bit lost for words and take it almost personally! I kind of understand why Russians are misunderstood, but i don't think there's much one can do about it. To truly understand and appreciate another culture requires a lot of effort, it even requires learning that language.

I think what you wrote about loyalty, sincerity and compassion is absolutely true. In my experience, Russians are generous of spirit, honest and compassionate; are intellectual and well read (even the computer scientists and physicists :); many are artistic to some degree, and have a tendency to wax philosophical.

Albi:

I've never met a Russian who was shallow enough to hold a grudge about the Russo-Japanese war. Where do you get these conclusions from? It sounds a bit nuts to me. Anyway, not all Asians are Japanese. Most are Chinese :) What's funny? Funny is a very drunk Russian, having just met me and my bf at the KGB Bar, proposing a toast to the eternal brotherhood of China and Russia :) and yelling "Cuba Libera!"

krasavitsa Tuesday, May 21, 2002 at 19:26:03 (PDT)

I went to a boarding school that had a small number of Russians, that had come directly from Russia..The Russians are one of the most caring, compassionate, loyal, cool as hell people once you get close to them!!!!!!!! Granted, they don't smile much, aren't "fake" about their emotions, and are pretty stoic about matters involving others they are not close with.. It takes time to befriend them, but once you do, you have a friend for life that will do anything for you!! my nest friend was Russian and it took awhile to become close to her, but once I did, she never let me down..NEVER! they have a culture very different from Americans , however, I have found their culture to resemble the Corean culture.. I can't speak for other Asian cultures, however, I think it is safe to say they have a culture closer to Asian cultures than to the American culture..
Anyway, this is a classic example of what "racism" is..personal encounters are what is important..some who have had negative encounters with Russians will be quick to point the finger at them, accusing them of being racist..not all Asians do, in fact, i have hope that a vast majority of Asians are smart enough to NOT LABEL A WHOLE RACE just by one encounter..i would think that Asians have had to deal with that crap from others for a LONG TIME AND STILL DO!
anyway, some Russians are undoubtedly racist as are Koreans, Chinese, JApanese, Norwegians, Nepalese..etc, etc..but I would like to think that there are many more that are not racist..call it naivete..whatever..

Idealist Wednesday, May 15, 2002 at 17:54:05 (PDT)

Well Russians can be racist because of the Russo-Japanese war. That left a bitter taste in their mouths. My Great-Grandfather was in that war.

I think the main reason why Russian immigrants are pissed off, is because they have to deal with a bunch of multicultural fools who want to blame them for the slavery of their black ancestors.

And white americans are put off when they discover that not everyone watched jewish entertainment while growing up.

An analogy can be made between Russian immigrants and Japanese Americans in Japan. The expectations are high for Russian immigrants. Because they look white they recieve no affirmative action. And people expect them to be able to speak English well. Because many Russian Americans have become an integral part of American society.

But I digress, how quickly we forget about the forced labor of Slavs in the mines of the Southwest.

Albi Friday, May 10, 2002 at 09:49:46 (PDT)

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