I've had more than one "friend" do this at a restaurant. Ugh. lol

I don't think it's juvenile to be embarrassed to be associated with an (accidentally) racist person. I get embarrassed when my dad calls any Asian person "Oriental".

It's worth noting, for context, that I live in a city with a large Asian population.

I DID NOT KNOW THAT WAS BAD D:

I don't think it's as bad as "negro" or anything. It's just antiquated. See conversation below if you hadn't already.

I'd been told once by an Asian person that Asian is a race, oriental is a food.

Is that racist? I don't quite grasp the merits of that word.

it's racist by virtue of its antiquated status, basically a case of "nobody says that anymore"

it'd be a step above "China-man"

Essentially, it's the same tier as "negro", then?

same general idea yeah

*nods* Heifer nailed it

I like negro, though. It's antiquated, but I don't think that should mean it's offensive. Just depends on how you use it. Any word can be said with contempt and sound offensive.

it's a result of the term's surrounding context. Like, it's the same reason having white actors portraying other races (like native americans) is out of vogue. Sure, it wasn't meant to be racist, but because of the change in the world we live in, it's considered out of vogue. Hell, this is coming from one of the least PC people you'll ever meet, but I'm just offering an explanation.

True, true. But I've heard some people say "black people" in such contemptuous and derogatory ways, while I've heard people say "negro" with pride or neutrality. I personally wouldn't mind being called either, it just depends on how it's used. But yeah, in my day to day I say black since it's more modern and widely understood.

*nods* Absolutely, a lot of it has to do with the way in which the phrase/word is said. Between the two, "Oriental" has a generally worse connotation than "negro", from my experience.

That's my opinion, too. There are few objective standards when it comes to offending someone in the United States, where hundreds of different cultures are crammed into the same living space.

I personally don't have a problem with being called "negro", but it's...Like an ancient relic of a word used to describe a race before modernization. I'm used to being referred to as black, so to hear that word would be kind of strange to my ears.

That's something I've never understood. Why are black people called such if they're actually dark brown, and why are white people 'white' when they're pink?

Sankyu for stepping in and taking care of things in my absence. *bow*

I'm here to help, mang

The fall from grace of 'china-man' actually reflects a strange trend in PC language. Every other descriptor was no longer used as a noun, but a modifier. It was uncouth to call someone 'a gay' or 'a black', rather than 'gay man' or 'black woman', but nationality went the opposite direction. There was no longer an 'Irish-man', but someone just 'Irish'. It was the only acceptable nounitization of a person based on their traits.

Oriental isn't that bad. Actually less offensive than calling a Korean Chinese or something. Basically means 'east Asian' while sounding a bit classier.

Oriental should really only be used when referring to products, not people.

Okay: oriental rug, oriental vase, oriental painting, oriental country, etc.

Not okay: oriental person

Well, not just products, but really just not people. You get the idea, I'm sure!

But why? I mean, I can understand the reason not to use 'slant-eye', 'gook', 'yellow', or 'mongoloid', but why is it acceptable for everything BUT people?

I mean, you don't go over someone's house see some gorgeous tribal ebony sculpture and go "That's a real nice nigger carving." It's either acceptable under all circumstances or it's not.

My main problem with the softening of language due to political correctness is it betrays language. The spoken word has one job and one job only, to convey meaning. Saying "those nice oriental girls" conveys meaning well. It's not a term disused in race relations like 'quadroon'. It's not something insulting and niche like 'zipperhead'. It's just something that fell out of favor because it sounds 'old'. It's the linguistic equivalent of calling a station wagon a 'crossover' just because you don't want to seem that similar to your mom's generation.

I just go with Asian -- I know its really broad term but its kinda swapped meanings now a days.

Also lol "One Mongoloid rug please!"

I just keep thinking that needs negative modifiers. "Oh they're Asian, but not Indians, and not Asian Islanders, and not Russians who happen to live east of the Urals."

Did you not just complain about corruption of language due to political correctness? At least in America, "Asian" has come to mean Far East, not just anyone from the continent of Asia, so it doesn't need any further modifiers in colloquial usage.

I like synonyms though. Especially ones that make white people uncomfortable.

Toads better defines Asians.

Brofist! And dirty brown people are 'targets'.

I actually call them, Treyvons.

Only if you get one shot kills with 9mm.

WHAT AM I SUPPOSE TO CALL THESE MYSTERIOUS PEOPLE D;;;;

"Why don't you just call them human"

AHHH YOU ASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Yes humans, teriyaki flavored humans. Yum.

Except for Nips. Fuck them. I'll treat them in a non-racist way way they stop being the most racist fuckers on the planet. They probably taste like poached whale anyway.

well thans rude im a mysterious being who isnt human god why does everyone have to be racist why not my chines friend or chines guy or people
and thus the world divides more further
all because we look different that's horrible in a way don't you think
your gay redik and your different and you know how horrible
it is to be hated barbecue of who you or maybe your not
i don't know god sometimes people are crazy
and also i think speaking in chines isn't embarrassing at all
and by the way i kinda think being embarrassed is the main reason that alot of people are lonely or friendless (just saying XD tough )

WHY ARE YOU SO RACIST AGAINST PUNCTUATION AND CAPITALIZATION?

They never hurt you man.

arrrgggeeehh i hate fighting lets just be freinds like my little ponies XD if we are i wanna rain bow dash

and rattu you should be jedi ponie ur like a wise old man whose super cool and has magic powers

Whatever you're smoking, where can I get some?

smokin some happiness XD hehe ii just dont need drugs to be happy .......... anymore XDXD joke
yeahh simplicity and positivity can change a persons life and also but the secret to happiness
is making the best out of everything XD if you dont believe me i kinda sseein my observation
that many people who have alot problems are more happy than people who dont have
becuase alot of em are making the best of everything you know
sooo sooo soo
wannabe jedi pony XD u get magic glowing dildo XD
buts seriously guys jedi is super powerful like hid be like a super magic pony king
soo ull be
alfa super suprime king or
in short
a.s.s king XD
wed eat shit and grass XDXD wed be like super

and yeah reply at the top he last sorry i think being afraid of being embarrassed was the main reason many people are lonely hehe

Oh man, I'm keeping that one: "Everyone hates me barbecue of who I am!"

i dont think Oriental is a racist word .3.

i mean, is there any bad history covering this human word o3o

o3o *hold up my nido oriental soup and sip sloooooowly* OWO

It's not so much racist as it is revealing. It shows you have no clue about how each of the Asian people think, which is embarrassing in itself. It's all about proper usage.

That's better than my grandpa, who refers to Asians as "chop-chops". :P

I don't think it's juvenile to get embarrassed at this.

That musta been some tasty dragn.

id be more shock at how retarded she was to think that was apporate thing to do

there's no age limit to embarrasment :I

there's also no limits of dragon buffets :D

OH GOODNESS NO.

Sully that a rittre lacist

How did the waiter react?

lol what else , fake politeness XD

Was there that moment of incredulous disbelief where he glanced at the rest of you to see if it was a joke?
That always happened when my nana talked to a person of color.

a free meal is a free meal

HAHAAHAHHA How did waiter react?

my mom is a frothing racist, it's pretty awkward

That's not the proper way to be racist! You'r supposed to wait till they leave and do it quietly behind they're back like everyone else. We all PRETEND to love eachother equally :D *heart-hands*

You are racist for having raised your Aunt this way.

Nooo, no stahp..

god, augh, you'd be surprised at the rampant racism in Norway??? I'm constantly embarrassed for my friends because they go calling anyone who isn't white or black a "gypsy", and they still use the n word pretttyyyy frequently. Not in a hateful way, in a joking way, but it's still ultra uncool. Man, I thought Norway was progressive.
It is, but it's still populated by a bunch of white people who don't like new people.

I'd be really embarrassed too!!

And then you challenge them to a duel for honor, right? I think that's how it works.

OH GOD XD

"I can never eat here again..."

And then Redic went home in a rickshaw, which he pulled. OH YOU.

Careful, I'm told dragon is very fattening.

But you'll still be hungry again in an hour. :[

Have asian friend, named Chizuko. My mother managed to call her, chingchong, Honkytonk and Pikachu in one weekend.

HAHAHHHAHAHA oh god

Other than messing up the name, Honkeytonk doesn't seem that offensive... I'm picturing the old-school Elvis impersonator pro wrestler... And he was offensive, just not in the racial way...

Did I think about that too much?

Calling someone named Chizuko "Honkytonk" just shows that you didn't even try. "Honkytonk" is clearly not a name, and it'd be more respectful to admit that you couldn't remember their name and just ask what it is.

ah those moments when a little piece of you dies

I actually have tricked some of my friends into bowing to my parents with the claim that "IT'S A TRADITIONAL WAY OF SHOWING RESPECT TO ASIANS". :B
My parents are mostly confused by how racist all my friends seem to be.

sanks yuu velly muchh

ow....that hurt me a bit haha

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyu2jAD6sdo

STOP BEING A BABY REDIC

Old people are hilarious. Often unintentionally.

Better than my uncle shouting "BUENOS RETARDES" into the taco bell drive through speaker

http://gonnagan.files.wordpress.com.....palm.jpg?w=500

haaaaah

oh god.....thats just...embarrassing. I feel so much pain for you right now!

Ouch. Oh god.

I've seen worse:was with a buddy in Nagasaki, trying to get to the atomic bomb memorial. Buddy flags down cab, assumes driver doesn't speak English, and says "take us to BOOM *pantomimes mushroom cloud*." Talk about embarrassing.

Language barrier status: Demolished.

"boom" is kinda universal XD

that is when you better have a quick "Thank you" in Mandarin prepared to save your ass

HA!

According to my brother, my mom did this in a Thai restaurant once. In front of his Vietnamese-American girlfriend.

The hell of it is she's a smart, educated, socially conscious woman who lives in a diverse community. She's never done that kind of thing before or since! Just, y'know... the one time it was maximally embarrassing, apparently.

Gotta love that generation... so industrious... so brave... so clever... and yet somehow at the same time so damn stupid.

Don't worry about it the next trip you return. All white people look the same to Asians.

THANK GOD FOR THIS SUBMISSION TEACHING ME HOW TO AVOID BEING RACIST IN THE COMMENTS

XD stahnk you XD its toh sia

Your aunt knows how to represent. Word up.

Embarrassment level: Death