Experience with Chinese people

[Ballatician]

Originally posted by: Locut0s

Originally posted by: Ballatician

Originally posted by: Locut0s
I love people who start such a thread with "I say this as objectively as possible" or "now I'm not a racist". Then go on to make huge sweeping generalizations and rehash old stereotypes from the few encounters they've had. LOL FTL.

Seriously if you can't handle rude Chinese market owners then don't go into Chinese markets problem solved. I could explain the whole thing as there is more to it that that and you are correct to some degree but I'm not going to given how you worded your original post.

esplain?

Well since you asked nicely. I'm 1/2 Chinese and look 100% Caucasian so I too get the cold shoulder in some situations like this. The OP is correct that there is a stereotype of the rude and or racist Chinese market clerks and or owners. Usually though this is the previous generation. I can't remember meeting many younger Chinese people who treat me this way. The older generation tend to be very guarded with foreigners, many have suffered a lot of racism during their time so there is good reason for them to not be very open. And many have simply not integrated into western society much. Another thing the OP is missing is the cultural differences between the way Asians and Caucasians do buisness when it comes to small business like markets and the like. The concept of the customer is always right and the owner having to treat the customer like some fragile flower that we have adopted over time in the west just doesn't ring true in China. If anything the playing field is tipped the other direction with the owner of many small establishments like markets and the like having an attitude of the merchant is always right. Again this is more with the old guard with Asian people and is disappearing quickly with the current generation. I've always though that if you take these rude gestures in your stride and actually open up to these people, show that not only are you not offended but understand it to be simply either part of a cultural difference or an older persons self defences mechanism when dealing with foreigners, that you generally find them to be very good people underneath. Of course everyone's different and there are lots of genuine Asian ass holes just like anywhere else. The OP seems to like to generalize and seemed like an ass so I didn't feel like posting this in response.

Thanks, makes sense

 

[SpunkyJones]

I want some Chinese take out now.

 

[Linflas]

Originally posted by: maddogchen
my white friends complain about how some chinese places have a different menu, one for those who read Chinese and one for those who don't. The items on it are never the same. The chinese one always has a lot more items that taste a lot better.

My friend took his white gf to one and ordered a drink she absolutely loved from the chinese menu right next to the counter. The next time she went by herself they told her they didn't have that item which confused her. When she took her bf again, they were able to order it. This time, she learned the name of it and where it was on the menu. The very next time she went, without her chinese bf, they told her again they didn't have that item. She was like what do you mean? its right there on the chinese menu and points and reads the words she memorized. They were shocked and gave it to her.

I ran into that in Italy back when I was in the Navy. The restaurants had a real Italian menu and another menu in all the major Euro languages. A buddy and I finally convinced a waiter to give us the real menu so we could get past the spaghetti, lasagna, and ravioli they had on the tourist menu.

 

[steppinthrax]

Originally posted by: Jdo
I say this as objectively as humanly possible with nothing but my experience interacting with them (in the office, in the marketplace, on the road) to back it up: they are one of the most rude people on this planet!

The fob ones are much more so with their almost complete lack of the ability to speak the English language. I always get the feeling when I'm shopping in a Chinese marketplace that far from being treated as a valued customer, I feel that I actually annoy them if I ask them questions seeking clarification about a product/price. Is it because they have such a huge customer base that they can afford to treat non-Chinese like this and still not suffer as a business?

What the hell is your question?

If it has something to do with why chinese people treat you like shit in their stores, that's everywhere. Try walking into a Wal-Mart and ask some basic questions.

1. What type of Chinese marketplaces? (what is sold there)
2. Is this in an ethically chinese area (i.e. , china town)

 

[Mr. Lennon]

Originally posted by: LongCoolMother
I say this as objectively as possible, so please do not take offense. Most of the white people I've met are extremely rude. I mean, they don't ever mind their own business, they drive recklessly with no regard to traffic laws, and I've even had one screw up my McDonald's order!

Conclusion: White people have got to be the most barbaric people on this planet!

And don't even get me started with those Mexicans. They are even worse, with their inability to speak English!

Doesn't really work because thats not true lol.

You live in California, all of our fast food restaurants are employed by Mexicans, with the occasional white high school kid.

Personally, after working at Circuit City during my high school years, I gained a strong hatred towards FOB asians.

 

[hanoverphist]

Originally posted by: BradAtWork

Originally posted by: BoomerD
Now see, I've had almost the exact opposite experience with Chinese people.

The Ornamentals who work in the Chinese restaurant where we eat are all pleasant, smiling people who treat us like we're someone special. Of course then don't know our names, nor us theirs, but "Oh, we no see you long time! How you been? Come sit down, we have SPECIALS tonight!"

I know that it's not a matter of those crafty inscrutable Chinese just being after my money...they REALLY like me...:roll:

I think you just made the OPs point. The Chinese resteraunt you're refering to relies on white customers. OP's talking about how they treat whity when they can rely on their own race for all their customers.

EDIT: Not saying I agree with OP. Genralisations are bad. Most of the time.

i like most asian people ive met. most are fairly friendly. we have an asian engineer on staff that is the most smiley, nice guy in the world. then there was that chinese woman at walmart one time. rude as all get out, stodd in front of a crowd and refused to move her cart so people could get by until she was damn good and ready. i used to deliver chinese food as a second job back when my first kid was born, and they definitely treated the chinese patrons much better than the "whiteys." they would serve them at their table, give them a totally different menu to look at and serve traditional food. white people got the basic menu that all chinese food places have, had to pick up their own food at the counter and rarely got much more than normal pleasantries when talking to them.

its all situational, people for the most part suck, regardless of race.

 

[BarackObama]

Send them all back!!!!

We dont need anymore FOB's or Asians in general in this country.

They already dont know how to speak the language and yet still manage to get a driver's license without taking the driving test!!!!

Then they pull up to a medical center in a Benz and pull out a Medicaid card, WTF??

YES I AM CHINESE!!!

TOGETHER FOREVER, IN THE SAME BOAT!!!

:shocked:

MY PIC!!!!! ---> I'm the guy in the bottom row!

---

Thanks for your bigoted contribution, and GOOD BYE.

Harvey
Senior AnandTech Moderator

 

[BoomerD]

I have absolutely NO IDEA what it says, but here's the menu from the Chinese Restaurant where we eat:

http://hk.geocities.com/imperialgrdn/chinesemenu.htm

Yes, they also have a full "White Peeple" menu as well...

A couple of my neighbors are "Ornamentals", (yes, I did it again...) and they say this place has the most authentic Chinese food in the area. While I don't order that kind of Chinese food, the Americanized Chinese food I do eat is VERY GOOD, possibly the best I've ever had in any restaurant.

 

[VietPride]

Why's everyone hatin??? Just for that, I've made a video tribute to all my asian brothas...

Video

 

[teatime0315]

Lol at all the first posts.

 

[Nerva]

wow, what an idiot.

 

[IceBergSLiM]

I'm so ronery so very ronery

 

[yuchai]

Originally posted by: BoomerD
I have absolutely NO IDEA what it says, but here's the menu from the Chinese Restaurant where we eat:

http://hk.geocities.com/imperialgrdn/chinesemenu.htm

Yes, they also have a full "White Peeple" menu as well...

A couple of my neighbors are "Ornamentals", (yes, I did it again...) and they say this place has the most authentic Chinese food in the area. While I don't order that kind of Chinese food, the Americanized Chinese food I do eat is VERY GOOD, possibly the best I've ever had in any restaurant.

That's a pretty standard menu for an authentic Chinese place.

I think the separate menu thing is to their advantage from a business standpoint. From what I've seen, most non Chinese people will not enjoy the food from the authentic Chinese menu nearly as much as the items on the "American Chinese" menu simply due to unfamiliarity, so having the separate menu is beneficial for most people.

They should definitely show the authentic Chinese menu on request though.

 

[JS80]

Originally posted by: IcebergSlim
I'm so ronery so very ronery

That's korean.

 

[yuchai]

Originally posted by: yuchai

Originally posted by: BoomerD
I have absolutely NO IDEA what it says, but here's the menu from the Chinese Restaurant where we eat:

http://hk.geocities.com/imperialgrdn/chinesemenu.htm

Yes, they also have a full "White Peeple" menu as well...

A couple of my neighbors are "Ornamentals", (yes, I did it again...) and they say this place has the most authentic Chinese food in the area. While I don't order that kind of Chinese food, the Americanized Chinese food I do eat is VERY GOOD, possibly the best I've ever had in any restaurant.

That's a pretty standard menu for an authentic Chinese place.

I think the separate menu thing is to their advantage from a business standpoint. From what I've seen, most non Chinese people will not enjoy the food from the authentic Chinese menu nearly as much as the items on the "American Chinese" menu simply due to unfamiliarity, so having the separate menu is beneficial for most people.

Just to show you what I mean - these things are on the menu you linked:
Salty & Sour (pickled) vegetables with beef tripes
Braised sea cucumber (if you've never had it, it has a jello texture, but more slimy)
Preserved duck egg, Chinese vegetables, and pork soup
A few whole fish (including eyes, fins, everything) and whole chicken dishes (including head, neck, feet)

They should definitely show the authentic Chinese menu on request though.

Sorry for double post - hit the wrong button.

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: yuchai

That's a pretty standard menu for an authentic Chinese place.

I think the separate menu thing is to their advantage from a business standpoint. From what I've seen, most non Chinese people will not enjoy the food from the authentic Chinese menu nearly as much as the items on the "American Chinese" menu simply due to unfamiliarity, so having the separate menu is beneficial for most people.

They should definitely show the authentic Chinese menu on request though.

They will offer the "Chinese" menu if you ask for it, and are always happy to translate for us non-Chinese speakers...

 

[amoeba]

I've always found Chinese people to be nicer to non Chinese people. Granted, in China lots of places charge white people more but thats because most caucasians are tourists who aren't aware of the true prices of the marketplace and aren't such hardcore hagglers.

 

[Mudda]

Send them all back!!!!

We dont need anymore FOB's or Asians in general in this country.

They already dont know how to speak the language and yet still manage to get a driver's license without taking the driving test!!!!

Then they pull up to a medical center in a Benz and pull out a Medicaid card, WTF??

YES I AM CHINESE!!!

TOGETHER FOREVER, IN THE SAME BOAT!!!



MY PICTURE!!!---> I'm the guy in the bottom row!

---

Thanks for AGAIN posting your bigoted contribution, and GOOD BYE.

Harvey
Senior AnandTech Moderator

Edited: 05/05/2008 at 03:35 PM by AnandTech Moderator

 

[Leros]

I always thought Americanized Chinese food was half decent. My Chinese friends have cooked me authentic food a few times now and I absolutely love it. I wish I knew where to get it. A Chinese friend suggested a restaurant to me, but htey gave me the white person menu.


AND

How did you embed a picture in your post?

---

Moderators are magic.

Harvey
Senior AT Mod

 

[CKent]

Cultures vary, what seems rude to some is courteous to others. When I was a kid and worked in a laundromat I never said a word or even looked much at customers since that's my definition of courtesy. One day out of nowhere a black woman who was a regular customer went off on me about how rude I was, and that's not even a culture halfway across the globe, but a separate American culture.

Americanized (+meat, ++fat) Chinese food is friggin awesome btw

 

[Nitemare]

Originally posted by: Leros
I always thought Americanized Chinese food was half decent. My Chinese friends have cooked me authentic food a few times now and I absolutely love it. I wish I knew where to get it. A Chinese friend suggested a restaurant to me, but htey gave me the white person menu.


AND

How did you embed a picture in your post?

---

Moderators are magic.

Harvey
Senior AT Mod

Any chance on an IP ban on him? That makes twice in this thread alone.

---

Every chance.

Harvey

 

[LongCoolMother]

Originally posted by: AnthroAndStargate
The stereotypes and racism run strong in this thread. You guys realize its really not that accurate to classify a culture of people in the same way - saying they are "deferential in the business setting" or they all treat white people like crap.

Would you like it if Chinese people said statement about you as "All Americans are fat, bad at math, easy to annoy, and pretty stupid at dealing with problem scenarios". No you wouldn't, because we all aren't like that.

Every culture has a diversity of people and actions and maybe these store owners just picked up on the OPs "I don't like you" demeanor and returned the favor.

that this even needs to be said, especially in a mostly American forum, is sad .

 

[amoeba]

Just read the Xian Ya Dan thread to see why Chinese restaurants keep separate menus.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

i agree, and i'll add that i have the same problem with rude indian cab drivers (NYC) and gas station attendants (NJ).
not racist, just something i've observed.

 

[moidoi]

BarackObama
typeaccr@gmail.com
05/05/2008
Name: Barack 0Bama

IP address: 12.17.199.1

Mudda
mikejones888@gmail.com
05/05/2008
Name: Mudda Fukka

IP address: 12.17.199.1

moidoi
moidoifoikoi@gmail.com
05/05/2008
Name: Moidoi Foikoi

IP address: 70.1.7.14