Annoyances of Asian American Life | Asian American Poll

ANNOYANCES OF
ASIAN AMERICAN LIFE
(Updated Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008, 05:25:45 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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Comments posted during the past year remain available for browsing.

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WHAT YOU SAY

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curious girl,

I don't really have a problem with non-Asians posting at Goldsea; I think I've reiterated this several times, especially on this particular forum. I do believe in dialogue.

However, what I DO take offense to is people attempting to silence my thoughts or anyone else's about discrimination. (See Ellery's responses and everyone else's last week.) Or people attempting to twist our words into the form of "___ hates all whites." Unfortunately, this has happened a great deal at Goldsea.

I am curious tho' as to how you stumbled across Goldsea and if your BF/husband participates here too.

rare stuff,

I haven't read Fukuyama's "Great Disruption" so I can't comment on it too much. However, I have heard similar arguments by other conservative writers who claim that "racial profiling" is OK in that it is a form of "rational discrimination." Fact is, "rational discrimination" is never really "rational"; at most, it provides a dimly reasoned "rationale" for perpetuating prejudice.

I agree that white-washed Asians pose a threat to Asian unity. But the problem behind that is STILL Western society's denigration of non-whites. If society hadn't made it so difficult to be non-white, we wouldn't have so many Asians attempting to maintain some dubious superiority over other Asians by claiming that they can pass for "white" somewhat (what a BIG laugh!--the KKK still sees them as a "CHINK"), "act white" like their friends, refuse to be seen with other Asians, or refuse to acknowledge that racism exists--until they get insulted one day or get passed over for promotion by a lesser qualified white.

We can say that we're powerful enough to reject the media, social pressures, insults, the rude behavior, etc.--and some of us who are smart enough learn to do so. For instance, at literature conferences, I always try to meet other non-whites (we're a true minority there) while at teaching, I've tended to give my (white) female students more attention in a community which continues to uphold males over females(despite progress, Oxbridge is still notoriously sexist): in other words, I practice what I preach.

Unfortunately, however, there are many people who never really learn to think for themselves. That's why we still need to focus more of our efforts on combating racism at large when push comes to shove.
Asian Dominatrix Friday, June 21, 2002 at 09:06:17 (PDT)

curious girl,

I respect your fatalism regarding the kids of other people. Nonetheless I made the experience that hedonism (like consuming everything without a limit) within the peer groups replaces more sensible activities for which youth is an adequate. Young people could learn a lot of useful things of a traditional background instead of "enjoying their lives."
By the way, I had also "a choice" but as a teenager I lacked the self-esteem which I would have needed to resist because it was my Asian heritage which some peer groups discriminated against. Think of the American Indians.They have a problem which is related to that which I meant.That even psychologists state "primitive cultures" would be "for mentally disturbed people" is annoying for those who like to be "old-fashioned".
rare stuff Thursday, June 20, 2002 at 16:11:56 (PDT)

rare stuff- You make it sound like kids are forcing asian kids into doing drugs! Yes there might be a lot of peer pressure in high schools, but drinking or doing drugs is an individual choice, and if you were raised by parents that told you that there are more important things in life than being cool, and that doing drugs can ruin your life, then chances are you'll have the courage to say no.
Asian Dom,
I can totally respect that this site is a place for Asian Americans to voice their opinions and to be heard in a safe environment. I think it's also very beneficial for both sides for non-Asians like me, Hannybunbun and others to be here as a sounding board for ideas. Like Hannybunbun said, when you are married to/dating an Asian person, Asian American issues will always be a part of your life.
curious girl Thursday, June 20, 2002 at 10:38:44 (PDT)

Asian Dominatrix,

what do you think about Francis Fukuyama's attitude to the topic?In "The Great Disruption" he states that "humans are calculating 'devils'".Thus someone could interpret discrimination against minorities as sensible in certain situations.
Allow me to critisize your question "How will we make progress?": you're getting close to some (Western) messiahs' philosophies by such undertones.

Back to the "calculating 'devils'": obviously there are some people who annoy us Asians: I don't like to place emphasis on the fact that they are rude to us, I prefer to see it as a warning of too less opportunities for those individuals to create a distant space between themselves and others.The danger are not the white racists but the white-washed Asians who reject supporting of powerless Asians who are still proud of their heritage. (We Asians -like many tribal people- were once masters in creating private spaces for ourselves to avoid aggressive behavior patterns. By white-washing this heritage will become lost.But that topic may be more suitable for the forum "Asian History and Modern Society").
rare stuff Thursday, June 20, 2002 at 05:12:56 (PDT)

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