My friend is Chinese-American and when her white/irish husband referred to her as "oriental", she got really pissed off and said that the term to use is "asian". My boss called our new accountant oriental today and I was reminded of my friend and her husband. Then, when relaying the story to another friend, he said that I chastised him once for saying oriental, which is true, but then I realized that I have no idea why.

Is "Asian" more pc than "Oriental"?

Was my friend being too sensitive?

Is calling someone oriental like calling an African American the 'N' word?

love,
uncultured red

Chinaman

Oriental: rugs, spices.
Asian: people, food.

Most Asians I know are at least a little offended by "oriental." I cannot comprehend being married to someone and not knowing this, unless he was just trying to be a dick.

My dad and sister both used "oriental" when I was talking about a friend of mine and I thought it was weird. I've pretty much always used "asian".

"dude, asian american is the preferred nomenclature."


I think oriental if for referring to things like rugs or vases. Asian is for people.

Looks like Haq beat me to it.

i go to an Asian owned supermarket called, The Oriental Supermarket. But when i talk about it i call it the Asian Supermarket so people don't assume i'm racist.

silly, but true.

you can also call them slants, or gooks, or japs, or chinks for variety, but it's best if you just stare and drool at their women with your mough hanging open. That's a sign of respect in their culture and will win you big points towards mating with one.

hahaha. so that's why that girl is no longer friends with me!

I just don't call people by anything defining anymore just to be safe.

I was quickly reprimanded by one of my friends (white) for the "oriental" faux pas back in college.

I thought that was because you called her a celestial.

i called her a lot of things last time i talked to her.

i haven't heard oriental in reference to a person in over a decade. where do you live, louisiana?

i'd rather have an oriental over an asian.

Chicago. My boss is from Indiana.

Thanks for clearing that up, all.

Z, read this thread.

Hey now. We treat our Asians right. It's the blacks that are the problem.

THANK YOU.

i get SO pissed when people call me "oriental." "asian" or "asian american" is more pc than "oriental." a lot of it stems from the term sounding dated and derogatory. it's more offensive in north america rather than europe.

also:

that sounds like it would be more offensive in Europe than in America.

this thread has a serious case of yellow fever

(I'm sorry, I know that's not everyone's favorite phrase)

...did someone just pee in my coke?

You know, you never seem offended when I call you Dri, so i'm gonna stick to that cause you're completely capable of putting my ass in a sling, what with your ancient oriental arts of war.

is this the girl I met? But you went to yoga with her!

I'll call people whatever the fuck they want to be called, frankly. It makes no difference to me. As long as someone lets me know I have no issue with it. (I believe it was somewhere around 10 years back when my friends and I decided to switch from blurting out AF for Asian Fantasy instead of our traditional OF for Oriental Fantasy when we objectify that particular breed of woman.)

But, I do have an honest question. If Oriental is an offensive term, why is it still ok to use it for things like rugs and such? If the term is demeaning culturally and seen as Eurocentric and all that, wouldn't it be offensive in all cases, not just when referring to food and people?

And, while on the subject...any other white people ever had themselves referred to as European Americans? I kinda got a kick out of that whenever I heard it. Has it ever caught on? Anyone think it ever will?

yeah. she's kinda a bitch. haha