Quote:
Originally Posted by FanningTheFlames
Anyways, let me jump in and defend the OP. Label me whatever you want.
I am currently living in China and, yes, I eat at 'Asian' restaurants all the time. If I didn't, I would probably starve to death. But my point is this... I have met countless people who generalize and stereotype Westerners from one bad experience or from what they heard from the state controlled press here. Do I think it's fair to be lumped in with the all the playboy types who come to Asia looking for a good time, or to be viewed suspiciously because some American did something? No, but I can understand it. Generalizing is human nature, part of our defense mechanism. It is a survival skill, and if we couldn't assume that "all tigers are dangerous" we wouldn't be here today. Of course, it's not fair to those individuals lumped in with the bad. But why should you be surprised by this? Travel around the world and I dare you to find a place any different. Those who take pride in being 'open-minded' and look down on those they think are not, are generally naive IMO.
Asians have an image problem in Calgary right now and will until the gangs are gone. Look, I can understand the need to protect your own and claim "it's not fair", but don't look down on people who are trying to protect *their* own.
OK, fire away with the racist labels!
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Obviously, what you're talking about here is a pretty reasonable observation of what commonly happens, but it doesn't justify what commonly happens. Wouldn't you feel much happier if the next time someone calls you 'laowai' and starts making ignorant comments about you they are admonished by their friends for thinking in an idiotic way. I bet you'd start to feel a lot more comfortable than either having to interject or put up with listening to an ignorant conversation about you. I expect bigotry living in China as well, but it would be nice if I noticed more Chinese standing up against it.
This thread is not only funny, but it's a nice example of how things can be different. I wonder how the Asian posters on the board would feel about this place if nobody had made fun of the OP's wacky decision.