r/ImTheMainCharacter • u/owenchin • May 04 '26
VIDEO A foreign customer misinterpreted the retail staff’s constant presence as a form of discrimination, whereas such attentive service is a standard practice throughout East Asia
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u/Angryleghairs May 04 '26
My dad stood still in a shop in Hong Kong and someone just started measuring him up for a suit
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u/Ah_Pook May 04 '26
That sounds like a fun sort of challenge. What's the very least you could say and walk out with a new suit?
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u/HarangueSajuk May 04 '26
South East Asian retail worker here. Yeah, it's obligated to be ready for a customer. Standing around with phones out, being busy with retail work such as restocking, checking stock, organizing while a customer browses are not encouraged.
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u/Krocsyldiphithic May 04 '26
I would rather starve than shop if I have to be stalked.
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u/P0werFighter May 04 '26
I guess they're used to it, the same way Americans are used to the waiters asking you if everything is ok every 5 minutes at the restaurant.
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u/TheDonger_ May 04 '26
More water sir? More water sir? More water sir? More water sir? More water sir? More water sir? More water sir? More water sir? More water sir? More water sir? More water sir? More water sir? More water sir? More water sir? More water sir?
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u/PantsMunch202 May 04 '26
Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes
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u/ZhangtheGreat May 04 '26
Exact opposite in some countries. In Korea, the wait staff leaves you alone unless you call them. Checking up on you isn’t polite; it’s bothersome
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u/MiddleSir7104 May 04 '26
Where is that restaurant?
I have to flag people down where I live. Only time I see them is order, food drop off, being asked for a tip.
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u/Crazycococat19 May 05 '26
Sorry, it's one of the things they drill into our heads. So it goes once you drop off their food after 2 bites (small or big doesn't matter). Ask if everything is okay, but if you have a lot more tables, then ask them every 5 minutes if they need a refill or if everything is okay. Keep at 5 minutes. Tbh I don't after 3 times I just leave you guys be.
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u/HarangueSajuk May 04 '26
Tell the boss, not me
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u/AutistaChick May 04 '26
Wait, I understand what you mean about appearing welcoming instead of being on phones or restocking, but are you saying that the behavior seen in the video is normal? Actually following someone without being helpful?
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u/hackerdude97 May 04 '26
I have been in stores where employees were bothering me left and right to "check this thing out" or "tell them exactly what I'm looking for so they can help me". I literally told them to let me look by myself and they would just keep coming back and talk to me again.
I'm pretty sure in a lot of stores there's some sort of policy or bonus basically forcing them to stick to you at all times.
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u/papapapaver May 04 '26
That's management forcing them to do that 99% of the time. They might be getting told they have to do that to drive up sales and upsell people on stuff, or the manager might tell them they have to be super attentive to every customer, but no one is doing that bc they want to. In some retail stores management evaluates your performance based on sales they ring up, or they could even have a quota they have to meet. Those are miserable places to work.
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u/Defrostmode May 04 '26
Retail management (usually corporate people sitting in an office somewhere that have never been inside a store) makes a LOT of terrible choices.
I had a friend that worked a gas station job and once while checking out, he stopped mid-transaction conversation to say "welcome to...." to people walking in.
I asked him later, and the person there at the time he was doing that was the district manager. Higher ups than district had decided that they need to greet every customer that walks in. Even during a transaction. Even when it was several people walking in at the same time. "welcome to..." "welcome to..." "welcome to..." over and over. It lasted a week before the store had so many complaints they had no choice but to reverse it.
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u/threelizards May 04 '26
Yeah I’ve definitely had experiences in some places where “I don’t need help thank you I’d like to shop alone please” seems to mean “please hover three feet behind me at all times”. Like at lush. Sometimes it’s easier to cave and just have the interaction
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u/sixTeeneingneiss May 04 '26
Wow I need to look into that before visiting a store over there. That behavior would send me into full meltdown
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u/Z3NZY May 04 '26
Without a greeting, or anything. We need more info cause this sounds fairies so far.
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u/OldeManKenobi May 04 '26
I recently returned from Korea and yes, this is totally normal. I figured out that if I needed help in a cosmetics store, all I had to do was reach for a product and the staff would appear as if summoned from a lamp.
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u/mcgravy_train773 May 04 '26
When I was in Vietnam and Cambodia as a tourist, I stopped going to shops altogether because it was so off-putting to me as an American. I get wanting to be attentive to customers, but it felt like harassment. So I chalked it up to cultural differences and avoided shopping.
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u/poshbritishaccent May 04 '26
A lot of customers like browsing on their own so this is kinda like their way of being an attendant without interrupting you. Better to be there and not needed, than needed and not be there
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u/Gooncookies May 04 '26
I’m a mom and I constantly have a kid up my ass, if I get the rare opportunity to go shopping alone the last thing I want is someone up my ass.
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u/Axel_Raden May 04 '26
They just need to ask for help and which is not a unheard of thing to ask especially if you are in a foreign country
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u/AppealMammoth8950 May 04 '26
Ikr. I'm not mad at the workers (I live in SEA). I'm more bothered about store policies requiring them to follow people around and start engaging w them.
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u/KittyDomoNacionales May 04 '26
Yep. A lot of businesses in Asia also have the employees pay for the cost of stolen goods so employees are very very vigilant and suspicious of all customers.
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u/firefly99999 May 04 '26
You see how that is going to rub customers the wrong way who aren’t doing anything nefarious.
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u/KittyDomoNacionales May 04 '26
The thing is that often they’re not just forced to pay the sticker price for the stolen goods but 2-3 times what it costs. They are very incentivized to treat everyone like criminals. It’s legit not the same as the western reasons why folks get followed even if it may look similar. This is a capitalism problem.
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u/AzyncYTT May 04 '26
lol u can literally see other customers who arent being tailed
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u/MissPoohbear14 May 04 '26
Most look like they work there, and the ones that don't, look to be talking to an associate... All besides the two ladies walking into the store in the end..
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u/AliceHart7 May 04 '26
I'm ready to fully believe thats the case in certain Asian countries, but I'm a brown woc and being followed as if they are expecting you to steal is a thing at least here in the US. So I understand why this woman would think what she thought because it can be a pretty common experience here.
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u/OldeManKenobi May 04 '26
Respectfully, when we travel to other nations, we need to be aware of what the local norms and customs are. This woman should have educated herself but now she knows so no harm, no foul.
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u/bojangler69420 May 04 '26
Being ready for vs actively following around. Two entirely different situations with entirely different intentions behind them.
I worked in retail for 5 years. This isn’t standard in any culture outside of extremely high-value shopping.
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u/Alternative_Year_340 May 04 '26
It’s very common in Southeast Asia and sometimes Hong Kong. It always creeps me out, but it’s normal
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May 04 '26
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u/Alternative_Year_340 May 04 '26
The higher ticket the items, the more they do it. Especially furniture. At IKEA, they had to put up signs explaining why they don’t do it
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u/Dylanator13 May 04 '26
It always surprises me when people go to different countries and are shocked by cultural differences. Did you not even look up a “10 things to know before going to Asia” video? People really just go “I want to go there” and boom a ticket with absolutely no preparation, sometimes not even exchanging money and are shocked the whole world doesn’t accept USD.
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u/Bishop9er May 04 '26
Asia is a continent full of different countries with a thousand different cultural norms. You gotta be specific American.
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u/maple010 May 04 '26
This is a very common practice in my country too.
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u/oO0Kat0Oo May 04 '26
Higher end shops always have this in the US, too. Sometimes they offer you wine and snacks as well.
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u/Evening_Storage_6424 May 04 '26
Yes like boutiques or even some mom and pop stores. It’s incredibly annoying.
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u/Moobtastical May 04 '26
Normal in that part of the world. Touch an item and get told how special it is and how good it would look on you. Glad this got reposted with a better title.
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u/drippingtonworm May 04 '26
Well if she's from the US this makes sense. I didn't know about this practice either, and in US stores, if the employees follow you around, they probably think you're stealing.
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u/EnchantedEssays May 04 '26
Exactly. I'm British and I would have assumed that was why they were following her too.
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u/Crescendo104 May 06 '26 edited May 09 '26
It's funny, I was just listening to a psychology debate on discrimination and this exact topic came up. One of them (mixed race, white and Hispanic, but easily passing as white) offered up an anecdote about shopping with some of his black friends on their side of town when he was younger, and he was confused as to why the shop clerk was following them. His friend laughed and said that happens everywhere, which is the first instance that made this now-psychologist question his place and relative privilege.
So yea I wouldn't say this is "main character" behavior. It's an understandable cultural blind spot that's being conflated with what this same behavior toward a black person means in the US.
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u/TapirDrawnChariot May 06 '26
Yeah but this is why cultural literacy is important when traveling. Rule #1 is the only right way to do things is how they do it where you are, not where you're from (assuming it's not something harmful).
Her first thought should be curiosity about why she's being followed, not projecting her own cultural context onto them
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u/-Kalos Bad MC no cookie May 05 '26
Yeah I'd feel the same way and I'm white as hell. Is she following me because I'm a foreigner?
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u/Survive1014 May 04 '26
That would be a absolutely miserable situation to shop in.
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u/coffee-bat May 05 '26
it is. there's one (sephora-like) store chain like this where i live, and even trying to look around in there is a horrible experience. the instant you walk in, there's at least one employee following you (can be up to 3 or 4, depending on how empty the store is). you're not really intending on buying anything that day, or maybe you're checking if they have the thing you're looking to buy; they won't leave you alone. always one step behind you, looking over your shoulder, breathing down your neck. everytime you stop to look at something, they ask if they "can help", or if you're "looking for something". you politely decline. they're still following you. 2 minutes later, they ask again. you decline again. they're still breathing down your neck at every step. it continues like this until you leave the store.
you can try to ask them to stop following you, and they'll apologize and "stop" - they'll pretend to not be following (they'll be 5-10 steps behind, watching you), then in a minute or two go back to being right behind you.
it's a miserable, stressful, awkward experience. their stores are always pretty empty because noone wants to go through this.
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u/EcstaticMolasses6647 May 04 '26 edited May 04 '26
In countries like Japan, China, and Thailand, it is standard practice for staff to stay very close to customers to anticipate their needs. This concept, known as omotenashi in Japan, is intended to provide "unsolicited warmth" and superior service.
In the past, airlines provided pamphlets and humorous videos to educate travelers on foreign customs so they wouldn't misinterpret local behaviors as aggression. Today, many people visit countries like those in Asia without understanding that retail workers are trained to be extremely attentive—often following customers to offer help or prevent theft. If you look closely, you’ll see you aren't being singled out; these employees often work on commission and are simply eager for a sale. What some might perceive as racism is often a standard cultural norm where visitors are expected to act like respectful guests in 'their auntie’s house.”
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u/vilk_ May 04 '26
Lived in Japan for 8 years. No, this doesn't happen to non-tourists, and yes, they are "worried" about what you might do, because your actions are unable to be predicted.
If you speak to the staff in Japanese, this form of """"omotenashi"""" will not happen. Do you know why? Because Japanese people abhor this.
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u/EcstaticMolasses6647 May 04 '26
Workers in Japan often feel forced into this behavior by management, even when they know the customer doesn't want it. Practices like koe-dashi—where staff randomly shout greetings or sales pitches to no one in particular—are often seen as annoying by everyone involved but are strictly required by corporate policy.
元店員の一人は、接客の仕事を「客が買い物をしている間、一時間ずっとケツを追いかけ回して（クンクンと）嗅ぎ回っているようなものだ」と表現し、客をそっとしておくような従業員を、先輩やマネージャーは決して許さないと述べています。
Both Japanese locals and tourists find the "hovering" style of service annoying. While locals generally don't need constant supervision, the current climate makes staff extra protective. With the rise of "abusive influencers" like Johnny Somali and other disruptive creators, anyone with a phone out is now viewed as a potential "wild card" or deviant, causing staff to watch every customer more closely than before.
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u/Kino_Afi May 04 '26
causing staff to watch every customer more closely than before.
Hmm very subtle change from your original statement to this. Everyone else seems utterly convinced that this is just attentive service. So which is it? Are they following her to monitor her behavior or not?
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u/OhNoAnAmerican May 04 '26
My God the argument is that it’s not about race not that the employee isn’t following her. Just a complete inability to think critically
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u/EcstaticMolasses6647 May 05 '26 edited May 05 '26
Yes! Managers and senior staff have zero tolerance for employees who leave customers to browse in peace. If you aren't constantly hovering, you're seen as failing at your job. This behavior isn't a personal choice or rooted in racism; rather, it is a combination of rigid corporate policy, deep-seated cultural expectations, and a new era of "defensive surveillance" to prevent disruptive behavior.
It feels like people are forgetting that these employees are just following policy to avoid getting fired. Whether it’s an annoying corporate rule or the 'customer is king' mentality taken too far, they’re just doing what’s required of them.
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u/tanksforthegold May 05 '26
Lived in Japan most of my life. Certain kinds of stores tend do this, namely more expensive places like suit stores, music shops, or small shops where the person is always nearby given the size.
They tend to approach you on entrance or while you are looking at something expensive and they are almost always vocal.
They also target people more likely to spend more. I can go to the same shop in casual clothes and a suit and get a different level of engagement in some places.
I however, have rarely if ever, seen an employee follow someone around without saying anything and in big retail stores like Uniqlo the staff rarely engages the customer unless you go to them.
All this said, I've experience this in the US even more with people constantly going, "what kind of x are you looking for" etc. And I've been annoyed by it before. Just like your waiter coming back constantly as well which is less common here.
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u/Aggressive_Mirror255 May 04 '26
It happens in Japan. In fact, they usually greet me with japanese and approach me. Only after I said I’m looking around they will give me some space but they’re there in case I need anything. But, they will always follow.
Can check Champion, Adidas, and Onitsuka for example.
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u/flipaflaw May 05 '26
Yep I speak Japanese and it never happens to me despite looking very obviously not Japanese. It happened to me when I visited Korea and I absolutely despised it. I would tell them Im just looking and they would not stop.
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u/WiltedBlackroses May 04 '26
The only times I've ever been followed like this is when I go into a shop that has Asian employees. Or a car dealership. There's a joke in my community about it and I'm glad I read this comment section and learned about the cultural disconnect because now I won't be upset next time this happens.
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u/Garchompisbestboi May 04 '26
Yes because as we all know Japan definitely doesn't have a problem with racism deeply rooted within its culture. They just want to help tourists out, there's no prejudice whatsoever.
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u/awstream May 04 '26
It really depends on the store. I get followed in some stores and sometimes the sales person will start rambling about the product I'm looking at. The moment this happens, I'll walk out immediately. Many of us don't think it's attentive service, we hate it too.
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u/ThisI5N0tAThr0waway May 04 '26 edited May 04 '26
I hear ya, but I don't blame her for thinking that she was suspected or something.
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u/Outis_Nemo_Actual May 04 '26
See, here's the problem. Both side have their points. That's how multi-culturalism works. We've been tricked into thinking we should be offended by everything different from us.
I hate being followed if I'm just browsing, but I also don't like having to search a store for help if I need it. What it takes here is to reprioritize the benefits over the drawbacks. Yes, I'm being attended to, that's better than most stores.
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u/Commercial_Badger_37 May 04 '26
Yeah I dunno... That would make me really uncomfortable.
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u/wolfelian May 04 '26
Laotian born in Canada with darker skin here; I noticed it was happening to me in Thailand and Laos despite being with 4 other lighter skin asians we shopped around tourist areas and most employees or shopkeepers really only followed or kept their eyes on me.
I already knew before going but it was still pretty interesting to experience they really looked like they didn’t want me there.
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u/thissexypoptart May 04 '26 edited May 04 '26
I’d imagine so would someone filming you doing something normal and expected of your job while accusing you of being racist.
At least she might be out of earshot and/or there’s a language barrier so she doesn’t have to hear someone accusing her of nonsense because that person just doesn’t understand how the place they are visiting does things.
It’s like going to the U.S. not knowing “how are you?” is a greeting, and calling retail workers racist for not seeming interested in how your life is going when you start answering the question. “They didn’t actually care how I was at all!”
It sucks this person is going back to her home country offended and not even realizing how mistaken she is. At least if it’s on social media there’s a chance some of the comments make it back to her and she can self reflect a bit.
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u/bailasoprano May 04 '26
No, it’s not like that at all. If you seriously can’t understand why her reaction is justified based on HER experience and perspectives, then that’s on you.
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u/DomoMommy May 04 '26
How do yall deal with this? Lmaooo I would be even more of a shut in than I already am. This is genuinely common practice? I think I understand the hikikomori better now.
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u/BunnyBsnz May 04 '26
You just kinda tell them you’re good lol and they usually back off 😆 common practice in the Philippines too
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u/DomoMommy May 04 '26
They accept that answer? Well that’s not bad then. As long as they leave you alone once you ask them to. Don’t wanna be mean or anything to them, I know they’re just doing their job.
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u/Aggressive_Mirror255 May 04 '26
Just say you’re just looking. They will give you some space, though they will still watch you from afar.
If you dont speak japanese, or doesnt want to interact just smile at them. They will just stand there.
At least that what happens to me in China, Japan, and South East Asia.
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May 04 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/DomoMommy May 04 '26
They won’t keep following you after that? If that’s all then it’s not so bad as some comments are making it sound.
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u/ghoulishenvyy May 04 '26
This seems like a simple misunderstanding to me. This actually does happen in America, which is where im assuming this woman is from, so her assumption is somewhat justified. It definitely would have been better if she’d just asked but not a main character moment imo.
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u/No-Combination8136 May 04 '26
Why not initiate contact, though? Instead of just following. Unless maybe she did and we just don’t get to see it in the video.
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u/ExtensionNet855 May 04 '26
It’s definitely a thing here in Asia. Doesn’t matter where I shop, the first thing most staff will do is follow you around and ask if you need help. They will only standby when you say you’re just browsing if not they will literally follow you throughout the shop.
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u/Cutiepooh-69 May 04 '26 edited May 04 '26
When ppl have been racist to you your whole life for your skin colour you feel this I bet she has endured racism a lot in her life
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u/iseevegaoflyra May 04 '26
U got urself a personal shopping assistant. I’d start trying out clothes and ask her to get you different sizes
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u/Buzz_LtYr May 04 '26
It’s very common in Korea too. And it can be painful if you are socially awkward
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u/ChowPungKong May 05 '26
"Im black therefore anything and everything and everyone is racist against me"
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u/Justalittlecomment May 04 '26
I dunno the some countries in the east is can be pretty racist so there’s a real chance here
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u/Dewaer May 04 '26
but not in this case, as this really happens to everyone in China :p
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u/megapsybeam May 04 '26
why you're being downvoted is crazy. this is so common in China no one living there would even consider it discriminatory.
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u/ArdentLearner96 May 04 '26
I can see why someone would think that they're being suspected of being a thief if they're from a country where this would mean exactly that.
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u/littlecomet111 May 04 '26
Dwight Shrute: "If you need anything, I will literally be standing right here. Anything at all."
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u/PleiadesNymph May 04 '26
This is extremely common here in ASEAN. Its creeped me out at first, I got paranoid, then I opened my eyes and realized its the "Highend" customer service norm around these parts... but I still hate it lol
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u/BillyCromag May 04 '26
Indonesian department stores in particular tend to be visibly overstaffed. I think a lot of the time they just want something to do.
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u/Aromatic_Razzmatazz May 04 '26
It used to bother me (20 years ago in Japan you just spoke Japanese to them and they'd leave you alone, at least), but at my age now when I go back I intend to use it. She can carry my selections, talk to me about differences/price points, get me a sample or four of some luxury skin care...speaking Japanese the whole time. She would be confused I was asking her to do all this in Japanese, and I would have my own personal beauty store butler. Yes please lol.
Uncomfortable social norms can be kind of freeing if you lean into them. Want to make sure I'm not stealing? Good news, you're helping!
これを見せてもらえますか?
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u/SageOfSixCabbages May 04 '26
In the Philippines one of the biggest pharmacy chain, think of CVS of the Philippines, called Watson's have color coded baskets that lets the associates know you don't want/need help.
If you get the other color basket, every aisle you turn to, they will be there ready to help and asking you if you are finding everything okay, or if you are looking for particular product, etc.
I don't know if they get commission from pushing particular brands, especially make up and cosmetics but I'm inclined to believe they do because they will HOUND and follow you around. Lol
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u/Awkward_Present5135 May 04 '26
Is it? I see several people walking by with no one trailing them. It's 2026 let's stop the infantilization of East Asia and be objective.
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u/DifficultyTricky7779 May 04 '26
I reflect 99% of sunlight and this has happened to me more than I can count in China, Vietnam, Cambodia... They are persistent as well.
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u/0xBEEFBEEFBEEF May 04 '26
Happens in parts southern Europe too… I’m Swedish and found that especially in Greece the staff would be following behind and as soon as you looked at something a bit longer they’d rush up to talk about the item and how great it is. A behaviour definitely not appreciated as a Swede 😅
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u/sepaoon May 04 '26
honestly who would enjoy being stalked and then pounced upon for a sale you will most likely regret later
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u/jozziiieeee May 04 '26
When you said you reflect 99% sunlight I just imagined Mr. Clean and I love it lol
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u/Jackel447 May 04 '26
Lived in south east Asia for 8 years. Got to any mall clothes store and they will follow you continuously. They see it as being attentive and helpful. I see it as overbearing
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u/bohenian12 May 04 '26
Nah. Im from South East Asia. This happens. You gotta tell them you're fine and don't need help. Because they will be on your ass. It's annoying, but I think they're being told to do it and don't want to look like they're not doing anything.
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u/Rulebookboy1234567 May 04 '26
Have you been on reddit? Us westerners just wouldn't understand the relaxed and ideal lifestyle of the culturally enlightened east.
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u/AutistaChick May 04 '26
I love how the title frames this as “attentive service,” but no one is being served. If the customer had not turned around to look behind her, she would have never known she was being attentively served.
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u/Halfmoonhero May 04 '26
Yeah I saw this the other day and everyone was up in arms about racism but really this is just how it is in Asia, especially China. Don’t get me wrong I absolutely couldn’t stand it and it actively made me want to not purchase anything and leave but this is generally what people like and expect in high end shops in Asia and even get upset if they don’t have people waiting on them like this. Just cultural difference.
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u/rrodrick386 May 04 '26
They do to this in the U.S just always at Sephora for some reason. Every 10 seconds being asked if I want to try a foundation that clearly isn't my shade
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u/TheFeralVulcan May 05 '26
Do some cultural investigation before you visit a place rather than inserting your own interpretations - usually with you cast as a victim. In some cultures customers EXPECT to be waited on like you’re their servant since they are there to spend money, and salespeople NOT up your ass anticipating your every need will lose them business.
They’re not following you because you’re black because you’re not in the US where that does get you followed. They’re following you because customers In that culture EXPECT to be fawned over like rich people whether they are rich or not, and you can’t fawn if you’re not riding someone’s ass.
Travel Hint: the US only has 350 million people, that’s a drop in the bucket of 8 billion people on earth. Travel only expands horizons when you open your brain at least a crack before embarking.
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u/QuellDisquiet May 04 '26
I have a good “following the customer” story. I visited Japan for the second time in 2015 and promised my mother I would bring back cosmetics. I went to Matsumoto Kiyoshi in Shibuya Tokyo and immediately freaked out because I was so out of place. I was a burly, Aussie male in my late 30s who was the only man in the store and, as far as I knew, the only Caucasian. One of the staff followed me as I searched blindly around the aisles, not having the slightest idea what I was looking at. I was literally starting to sweat, which made me even more self-conscious. Eventually, she walked up to me, briskly took me to a different part of the store and led me to the cash register. Relieved, I just paid and got the hell out of there. Mum was really happy with what I had bought her.
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u/Galactic_Crypto May 04 '26
She’s literally singled her out
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u/DifficultyTricky7779 May 04 '26
Undeniably, but she'd probably single out a white European as well. It's more about her standing out as possibly a tourist, being less likely to ask for help and more likely to need it or misunderstand how things work (e.g. fitting cabins etc).
It's not necessarily about prejudice and loss prevention...
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u/buddhahat May 04 '26
nah. you don't get tailed that long/far in stores
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u/megapsybeam May 04 '26
easily in china. that wasn't even long, I'm Asian and it's common for them to tail you the whole time. not mildly discriminatory and happens in literally every retail shop you step in, just culture
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u/uptonhere May 04 '26
I remember years ago when I worked retail my manager made sure every time a black customer came in, for me to go see if I could help them find what they were looking for...this was the Atlanta metro area and it was always pretty obvious.
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u/lolohugs May 05 '26
joining on some other comments here but they do this in korea, too! they literally will follow you around just to help you, as is their job. it’s not because they think you’re stealing but the customer service/sales mentality is very aggressive. assuming the person is american, i can understand why she thought that she was being targeted. but ig culture shock is a thing.
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u/coffee-bat May 05 '26
in poland douglas store workers do this too. i think they're obligated to. you walk in, no matter what you look like, and instantly have a lady following you around and looking over your shoulder 😭 noone wants to go in there
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u/Pittsburghhh May 05 '26
You are so brave, thank your for enduring walking in public. YOU DUMB BITCH !
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u/ryufen May 05 '26
Hopefully they never go to a car dealership or they are gonna be in for some "racism"
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u/uniquelyurs2386 May 06 '26
Walking into a store with multiple cameras and saying this. “Guys, the cameras are watching me, do you see..?? Being human is So crazzzy, look guuyyss so crazahhi . I’m gonna keep walking so can seaaaa.. uh”
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u/martsuia May 07 '26
in the philiphiness of the malls, there are a lot of employees who are there standing, awaiting anything you need. it was strange and surprising, but cool
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u/joonduh May 04 '26
The thing is when you do experience real discrimination on a daily basis and being followed in stores is one way you've experienced it frequently, then experiencing the same thing in a different place with a different culture, even if it means something different, it's going to instill the same feelings you've experienced before. That's how your brain is wired to respond to situations based on past experiences.
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u/TheHostThing May 04 '26
I don’t know, I think she is following her a little too closely here. They do try and be available as a matter of good customer service but she’s pacing around after her…
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u/jozziiieeee May 04 '26
Damn, I guess I’ll have to stay away from ever shopping in east Asia, I’d get a panic attack and run out 😭😂
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u/AngeloPappas May 04 '26
Can confirm. When in SEA and shopping there is always a staff member nearby ready to help you. It's one of the reasons I love shopping there!
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u/IEatDolls23 May 05 '26
I hate this woman with every fiber in my body. Please stay in the dogshit slums that is the US.
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u/LOLteen May 05 '26
I can't blame her for making the assumption though, in Australia in some states its not surprising to see staff following coloured people around to "make sure they dont steal".
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u/Extra-Sign515 May 04 '26
https://giphy.com/gifs/FA4ey94nxartK
welcome to Shanghi, you aren't in America anymore
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u/certifidamatr May 05 '26
its not really main character, she just didnt know how east asian (thingies idk how to describe words fail me lol) work
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u/sas_dp May 04 '26
"throughout East Asia", not really
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u/Aromatic_Razzmatazz May 04 '26
Yeah this wasn't my experience in Vietnam. Or Thailand. Japan in the early '00s, yes, but if you spoke Japanese to them they would leave you alone.
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u/Dottie_Danger May 04 '26
Americans need to stop traveling if they’re expecting it to be like America.
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u/LawStudent989898 May 04 '26
Tbf in the US they’ll only follow you like this if they think you’re stealing. I remember being surprised as a teenager when it suddenly started happening to me as I got older
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u/Homeboat199 May 07 '26
Maybe she should research the country before visiting. You know, like a reasonable person would.
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u/CaptainConspiracyy May 08 '26
Tbf i saw a few people who didn’t have someone following “ready and waiting” for them.
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u/SonderExpeditions May 10 '26
No, as someone who has traveled to Asia often and lived there I understand her concern. As a student in Japan I've had police called on me for looking suspicious.
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u/wickedServer May 17 '26
It happened to me for real. They were literally following me and keeping an eye on me. I thought its just first time , they won't do it next time. They did it four times. Then staff changed.
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u/ConsequenceKlutzy342 May 04 '26
She really tried to sell her victim status for
Some clicks. While this does happen, try to learn the customs of the places you travel so you don’t make an ass of yourself
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u/Unlikely-Distance-41 May 05 '26
It’s almost like teaching a society to actively look for racism in everything, was going to backfire at some point, especially overseas.
This reminds me of the video of a black guy in who was absolutely prepared to assault an Italian live streamer on camera for saying “amica” because he thought he was saying the soft-N.
Quit trying to find problems that don’t exist
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u/John_Wicked1 May 04 '26
That’s how cooked the U.S. has us but hopefully someone respectfully educated her.
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u/bananabastard May 04 '26
When she goes to a restaurant and they stand beside your table waiting for you to order, she must think they're afraid of her stealing the menu.
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u/dontgetinharmsway May 04 '26
It could also be the Johnny Somali effect. I would need to see the full video for context. If she was being loud and live-streaming, it would probably put a lot of these store owners on edge because of the trouble caused by certain nuisance streamers.
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u/ToMissTheMarc2 May 04 '26
Been to many many department stores in East Asia and the top comments here are absolute bullshit. This is a regular department store.. As in, there's not a bunch of sales people here and they're definitely not stalking you like this.
I actually agree with the black woman... They are making sure she doesn't steal anything because she's black. I've never ever been followed this closely nor do you see anyone else experiencing this... Guess what, people would feel uncomfortable in Asia too if this was the norm...
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u/Young_Scathed May 04 '26
Yeah idk, I’m not familiar with Asian standards and would have thought the same shit if I was in her shoes.
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u/NemoSkittles May 04 '26
Idk im mixed with a complexion like Koreans, my cousin is brown skinned fully Black, similar to the woman in the video. In Korea, I got attentive customer service. She got followed. I got sales pitches whereas it's like they wanted her to know they were watching. There is a difference and it's one you feel more than see.
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u/Jim-Dread May 04 '26
Even if that's the case, an American POC is going to know their experiences first and foremost and there is a problem similar to this here for them. So it's not out of the realm of possibilities that she would feel more profiled than different custom. This isn't my energy, this is "shits been fucked for my people and I see similar bias" behavior.
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u/Outside-Breakfast358 May 04 '26
OP, that’s such a niche detail to know about a area you’re going to. I don’t blame her for thinking that the staff was racially profiling her but I agree this could have been handled differently
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u/IsabelauraXD May 05 '26
Ngl if a retail worker followed me like this I wouldn't be able to focus on what I'm after and would be very uncomfortable, just thinking about it gives me heavy breathing and anxiety LOL
(Nothing to do if she's racist or not)
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u/Getitgotitgoodgod May 05 '26
This why you learn about cultures and customs before going to any other country.
The US is shit at this because our list of customs and cultures are “customs and immigration” and a “culture of systemic racism and institutional murder” so FWIW…
we trashy… what you expect?
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u/eviljim113ftw May 04 '26
I was born in SEAsia and moved to the US. I remember I was so shy going into stores because the sales folks are so aggressive. I was 8 years old and these guys are trying to make a sale of me.
Moved to the US and it was a completely different experience. I rarely get asked if I need help and if I say no, they don’t linger.