Annoyances of Asian American Life | Asian American Poll

ANNOYANCES OF
ASIAN AMERICAN LIFE
(Updated Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008, 05:25:51 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%

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.]

Asian Dominatrix,

you know that everybody has the right to hide him-/herself in a his/her "fancy world". Globalization has changed many things,many violent traditions have already died out. Especially the younger generations of whites are less rude. For modern days there a saying : "dogs that bark don't bite". (I know it -my white stepfather and white-washed mother are both like that.)
In the future we Asians will be more people than the whites. So they will have to accept our behavioral standards sooner or later.
rare stuff Friday, June 07, 2002 at 17:18:01 (PDT)

Ellery,

your interpretation of my comment was from somewhere far away from my Asian self. I could also laugh about the way you misunderstood my comment about Celtic heritage. I don't blame anyone who puts ancient behaviour patterns into a sensible modern context. -My message was that we're all different by nature and it's like that since a very long time. I admit that I'm the "uncivilised" "barbarian" here because I was "morbid" enough to connect that historically proven stuff about Celts and stereotyped Austrians.

If you want to divide the world into "good" and "evil", Ellery, stay different, but don't preach about "political correctness". Trying to white-wash me will be hopeless.
rare stuff Friday, June 07, 2002 at 16:56:20 (PDT)

Asian Dominatrix,

My apologies if I mulled over the fractional minutiae of your analysis too long. I've read many of your earlier posts and have agreed with you often, so it's ridiculous for me to believe you would only accept such a limited number of virtuous white people. But if you cannot remember the last time a black or Hispanic woman stared at you in the way white women have, is it possible you are specifically trying to detect only white women who stare at you, and not black and Hispanic women, so as to strengthen your own personal record that mitigates black and Hispanic women and condemns white women?

I've read Mari Matsuda's articles before. It would be ridiculous for me to require a proof-of-purchase from the good 'ol boys on their supposed limits against Asian Americans from their companies. However the private sector demands rainmakers, and in many competitive business, medical and technical environments, the better qualified Asians will likely succeed regardless of race. I recognize the bigotry against Asians fomented by Hollywood, and I understand much of white America is unconscious of the double standards when favouring the problems of certain groups and discounting the racism against others. But many Asian Americans achieve the education to get into the better schools, the better jobs, the better neighbourhoods; and compete and perform as well as anyone. The American workforce recognizes their viability, and Asian Americans having the highest annual salaries per family in comparison to other groups may support this. Therefore the glass ceiling you allege Asians are banging up against may not be a result of blueblooded arrogance, but of sheer numbers. Asians in America remain a single-digit percentage of the American population, yet as a young, growing and educated minority, its chances of achieving higher levels in the boardrooms in larger numbers are likely. Your concern about Asian Americans being restricted by racial discrimination in this area may not be as applicable as they are with other minority groups, although I don't see how firms being strongarmed for virtual protection money by political action committees will be any more of an incentive to reach a solution than the hush money they feel they're forced to pay to avoid libel action.

As for blondie sunshine, if the poor girl only knew how much noise she'd caused on the Internet this week! I am well aware of the glance/stare parametres, thank you, but what I am suggesting are the roundabout possibilities. She could have had a million other fleeting thoughts on her mind (daddy's allowance, her hair appointment, her boyfriend, her mobile, like, like, you know?) - besides the racial superiority you think she may have tried to impose on you. You mentioned she was a "stupid blond cow" and although I wasn't there, I'm apt to agree with you, because she left something with you to make you feel something ain't right. But I don't think you are only victim of her steely stares.
And in your Friday remark to 'rare stuff' and his counsel of the Celtic hoards: I know what year it is. None taken.

Cheers,

chinalova,

I'm trying to correlate my earlier post to Asian Dominatrix with what you're telling me, and I'm having some difficulty drawing the parallels.

"I really, really, really, really, hate that combination." Don't hold back, chinalova, tell me what you really think.

Again, I think we could be conducting a discourse on nuclear proliferation in the Indo-subcontinent, and someone on Goldsea will bring the discussion back to interracial dating. For the umpteenth time, like you, I wouldn't support a mandate that says we should all be singing "Kum-ba-yah" and associating with one another interracially; ANYMORE (mind the capitals, I can't underline here) than I would support the sanctioned self-segregation of ethnic groups, (people like 'rare stuff' seem perfectly willing to segregate themselves from others without assistance.) But it is the sanctuary of these ethnic cliques, I believe, that do little to remedy the ignorance of white America that many minorities accuse them of.

However, for you to blantantly hold contempt for either monoracial or interracial couples of any combination is simply wrong, so I find it utterly ridiculous you "really, really, really, really, hate" white women with Asian men. There are many, many, many, many Asian men out there with caucasian women who are in very loving, solid relationships, who needn't be burdened with your contempt.

So to answer your final question, "Does it mean that I should agree with it or not?" - my answer is - I don't think you should really care.

Ellery Friday, June 07, 2002 at 15:15:01 (PDT)

chinalova,

Your post is not only hurtful, but also shows a major hostility, lack of acceptance of others and insecurity. I am a WF dating an AM. But that is not what "most or all" WFs want. I don't know where you're getting that. Also you jump to this conclusion that because an AM dates outside his race its because AFs are stupid, ugly whores. Do you think that my boyfriend thinks his sister and mother and aunts and grandmothers are stupid ugly whores? Of course not. An AM can still have the utmost respect for AFs and still date whomever he likes. What does it have to do with you in the least?
mind your own business Friday, June 07, 2002 at 11:45:31 (PDT)

| EARLIER COMMENTS