Why do people ask what kind of asian am I?

Question

Honestly, does it matter? Do people honestly go around asking every person they meet what kind of ethnic group they belong to?

And what's the deal with people who try to be so politically correct about it? Like, one guy asked if I was Hawaiian. "Dude, don't be afraid to label me Asian."

Answer 1

Q: "Why do people ask what kind of asian am I?"

A: Because they are curious.

It doesn't matter, in terms of judging what kind of person you are or how smart you are.

It does make a difference in simple benign curiousity about your looks, facial features, etc. For instance, Chinese people look different from Japanese people, yet they are both of Asian descent. I for one like to be able to tell the difference, but it is difficult for me because there aren't many Chinese, Japanese, or even Vietnamese or Korean people in my area.

Most people want to know for...aesthetic(?) reasons. It's kind of like wanting to know the difference in looks between an oak tree and a hickory tree.

The questions are harmless.

Also, it seems to me that the folks who are trying to be politically correct about it are the ones most likely to ask the question, "What does it matter what kind of Asian I am." But they are also most likely to follow it up with some Oprahesque bollocks such as "we are all Americans, after all." Or "We should be color blind. (WTF?)"


Q: "Do people honestly go around asking every person they meet what kind of ethnic group they belong to?"

A: I often ask interesting looking white people I meet what their ethnic background is (English, Irish, Scottish, German, etc.). But only if I can't guess by looking at them. They are never offended by it, and are generally happy to tell me. Especially if they are Irish. :-)

Please don't take people's curiosity the wrong way. It is harmless, and very likely you would have the same curiosity about Asian folk if you were of a non-Asian race.

:-)

Namaste.

Answer 2

Wow... Asia is the largest continent in the world... there are Russian Asians, Japanese Asians, Mongolian Asians, Chinese, Korean, etc., Asians. In fact, there are so many different types of Asians as to almost make the term meaningless. All because of something called the "epicanthic fold" in the corner of the eye! I'll bet your blood is still red - just like other human beings. If this bothers you just tell the people that ask you that you prefer to be called "Asian" - most people will be nice about it.

Answer 3

I agree with the rest, they were probably just curious, and of course it doesn't matter what ethnic group anyone belongs to.

In England, when we refer to someone as Asian, we mean someone from the Indian Continent. Instead, people from South East Asia are referred as Far Eastern, or Oriental.

I know from my cousins that some people don't like the word Oriental in the US, but to Europeans, it is regarded as complimentary because classy and expensive things have the word Orient in them: The Orient Express, Oriental Carpet, Oriental furniture, culture, etc. People who have their own set of preferences about how they wish to be addressed are neither being too PC nor difficult - just their individual choice from experience.

Answer 4

Perhaps they're interested in wherever it is you were born and raised. Many Americans can tell the heritage of another American by surname; but there are not many of us who can tell the same for Asians.
I've traveled a lot in Asia, and can usually tell a person's origin by surname, but still sometimes get tripped up by a person's looks.

Answer 5

Relax - they are just curious. It's a fascinating culture if you ask me! I once asked a guy what natoinality he was, but he got offended and said, "HUMAN." Needless to say, I was crushed.

Answer 6

SO what are you Korean?