joke made by my examinations officer today....

Morba · 8 Jun 2011 at 23:45

Raymond Lin said:
By stereotyping an entire race and culture base on your little experience with them.

What?

lixxus · 8 Jun 2011 at 23:47

Being ethnic, I don't find it funny and slightly offensive.

I guess it depends who is on the receiving side of the joke. Labeling and stereotyping people is definitely a form of racism.

An older generation Chinese person would definitely find that racist and would have reported the examiner. The children unfortunately are naive and still immature and don't understand the implications of such a flippant comment.

Robbo · 8 Jun 2011 at 23:48

Morba said:
What?

It's the same for me. Every single Chinese person in my area (that I know of) owns or works for a takeaway/restaurant.

I imagine it is similar for much of the UK.

Nothing remotely offensive about saying that whatsoever.

Morba · 8 Jun 2011 at 23:50

lixxus said:
Being ethnic, I don't find it funny and slightly offensive.

I guess it depends who is on the receiving side of the joke. Labeling and stereotyping people is definitely a form of racism.

An older generation Chinese person would definitely find that racist and would have reported the examiner. The children unfortunately are naive and still immature and don't understand the implications of such a flippant comment.

How were they labelling and stereotyping Chinese people?

Raymond Lin · 8 Jun 2011 at 23:51

Robbo said:
It's the same for me. Every single Chinese person in my area (that I know of) owns or works for a takeaway/restaurant.

I imagine it is similar for much of the UK.

Nothing remotely offensive about saying that whatsoever.

But to assume that they ALL do (including the ones that you never met), that is closed minded. Which is what the joke is about.

lixxus · 8 Jun 2011 at 23:51

Morba said:
Why is it closed minded? A comical reference to a list of chinese words, that's all it is.
If it was a comedian I doubt there would be a care in the world by anyone.

Nobody is assuming all chinese people work in a chinese restaurant.

so apparently comedians have immunity from being racist ?

I find comedians still to be racist. Your laughing at someone else expense.

Naffa · 8 Jun 2011 at 23:52

How is it like ordering a Chinese take away? I have always ordered dishes with English names, or used numbers. 'Sweet and sour chicken' doesn't sound much like 'Jiaxiang Bi', to me.

Robbo · 8 Jun 2011 at 23:53

Raymond Lin said:
But to assume that they ALL do, that is closed minded. Which is what the joke is about.

The joke in the OP? I don't think that is what its about, its more that their names sound like the food on the menu.

contracteur · 8 Jun 2011 at 23:54

TheCenturion said:
It depends on the context it's used in. Eg:

"yo wassup honky"

No problem there.

But:

"You're just a stupid honky piece of crap"

There the word is being used to wind the person up, and is clearly adding to the insult.

I think you need to add in who's saying it. If it's a "mate" or someone you're comfortable with then fine, but a stranger (or someone in a position of authority, such as the exam invigilator) then it's unacceptable in my opinion.

Also, is "honky" considered a derogatory term for whites?

TheCenturion · 8 Jun 2011 at 23:55

Naffa said:
How is it like ordering a Chinese take away? I have always ordered dishes with English names, or used numbers. 'Sweet and sour chicken' doesn't sound much like 'Jiaxiang Bi', to me.

Which is why it's a bad joke. Chinese names and Chinese food doesn't really sound similar.

lixxus · 8 Jun 2011 at 23:56

Morba said:
How were they labelling and stereotyping Chinese people?

I don't understand why she was implying that reading chinese name sounds like a Menu in a Chinese restaurant.

Last time i checked. My Chinese friend never said his name was noodles or rice translated into english

Morba · 9 Jun 2011 at 00:01

Raymond Lin said:
But to assume that they ALL do (including the ones that you never met), that is closed minded. Which is what the joke is about.

Nobody is assuming they all work in a chinese restaurant? Names, CHINESE names. Chinese LIST. That is where it stops. There is no implication that all chinese people work in chinese restaurants.
(any figures on the amount of chinese in the country and how many are currently working in restaurants?!)

Naffa said:
How is it like ordering a Chinese take away? I have always ordered dishes with English names, or used numbers. 'Sweet and sour chicken' doesn't sound much like 'Jiaxiang Bi', to me.

Foo Yung
Bolo Yueng

Thats close....

mmj_uk · 9 Jun 2011 at 00:02

Well all it takes nowadays is for one person to take offense and report her so yeah don't be surprised if she gets the sack.

Morba · 9 Jun 2011 at 00:04

lixxus said:
I don't understand why she was implying that reading chinese name sounds like a Menu in a Chinese restaurant.

Chinese words in a list.

Now, where do most people come across chinese words in a list? Can you really not see it or are you pretending to be a bit 'duh' on purpose?

TheCenturion · 9 Jun 2011 at 00:08

Morba said:
Chinese words in a list.

Now, where do most people come across chinese words in a list? Can you really not see it or are you pretending to be a bit 'duh' on purpose?

In my limited experience, chinese menus tend to have limited Chinese.

XO chicken
Foo yung vegetables
Chicken chow mein

etc etc

I don't think that it was racist. It could have been considered offensive and it was certainly not appropriate in the context.

contracteur · 9 Jun 2011 at 00:11

Lol, she was totally 100000000% racist.

Damnit did she even make a joke about any other ethnic group's names? ARGH FUUUU

But yes, if I were there, I'd find it offensive. Probably not enough to make a complaint, but enough to mouth off at her.

[FnG]magnolia · 9 Jun 2011 at 00:14

So now we've sorted out those chinks let's have a discussion about those *******, eh Morba?

:/

Morba · 9 Jun 2011 at 00:14

contracteur said:
Lol, she was totally 100000000% racist.

Damnit did she even make a joke about any other ethnic group's names? ARGH FUUUU

Again, why was it racist? Nobody has asnwered this yet, just uttered more disgust at what was said.

Offensive, inappropriate... great, understandable. But why racist?

Morba · 9 Jun 2011 at 00:15

[FnG]magnolia;19331273 said:
So now we've sorted out those chinks let's have a discussion about those *******, eh Morba?

:/

Mine are sleeping at the moment, they only work till midnight. How are yours?
I say sleeping, I assume thats what they are doing. the windowless room without a light in it makes the room rather dark to do anything else.

contracteur · 9 Jun 2011 at 00:18

Morba said:
Again, why was it racist? Nobody has asnwered this yet, just uttered more disgust at what was said.

Offensive, inappropriate... great, understandable. But why racist?

Sorry that first 2 paragraphs where sarcasm, here's a smiley to make up for it.

She would be racist if she said after those chinese names something along the lines of "oh at least our average grade will go up with those in there" as you'd normally consider racism based on perceived racial traits.