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Shanti
True love
Member since 6/05 12653 total posts
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Re: Do you think this is ignorant?
Posted by BabyAvocado
Posted by DMcK
But you never know who speaks what.
That is very true...so why would it be ignorant or offensive to ask?
Some people get touchy. I wouldn't but I have a Hispanic friend who freaks when ppl ask if she speaks Spanish. Who knows, people are weird.
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Posted 3/2/06 2:14 PM  |
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unknown1
****
Member since 5/05 2771 total posts
Name:
lisa
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Re: Do you think this is ignorant?
For whatever reason people get upset over things like that ..like puerto rican Mexican.. Hatian Jamaican etc.... I think it is the same for Chinese, Japanese ,Korean, and vietnamese ... So I knowing this would be ignorant if I asked.. not knowing there decent
Message edited 3/2/2006 2:15:10 PM.
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| Posted 3/2/06 2:14 PM |
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Chatham-Chick
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Member since 5/05 10311 total posts
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Re: Do you think this is ignorant?
Posted by Leeners
Yup. I don't think it's that difficult to tell whether an Asian person is Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Philippino or Thai and it bothers me that people don't take the time to learn.
I have to agree.
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| Posted 3/2/06 2:14 PM |
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Re: Do you think this is ignorant?
Posted by BabyAvocado
Posted by missus-hbradio
I wouldnt classify that as ignorant....maybe a little inappropriate.
This took place in an environment where interpreters of all different languages are often needed.
Also, if I was 4th or 5th generation latina and I did not speak Spanish, I personally would not be offended if someone asked me if I spoke/understood it just because I looked it.
Oh okay I didnt know it was in that sort of environment.
People come up to me all the time and speak Spanish (needing directions on the train). Maybe its my hair I dont know but as soon as I open my mouth they can tell I cant help them!
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| Posted 3/2/06 2:14 PM |
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LadyMaravilla
Fall Is Here
Member since 5/05 12023 total posts
Name:
Sonia
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Re: Do you think this is ignorant?
I think it would be ignorant if the person went to the Asian/Oriental person and said "oh, you're Japanese, can you translate this?" That would be ignorant by assuming the person was Japanese because of their looks. IMO
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| Posted 3/2/06 2:15 PM |
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Shanti
True love
Member since 6/05 12653 total posts
Name:
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Re: Do you think this is ignorant?
Posted by unbelievable
For whatever reason people get upset over things like that ..like puerto rican Mexican.. Hatian Jamaican etc....
That is what I meant. And the Japanese and Chinese have a long history of hatred so one might be offended as being thought of the other. It's cultural.
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| Posted 3/2/06 2:15 PM |
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MommyofG
just the girls
Member since 5/05 9461 total posts
Name:
Janice
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Re: Do you think this is ignorant?
Not at all!!!!!
How can you tell the difference b/t Koreans, Vietnamese, Philipino, Chinese and Japanese?
Just like how can you tell if someone is Columbian, Puerto Rican, Dominican, El Savadorian, etc. Mexican I can see being able to tell somewhat, but these "spanish" backgrounds dont speak the same spanish.
I dont think its ignorant, inappropiate or rude in anyway if asked in that manner.
and really what is so bad about Japan that they were insulted? they happen to be advanced and very smart!
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| Posted 3/2/06 2:15 PM |
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unknown1
****
Member since 5/05 2771 total posts
Name:
lisa
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Re: Do you think this is ignorant?
"How can you tell the difference b/t Koreans, Vietnamese, Philipino, Chinese and Japanese?"
If you don't know then don't ask
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| Posted 3/2/06 2:17 PM |
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BabyAvocado
Happy New Year
Member since 5/05 17334 total posts
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Re: Do you think this is ignorant?
Posted by missus-hbradio
Oh okay I didnt know it was in that sort of environment.
People come up to me all the time and speak Spanish (needing directions on the train). Maybe its my hair I dont know but as soon as I open my mouth they can tell I cant help them!
That's the thing, I felt considering the environment, propriety shouldn't have been such an issue. Although I agree with you that in a random place (like a party or something) that could be seen as inappropriate.
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| Posted 3/2/06 2:18 PM |
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Shanti
True love
Member since 6/05 12653 total posts
Name:
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Re: Do you think this is ignorant?
Posted by BabyAvocado
Posted by missus-hbradio
Oh okay I didnt know it was in that sort of environment.
People come up to me all the time and speak Spanish (needing directions on the train). Maybe its my hair I dont know but as soon as I open my mouth they can tell I cant help them!
That's the thing, I felt considering the environment, propriety shouldn't have been such an issue. Although I agree with you that in a random place (like a party or something) that could be seen as inappropriate.
It was probably cultural. There is a lot of animosity between some of those countries.
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| Posted 3/2/06 2:18 PM |
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Redhead
You Live, You Learn
Member since 5/05 31871 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Do you think this is ignorant?
Posted by Chatham-Chick
Posted by Leeners
Yup. I don't think it's that difficult to tell whether an Asian person is Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Philippino or Thai and it bothers me that people don't take the time to learn.
I have to agree.
Honestly that is wrong
I have definitely taken the time to "learn" since i have friends who are of the above decent...
AND you would NOT be able to tell...
and i think it is pretty ignorant for anyone to assume they could across the board
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| Posted 3/2/06 2:19 PM |
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Redhead
You Live, You Learn
Member since 5/05 31871 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Do you think this is ignorant?
Posted by unbelievable
"How can you tell the difference b/t Koreans, Vietnamese, Philipino, Chinese and Japanese?"
If you don't know then don't ask
some you can by certain features
But this does NOT apply to all...
So for the most part YOU CAN"T
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| Posted 3/2/06 2:19 PM |
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nrthshgrl
It goes fast. Pay attention.
Member since 7/05 57538 total posts
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Re: Do you think this is ignorant?
If it were me, I would have asked everyone, Caucasian, Asian, etc "Do you know anyone who can understand Japanese?" so as not to offend the highly sensitive.
Message edited 3/2/2006 2:20:54 PM.
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| Posted 3/2/06 2:20 PM |
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MrsERod
Praying for Everyone.
Member since 5/05 26170 total posts
Name:
MrsERod™®
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Re: Do you think this is ignorant?
Posted by Chatham-Chick
Posted by Leeners
Yup. I don't think it's that difficult to tell whether an Asian person is Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Philippino or Thai and it bothers me that people don't take the time to learn.
I have to agree.
i honestly don't understand this.
please tell me how one would be able to tell whether an Asian person is Japanese, Chinese, or Korean??? 
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| Posted 3/2/06 2:20 PM |
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Bebalina
<3
Member since 6/05 2922 total posts
Name:
N
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Re: Do you think this is ignorant?
i dont think its ignorant at all, yes sometimes u can tell a chinese person apart from a japanese, and sometimes a chinese person can speak japanese or vice versa nothing to be offened about, just say you dont speak it and move on, its not like it was asked for personal kicks, it was need for work purposes...
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| Posted 3/2/06 2:20 PM |
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MommyofG
just the girls
Member since 5/05 9461 total posts
Name:
Janice
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Re: Do you think this is ignorant?
Posted by unbelievable
"How can you tell the difference b/t Koreans, Vietnamese, Philipino, Chinese and Japanese?"
If you don't know then don't ask
in that environment why not? thats what its there for?
its not like she went up to a stranger and said hey are you japanese can you translate this.
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| Posted 3/2/06 2:21 PM |
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BabyAvocado
Happy New Year
Member since 5/05 17334 total posts
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Re: Do you think this is ignorant?
Posted by girlygrl33
and really what is so bad about Japan that they were insulted? they happen to be advanced and very smart!
I agree. I think that's insulting to Japanese people for others to have reacted that way.
That's like if someone asked me if I was Mexican and I went "Eww no, what is wrong with you?!"
Don't you think that for the person being asked to get offended shows prejudice on THEIR part?
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| Posted 3/2/06 2:21 PM |
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BabyAvocado
Happy New Year
Member since 5/05 17334 total posts
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Re: Do you think this is ignorant?
Posted by unbelievable
"How can you tell the difference b/t Koreans, Vietnamese, Philipino, Chinese and Japanese?"
If you don't know then don't ask
But if you don't know and you can't ask, how should you learn? 
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| Posted 3/2/06 2:22 PM |
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Shanti
True love
Member since 6/05 12653 total posts
Name:
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Re: Do you think this is ignorant?
Posted by BabyAvocado
Posted by girlygrl33
and really what is so bad about Japan that they were insulted? they happen to be advanced and very smart!
I agree. I think that's insulting to Japanese people for others to have reacted that way.
That's like if someone asked me if I was Mexican and I went "Eww no, what is wrong with you?!"
Don't you think that for the person being asked to get offended shows prejudice on THEIR part?
What was the ethnicity of the person offended? If he or she was Chinese, I can tell you that there is a long history of hatred between those 2 countries. It's almost like asking a Slav if they are Bosnian, a Czechnian if they are Russian, an Arab if they are Jewish... there are some cultural issues and sensitivities that go back thousands of years
ETA: not saying it is right or wrong, just looking at it from a historial perspective since that was my major
Message edited 3/2/2006 2:23:46 PM.
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| Posted 3/2/06 2:22 PM |
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MommyofG
just the girls
Member since 5/05 9461 total posts
Name:
Janice
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Re: Do you think this is ignorant?
Posted by BabyAvocado
Posted by girlygrl33
and really what is so bad about Japan that they were insulted? they happen to be advanced and very smart!
I agree. I think that's insulting to Japanese people for others to have reacted that way.
That's like if someone asked me if I was Mexican and I went "Eww no, what is wrong with you?!"
Don't you think that for the person being asked to get offended shows prejudice on THEIR part?
DEF!!! good point!
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| Posted 3/2/06 2:23 PM |
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FelAndJon
needs to update her avatar pic
Member since 6/05 10212 total posts
Name:
Felice (aka LuckyBride2004)
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Re: Do you think this is ignorant?
It is no different than this:
One of my good friends is Korean by birth. She was adopted by a Polish family at birth. She speaks some yiddish but definitely NO Korean! Whenever we go to the nail place together, the ladies there always just ASSUME that she speaks the language. She is like, uh I have no idea what you are saying but I want a mani!
I think it is worse to assume something but certainly not to ask if someone speaks the language 
By the way, a piece of furniture or a rug is Oriental, people are Asian. Just some advice if you didn't know
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| Posted 3/2/06 2:23 PM |
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Redhead
You Live, You Learn
Member since 5/05 31871 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Do you think this is ignorant?
Posted by BabyAvocado
Posted by unbelievable
"How can you tell the difference b/t Koreans, Vietnamese, Philipino, Chinese and Japanese?"
If you don't know then don't ask
But if you don't know and you can't ask, how should you learn?
you can't....and honestly anyone saying that they could "tell the difference" by learning
well that is silly
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| Posted 3/2/06 2:24 PM |
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MrsERod
Praying for Everyone.
Member since 5/05 26170 total posts
Name:
MrsERod™®
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Re: Do you think this is ignorant?
i don't think its ignorant at all.
i wouldn't think someone is ignorant if they asked me if i know how to speak spanish...
or even hebrew for that matter (i've been told I look jewish)...
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| Posted 3/2/06 2:24 PM |
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MrsS2005
Mom of 3
Member since 11/05 13118 total posts
Name:
B
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Re: Do you think this is ignorant?
I don't think it's ignorant, but I understand why some people may be offended by it. I think it's an especially sensitive topic for Asians b/c even though there are certain features that distinguish Japanese people from Chinese, etc, quite a few people don't know the difference and have a "they all look alike" mentality. It's a touchy subject, but I don't think it was inappropriate to ask given the environment you were in.
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| Posted 3/2/06 2:25 PM |
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BabyAvocado
Happy New Year
Member since 5/05 17334 total posts
Name:
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Re: Do you think this is ignorant?
Posted by DMcK
What was the ethnicity of the person offended? If he or she was Chinese, I can tell you that there is a long history of hatred between those 2 countries. It's almost like asking a Slav if they are Bosnian, a Czechnian if they are Russian, an Arab if they are Jewish... there are some cultural issues and sensitivities that go back thousands of years
I totally understand that, and I know that, so did the person doing the asking. But why should it be okay that that hatred and prejudice gets carried over to someone asking an innocent question?
The people (there were multiple people asked) happened to all be Chinese (well, one was unknown). But they did NOT all look the "same", that is, like they were all of the same decent.
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| Posted 3/2/06 2:25 PM |
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