Tucker: Masks and social distancing have no basis in science

[Rainman]

@Axtremus
"Very specifically, I talked only about Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan. Not “Asia” or “Asian” in general."

Hey Ax 'ol buddy. Serious question from me.
Is it politically incorrect, or perhaps offensive, for me to use the word "Asian" without being more specific? It seemed maybe you were a bit put off by the way I stated my question? No offense meant by me if so.

[Axtremus]

@Rainman said in Tucker: Masks and social distancing have no basis in science:

@Axtremus
"Very specifically, I talked only about Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan. Not “Asia” or “Asian” in general."

Hey Ax 'ol buddy. Serious question from me.
Is it politically incorrect, or perhaps offensive, for me to use the word "Asian" without being more specific? It seemed maybe you were a bit put off by the way I stated my question? No offense meant by me if so.

Not “politically incorrect” and not “offensive,” just intellectually sloppy in this case. I described certain regional norm, and you generalized it well beyond the specific regions where the described norm is evident. My follow up post clarified that your generalization has no basis in fact.

[George K]

Yesterday, Mrs. George asked me when it became improper to say "Oriental." When and why was that term replaced by "Asian?" Is "Oriental" not accurate, or is it offensive in some way?

[Axtremus]

As a matter of common usage, it seems to me “oriental” typically refers to East Asian; I don’t think I have ever heard the word used to refer to, say, a person from the India subcontinent or from the part of Russia that’s technically in north Asia. :man-shrugging:

[George K]

@Axtremus said in Tucker: Masks and social distancing have no basis in science:

As a matter of common usage, it seems to me “oriental” typically refers to East Asian; I don’t think I have ever heard the word used to refer to, say, a person from the India subcontinent or from the part of Russia that’s technically in north Asia. :man-shrugging:

That makes sense. So, in today's parlance, can I say "Asian" in reference to a person from India instead of "Indian?" Would that be a faux-pas? I believe in Britain "Asian" commonly refers to people from Pakistan, etc. It's all so confusing.

I'm afraid of offending someone, you know.

[Catseye3]

@George-K said in Tucker: Masks and social distancing have no basis in science:

I'm afraid of offending someone, you know.

I think that ship has sailed, my friend.

[Axtremus]

@George-K said in Tucker: Masks and social distancing have no basis in science:

@Axtremus said in Tucker: Masks and social distancing have no basis in science:

As a matter of common usage, it seems to me “oriental” typically refers to East Asian; I don’t think I have ever heard the word used to refer to, say, a person from the India subcontinent or from the part of Russia that’s technically in north Asia. :man-shrugging:

That makes sense. So, in today's parlance, can I say "Asian" in reference to a person from India instead of "Indian?" Would that be a faux-pas? I believe in Britain "Asian" commonly refers to people from Pakistan, etc. It's all so confusing.

I'm afraid of offending someone, you know.

It’s like saying “baby grand” in piano forum, different people have different opinions on what that term can mean. I try to be specific where possible (e.g., “6 ft. grand” or “185cm grand” as opposed to “baby grand”). So too with people’s ethnicity, nationality, or geographic origins (e.g., “a Singaporean” as opposed to “an Asian”).

[Doctor Phibes]

@George-K said in Tucker: Masks and social distancing have no basis in science:

@Axtremus said in Tucker: Masks and social distancing have no basis in science:

As a matter of common usage, it seems to me “oriental” typically refers to East Asian; I don’t think I have ever heard the word used to refer to, say, a person from the India subcontinent or from the part of Russia that’s technically in north Asia. :man-shrugging:

That makes sense. So, in today's parlance, can I say "Asian" in reference to a person from India instead of "Indian?" Would that be a faux-pas? I believe in Britain "Asian" commonly refers to people from Pakistan, etc. It's all so confusing.

I'm afraid of offending someone, you know.

In the UK, Asian typically means either India or Pakistan - there are actually more people of Indian origin than of Pakistani in the UK, but it can mean anybody from the Indian subcontinent and surrounding area, e.g. Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan...

[taiwan_girl]

@George-K said in Tucker: Masks and social distancing have no basis in science:

Yesterday, Mrs. George asked me when it became improper to say "Oriental." When and why was that term replaced by "Asian?" Is "Oriental" not accurate, or is it offensive in some way?

I have never really heard that term before. But I do remember visiting the Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago. If I remember, it is mainly about Egyptian artifacts, etc.

[Copper]

@George-K said in Tucker: Masks and social distancing have no basis in science:

Yesterday, Mrs. George asked me when it became improper to say "Oriental." When and why was that term replaced by "Asian?" Is "Oriental" not accurate, or is it offensive in some way?

It is accurate.

It is in no way offensive.

But it was outlawed for no reason I can figure out maybe 15 years ago.

It was replaced with Asian, which is obviously inaccurate. Asia goes all the way over to Turkey but Asian is used to describe those from Eastern Asia.

I say bring back Oriental. I don't think there was ever any disrespect associated with it.