How well do you know your Asians?

[Nightflower]

www.alllooksame.com (http://www.alllooksame.com)

See how well you can distinguish between Chinese, Korean, and Japanese people.

[happyheathen]

Originally posted by Nightflower
www.alllooksame.com (http://www.alllooksame.com)

See how well you can distinguish between Chinese, Korean, and Japanese people.

got one for english, french, and german?

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

Originally posted by Nightflower
www.alllooksame.com (http://www.alllooksame.com)

See how well you can distinguish between Chinese, Korean, and Japanese people.

I'm Chinese, and I failed this test miserably. Pathetic, really. But then, this test IS exceptionally difficult...

[Failure]

I'm Korean, I got a 9, a little above average, but I gotta admit that a couple were blind guesses. It's funny, my parents can instantly tell what type of asian a person is and I have no clue how they know.

[Shriek]

I got a 6. Man I suck.

[optimal321]

I got a 6 too. Hope that section's not on the SAT's:p

[TuffyCatt]

Heh, heh...um...I got a two. :eek: Ummm, does anyone here tutor people who need to learn how to tell Asians apart???

[Maxie Zeus]

Tough. And the ones I got right were blind guesses; all the ones I was pretty sure about I was dead wrong on.

[Nightflower]

I'm Chinese too and I still did pretty badly ^_^

My mom is really racist (Well, not so bad with Asians, she just stereotypes, but man, hear the things she has to say about black people!). She says all Japanese men are ugly and all Koreans have broad faces.

[oranthal]

heh, heh, i only got 6 when i took it. considering i'm asian, that's pretty bad. it just goes to show that you can't tell a person's race just by looking at them or us.

[Failure]

Originally posted by Nightflower
I'm Chinese too and I still did pretty badly ^_^

My mom is really racist (Well, not so bad with Asians, she just stereotypes, but man, hear the things she has to say about black people!). She says all Japanese men are ugly and all Koreans have broad faces.

Yeah, my parents are similar. I'm not so sure they're racist, as much as it's "experience driven prejudice" though. But I give them the benefit of the doubt since they like the ones that are nice to them.

The weird thing is I went to Korea a year ago, and I got this sense that the people there didnt like black people in general or were afraid of them, which I couldn't understand, since I'd bet that half those people making judgments hadn't even met one in their lives. It's kinda sad.

My parents stereotype a lot also, Some of them all I can do is shake my head and laugh at. The broad face stereotype is new to me though. :p

[The Mad Hatter]

Six. Ugh. But considering I'm a sheltered white guy living in Arkansas, I'm glad I didn't do worse.

[Nightflower]

Originally posted by Failure


Yeah, my parents are similar. I'm not so sure they're racist, as much as it's "experience driven prejudice" though. But I give them the benefit of the doubt since they like the ones that are nice to them.

The weird thing is I went to Korea a year ago, and I got this sense that the people there didnt like black people in general or were afraid of them, which I couldn't understand, since I'd bet that half those people making judgments hadn't even met one in their lives. It's kinda sad.

My parents stereotype a lot also, Some of them all I can do is shake my head and laugh at. The broad face stereotype is new to me though. :p

My mom says every black person she ever met she thought was lazy, but an opinion like that shouldn't drive her to do what she does. If we meet them in the middle of a sidewalk (A group of them especially, or even two), she'll make us cross the street and then cross back after we pass them...very obviously. She told me I was never to date a black man, because "then my babies would be weird". Stuff like that. If I were an easily offendable person, I'd be shocked, but I just think it's funny. :p

Korea, huh? I don't know. Maybe it is an Asian thing, after all. I know a lot of Chinese adults who don't like black people at all either. But maybe it's just the time that they were brought up in.

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

My parents have no prejudices against black people, and get along with them fine. You don't hear about a lot of Black/Asian tensions in the news anyway, so overall, it probably isn't too bad.

My parents do have other prejudices, though, and I find it difficult to argue with them on these points. (Since they gang up on me and don't accept opinions different from their own) :rolleyes: And as for politics...well, I disagree with about 90% of my parents' political views. ;)

[Nightflower]

Tensions? That's completely not what I meant.
I didn't mean outright loathing racism... just little stereotypes and a sense of superiority, enough to be amusing and annoying, but certainly nothing to make a shout about.

[BourgeoisBuffoon]

Oog. My father isn't racist, but my mom is ocasionally. She'll make a crack about a black usually.
...Fortuantly, this is only when she's stressed out, so I think it's just a spur of the moment thing.

...And I for the love of God STILL don't know why humanity has to be racist...(rehortical statement)
...as for all those racists, I imagine what they'd speak if THEY were the ones who had to be slaves/indentured servants/worse....I really would like to see the tables turned on them...

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

No, I haven't sensed much of that in my relatives or parents. They stereotype other races, though. I guess we probably all unconsciously stereotype people one time or another. I try to be aware of it, though.

[Failure]

Originally posted by Nightflower


My mom says every black person she ever met she thought was lazy, but an opinion like that shouldn't drive her to do what she does. If we meet them in the middle of a sidewalk (A group of them especially, or even two), she'll make us cross the street and then cross back after we pass them...very obviously. She told me I was never to date a black man, because "then my babies would be weird". Stuff like that. If I were an easily offendable person, I'd be shocked, but I just think it's funny. :p

Korea, huh? I don't know. Maybe it is an Asian thing, after all. I know a lot of Chinese adults who don't like black people at all either. But maybe it's just the time that they were brought up in.

That is sort of funny, in a should be unfunny sort of way.

I think the problem is Asia and Africa are so separated. I mean how many black people are you going to find in an Asian country and vice versa? Corner store robberies are common here in Philly, and in most big cities I'd assume, and chances are those cornerstores are gonna be run by some asian. So then they send news back home to their friends and family that so-and-so's whole race is bad. And then word just spreads. I'm pretty sure that's how it works with my family members, and I'd guess it's relatively common. It all goes back to the fact that we all need more communication.

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

It really depends on your upbringing. I was brought up in a multicultural environment, so I'm used to seeing everyone as essentially the same. A lot of our parents were brought up in a more racially segregated environment, even though a lot of change and cultural awareness took place during their early years.

There are a lot of predominantly white neighbourhoods I've walked through and they do tend to look at Blacks or Asians in a different light than their own. I find that kids in these neighbourhoods tend to be more ignorant at times. The same can also be said for predominantly Black neighbourhoods and Asian neighbourhoods as well. So a lot has to do with environment.

[Failure]

Good point LLJ, I've been brought up in a pretty multicultural environment as well, and I try to look beyond people's race/ethnicity. I'm not so sure that people are "racist" as they are ignorant or prejudiced. I'm not sure how to explain the difference, but I tend to think racist as an especally vicious term.

To BourgeoisBuffoon I'm not so sure turning the tables on anyone will do anything. The thing is, every type of person's been oppressed at some point in time, yet people still can't seem to focus more on each other's differences than similarities. I mean, if you look in the opinion page you'll probably find a black person spewing "reverse racism" versus white people.

Maybe it's just because everyone wants a sense of superiority compared to someone else, and the easiest target for them is a visible target. Or maybe it's ignorance. Or maybe it's both and more. Why racism exists is just like one of those questions like why do we kill people? why do we continue to war? for what purpose is Richard Simmons on this world for? ;) You hope you'll figure it out, but you never will. I guess all you can do is chip in your little piece each time out.

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

Originally posted by Failure
Good point LLJ, I've been brought up in a pretty multicultural environment as well, and I try to look beyond people's race/ethnicity. I'm not so sure that people are "racist" as they are ignorant or prejudiced. I'm not sure how to explain the difference, but I tend to think racist as an especally vicious term.



Well, I've tried to avoid the "racism" word in all my posts so far, and I hope I'm not throwing out any erroneous implications. I will say, however, that there is a high degree of cultural ignorance out there. Racism is, as you and Nightflower have said, a more violent-sounding term, usually implying blind hatred of a particular race (or races). Thankfully, there isn't a lot of that anymore, but a lack of understanding and awareness is still a fairly common problem. I'm not bothered by it so much in adults, but when kids display it, it bothers me for some reason.

As for your other questions on why do people kill people and why racism exists, well, I've always chalked it up to education and environment. I just personally think that lack of open-ended education (not biased, considers all perspectives) is the cause of a lot of problems. A lot of quarrels are born from a distinct lack of understanding, usually stemming from a lack of proper education.

But what do I know? I got a 5 on that Asian test.:p

[Failure]

Originally posted by Leaping Larry Jojo


Well, I've tried to avoid the "racism" word in all my posts so far, and I hope I'm not throwing out any erroneous implications. I will say, however, that there is a high degree of cultural ignorance out there. Racism is, as you and Nightflower have said, a more violent-sounding term, usually implying blind hatred of a particular race (or races). Thankfully, there isn't a lot of that anymore, but a lack of understanding and awareness is still a fairly common problem. I'm not bothered by it so much in adults, but when kids display it, it bothers me for some reason.

As for your other questions on why do people kill people and why racism exists, well, I've always chalked it up to education and environment. I just personally think that lack of open-ended education (not biased, considers all perspectives) is the cause of a lot of problems. A lot of quarrels are born from a distinct lack of understanding, usually stemming from a lack of proper education.

But what do I know? I got a 5 on that Asian test.:p

I wasnt referring to you using "racism" at any point. I was just trying to make my view clear in case I had used it wantonly before. I wasnt pointing it towards you, sorry for any miscommunication.

The one problem with open-ended education is people, especially children can't handle it. Kids prefer things to be in black and white and dislike it when they have to deal with shades of grey. But maybe this is just because of the environment they're brought up in and isn't inherent. But many adults dislike open-endedness as well. It would be really difficult to find teachers who would be able to teach that way, and even more difficult to have kids try to accept what's being taught. And it would also mean we'd have to throw our grading system out the window, which would mean massive chaos in our oh-so-competently run school systems.

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

Originally posted by Failure


I wasnt referring to you using "racism" at any point. I was just trying to make my view clear in case I had used it wantonly before. I wasnt pointing it towards you, sorry for any miscommunication.

The one problem with open-ended education is people, especially children can't handle it. Kids prefer things to be in black and white and dislike it when they have to deal with shades of grey. But maybe this is just because of the environment they're brought up in and isn't inherent. But many adults dislike open-endedness as well. It would be really difficult to find teachers who would be able to teach that way, and even more difficult to have kids try to accept what's being taught. And it would also mean we'd have to throw our grading system out the window, which would mean massive chaos in our oh-so-competently run school systems.



When I say open-ended education, I'm basically saying the kind of education we have in democratic societies--which is ours. Of course, I'm biased because I live in a democratic society (or so I've heard...) but I'd like to think I'm open to different ideas. I mean, most of our grading aren't based on ideas but structure. I won't get an "F" for an essay advocating communism as long as it's well written and supported, for example. (I don't advocate communism--I'm just illustrating something here...)

That's not to say everything taught should be shades of grey, of course. I mean, ABCs and mathematics are pretty black and white. I'm not advocating that people start saying, "Math is anything you want it to be. 1 + 1 can equal 4 or 2, depending on your perspective." :rolleyes: That's probably going a bit far with the "shades of grey" concept...;)

But social discussions in class should be more thoughtful than, "When you hurt someone's feelings, their heart goes 'ouchie'...."

[DR. BELCH]

--that gets me is when people call me a racist simply because I moved out of a high-minority neighborhood into an all-white one and I strenuously avoid mostly-minority neighborhoods, classes, and such. That's just a human instinct to protect myself and my loived ones. It seems I'm a monster/racist/bigot/Nazi for actually caring about my family and wanting to keep them from harm. That I don't get. I never drew the chalk lines, I just honor them where they lie.

[happyheathen]

Originally posted by DR. BELCH
--that gets me is when people call me a racist simply because I moved out of a high-minority neighborhood into an all-white one and I strenuously avoid mostly-minority neighborhoods, classes, and such. That's just a human instinct to protect myself and my loived ones. It seems I'm a monster/racist/bigot/Nazi for actually caring about my family and wanting to keep them from harm. That I don't get. I never drew the chalk lines, I just honor them where they lie.

protect them from what?

and, given your adversion to 'minorities', I find it interesting that you would mention Leadbelly (aka Huttie Ledbetter)

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

Originally posted by happyheathen


protect them from what?

(Shrugs)

*Stereotype on* Maybe he lives in Philly. *Stereotype off*

;)

[Joe Tully]

Wow. I had put off taking this because I didn't think that I'd be able to tell at all, but I went with my gut and got a 9.

[Singin' Stray Cat]

I was really surprised when I took the test and got an 8. That's still less than half right (8 out of 18), but better than I originally thought I was going to do.

[NewMaxFranklin]

I got a 7. Unbelievable!!! I'm half Japanese! I grew up in Hawaii! The majority of the population is Asian! That test was rigged! Some of them were making weird faces. I was robbed.

To comment on the "racism" stuff: From my experience, being around a lot of other Asian or part-Asian people most all my life, I've found them to be more racist than any other ethnic group, overall.

I had black friends in highschool. (I could use the PC term "African American," but the "African Americans" I know don't care either way. I'm not trying to endorse racial stereotyping with my comments.) My best friend in art class was (and probably still is;)) black.

I've found (and I know many blacks who agree) that "African Americans"(heck, lets mix it up a little)are facinated by the Asian cultures (especially Chinese) and the mystical/ exotic applications. Some of the the biggest Anime/ Kung-Fu, etc, fans I've ever met are black. Stange that (many) Asians are affraid of them.

Anyway, I think there are always going to be those who embrace different cultures and those who chose to remain sheltered. I don't think there's anything wrong with being sheltered or remaining seperate from people of different races. You can't change you're nature after all. Just so long as they don't act in a way that infringes on the rights of others.

I can understand what Belch said about avoiding areas with a high concentration of a particular ethnic group (including caucasiuan.) If I see large group of friends (on the street or something) and they are all of the same ethnic group, to me, that shows they have a racial bias. I too am inclined to avoid them, just as I would avoid a group who were wearing gang colors (if I saw one.)

[Nightflower]

You know what some people are saying now that bugs me? That racism is a disease. No, I'm serious. It's like depression...something happens in your brain. Ergh. They make it sound like the person has no choice (Well...perhaps you don't have a choice in the way you were brought up. But a disease is something to be sympathized because you can't help it. Ergh.)

The area I live in is mostly white. I've had a few brushes with racism (Been called "chink", "canary", and "why don't you lie down and take it like the good chink you are?" which I thought was kinda funny), but nothing serious. The high school I go to is out of my district, and very multicultural, so it was a little different than what I was used to in my first year, but I quickly got used to it and I like it that way anyway.

I don't think I'm racist, but maybe I am (I was raised to be, after all). It's hard to tell what's "observation" and "stereotyping". For example, I can't help but notice that the brightest piano students are mostly Asian. Or that in math and science a lot of the excelling students are Asian. Would that be observation or stereotyping?

And I say black and not African American, because I'm lazy, and the latter is five syllables longer (and fifteen more letters to type!) ;)

"Well, Edna, for a school with no Asian kids, I say we put on a pretty darn good science fair." -Principal Skinner

[DR. BELCH]

happyheathen:
protect them from what?
Being beaten and brutally savaged. Maybe I'm jaded, and I don't wish to cause any hard feelings, but I've seen much of my family, myself included, suffer at the hands of minorities. My mother is partially blind after being attacked in our driveway back in Jun 1992 by a gang of blacks, who drove a stick through her eye. That's why I'm proud to live where I live, in a satellite community outside the larger city...along with a lot of other people looking to get out of the pit the neighborhood. I'm sorry to say it, but before it took a dramatic racial shift in the eighties, it was a much cleaner and safer place to live. I just don't like being forced to feel guilty for wanting a better life or liking being able to walk the streets after dark without fear. I couldn't be a racist. There are some blacks I respect and don't fear...although sadly I can count those on one hand. Those are the ones who are seen by their peers as having "sold out" and become "race traders", so it seems most of them don't even try to rise from the swamps.

I don't live in Philly, although I was born in Chicago...which isn't much better race war-wise. Here in the South it's one group that'll get you; there you have a choice: beaten by one or whalloped by the other. I won't say which groups; those who live there probably catch my meaning....

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

Originally posted by Nightflower

And I say black and not African American, because I'm lazy, and the latter is five syllables longer (and fifteen more letters to type!) ;)


Well, for you and I, it seems silly to call blacks in Canada "African Americans," huh? (Or is the stereotype "eh?") ;)

Should we call them "African Canadians?"

[Bird Boy]

I suck..I got 7 right...lol...

*sigh* I thought I was going to do good too! :(

-BB

[Failure]

Originally posted by DR. BELCH

Being beaten and brutally savaged. Maybe I'm jaded, and I don't wish to cause any hard feelings, but I've seen much of my family, myself included, suffer at the hands of minorities. My mother is partially blind after being attacked in our driveway back in Jun 1992 by a gang of blacks, who drove a stick through her eye. That's why I'm proud to live where I live, in a satellite community outside the larger city...along with a lot of other people looking to get out of the pit the neighborhood. I'm sorry to say it, but before it took a dramatic racial shift in the eighties, it was a much cleaner and safer place to live. I just don't like being forced to feel guilty for wanting a better life or liking being able to walk the streets after dark without fear. I couldn't be a racist. There are some blacks I respect and don't fear...although sadly I can count those on one hand. Those are the ones who are seen by their peers as having "sold out" and become "race traders", so it seems most of them don't even try to rise from the swamps.

I don't live in Philly, although I was born in Chicago...which isn't much better race war-wise. Here in the South it's one group that'll get you; there you have a choice: beaten by one or whalloped by the other. I won't say which groups; those who live there probably catch my meaning....

I understand what you're getting at. The same thing is going on where I live. About 5 years ago it was a pretty nice neighborhood, not great, but no real troubles or anything. But now a racial shift has changed the place and it's not as safe. My parents were even robbed at gunpoint 2 years ago and that had never happened in the 15 years or so they'd been there before. When that happens, how can you describe it without seeming like you're a bigot? It's difficult. And how difficult is it to try and understand and communicate with people, if they're just flat out bad people? It's easy to like everyone and not be racist if all the people you're associating with are good people, but the sad fact is it's not the case.

Dr. Belch, I'm sorry about what happened to your mother, that's absolutely terrible. I don't consider you a racist. You have to do what you think is best for you and your family. It's pretty much a fact that the outlying suburb areas are safer than inner city. That's why there's been such a mass exodus out of the cities recently.

Nightflower, I think what you mentioned is observation. Actually, I think most stereotypes have some truth behind them, so they're not necessarily bad or anything. The problem with stereotypes is when someone will have a stereotype in mind and decide they know everything about a whole group of people.

[Calhoun07]

I just took it and got a lousy 2. If they had one for different nationalities of white people tho, I would probably do just as bad.

[Calhoun07]

Hmmm....alot of talk here on racism and such....

I like what Richard Dawson said on the last episode of the Family Feud, when he talked about when he was a little boy when he first saw a black person. He asked his mother if there was something wrong with them, and she told him if God could put diffrent colors in a rainbow, then she had no right in questioning the color of somebody's skin. And I think that's a beautiful approach to take. I may know black people who are lazy, but I don't condemn them all for it, because I know white people who are just as bad or worse.

One more thing...I never have cared for the term African American. And I know black people who don't care for it either. And there are black people who don't care for the term black. I really hate all this politically correct mumbo jumbo in trying to be inoffensive in describing a persons' nationality. I could just as easilly say I am offended with the term "white" and demand you call me "European American!"

[optimal321]

Originally posted by calhoun07
One more thing...I never have cared for the term African American. And I know black people who don't care for it either. And there are black people who don't care for the term black. I really hate all this politically correct mumbo jumbo in trying to be inoffensive in describing a persons' nationality. I could just as easilly say I am offended with the term "white" and demand you call me "European American!"

Exactly. I hate that too. Why can't we all just be regular Americans?

And just a sidenote: What do they call black people in Britain? African Englishmen?

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

Originally posted by optimal321


Exactly. I hate that too. Why can't we all just be regular Americans?

And just a sidenote: What do they call black people in Britain? African Englishmen?

And a black man in China would be called "African Chinese." :D

[Nightflower]

Originally posted by Leaping Larry Jojo


And a black man in China would be called "African Chinese." :D

Well, in Cantonese, he'd be called "hak gwai lo", which basically means "black white ghost". :rolleyes:

[happyheathen]

Originally posted by Nightflower


Well, in Cantonese, he'd be called "hak gwai lo", which basically means "black white ghost". :rolleyes:

OK -

so the chinese term for whites is 'white ghost' (Japanese is 'round eyes') (both imply inferiority).

what about native americans, other (non-japanese, non-korean) asians? Any specific terms, or just definitional (what they call themselves)?

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

Originally posted by Nightflower


Well, in Cantonese, he'd be called "hak gwai lo", which basically means "black white ghost". :rolleyes:

My Cantonese has deteriorated A LOT from when I was 5 years old, so I'm a bit foggy, but does "gwai lo" really mean "ghost?" I thought "gwai" meant "ghost," but "lo" pretty much meant "guy" (as in "this guy")

So going by this, wouldn't it be "black ghost guy?"

Since we call your average white guy "gwai lo," which would be "ghost guy" ("ghost" referring to the pale skin...)

LLJojo, ruining the Cantonese dialect even further...

[Nightflower]

Originally posted by Leaping Larry Jojo


My Cantonese has deteriorated A LOT from when I was 5 years old, so I'm a bit foggy, but does "gwai lo" really mean "ghost?" I thought "gwai" meant "ghost," but "lo" pretty much meant "guy" (as in "this guy")

So going by this, wouldn't it be "black ghost guy?"

Since we call your average white guy "gwai lo," which would be "ghost guy" ("ghost" referring to the pale skin...)

LLJojo, ruining the Cantonese dialect even further...

Oh wait, you're right. Cuz "di lo" means "big guy"

[Green-eye Glow]

this test is ridiculous. they show pictures of universal-looking asians and expect us to distinguish between them. that's like getting a scottish person and a german person together and asking us to figure out which countries from europe each come from...

i find this test inane and to some extent, offensive

[Failure]

Originally posted by Green-eye Glow
this test is ridiculous. they show pictures of universal-looking asians and expect us to distinguish between them. that's like getting a scottish person and a german person together and asking us to figure out which countries from europe each come from...

i find this test inane and to some extent, offensive

I think it's pretty light hearted. It's just a little game. How is it offensive? I'm sure they have european tests out there somewhere.

[Green-eye Glow]

well, i'm asian, so that might partially explain my outrage

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

So am I. And Failure. And Nightflower. :)

We pretty much had fun with it. :p

[Failure]

Originally posted by Green-eye Glow
well, i'm asian, so that might partially explain my outrage

same here, but i think it's just a little game based on the perception that it's difficult to tell apart the different asians, which is kinda true. i dont think it's meant to be taken too seriously.

[batE]

Originally posted by DR. BELCH

Being beaten and brutally savaged. Maybe I'm jaded, and I don't wish to cause any hard feelings, but I've seen much of my family, myself included, suffer at the hands of minorities. My mother is partially blind after being attacked in our driveway back in Jun 1992 by a gang of blacks, who drove a stick through her eye. That's why I'm proud to live where I live, in a satellite community outside the larger city...along with a lot of other people looking to get out of the pit the neighborhood. I'm sorry to say it, but before it took a dramatic racial shift in the eighties, it was a much cleaner and safer place to live. I just don't like being forced to feel guilty for wanting a better life or liking being able to walk the streets after dark without fear. I couldn't be a racist. There are some blacks I respect and don't fear...although sadly I can count those on one hand. Those are the ones who are seen by their peers as having "sold out" and become "race traders", so it seems most of them don't even try to rise from the swamps.

I don't live in Philly, although I was born in Chicago...which isn't much better race war-wise. Here in the South it's one group that'll get you; there you have a choice: beaten by one or whalloped by the other. I won't say which groups; those who live there probably catch my meaning....



I am extraordinarily sorry to hear about your family. But I really hope that you aren't thinking all blacks are out to "get" you or live in "swamps." Cause we aren't and we don't.


batE

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

Originally posted by batE




I am extraordinarily sorry to hear about your family. But I really hope that you aren't thinking all blacks are out to "get" you or live in "swamps." Cause we aren't and we don't.


batE

It's all environment--most definitely. I live in Ontario, which I consider to be a generally comfortable province to live in for most races and cultures, and most blacks I've met here are very nice, even those that "look" like they are from the "hood." In some places, there are more racial tensions (not racist, but a distinct separation between them), and hence, in these areas, some races do not come off as well as they may ordinarily in a more comfortable environment.

[Nightflower]

Originally posted by Green-eye Glow
this test is ridiculous. they show pictures of universal-looking asians and expect us to distinguish between them. that's like getting a scottish person and a german person together and asking us to figure out which countries from europe each come from...

i find this test inane and to some extent, offensive

I'm having trouble seeing how it can be offensive.... what I had a kick out of was my mom saying she could so distinguish between Chinese, Japanese (who are "ugly") and Koreans (who are "flat-faced"), and getting a four :p

[DR. BELCH]

batE:
I am extraordinarily sorry to hear about your family. But I really hope that you aren't thinking all blacks are out to "get" you or live in "swamps." Cause we aren't and we don't.
Gracias. Nightflower, I think, was right when she said a big part of it is our parents' attitudes...but more than that, it's our own personal experiences. If I lived in an area where there was a better class of people who actually strived to rise from the "swamps"--that is to say, from poverty and immorality and victimhood, not literal wetlands--then I'd be more inclined to discount their old-fashioned prejudices. Sadly I haven't seen a lot to make me change my mind on most people growing up, so the old fears and hatreds get re-enforced. The lines stay drawn, and they result in what the sociologists call "white flight", which is why several small white communities grow up around a larger black one. It's the fifties in reverse!
I'm more inclined to see the good blacks as the exception and not the rule. I suppose I should find a nice lass whose mind isn't as cluttered as mine to settle down with, and hope she helps to mellow me.

[kiddiesunshine]

dammit! labels are for cereal! can we stop categorizing ourselves and unite!? we're all God's children. i'm "black" and i dream of going to japan. i fear i won't be wanted.

[Nightwing]

Originally posted by DR. BELCH

Being beaten and brutally savaged. Maybe I'm jaded, and I don't wish to cause any hard feelings, but I've seen much of my family, myself included, suffer at the hands of minorities. My mother is partially blind after being attacked in our driveway back in Jun 1992 by a gang of blacks, who drove a stick through her eye. That's why I'm proud to live where I live, in a satellite community outside the larger city...along with a lot of other people looking to get out of the pit the neighborhood. I'm sorry to say it, but before it took a dramatic racial shift in the eighties, it was a much cleaner and safer place to live. I just don't like being forced to feel guilty for wanting a better life or liking being able to walk the streets after dark without fear. I couldn't be a racist. There are some blacks I respect and don't fear...although sadly I can count those on one hand. Those are the ones who are seen by their peers as having "sold out" and become "race traders", so it seems most of them don't even try to rise from the swamps.

I don't live in Philly, although I was born in Chicago...which isn't much better race war-wise. Here in the South it's one group that'll get you; there you have a choice: beaten by one or whalloped by the other. I won't say which groups; those who live there probably catch my meaning....

That's terrible. I'm very sorry to hear about that horrific tragedy. Although at the same time I think of this. I think that the worst kind of racism (and there are many kinds, some so light they don't even exist in the term 'racism') is from tragedy.

Times like this I think of Batman, or other characters or people who's way of thinking is shaped by an unmeasurable tragedy. But in this case, which is unlike Batman's example, I would hope and pray that those incidents don't turn a person against a race, but a way of human thinking instead. And that's why I could understand if some types of people might find some of these words offensive. But I think I understand. So again I hope that in recovering from such tragic events in one's life, Dr. Belch could blame the people, not a race of the people. Although I can understand where these words are coming from.

Originally posted by DR. BELCH
Nightflower, I think, was right when she said a big part of it is our parents' attitudes...but more than that, it's our own personal experiences.

I feel the parent's attitudes and how they bring you up is much more important than one's own personal experiences, because those experiences can taint a person. But, if one's parents teach you that evil takes many shapes, forms and sizes, and bad things happen, that can prevent us from diving into certain ways of life that might be very slighty a bit limited.

To hear about such tragedies as what Belch described is so sad, and unfair so, again, although I do not agree with words such as these, I can understand why they were said.