paging the PC police
is it still acceptable to call people "orientals"?
no really.
my husband and i were just discussing this... and frankly, we don't know if it's still politically correct.
you can call people asians... or japanese, chinese, korean or whatever their specific nationality is...
and the term asian would encompass everyone from the entire continent of asia.
but is china and whatever still called "the orient"?
and therefore oriental would be acceptable... right?
we're confused.
where do you find this stuff out?
i should point out at this point, that we are aware this is a retard conversation.
it actually was sparked by the kfc commercial that was pumping it's oriental style chicken.
which by the way looks gross.
no really.
my husband and i were just discussing this... and frankly, we don't know if it's still politically correct.
you can call people asians... or japanese, chinese, korean or whatever their specific nationality is...
and the term asian would encompass everyone from the entire continent of asia.
but is china and whatever still called "the orient"?
and therefore oriental would be acceptable... right?
we're confused.
where do you find this stuff out?
i should point out at this point, that we are aware this is a retard conversation.
it actually was sparked by the kfc commercial that was pumping it's oriental style chicken.
which by the way looks gross.
Also, if it's acceptable to call people from china, japan, etc Asian, how come we don't call people from the eastern part of the former USSR asian?
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Thank you, Wikipedia!
"The term "Oriental" (from the Latin word for "Eastern")was originally used in Europe in reference to the Near East. It was later extended to the rest of Asia, but came to refer to Northeast Asians and Southeast Asians in the 19th and 20th century US, where most Asians were Chinese (and later Japanese and Filipino). By the late 20th century, the term had gathered associations in North America with older attitudes now seen as outmoded, and was replaced with the term "Asian" as part of the updating of language concerning social identities, which critics have derided as political correctness. In Europe however use of the term oriental for a east Asian has no negative connotations attached and is commonly used since here 'Asian' is taking to mean a South Asian.
I think it depends on where you are as to whether the term is PC or not.
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I think the "orient" went out with colonialism... it's just a way for KFC to say "hey look a new generic flavour! No country will lay claim to it, and it's in no way authentic, so we'll use the term Orient!"
PS - KFC is always gross, and I'm not even a vegetarian.
PPS - I had a big ol' bowl of sarcasm for breakfast this morning.
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This is a great point you bring up here.
I grew up in Richmond, and we all know that being a white caucasian male in Richmond DEFINITELY places you in the minority. Back in the 80's - hell, even into the 90's - the term "Oriental" was a wholly kosher way to refer to someone of Chinese descent. We used it all the time, and no one took offence... When it went out of popular favour, I don't know - it's like we all woke up one morning from this Zoolander-after-the-Day-Spa fever dream to a world where "Oriental" is the new "chink."
That having been said...
No one really says "Oriental" anymore besides senile old people who don't know any better - which makes you wonder what target audience KFC is shooting for. Probably the one that can still stand to mash their dentures on KFC's deep fried slop while throwing around antiquated racial slurs.
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this comment wins the slow clap award!
*clap...... clap..... clap...... clap..... clap...... clap.....*
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the term oriental has long been used incorrectly. it has nothing to do with PC or non PC.
there is THE ORIENT referring to a region and there is ORIENTAL referring to things from the orient... object, not people. an oriental rug, an oriental lamp etc. People are referred to as Asians or as being "from the orient".
simply put - people are asians. things and places are oriental.
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