Is the word, "oriental," politically correct?

[geecee]

I believe "oriental" is considered politically incorrect because it was used to denote some sort of implied cultural superiority/inferiority thing. I personally don't think its worth getting all worked up over. Political correctness is mostly BS anyway, because all you're doing is changing a label for someone/something. If the thought process that goes with it doesn't change, what's the point? In that case, subtle racism is probably worse than "in-your-face" racism.

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: ManSnake

Originally posted by: Howard
I'm Oriental. Call me whatever you like.

If you are oriental, then why are you using a white woman avatar? Are you selling out?

Should I skin you and use you in my soup?

 

[daveymark]

Originally posted by: Howard

Originally posted by: ManSnake

Originally posted by: Howard
I'm Oriental. Call me whatever you like.

If you are oriental, then why are you using a white woman avatar? Are you selling out?

Should I skin you and use you in my soup?

ah, oriental drama. it never ends

 

[hkssupra69]

Originally posted by: notfred
My mom uses it, but she's like 53. It doesn't seem offensive to me, jsut dated. I'm not Asian though, so what do I know.

agreed it seems very dated.

 

[Pakman]

I think the term oriental, when used in the context of referring to a person, is the equalvalent to calling a white person a hick or a black person a negro . Yeah, it's kinda not PC, but nothing to get really offended at. Personally, I don't like being called Oriental. That's just me though. Like alot of people have said, it's one of those outdated words that people don't use often.

 

[habib89]

it is un-pc, but it doesnt bother me... oriental should be used for objects, and asian for people... to me it sounds dated, i'm chinese

maybe people get mad cause it's an old and very vague term from way back ("asia" is also vague, but at leat that's the name of our continent... you're getting closer), before anyone called the far east "asia"... so it's like we're not even from a country... just some place... over there east of europe

 

[neovan]

if that person is describing a rug...oriental is fine. if that person is describing a person or race, i always correct them and tell them the word to use is Asian.

 

[MustangSVT]

im sure there are far more important things for you to worry about.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

:music:
Everyone's a little bit racist
Today.
So, everyone's a little bit racist
Okay!
Ethinic jokes might be uncouth,
But you laugh because
They're based on truth.
Don't take them as
Personal attacks.
Everyone enjoys them -
So relax!
:music:

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: neovan
if that person is describing a rug...oriental is fine. if that person is describing a person or race, i always correct them and tell them the word to use is Asian.

Why?

 

[neovan]

Originally posted by: Howard

Originally posted by: neovan
if that person is describing a rug...oriental is fine. if that person is describing a person or race, i always correct them and tell them the word to use is Asian.

Why?

To me, it refers to the past when Asians were looked down upon. Like someone posted before, it equates to the word "negro" for African Americans. There are some people who are still ok with the word (mostly older generations) and some that feel its meant in a derogatory manner. It all depends on the person. With that said, if you say "oriental" in front of me, I'll be looking for a rug.

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: neovan

Originally posted by: Howard

Originally posted by: neovan
if that person is describing a rug...oriental is fine. if that person is describing a person or race, i always correct them and tell them the word to use is Asian.

Why?

To me, it refers to the past when Asians were looked down upon. Like someone posted before, it equates to the word "negro" for African Americans. There are some people who are still ok with the word (mostly older generations) and some that feel its meant in a derogatory manner. It all depends on the person. With that said, if you say "oriental" in front of me, I'll be looking for a rug.

Oriental is much clearer than Asian when referring to race, though.

 

[neovan]

Originally posted by: Howard

Originally posted by: neovan

Originally posted by: Howard

Originally posted by: neovan
if that person is describing a rug...oriental is fine. if that person is describing a person or race, i always correct them and tell them the word to use is Asian.

Why?

To me, it refers to the past when Asians were looked down upon. Like someone posted before, it equates to the word "negro" for African Americans. There are some people who are still ok with the word (mostly older generations) and some that feel its meant in a derogatory manner. It all depends on the person. With that said, if you say "oriental" in front of me, I'll be looking for a rug.

Oriental is much clearer than Asian when referring to race, though.

I don't think it does. It just, if anything, refer to a region.

 

[Phoenix86]

Originally posted by: neovan

Originally posted by: Howard

Originally posted by: neovan

Originally posted by: Howard

Originally posted by: neovan
if that person is describing a rug...oriental is fine. if that person is describing a person or race, i always correct them and tell them the word to use is Asian.

Why?

To me, it refers to the past when Asians were looked down upon. Like someone posted before, it equates to the word "negro" for African Americans. There are some people who are still ok with the word (mostly older generations) and some that feel its meant in a derogatory manner. It all depends on the person. With that said, if you say "oriental" in front of me, I'll be looking for a rug.

Oriental is much clearer than Asian when referring to race, though.

I don't think it does. It just, if anything, refer to a region.

Kinda like oriental which is basically the "east". If it's OK to say "oriental rug" it's Ok to say "oriental person".

Would you describe a rug created by a black person as a "negro rug"? I don't think so.

 

[yosuke188]

I don't care. I see myself as Japnese, not oriental or Asian.

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: neovan

Originally posted by: Howard

Originally posted by: neovan

Originally posted by: Howard

Originally posted by: neovan
if that person is describing a rug...oriental is fine. if that person is describing a person or race, i always correct them and tell them the word to use is Asian.

Why?

To me, it refers to the past when Asians were looked down upon. Like someone posted before, it equates to the word "negro" for African Americans. There are some people who are still ok with the word (mostly older generations) and some that feel its meant in a derogatory manner. It all depends on the person. With that said, if you say "oriental" in front of me, I'll be looking for a rug.

Oriental is much clearer than Asian when referring to race, though.

I don't think it does. It just, if anything, refer to a region.

In terms of size, the Orient is much smaller than Asia.

 

[jaedaliu]

I referred to myself as Oriental, and my African American friend from Mississipi asked me why I disrespected myself.

In SoCal, it's fine. In other parts of the U.S., maybe not?

 

[Schadenfreude]

As many have said in prior post, it really depends on the context.

 

[0roo0roo]

no, it gives us flashbacks to the colonial days.

 

[Phoenix86]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
no, it gives us flashbacks to the colonial days.

:laugh:

Unless your serious, then...

 

[EatSpam]

Originally posted by: Azndude51
I always used the word freely but some of my college friends says it's not politically correct I've never heard anyone say that it's not PC. I hear stuff like oriental food in advertisements and stuff like that all the time.

I don't believe its PC, but what is the PC term for oriental?

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: EatSpam

Originally posted by: Azndude51
I always used the word freely but some of my college friends says it's not politically correct I've never heard anyone say that it's not PC. I hear stuff like oriental food in advertisements and stuff like that all the time.

I don't believe its PC, but what is the PC term for oriental?

It appears that there isn't one, unfortunately.

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

Originally posted by: Howard

Originally posted by: EatSpam

Originally posted by: Azndude51
I always used the word freely but some of my college friends says it's not politically correct I've never heard anyone say that it's not PC. I hear stuff like oriental food in advertisements and stuff like that all the time.

I don't believe its PC, but what is the PC term for oriental?

It appears that there isn't one, unfortunately.

UNfortunately?

 

[randomlinh]

i never really took it as anything... the PCness of it never came up until my senior year in high school when a friend had asked me if I found oriental to be offensive. I was confused, and asked her why she asked, and she gave me the oriental = objects answer.

to me, I always thought of it as meaning far east, as stated. While technically it's southeast, I don't care. My parents are from there. It's like asking if you're from the west coast or east coast... at least.. that's how I always viewed it. I tend not to care what other people may think of me unless it directly affects me.

 

[smack Down]

Originally posted by: neovan

Originally posted by: Howard

Originally posted by: neovan

Originally posted by: Howard

Originally posted by: neovan
if that person is describing a rug...oriental is fine. if that person is describing a person or race, i always correct them and tell them the word to use is Asian.

Why?

To me, it refers to the past when Asians were looked down upon. Like someone posted before, it equates to the word "negro" for African Americans. There are some people who are still ok with the word (mostly older generations) and some that feel its meant in a derogatory manner. It all depends on the person. With that said, if you say "oriental" in front of me, I'll be looking for a rug.

Oriental is much clearer than Asian when referring to race, though.

I don't think it does. It just, if anything, refer to a region.

What the hell do you think asia refers to.