Year Of The Dragon ~ - Page 3

If we are going to be pc let's explain the difference between Asian and Oriental.

My understanding is that the term oriental refers to things from the orient.  Such as rugs, food, art etc.  People are generally not referred to as "things" or property, so calling an Asian person oriental can be insulting to them. 

Asian generally refers to people from Asia, for example: China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Philippines.  Asian can be used to refer to things from Asia as well as people.  To refer to a person as Asian is generally accepted and not offensive.  To refer to people from Asia as oriental is often frowned upon and may be insulting.

So, People from a country in Asia are Asian.  Food, rugs, ramen noodle soup can be referred to as oriental  --- from the orient. 

I hope that helps.

Great explanation Slamdunc.

Slamdunc:

My granddaughter is doing a project right this minute in her GIRL SCOUT  troup of different people of the WORLD>

ORIENTAL PEOPLE   is indeed a title of one of those groups and at least 10 references to ORIENTAL PEOPLE...are given<

oriental person - a member of an Oriental race; the term is regarded as offensive by Asians ... Mongol, Mongolian - a member of the nomadic peoples of Mongolia

In the search for the subject Oriental people there are some new subjects about the word being offensive to some asians as they are not from ORiental countries and it is a new fad someone got on a high  horse and started researching and publishing articles saying it is offensive to use the word Oriental on a person.

Copied from one source:
From this perspective it all boils down to Eurocentric implications as viewing everything in relation to cultural and historical influence suggesting predominance of the European culture and race.
Is oriental then simply an issue of racial discrimination? Where people of black origins were referred to as Negro to what is preferred today as African American or Black African? It is fascinating to note that oriental when referred to a certain food, oriental dish or object such as an oriental rug is not considered derogatory as opposed to calling someone, ‘that Oriental man,. The acceptable term used for oriental especially in Northern America is Asian. Asian, meaning: Japanese, Chinese, Koreans, Mongols, Vietnamese, Filipinos, Malaysians, Indonesians, and etc.
Why is oriental offensive? Is it a matter of general opinion where the preference of the majority dictates what is offensive? Does personal opinion no longer count in the general scheme of society? It is interesting to know that the word oriental if spoken in Asia whether being referred to a person or not is not considered offensive at all. I cannot speak for everybody but being an Asian myself with oriental ancestry, the word oriental has never occurred to me as offensive.


YR

Larry wrote this in answer to the   WHY is Oriental offensive?



Larry Lix
December 19, 2011 • 12:35 am

“oriental” being politically incorrect or offensive is just another example of people attempting to start a “chain-letter” or “fad” around the world so they can tell people “I started that”.

With this tiny gloge using the Internet for high speed communication, people just love to start a rumour, only to see it explode and come back to them, after infecting the world with their disease. This is the analogous to the computer virus writers. It is the latest sickness affecting us via electronic media.

“Oriental” was and never will be offensive to people from those origins as evidenced by so many North American “Oriental” restaurants and “Oriental” societies named by the very culture themselves.

North Americans, grow a pair and stop being so gullible. Our English laguage has been destroyed by this very technique of people attempting to coin a phrase for world recognition by the “look-at-me” crowd.

“Asian” is not a correct term for this culture of people. Russians are Asian and not “Oriental”, as well as are Arabs, Iraelites, Lebanese and Siberians. “North Americans” is likelwise not correct for all “Christians” or “whites” in the world.

Geez people! We have to start ignoring this influx of stupidity to preserve what we have left of our sanities. Just because one person says it and another repeats it does not make it true. I mean look at the people that think the movie hoax “nitro-glycerin” is real or even the biggest one of all… the “Global Warming” scam.

http://www.knowswhy.com/why-is-oriental-offensive/

I stand by my defintion.  YR, you are from Texas, we can not get a PC statement from Texans.  Every one knows that. 

Oriental = food, rugs

 

they have oriental flavored ramen noodles?????  ewwwwwwwww

Well, Jim, I got plenty of pc answers tonight .  I ate Oriental food at China Cafe Super Buffet , in Tyler, and owned by the CHEN family.. I spoke to Sheuri Chen tonight and told her about the discussion about the word Oriental and ask her and her family , niece and hubby who are from China, and they laughed and said   NO offense to them...THEY are Oriental...and they know a lot of people use the word Asian but Orientals are ok as they are from designated countries that some Asians do not want to be from...or do not acknowledge. THe younger group said they had read some places about the Offensive but not their people.

SHE said   laughing at me, as I have eaten with this family in TYler and the WONGS , in Galveston, owners of THE HAPPY BUDHAA, and very good friends of my family for many years, "just do not call us

SLANT EYED PEOPLE"     That is OFFENSIVE

SHe said I could quote her all I want..and she said , "must be a lot of people with nothing much to do to sit and say OFFENSIVE to that ."


YR

No offense but that is one person.....
I just ask the Philipino woman I work with and date if she finds the term offensive and she said yes.


I have quite a number of Asian friends and would never call them "Oriental".  I call them Asian as a general term when we discuss things.  We then break it down if necessary to certain groups. (i.e. Hmong, laos, cambodian, japanese, chinese, korean, etc.).

To be politically correct isn't a bad thing.  People look at it as if people are sensitive if someone gets offended.  On a messageboard where tone and context are hard to determine, written/typed words or phrases can be seen that way and should be considered before hitting the submit button.

Now if we all were at a comedy show then PC'ness goes out of the window as you will probably know the comedian and know how they are.  You are paying to hear what they say and expect certain things and shouldn't be offended. (Sometimes thought some comedians do go overboard).

Point I am trying to make is to be aware of your surroundings.  I agreed with Slamdunc's assessment of both words, very well said.

I just ask the Philipino woman I work with and date if she finds the term offensive and she said yes.


Just being PC, does she prefer to be called your co worker or girlfriend?  Or is she just a woman you work with and date?  I'm not being critical, there is nothing wrong with that.  Unless, your married and your wife objects.  Being aware of your surroundings is probably a good idea, especially if you work with and date several women.   Then you may have to refer to her as your "Asian" co worker or your "Asian" girlfriend, just so you can keep it straight. 
 

LMAO!!!!!! 
I tend to use co-worker I'm dating.  You know, I have a bad habit of dating someone I work with and knock on wood I have yet to have a bad experience but it is something to be careful with.  1 woman per job, more than that you are asking for trouble...lol.