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QOTD thread.
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Post by
Squishalot
The fact that people only think of far east asia when they hear asia IS A BAD THING.
Out of curiosity, why? Does that make the term "Middle East" a bad thing, then?
It doesn't, because the Middle East is a reasonably defined location area. Just like 'Central America' is a reasonably defined location area. Similarly, you could describe South East Asia as an area.
The issue is that Asia =/= "China/Japan/Korea/Hong Kong/Vietnam", which is what most people consider 'Asian'.
Post by
Monday
The fact that people only think of far east asia when they hear asia IS A BAD THING.
Out of curiosity, why? Does that make the term "Middle East" a bad thing, then?
It doesn't, because the Middle East is a reasonably defined location area. Just like 'Central America' is a reasonably defined location area. Similarly, you could describe South East Asia as an area.
The issue is that Asia =/= "China/Japan/Korea/Hong Kong/Vietnam", which is what most people consider 'Asian'.
Sure, I can agree with that. However, most continents tend to be dominated by the largest countries on them. Africa brings Egypt to mind for most people. Asia brings China and Japan. America brings the US, and South America sorta mishmashes with Mexico (which I think is stupid, but whatever). Europe generally tends to bring images of France, Italy and England.
Australia is, well, Australia.
Many people do this, and, to be honest, I don't see why it's harmful. It's not completely accurate, but it's not hurting anybody.
Post by
Gone
The issue is that Asia =/= "China/Japan/Korea/Hong Kong/Vietnam", which is what most people consider 'Asian'.
By changing it you could just as easily offend the billions of people from China, Japan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Mongolia, North and South Korea, and every other ethnically Asian country that feels as though their culture is being disseminated or disrespected through the outside world trying to force a new term on them.
Post by
Squishalot
However, most continents tend to be dominated by the largest countries on them.
India and Russia would probably beg to differ.
The issue is that Asia =/= "China/Japan/Korea/Hong Kong/Vietnam", which is what most people consider 'Asian'.
By changing it you could just as easily offend the billions of people from China, Japan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Mongolia, North and South Korea, and every other ethnically Asian country that feels as though their culture is being disseminated or disrespected through the outside world trying to force a term on them.
I'm not quite sure what you're trying to say here. You are trying to force a term on them - that term is 'Asian'. I fail to see the point of your argument.
new term
To be honest, I think you're disrespecting them more by lumping them into the 'Asian' category in the first place, than by applying more specificity. People from Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia are all more comfortable with the term 'South-East Asian', than just generic 'Asian'. People from Vietnam are far more comfortable being called 'Vietnamese' than either of the other two terms. I would think that you're much better off referring to their specific nationality, and not trying to refer to them by the 'continentality'.(##RESPBREAK##)8##DELIM##Squishalot##DELIM##
Post by
Gone
I'm not quite sure what you're trying to say here. You are trying to force a term on them - that term is 'Asian'. I fail to see the point of your argument.
The Middle East and what we think of as Asia have absolutely nothing in common culturally. So technically, if you go by the geographical definition, considering people from Afghanistan and India as "Asian" then there is no such thing as "Asian Culture." EluraE's claim is that the term "Asian" when referring to the culture of the people of East Asia is offensive to those of Southwest Asia. What I'm saying is that if we got rid of the term and tried to force a new one on people, to placate those of of southwest Asia, it would offend even more people of East Asia, who think of their very unique culture as "Asian."
Post by
Ksero
Maybe we should rename this thread DOTD.
I do agree somewhat with Elura though - although I don't see it being as big a deal as she does, I think that people are often too closed minded when they think of 'Asia'. The other half of the population on the Asian continent (i.e. India) would beg to differ about whether their existence should be acknowledged, I would think.
I don't think so, they get acknowledged as having their own culture, so I don't see the issue? When someone say's American culture, and is talking about the USA, I don't get up in arms cause I'm from
Canada, and I want my existence to be acknowledged.
Post by
Monday
India and Russia would probably beg to differ.
India is considered its own subcontinent and Russia spans two (and is sort of considered its own area by many in the US).
Post by
240140
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
Monday
maybe they are not the majority
I'm pretty sure they're not. If I'm going to try and hold out for universal approval ratings, I'll be in hiding for a long time. The vast majority of Asians that I've met don't really care, at all.
Post by
Haxzor
The thing is, I refer to Asians as people from places like Japan, Korea, China, HK, SG and Taiwan.
Indians are from India and Russians are from Russia.
Post by
240140
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
Monday
So why don't you just say japanese people? If you can say indians?
India is a subcontinent, separate from Asia.
Post by
240140
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
Ksero
maybe they are not the majority
I'm pretty sure they're not. If I'm going to try and hold out for universal approval ratings, I'll be in hiding for a long time. The vast majority of Asians that I've met don't really care, at all.
I can agree with this, its funny how it's being made into an issue, when it matters to such a small percentage of the population in question.
Post by
240140
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
Ksero
So why don't you just say japanese people? If you can say indians?
India is a subcontinent, separate from Asia.
So answer my question about sri lanka and bangladesh please. How about pakistan? That's not in the middle east, according to people from pakistan.
I lived with someone from Pakistan for the last 8 months, when describing it's location to our other roommates he said it was part of the middle east.
Lol it's funny how trans* rights are an issue when it matters to such a small percentage of the population.
And even the people who it's not harmful to agree that things like "asian culture" isn't correct. As in all the east asians I know prefer if you say "korean culture" if you mean that because saying asian culture implies a monolith, which has racist consequenses.
trans right matter to pretty much all transgender people, the majority of asian's do not care about this.
Post by
Squishalot
I'm not quite sure what you're trying to say here. You are trying to force a term on them - that term is 'Asian'. I fail to see the point of your argument.
The Middle East and what we think of as Asia have absolutely nothing in common culturally. So technically, if you go by the geographical definition, considering people from Afghanistan and India as "Asian" then there is no such thing as "Asian Culture." EluraE's claim is that the term "Asian" when referring to the culture of the people of East Asia is offensive to those of Southwest Asia.
Actually, Indians and Chinese have ridiculous amounts in common culturally, ranging from general household arrangements, value on education and wealth and career, the particular type of patriarchal society, and so on. To suggest that India has nothing in common with 'East Asia', casts significant doubt over the value of what you're saying.
What I'm saying is that if we got rid of the term and tried to force a new one on people, to placate those of of southwest Asia, it would offend even more people of East Asia, who think of their very unique culture as "Asian."
It offends me more that you think we think that we have a single 'Asian' culture that doesn't reflect the multitude of national cultures that it includes.
Edit:
And even the people who it's not harmful to agree that things like "asian culture" isn't correct. As in all the east asians I know prefer if you say "korean culture" if you mean that because saying asian culture implies a monolith, which has racist consequenses.
Just saw this - this is about right.(##RESPBREAK##)8##DELIM##Squishalot##DELIM##
Post by
Haxzor
Sri Lankan and I've never met someone from Bangladesh. Bangladeshi?
Post by
240140
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
Haxzor
Sri Lankan and I've never met someone from Bangladesh. Bangladeshi?
Uh.. I mean, are they asian? They are not indian, which apparently is a subcontinent. As a country, what are they? Nothing?
Also the fact that squish agrees with me is enough for me to feel that I'm right about this. He is really the only one here who would be affected by it, so.
Thinking about it, I'd probably call them Indian aswell, coming from a common ancestor and all
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