Excited
This week, Yahoo launched a beta service called Y! Live, a site that lets anyone with a webcam create their own live web video channel. On a lark, I decided to try it. I mean, what harm could it be, right? Not ten seconds after I started broadcasting, I had a few guests come into the chatroom. And as one might expect, one of them appeared to be a guy who wanted me to take off my clothes. But that’s not the hilariously offensive part. The part that really got me was when he actually told me to “do something Asian plz.” That’s when I started taking screenshots and then promptly left the channel:
This had me thinking. First of all, what the heck is he asking me to do? Eat rice? Do the peace sign? Giggle incessantly? What exactly is “doing something Asian”? Then I remembered to the first days of the dot-com era when I used to have an actual webcam, to display on my blog. Don’t ask me why; I was an innocent tech-curious girl who wanted to know what the hubbub was about. So I went to this random QuickCam site that was suggested with the software, and started to broadcast. Within minutes, if not seconds, I had people chatting me up with really crude pick-up lines. And almost all of them referred to me being Asian as one of the key points.
Of course, I’m not saying I’m unfamiliar with the idea of the Asian fetish. But it was still a shocking and surprising thing to someone who a) didn’t get a lot of flirtations in real life, and b) wasn’t used to being so readily stereotyped.
All of which led me to these questions: Do Asian women, just by the nature of being Asian, appear more submissive to people in general? Are we more coveted as sex objects compared to white women? The answers are probably “yes” but I would love to hear what people have to say about this, and what Asian women in particular have done to deal with this kind of stereotype.
PS. And yes, I know I was naive in expecting actual civility on the Internet with the webcam. My bad.
How does this post make you feel?
- Fascinated
- Amused
- Bored
- Sad
- Angry
NOTE: 8Asians.com is a community, and we thank you for being a part of it. While we welcome and appreciate differences in opinion, if you're rude or you're promoting spam, we have a right to edit or delete your comment. Read our comment policy for more information.
If you see a comment that violates the 8Asians.com comment policy, you may flag the comment by mousing over the comment and clicking "FLAG."
Yeah, Efi.
NO ONE wants to see that, I promise.
No one.
Yeah, Efi.
NO ONE wants to see that, I promise.
No one.
Xxxtine: get joz's picture from her most recent blog post, and get a suggestively placed pocky stick, and voila! joz blowing!
;)
Xxxtine: get joz's picture from her most recent blog post, and get a suggestively placed pocky stick, and voila! joz blowing!
;)
I don't mean to stereotype at all, but I've noticed a bit of a pattern here (and yes, I am an asian female).. I always see older white men with much younger asian women. Maybe some do it for the financial support? My friend (who is, like me, i in high school) was downtown once, and this 50-year-old white guy tried to take her out to lunch. Later on, she saw him walking with a very, very confused asian women.
I think one stereotype is that since there are so many asian women, asians are easy.
I don't mean to stereotype at all, but I've noticed a bit of a pattern here (and yes, I am an asian female).. I always see older white men with much younger asian women. Maybe some do it for the financial support? My friend (who is, like me, i in high school) was downtown once, and this 50-year-old white guy tried to take her out to lunch. Later on, she saw him walking with a very, very confused asian women.
I think one stereotype is that since there are so many asian women, asians are easy.
Joz, you giving up already ... that blows ... oh wait ...
Joz, you giving up already ... that blows ... oh wait ...
LOL! Somebody should make a video for youtube. Have "Bizarre Love Triangle" by New Order playing in the background - even more appropriate than any Barry White song.
LOL! Somebody should make a video for youtube. Have "Bizarre Love Triangle" by New Order playing in the background - even more appropriate than any Barry White song.
joz: I'm sure you can top Edison Chen, just go to your local adult toy store...and you can figure out the rest...
joz: I'm sure you can top Edison Chen, just go to your local adult toy store...and you can figure out the rest...
Hm, I'm wondering if he wasn't just trying to offend you on purpose by saying things that he KNEW would offend you.
Hm, I'm wondering if he wasn't just trying to offend you on purpose by saying things that he KNEW would offend you.
Eat some rice.
That would be sooooo hot.
Eat some rice.
That would be sooooo hot.
Forget the "do something asian plz" comment. The guy still supports Ron Paul, who is batshit crazy, and 99% of his (current) supporters are batshit crazy. Anyone who still supports Ron Paul after Paul was outed (around a month ago) for sending out racist, homophobic and anti-Semitic newsletters in the 1990s is a nutball. Anyway, I wouldn't worry about what a nutball says online. :)
Forget the "do something asian plz" comment. The guy still supports Ron Paul, who is batshit crazy, and 99% of his (current) supporters are batshit crazy. Anyone who still supports Ron Paul after Paul was outed (around a month ago) for sending out racist, homophobic and anti-Semitic newsletters in the 1990s is a nutball. Anyway, I wouldn't worry about what a nutball says online. :)
*waves a little white flag*
I give up, y'all!
I can't top Edison Chen... oh wait...
*waves a little white flag*
I give up, y'all!
I can't top Edison Chen... oh wait...
Wait, can I have sex with Edison Chen?!!! ;)
Wait, can I have sex with Edison Chen?!!! ;)
Watch me have sex with Edison Chen ... oh wait ...
Watch me have sex with Edison Chen ... oh wait ...
Xxxtine,
Please just let me have a bite of your won ton.
Please?!!?
Xxxtine,
Please just let me have a bite of your won ton.
Please?!!?
Joz,
I want you to Poke-your-mon.
Pwahahahahahaha!
Joz,
I want you to Poke-your-mon.
Pwahahahahahaha!
bwahaha @ Xxxtine!
Oh, Xxxtine! You know how much I want to play with your Hello Kitty!
:P
bwahaha @ Xxxtine!
Oh, Xxxtine! You know how much I want to play with your Hello Kitty!
:P
Joz ... I want you to lick that Pocky stick ... Lick it good.
:-D
Joz ... I want you to lick that Pocky stick ... Lick it good.
:-D
Oh yeah, baby...
Drink some tea, Nicole...
Ooh, that's so hot!
:P
Oh yeah, baby...
Drink some tea, Nicole...
Ooh, that's so hot!
:P
giggle, say no, and then give in.
giggle, say no, and then give in.
It's sad but a common observation that Asian woman, like every other human being enjoys, even basks in the glow of adoration. Imagine for a moment you were born into a certain minority group that thought it virtuous to be humble and hard working, not to look people in the eyes and a bunch of other commonalities we Asians feel represent us as an Asian people. Then picture suddenly you've bloomed into a young woman and are now the center of attention from hordes of testosterone- charged peckerwoods whose preconceived notions of Asian woman are the ones portrayed in the media. Now, these crackers are relentless because like all predictors, with dedication and hard work - especially when the word around town is it's just that easy - it's a sure thing. So, let's be honest. Who doesn't like fortitude and dedication ?
It's sad but a common observation that Asian woman, like every other human being enjoys, even basks in the glow of adoration. Imagine for a moment you were born into a certain minority group that thought it virtuous to be humble and hard working, not to look people in the eyes and a bunch of other commonalities we Asians feel represent us as an Asian people. Then picture suddenly you've bloomed into a young woman and are now the center of attention from hordes of testosterone- charged peckerwoods whose preconceived notions of Asian woman are the ones portrayed in the media. Now, these crackers are relentless because like all predictors, with dedication and hard work - especially when the word around town is it's just that easy - it's a sure thing. So, let's be honest. Who doesn't like fortitude and dedication ?
"Doing something Asian, huh?" Maybe he wants your Mom to call you up incessantly and ask if you've eaten yet.
For the record, I tried y!live tonight; like any social network with a high degree of anonymity, there's a high degree of trolling, and I'm not a chick; best bet is to just make your account not searchable from the main page. I did that, IMed some friends and hilarity ensued, although I felt exhausted after a while - felt like I had to be "on" all the time.
"Doing something Asian, huh?" Maybe he wants your Mom to call you up incessantly and ask if you've eaten yet.
For the record, I tried y!live tonight; like any social network with a high degree of anonymity, there's a high degree of trolling, and I'm not a chick; best bet is to just make your account not searchable from the main page. I did that, IMed some friends and hilarity ensued, although I felt exhausted after a while - felt like I had to be "on" all the time.
"Do something american plz" LOLZ.
I have no idea what "doing something Asian" would even entail, especially online. Bizarre.
"Do something american plz" LOLZ.
I have no idea what "doing something Asian" would even entail, especially online. Bizarre.
Ok, so I had this great comment in mind about how men and women are like this or that, but I can't really talk about it without a lot of blabbering. :D
Anyways, what is doing something asian? it's such a stereotypical thing. But the world is made up of stereotypes, so i guess we have to live with it. or do we?
Anyways, I think asian women are looked upon as submissive, only because of a stereotype and how it used to be. I know so many people who think they know so much about japan and japanese subculture, but they've never been to japan. Hmm something about that seems not right.
(bah i'm blabbering.)
Ok, so I had this great comment in mind about how men and women are like this or that, but I can't really talk about it without a lot of blabbering. :D
Anyways, what is doing something asian? it's such a stereotypical thing. But the world is made up of stereotypes, so i guess we have to live with it. or do we?
Anyways, I think asian women are looked upon as submissive, only because of a stereotype and how it used to be. I know so many people who think they know so much about japan and japanese subculture, but they've never been to japan. Hmm something about that seems not right.
(bah i'm blabbering.)
Ahahahahahah @ Joz ...
That's almost like saying, "Twirl you hair with chopsticks" - which I currently can't because I've chopped most of my hair off now.
Do something Asian? ... 1 + 1 = FU
Ahahahahahah @ Joz ...
That's almost like saying, "Twirl you hair with chopsticks" - which I currently can't because I've chopped most of my hair off now.
Do something Asian? ... 1 + 1 = FU
Said to an Asian male, "do something Asian please" means "please just do as I order you to do without objection or complaint. Said to an Asian female, it means the same exact only, only with sexual implications.
Said to an Asian male, "do something Asian please" means "please just do as I order you to do without objection or complaint. Said to an Asian female, it means the same exact only, only with sexual implications.
Very sorry to hear it, Nicole.
And yet ... I had a really cool experience with live.yahoo.com. Just poking around, and found some guy I didn't know who had his Powerbook and an EVDO hookup in a Barack Obama rally in Seattle. By the time it was over we had something like 150 folks all together, watching and chatting with a remarkable degree of civility. Screenshots and impressions are here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kentbrew/sets/7215760...
I think Live -- if it scales, and the right sort of community pathways form around it -- is going to be a game-changer along the lines of YouTube.
Very sorry to hear it, Nicole.
And yet ... I had a really cool experience with live.yahoo.com. Just poking around, and found some guy I didn't know who had his Powerbook and an EVDO hookup in a Barack Obama rally in Seattle. By the time it was over we had something like 150 folks all together, watching and chatting with a remarkable degree of civility. Screenshots and impressions are here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kentbrew/sets/7215760...
I think Live -- if it scales, and the right sort of community pathways form around it -- is going to be a game-changer along the lines of YouTube.
Custom Search
Recent Posts
- Handcrafted “Oswald” Wooden Sunglasses
- What if Jeremy Lin Weren’t Asian?
- Jason Wu’s Target Collection Debuts With Super Bowl XLVI
- Jennifer Yuh Nelson Wins Annie Award for Kung Fu Panda 2
- Report Reveals APA Gay & Lesbian Organizations Only Receive 0.7% Of Available LGBT Funding
- What I Learned From Posting A Dragon Lady Personal Ad
- Hard Boiled Egg Mold for Bento Decoration
Recent Comments
- : I agree with several of the points made in the article, but I can't help but feel you're missing something. For starters, you're overlooking the... – What if Jeremy Lin Weren't Asian?
- : This is stupid, after a civil war, the loser shouldnt be considered a different country. Civil war in America, Ethiopia, Lebanon etc, didn't end with... – NPR / KQED: Why Taiwan Matters: Small Island, Global Powerhouse
- : @Reechard That's my point... If he weren't Asian, he wouldn't matter (as much). My question is this: Why Jeremy? What makes him special? And what... – What if Jeremy Lin Weren't Asian?
- : Also, I think your fear that if he fails it will spur stereotypes is unfounded. Those stereotypes already existed before Jeremy Lin exploded into the... – What if Jeremy Lin Weren't Asian?
- : I think America pretty much DOES recognize that "LinSanity" is spurred heavily on the fact that he is "Asian-American in a league devoid of them:... – What if Jeremy Lin Weren't Asian?
APA Events
Feb 15: (Seattle, WA) Pork Filled Players Enter The Year of the Dragon Spam*O*Rama
Feb 16: Adam WarRock and Kirby Krackle: West Cost Tour Dates!!!
Feb 16: (New York, NY) Amar Chitra Katha: Monica Ferrell, Chitra Ganesh, Keshni Kashyap, and Himanshu “Heems” Suri of Das Racist
Feb 17: (Los Angeles, CA) All My Sons
Feb 18: (Stanford, CA) Stanford’s 16th Listen to the Silence Conference- Feb 18: (San Francisco, CA) NAAAP-SF Lunar New Year Gala 2012
Feb 25: (Los Angeles, CA) Past Present I Future Imperatives: Queer Space Time
Apr 30: (Sacramento, CA) California Asian Pacific Islander Policy Summit 2012: iAdvocate
Staff and Contributors
- Editors
- Ernie Hsiung - Founder, Editor-in-Chief
- Moye Ishimoto - Co-Editor, Editorial
- Joz Wang - Co-Editor, PR & APA Outreach
