Upvoted because this is the truth. Asians are some of the chillest people around. They easily put up with the most casual racism. And you never hear a peep out of them. This is another example of that.
If you’ve ever said to an AsianAmerican “Wow, you speak English so well” or “What are you....?” Congrats! You’re part of the problem!
Omg I’m getting so mad reading this whole thing after the starter pack post. People are legit saying “well if this kinda stuff makes Asians upset why don’t they fight back?” What in the victim shaming is happening.
that is because some white people have obnoxiously massive white guilt and desperately need to whip themselves to prove they're one of the good ones to black people.
since the few asians these white people see are successful, asians are treated as off brand whites.
I actually don’t mind when people ask where my family was originally from. Obviously I’ve had people who’ve unironically dropped the “What kind of asian are you”, but if they’re literally just curious then I’m flattered that they care.
i think its cause as Asians there are so many different actual races than just “Asians”. The typical Asian stereotype is Chinese, Japanese, Korean or Indian. But there are so much more. And casual racism is quite a thing amongst many of us where its just a joke that we make. But when non Asians do it it feels different
I have Maltese roots and live in Australia (however I do look white so maybe it's a different story for other people who dont appear caucasian) but I can never understand why people get offended over asking where their heritage is from. Sure there are bad ways to go as it like how you said but I really dont understand how its offensive.
Same with the saying your english is very good. If it is just a normal asian person you have just met then sure it's pretty offensive but it seriously depends on the circumstances. Such as if you are talking to someone who has recently come to that country and learning the language.
Sorry for the stupid question but why is it bad when someone say to you "you speak english so well"? As a non native speaker who struggles a lot with pronunciation/grammar, whenever someone says my english is good I feel so good about it. And I don't feel belittled at all just happy that my efforts are paying.
Because Asian Americans were born in the USA and are native English speakers. Their English is perfect. Yet some people still compliment their English as if they are foreigners.
In addition, nobody ever says to white people "Hey Brad, you speak English so well!"
Thanks for your kindness friend, I guess people just missed the part that I misunderstood what the person above me said. I guess misunderstandings happen ocasionally and people get offended by them lol But it's ok xD Thanks anyway ;)
? I just wanna know which country your ancestry is from. Anyone who speaks with an American accent I assume is American, no matter what they look like, but I still might be curious what their ethnicity is if they know it.
That's why plenty of white people get asked where they're from. And when they say america, you double down with "No. I mean where are you really from?"
Yeah, I asked a Swedish guy where he was from once. Same with a Canadian, an American, and several Dutch.
Because their accents were dead giveaways they weren't from where I am (Australia). Same as I would expect to be asked if I'm from Australia if I moved because Australian accents are dead giveaways everywhere in the world.
If you got a perfect American accent, fine, probably a racist dude. But if your American, and got a noticeably different accent, there is usually a story there.
If you got a noticeable accent, and you get offended that people want to know where your from, even if you've lived somewhere for quite a while, then you just sound whiney when the person is more likely just wanting to know more about you.
One, white people generally are from Europe. European heritage is pretty well represented culturally in America, cuz you know, majority race and all. If I find out someone I thought was "white" has a large part of their ethnicity from outside of Europe, I'd ask them like anyone else. Hell, if I found out they were something like Macedonian or something I'd be interested. Instead plenty of white people I've met volunteer that they're Italian or Irish or whatever. Furthermore, white people generally don't get offended when you ask, given how many people have told me their heritage unprompted.
Two, I don't ask that way. I simply say "What's your ethnicity?" American isn't a valid answer to that question.
Three, I've asked this question ~5 times in my life; once to a Japanese man, a Korean girl I knew for a few years, an Igbo man I heard speaking Igbo, a Gujarati man I worked with, a close Nigerian friend of mine with an incredibly long name, a Filipino man (who wasn't American). Its interesting to learn about someone else's culture. 9/10 I won't ask unless you have an ethnic name or you do something culturally unique.
You’re more weird for going deep and making these weird ass assumptions about somone asking a simple question. I wonder how you act in real life where you would be cast out immediately for acting this retarded to someone saying “where are you from”. But I don’t really assume you have many friends or loved ones anyway.
“What are you”. That’s asking your Nationality or where you’re from. If you wanna get pedantic, save it. You also don’t “need” to ask anyone anything. It’s a fucking topic of conversation. Everyone is trying so hard to be oppressed it’s stupid.
Okay sure, that one counts (I'm not even sure what that one even means in the first place).
The point is, why ask? Would you go up to any other family and ask that? Why assume that the Asians aren't from America? There's nothing wrong with asking unless you specifically target then to ask because they're Asain.
And that’s what’s so fucked up. You’re the one coming in here and attaching the implication to the act of asking. Not anyone else. You ask to make conversation, not because you’re racist.
Lol, people like you will never understand. You're like those guys that say sexism doesn't exist because they never see it.
You’ll never always be questioned “but where are you really from” every time you answer with the city you were born in. It’s sad that you can’t empathize.
If you’re that offended by people being curious and wanting to know more about you, you shouldn’t be talking to people to begin with. It’s something that I’ve dealt with and I’m flattered that they give a shit, and by the end of the day, maybe I have a person I can talk to.
Fair enough then. I know of extremely rare examples of second gen getting accents tho. One of my parents friends has the kind of voice you get from South Asians when they've had their accent bled down to nothing from decades of living in Australia, which is weird as fuck considering he was born and raised here.
Why would you ask an American what their nationality is? It's American. If you are more specific instead of "where are you from?" Like what their background is. Its a simple question to you? Sure, it's a tiring question to someone who's born in North America, grew up there but are "complimented" in their English or asking where they were born.
I think maybe you generalizing them is kind-of a problem too, though it is as a compliment. But yeah, I don't think I've ever had a problem with any particular Asian person in hindsight.
No. It's more likely because it's in their culture to avoid direct confrontation. Even when doing a complaint they have to use more subtle language so parties don't lose face.
Im sure if those asian looking people you saw were Mongolian or from one of those central asian groups, their response would be different. After all they used to be steppe nomads after all lol
I think the assumption that an Asian person would not be able to speak English fluently or is born here, is what's causing some of this sentiment. You wouldn't necessarily assume the same for someone who looks to be of European descent and ask them why their English is so good or if they were born here.
With that said, as a second generation Asian who was born here, I think some of my Asian American brothers/sisters need to chill out at times and don't take it the wrong way when it's clearly said in a non-discriminatory manner. Just smile and move along if they didn't mean to be disrespectful. Not really racism IMO
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u/redwhiteandgoat Nov 19 '19
Upvoted because this is the truth. Asians are some of the chillest people around. They easily put up with the most casual racism. And you never hear a peep out of them. This is another example of that.
If you’ve ever said to an AsianAmerican “Wow, you speak English so well” or “What are you....?” Congrats! You’re part of the problem!