Out of curiosity..

CCJW · Joined: 20 Dec 2007 Posts: 3

It is a genuine question I have and would like to know if this only happens to me or does it happen to others..

I live in London and since I've been here I started to realise that the environment is quite hostile to the Chinese looking people or at least myself.

Everytime I am out in town, I always hear people mentioning the word "chinese". I am not entirely sure if it is the food they are talking about or the China people or actually me:-(

I just can't believe China or the Chinese are the favourite topic of all these people.. once I overheard some Chinese looking kids walking around and they were talking about how rude some people were by talking about the Chinese to their face.

I have to say that I can find the attitude quite irritating and rude as I don't go round and talk about African people or Middle Eastern looking people or English white people every time I see one and especially not loud enough so that that they can hear me.

Is that racism or just me being over sensitive?

Edwina Lee · Joined: 06 Oct 2006 Posts: 1282 Location: High Wycombe, UK

People are usually talking about food: Chinese, Indian, Mexican, . . . etc.

Also, if a chinese person walks by, it is not surprising it also rminds them of chinese food, or that they want to engage a chinese person by talking about chinese things.

There are also the bullying kind around, so the picture is confusing for us.

You can't go wrong if you smile in return. Even if the original intention was abuse, a smile can often melt their heart.

Edwina xx

CCJW · Joined: 20 Dec 2007 Posts: 3

Thanx.. But even if say these people are a bit thick and just talk loud about Chinese food when they see a Chinese looking person, don't you think this is a bit stereotypical? I mean am I going to think about sunday roastbeef every time I see a British white person?

The other issue is that in case it is with a malicious intent to do so, I feel that I need to stand out more. Because maybe by being so unresponsive, we are just encouraging these people to take liberties and push the limits..

chunxueping · Joined: 24 Jun 2007 Posts: 749 Location: Beijing, PRC

Depends where you at. Some areas can be a bit difficult others areas no bother at all. In one place I found a group of caucasians being unpleasant to me but in their eyes they maybe think just teasing. Same place, same time, another caucasian was willing to protect me maybe at risk of his own life.

I say take no notice. You get idiots wherever you go but it is not worth start a fight over unless you sure of winning. You can get oversensitive about these things and start worry about people "Looking at you in funny way". If they want to start a fight then you playing their game. Walk away unless you have no other choice.

Edwina Lee · Joined: 06 Oct 2006 Posts: 1282 Location: High Wycombe, UK

CCJW: " . . .I mean am I going to think about sunday roastbeef every time I see a British white person? . . ."
___________________________________________________

CCJW,

One can never access a stranger's intentions with much certainty. People rarely act as we expect them to.

The issue here is to act in a way to bring out the best likely outcome in the face of uncertainty.

That is why I say to you smile. A smile usually tame beasts. If they are friendly, they will smile back. If they are determined to be unfriendly, they might say something abusive, but in this case, let them defeat themselves - just let them be. The outcome here is you have avoided an unpleasant incident which can spiral out of hand if you acted in a way which can provoke them.

Trust me, I am experienced in such things.

Edwina xx

quietman · Joined: 26 Nov 2007 Posts: 72 Location: Liverpool

I am surprised to hear CCJW's comments as London is the most cosmopolitan city in the UK,I believe.

I've heard white people say that often whites are a minority in London. Not been to London for ages myself(15 years ago,I think),so wouldn't know for sure.

I've not heard people speaking about Chinese in my presence, unless it's some kind of racist comment, usually by the young and that is very rare these days.

chuntruong · Joined: 11 Sep 2007 Posts: 32

I have been brought up in London for the past 25 years plus and to be fair I have never encoutered poeple in the street talking about me being Chinese.

I use to get some racist remarks at school (I was the only Chinese) but that is not limited to me because I am chinese - I think children were generally racist if you were not White.

I feel very intergrated in London which is a melting pot of all types of people. I know this is not the case in all cities in England.

T5unamie · Joined: 19 Dec 2007 Posts: 65

Words only have power if you give it to them. Pay no attention to small minded people.

I also like to note that I and several friends have inside jokes from our university days. Mate Jody will put his hands and do the slit eye's joke while say Chinese and I will call him Thai Talion. Some Chinese people walking by look at him like he's made and I have to scream and shout to draw the attention on to me saying he just got let out of the mental institution. Some of my black friends call me Chigger and such. I take these very affectionately and ear them as a badge. They are not words used to oppress or segregate. They help me feel that I have my own place amongst my male friends. One of the lads in short.

British younger generation are more liberal and voice things more often than not. So I would not pay much attention to the ones that give you grief since I have been treaty very well as most British citizens feel Chinese people are always curious, nice and polite. Well until they talk to me when I am drunk anyway ;P

To note the girls I do know when this happens freak out which is kind of cute. They think its nice right to be referred to as Chinese person when greeted LOL!

student10 · Joined: 27 Dec 2006 Posts: 13

there's two things u can do
1) the physical come back - u'll have to get a 'killer' face for this, basically, if they try to taunt u, flash them a really hostile look, that should stop them because whites generally think 'all chinese' know kung fu, at least the uneducated ones who are provoking u do

2) the social come back - to do this u have to be quite thick skinned, n a relatively good mastery of the language, basically think of a way of embarrasing them in public, usually shouting at them with a hostile look should do the trick

ps : if u choose the physical come back, make sure ur actually able to follow through should it escalate into a proper fight, (it hardly does, people choose the path of least resistance most of the time which is why this works in the first place) - learn how to fight (fencing or self defence classes are good)
fighting is all about timing and getting the first punch in

chunxueping · Joined: 24 Jun 2007 Posts: 749 Location: Beijing, PRC

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