Many people (in America, at least) who see an Asian person will say they are all Chinese or Japanese when they have no idea of that person's true nationality/ethnicity.
Also, sometimes when people KNOW that a person is Japanese, for example, they still just call them Chinese. It's so rude and offensive. Why do people do this?
2007-03-14 18:51:47 · 11 answers · asked by Yuka 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
because they don't care. I'm Filipina, and people keep saying, "oh i thought you're chinese", i wish they would just shut up.
2007-03-14 18:56:06 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 2⤋
The reason why is because people stereotype, like if they see a black guy they think theyre gonna steel something, thats just the way people are since when they were young they thought that all asians were from the same nationality and thats why they keep thinkin that way, thats a very uncivilzed thing to do, first of all you shouldnt be calling people Japanese right of, first you should get to know them and call them by their name, because people that call someone by their ethnicity just try to look down uppon you so dont let that bother you and just dont pay attention to them.
2007-03-15 02:07:46 · answer #2 · answered by CHICHO 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
American people are very poor at seeing the ethnicity of various Asian people. They think that most Asian people look very much alike. Sorry about that but, there is no place here where a person can learn the differences.
2007-03-15 02:02:56 · answer #3 · answered by liberty11235 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Hey people! For the same reason that many cultures think Canadians are Americans AND some think that Australians are English or New Zealanders AND that the Belgians are French.
It is out of ignorance. and ignorance only means NOT INFORMED... it doesn't mean stupid.
Sooooooo EDUCATE! don't HATE!
Tell them they are mistaken. When I worked in Richmond BC Canada, it became VERY apparent who was Chinese, Japanese or Korean because I worked among them...
2007-03-15 02:11:18 · answer #4 · answered by choose happiness 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
it's sorta a game for them. it's like, if i get the nationality right, i score a point. and i'm sorry, but i do not understand why you get so offended by this. sure, some people are immature and will call you something you're no, but really, if someone asks if you are chinese, why would you get so offended and be like, "No! I'm not chinese!!!! I'm korean!" and storm off. I'm sorry, but eastern asians pretty much look the same. if ur chinese, why do you have a such an issue with being called korean? i mean, i don't get offended if somebody calls me an ethnicity from a country bordering the one of my roots. you need to just chill, and let it go!
2007-03-15 02:01:36 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
ignorance.
not in a bad way, they are just not used to distinguishing between the physical differences.
don't blame them! have patience, as it will ALWAYS be this way.
i can tell Mongolian from south-east Asian but i get the features confused sometimes with the Inuit.
some Japanese surfers look like Balinese!
i have nothing but white ancestry but am confused for a Spaniard, Maori, islander, Turk, South American and American Indian!!!!!!!!!!!!!
what?
2007-03-15 02:08:01 · answer #6 · answered by Toadwart. 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I don't know, but I'm white italian and I get called Jewish all the time...it's not JUST asians....when was the last time you saw a Latino and assumed they were Mexican or Puerto Rican without knowing if they were Panemaniam or Dominican or Gautamalan?
2007-03-15 03:05:20 · answer #7 · answered by james B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
cuz were uneducated in all the different ethnicities and a lot of ppl r racist! i kno i for one usually call most asian ppl chinese or asian but i totally dont mean to i just dont kno what they really r but when i can tell i say what i think they really are for example if i saw a person in a traditional chinese clothes then i would say chinese even if i was wrong i would most likely say this! srry if i wasnt ne help but i tried!
ja ne!
2007-03-15 01:58:15 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
I agree.... I am American and some people think I am English or Australian or French or German just because I look like them.
It is so frustrating I think I will wear a sign that says I am American, so no one will be confused.
2007-03-15 02:00:56 · answer #9 · answered by e.sillery 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's ignorance, and I know what you mean. I'm Hispanic, and people try to lump me up with other races that aren't even hispanic. I just thank God that I'm not culturally ignorant.
2007-03-15 03:58:03 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm sorry, people are just ignorant! I'm middle eastern and people come up to me speaking spanish...
Just correct them sternly. If you can, explain that its rude and offensive to refer to you as Chinese when your not!
2007-03-15 01:56:54 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋