Comments on: Asian Americans and Mistaken Identity http://www.8asians.com/2009/02/16/mistaken-identity/ A blog for Asian Americans Mon, 13 Feb 2012 18:48:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Krantzstone http://www.8asians.com/2009/02/16/mistaken-identity/comment-page-1/#comment-130230 Krantzstone Wed, 31 Mar 2010 13:12:16 +0000 http://www.8asians.com/?p=2649#comment-130230 Interestingly enough, I don't think I've actually been mistaken for another Asian person, at least not to my immediate recollection. I'm pretty sure I would remember if it had happened, because it probably would piss me off unless the guy actually did look somewhat like me. I was going to rant about how it's racist, but I forgot that even Caucasians screw up Bill Paxton and Bill Pullman... and actually so do I. I mean, I know which is which, but I'll forget which one I'm talkinga bout because they have the same damned first name and beginning first letter. And I'd argue that they look less alike to each other than Lisa Ling and Lucy Liu who are both 'L.L.'s and bear very strikingly similar features (although clearly the proportions of their facial features and the shape of their face/heads are entirely different). I think I would be able to tell them apart, but I might mistakenly use one name for the other, for no other reason than they're both 'L.L.'s. And there are people who have difficulty with faces and names (I think it's an autistic trait for some) so I have to cut people some slack. I probably would get mad if it was out of sheer laziness though. That reminds me of the Japanese tourists in 'Crocodile Dundee' who mistake Dundee for "Clint Eastwood". ;) Well, one of them does, the other guy isn't sure, and thinks it's not him. I have to admit I cracked up at that one. Interestingly enough, I don't think I've actually been mistaken for another Asian person, at least not to my immediate recollection. I'm pretty sure I would remember if it had happened, because it probably would piss me off unless the guy actually did look somewhat like me. I was going to rant about how it's racist, but I forgot that even Caucasians screw up Bill Paxton and Bill Pullman… and actually so do I. I mean, I know which is which, but I'll forget which one I'm talkinga bout because they have the same damned first name and beginning first letter. And I'd argue that they look less alike to each other than Lisa Ling and Lucy Liu who are both 'L.L.'s and bear very strikingly similar features (although clearly the proportions of their facial features and the shape of their face/heads are entirely different). I think I would be able to tell them apart, but I might mistakenly use one name for the other, for no other reason than they're both 'L.L.'s. And there are people who have difficulty with faces and names (I think it's an autistic trait for some) so I have to cut people some slack. I probably would get mad if it was out of sheer laziness though. That reminds me of the Japanese tourists in 'Crocodile Dundee' who mistake Dundee for “Clint Eastwood”. ;) Well, one of them does, the other guy isn't sure, and thinks it's not him. I have to admit I cracked up at that one.

]]> By: osazuwa http://www.8asians.com/2009/02/16/mistaken-identity/comment-page-1/#comment-128569 osazuwa Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:25:40 +0000 http://www.8asians.com/?p=2649#comment-128569 Im a big black dude who has lived most of his adult life in Asia, so no problems for me in this arena... anymore. I remember first year of Catholic high school I would confuse these two Vietnamese girls. But I got past it pretty quick.<br><br>The only problem I have now is when I lose my Chinese wife in a crowd of Chinese people--everyone has the same freaking hair color. Good thing is my wife has this particular waddle when she walks, easy to spot in a crowd.<br><br>Lisa Ling, one of my childhood crush, is way hotter than Lucy Liu. Way hotter. Im a big black dude who has lived most of his adult life in Asia, so no problems for me in this arena… anymore. I remember first year of Catholic high school I would confuse these two Vietnamese girls. But I got past it pretty quick.

The only problem I have now is when I lose my Chinese wife in a crowd of Chinese people–everyone has the same freaking hair color. Good thing is my wife has this particular waddle when she walks, easy to spot in a crowd.

Lisa Ling, one of my childhood crush, is way hotter than Lucy Liu. Way hotter.

]]> By: osazuwa http://www.8asians.com/2009/02/16/mistaken-identity/comment-page-1/#comment-125772 osazuwa Tue, 18 Aug 2009 11:25:40 +0000 http://www.8asians.com/?p=2649#comment-125772 Im a big black dude who has lived most of his adult life in Asia, so no problems for me in this arena... anymore. I remember first year of Catholic high school I would confuse these two Vietnamese girls. But I got past it pretty quick.<br><br>The only problem I have now is when I lose my Chinese wife in a crowd of Chinese people--everyone has the same freaking hair color. Good thing is my wife has this particular waddle when she walks, easy to spot in a crowd.<br><br>Lisa Ling, one of my childhood crush, is way hotter than Lucy Liu. Way hotter. Im a big black dude who has lived most of his adult life in Asia, so no problems for me in this arena… anymore. I remember first year of Catholic high school I would confuse these two Vietnamese girls. But I got past it pretty quick.

The only problem I have now is when I lose my Chinese wife in a crowd of Chinese people–everyone has the same freaking hair color. Good thing is my wife has this particular waddle when she walks, easy to spot in a crowd.

Lisa Ling, one of my childhood crush, is way hotter than Lucy Liu. Way hotter.

]]> By: JD http://www.8asians.com/2009/02/16/mistaken-identity/comment-page-1/#comment-125486 JD Wed, 05 Aug 2009 14:52:22 +0000 http://www.8asians.com/?p=2649#comment-125486 This happens to all races... I was visiting Daytona FL and stopped into the NASCAR museum at the raceway. That year Jeff Gordon won the Nextel Cup and as I was getting my picture made by my wife in front of his car that year, Asian tourists wanted their picture with me. I tried to tell them that I was not Jeff Gordon (although I was wearing his hat), but they did not speak english and ignored my plea. I stood there for fifteen minutes taking pictures and signing autographs as Jeff Gordon until my wife got pissed and we left. I was very surprised that I was not arrested for imitating him. This happens to all races… I was visiting Daytona FL and stopped into the NASCAR museum at the raceway. That year Jeff Gordon won the Nextel Cup and as I was getting my picture made by my wife in front of his car that year, Asian tourists wanted their picture with me. I tried to tell them that I was not Jeff Gordon (although I was wearing his hat), but they did not speak english and ignored my plea. I stood there for fifteen minutes taking pictures and signing autographs as Jeff Gordon until my wife got pissed and we left. I was very surprised that I was not arrested for imitating him.

]]> By: JD http://www.8asians.com/2009/02/16/mistaken-identity/comment-page-1/#comment-141507 JD Wed, 05 Aug 2009 14:52:00 +0000 http://www.8asians.com/?p=2649#comment-141507 This happens to all races... I was visiting Daytona FL and stopped into the NASCAR museum at the raceway. That year Jeff Gordon won the Nextel Cup and as I was getting my picture made by my wife in front of his car that year, Asian tourists wanted their picture with me. I tried to tell them that I was not Jeff Gordon (although I was wearing his hat), but they did not speak english and ignored my plea. I stood there for fifteen minutes taking pictures and signing autographs as Jeff Gordon until my wife got pissed and we left. I was very surprised that I was not arrested for imitating him. This happens to all races… I was visiting Daytona FL and stopped into the NASCAR museum at the raceway. That year Jeff Gordon won the Nextel Cup and as I was getting my picture made by my wife in front of his car that year, Asian tourists wanted their picture with me. I tried to tell them that I was not Jeff Gordon (although I was wearing his hat), but they did not speak english and ignored my plea. I stood there for fifteen minutes taking pictures and signing autographs as Jeff Gordon until my wife got pissed and we left. I was very surprised that I was not arrested for imitating him.

]]> By: Charles http://www.8asians.com/2009/02/16/mistaken-identity/comment-page-1/#comment-116095 Charles Mon, 16 Mar 2009 05:47:47 +0000 http://www.8asians.com/?p=2649#comment-116095 There are regularly pairs of people that I--a white guy--mix up, usually in one direction. Whenever I call the wrong person by the wrong name and they happen to be a person of color, I'm always afraid they'll think it's because I think all x people look alike. Sometimes I get a look from them that implies that's exactly what they thought. What they don't realize is that it also happens to me with white folks, and at least as frequently. I'm just crappy with names. There are regularly pairs of people that I–a white guy–mix up, usually in one direction. Whenever I call the wrong person by the wrong name and they happen to be a person of color, I’m always afraid they’ll think it’s because I think all x people look alike. Sometimes I get a look from them that implies that’s exactly what they thought. What they don’t realize is that it also happens to me with white folks, and at least as frequently. I’m just crappy with names.

]]> By: Charles http://www.8asians.com/2009/02/16/mistaken-identity/comment-page-1/#comment-140225 Charles Mon, 16 Mar 2009 05:47:00 +0000 http://www.8asians.com/?p=2649#comment-140225 There are regularly pairs of people that I--a white guy--mix up, usually in one direction. Whenever I call the wrong person by the wrong name and they happen to be a person of color, I'm always afraid they'll think it's because I think all x people look alike. Sometimes I get a look from them that implies that's exactly what they thought. What they don't realize is that it also happens to me with white folks, and at least as frequently. I'm just crappy with names. There are regularly pairs of people that I–a white guy–mix up, usually in one direction. Whenever I call the wrong person by the wrong name and they happen to be a person of color, I’m always afraid they’ll think it’s because I think all x people look alike. Sometimes I get a look from them that implies that’s exactly what they thought. What they don’t realize is that it also happens to me with white folks, and at least as frequently. I’m just crappy with names.

]]> By: 8Asians.com » Popular Posts from 8Asians in the Past 30 Days http://www.8asians.com/2009/02/16/mistaken-identity/comment-page-1/#comment-116070 8Asians.com » Popular Posts from 8Asians in the Past 30 Days Mon, 16 Mar 2009 00:02:47 +0000 http://www.8asians.com/?p=2649#comment-116070 [...] Asian Americans and Mistaken Identity: White folks think we all look the same, but shh - we kinda think they all look alike too! [...] [...] Asian Americans and Mistaken Identity: White folks think we all look the same, but shh – we kinda think they all look alike too! [...]

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