Are we getting a tad precious?

Forums › Off topic › Are we getting a tad precious?

Technofreak

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# 245564 11-Feb-2019 09:54

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I see the article in the NZ Herald about patrons with Asian heritage at a cafe having the word "asians" printed on their food docket as a way of identifying them and this being described as racist.

I mean really? How is that in any way racist?

If I were in a cafe where I was in the minority and the word european was used to help identify me I wouldn't for one moment think that was racist. If a derogatory description like honky was used I might raise my eyebrows even then I wouldn't get upset enough to make a song and dance about it.

To me racist is when someone deliberately type casts someone in a derogatory manner. This certainly didn't happen in the story in the herald.

This is just one example of how terms like racist are being misused more and more these days.

I think we all need to take a chill pill sometimes.

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# 2176216 11-Feb-2019 09:57

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Dial111

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# 2176217 11-Feb-2019 09:59

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It is people being precious and than you add social media into the frame and it amplifies it tenfold.

I agree it’s not racist.

tdgeek

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# 2176218 11-Feb-2019 10:01

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I agree. If we were in Oz, and the docket said Kiwis, whats the issue. Or schoolkids, or elderly couple, or the orange shirt guy

Its merely saying a description that at that time was a unique description.

So much for a multi cultural country when we are not allowed to mention the other cultures.

trig42

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# 2176219 11-Feb-2019 10:01

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I, too, read this story and thought wtf. No way that (as it is reported) is racist. It is a way for the staff to identify a table of customers.

It would be the same as saying 'blonde lady with red shoes'.

xpd

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# 2176222 11-Feb-2019 10:06

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Yes and no. Yes, fine, be a bit offended, but today its so easy to make things public etc thanks to the internet so people do it to stir things up. Take away the internet and you probably wouldnt hear about it and you put it down to a bad day and get on with your life.

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Coil

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# 2176224 11-Feb-2019 10:10

Those who suggest that a description of themselves based on visual appearance is racist then they either have some identity issues or are no better than the lady at my work who suggested she has the power as a woman to say a man touched her and call it harassment when nothing happened.

tech1234

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# 2176234 11-Feb-2019 10:43

Can't quite work out why this is a story.

Unless ........... they weren't actually Asian but the waiter thought they looked Asian.

Whole new can of worms there.

Is feeling insulted by being called Asian not a little bit racist?

gzt

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# 2176261 11-Feb-2019 11:32

Link to article: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12202539

Manager apologised. New staff member apparently.

I think you get this problem where people have experienced racism and are more sensitive as a result. No one like to be called a foreigner in their own country. Personally I recall in the 90s anti-asian type racism was out of control. Don't know what else to say except there is some kind of legacy from that.

networkn

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# 2176267 11-Feb-2019 11:39

The bottom line is this:

1) Were they Asian? If so, if the customer got upset, then that's really on them.

I did speak to one of my staff who is Chinese and asked him his opinion of this. He said he wouldn't personally have been upset, but he knows a few families who would have. Historically, there is incidences of Asian being used as a deragatory term, however, if you are from Asia, then you can legitimately be called Asian.

I do believe however, it all could have been avoided, if the staff member had asked another staff member the table number. Learning opportunity.

People need to get themselves some perspective however.

tdgeek

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# 2176273 11-Feb-2019 11:43

gzt: Link to article: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12202539

Manager apologised. New staff member apparently.

I think you get this problem where people have experienced racism and are more sensitive as a result. No one like to be called a foreigner in their own country. Personally I recall in the 90s anti-asian type racism was out of control. Don't know what else to say except there is some kind of legacy from that.

Yes, I think there is a legacy. Some people are waiting to be treated badly due to their race, but that does not help when the expected racism isn't there as in this case, they are keeping it alive and well by keeping it current.

jonb

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# 2176274 11-Feb-2019 11:44

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The other cafe article at the weekend was a joke..

Who rings the Herald up for not being served their coffee in a take away cup, so much entitlement..

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12201909

Geektastic

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# 2176275 11-Feb-2019 11:46

jonb: The other cafe article at the weekend was a joke..

Who rings the Herald up for not being served their coffee in a take away cup, so much entitlement..

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12201909

Yes, saw that one and was utterly flummoxed by it.

networkn

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# 2176280 11-Feb-2019 11:51

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Geektastic:

jonb: The other cafe article at the weekend was a joke..

Who rings the Herald up for not being served their coffee in a take away cup, so much entitlement..

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12201909

Yes, saw that one and was utterly flummoxed by it.

Same, though if the Lady was prepared to pay for a takeaway cup and it meant so much to her, then I would have given her one. I would have told her that the policy going forward was x and she would need to adjust her coffee purchasing decisions on that going forward.

Having said that, if the woman was abusive to one of my staff, as alleged, then I'd have been asking her to leave immediately as well.

People these days....

kobiak

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# 2176285 11-Feb-2019 12:03

it's a miracle that ppl that easily offended got out of the house for a coffee! good on them!

I'm not asian/black/brown or any of the minority groups, apart from being russian expat in the racist driven community of long white cloud (jokes :D), so I will never understand how a little innocent remark (calling group of asians as asians) - could cause racist debate. wtf!

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frankv

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# 2176287 11-Feb-2019 12:07

JAFAs! :rolleyes:

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