JackClark wrote:

Chinese.

I didn't know the Giants'/Cardinals' Jack Clark was Chinese.

I hate questions like this.
_________________

Wynter wrote:

I hate questions like this.

As Tiger Woods said when somebody asked him what race he is, "Human"

On topic: I'm a mutt

Wynter wrote:

I hate questions like this.

Why?

interesting... I'll just say I'm Asian American

Wynter wrote:

I hate questions like this.

In a way, so do I... I mean, who gives a snot?

It'll just hang a label on people, that's all.



I'm with Tiger: I'm part of the human race.

Wynter wrote:

I hate questions like this. Enna wrote: Why? bmwracer wrote: In a way, so do I... I mean, who gives a snot? It'll just hang a label on people, that's all. I'm with Tiger: I'm part of the human race.

I see your point, but it isn't just about hanging a label on people. Sometimes the question is just a conversational ice breaker. I've been getting that question all my life....What are you? Sometimes on MBs like this, its' a way to get to know your fellow MBers better especially since most of us haven't posted our pics here. It might be about someone's National pride. The label can be negative or it can merely be informative, it all depends on the intent of the person asking. I don't think anyone here is trying to hang a label on anyone else. Are we? I hope not.

Enna wrote:

I see your point, but it isn't just about hanging a label on people. Sometimes the question is just a conversational ice breaker. I've been getting that question all my life....What are you? Sometimes on MBs like this, its' a way to get to know your fellow MBers better especially since most of us haven't posted our pics here. It might be about someone's National pride. The label can be negative or it can merely be informative, it all depends on the intent of the person asking. I don't think anyone here is trying to hang a label on anyone else. Are we? I hope not.

hang a label on this...was lunch at Benihana's good or bad?

Tu_triky wrote:

hang a label on this...was lunch at Benihana's good or bad?

Wasn't half bad. Once I drank the big ole bottle of Kirin Ichiban beer, how bad could it be? But speaking of ethnicity......Why was our chef not Japanese? Why did everyone working there seem to have a name tag with a Spanish or an Italian name?

Wynter wrote:

I hate questions like this.

I'm with you on this. To me asking another person's nationality is a conversation maker, asking for his/her ethnicity is more like a screening process.

Enna wrote:

Wasn't half bad. Once I drank the big ole bottle of Kirin Ichiban beer, how bad could it be? But speaking of ethnicity......Why was our chef not Japanese? Why did everyone working there seem to have a name tag with a Spanish or an Italian name?

that's not surprising....many japanese restaurants here, many restaurants period - gourmet or otherwise - employ latin american cooks


welps ethnicity notwithstanding at least the beer was Japanese, even if it is brewed in Los Angeles

thtl wrote:

I'm with you on this. To me asking another person's nationality is a conversation maker, asking for his/her ethnicity is more like a screening process.

In the good old USA many of us, as gaijin mark posted, are mutts. Or of mixed race or ethnicity. So the question isn't necessarily offensive. It all depends on who is asking the question. And why? On this MB I don't think we are being screened, do you?

Tu_triky wrote:

that's not surprising....many japanese restaurants here, many restaurants period - gourmet or otherwise - employ latin american cooks

I guess I was expecting all Japanese chefs. Thanks for the explantion Tu.

Enna wrote:

On this MB I don't think we are being screened, do you? Smile

Well, no. But I would have thought that being 'mutts', as you put it, means a person is of no distinct ethnicity. For me, nationality, ethnicity, education etc. are all part of what defines a person. When ethnicity is singled out as a factor it just makes me feel uncomfortable.

I'm not Jewish, but the Holocaust left too much of an impression on me. Questions on ethnicity, even innocuous ones, are not appropriate in my books.

First time for this one...

I'm in NYC's Koreatown, waiting for some friends, we're going to lunch at 12 PM. It's 11:20 AM.

Waiting in Cafe Muse.

The taxi driver thought I was Korean. First time anyone has ever thought I was Korean.

The folks at the counter of Cafe Muse, who are Koreans, greeted me in Korean. When I answered back in English, the guy spoke back in (native) English. Which means even a native Korean-American thought I was from Korea.

Heck, if I told them I was Japanese, they might toss me out!



Cheers,
PCM

bmwracer wrote:

In a way, so do I... I mean, who gives a snot? It'll just hang a label on people, that's all. I'm with Tiger: I'm part of the human race.

Exactly, and thtl has made some points as well.

For me, I think ethnicity is no longer applicable to the generations being born in multicultural countries. My "ethnic" background would be South Asian, and yet this has nothing to do with my Religion, which is Christianity. And I am so far removed from South Asia that it would be unfair to give my person that label. I'm Canadian born and bred, and yet when asked about my ethnicity, that isn't good enough.

And then my ancestors weren't even South Asian to begin with... so where do I fit in?

The definition for ethnicity is as follows: An ethnic group is a human population whose members identify with each other, usually on the basis of a presumed common genealogy or ancestry (Smith, 1986). Ethnic groups are also usually united by common cultural, behavioural, linguistic, or religious practices. In this sense, an ethnic group is also a cultural community.

This is far too broad, and because it is, people have distorted the meaning, as in this thread. It's unfair to label someone with ethnic qualities because it's too black and white, and unless you delve into each aspect of a person's identity, then you are doing exactly as B-san and thtl-san suggest: labeling and categorizing.
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Enna wrote:

Sometimes the question is just a conversational ice breaker.

I can't say that I've EVER asked anyone what ethnicity they are to start a conversation... It seems like a bad way to start things, in my book.

I've had some people ask me what my ethnicty is to start a conversation, and I've always immediately taken offense to it... I mean, if I give the "wrong" response, will that person take a swing at me or something?

bmwracer wrote:

I can't say that I've EVER asked anyone what ethnicity they are to start a conversation... It seems like a bad way to start things, in my book. I've had some people ask me what my ethnicty is to start a conversation, and I've always immediately taken offense to it... I mean, if I give the "wrong" response, will that person take a swing at me or something?

So true. I feel the same way when asked that question.

Enna-san wrote:

It might be about someone's National pride.

In that case, the more appropriate question might be "Where are you from?" as opposed to "What are you?"

I guess it's a personal preference, and it all depends on the individual's stand point. I find that question extremely uncomfortable because of my own complicated identity, but for some others it may not be such a big deal. We all have different cultural experiences.
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i dont ask that type of question, just because,unless i know them to some degree..

imagine asking "So where are you from." as an icebreaker.
they answer, "america."
AWKWARD!

malaysian born malay+chinese
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krim wrote:

i dont ask that type of question, just because,unless i know them to some degree.. imagine asking "So where are you from." as an icebreaker. they answer, "america." AWKWARD!

LOL! Good point.

I personally avoid asking any of those questions. Period. There are so many other ice breakers out there... like "What do you think of Hitler?", "How much money do you make in a year?", "What do you like for breakfast?"
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