The Orient means "the East". It is a traditional designation for anything that belongs to the Eastern world or the Near East or Far East, in relation to Europe. So refering to what we think of as Oriental Japanese, Chinese, Korean and so on is wrong. I think it became offensive in the same way that negro became offensive. People decided they didn't like it anymore. I guess because it was often used in a negative tone by racists.
My understanding is that it's considered offensive now, yeah. Rugs are oriental, people are Asian. I think it's a euphemism treadmill situation. :-/ As long as people are assholes, though, euphemism treadmills will happen.
It's only offensive in North America and Australia. All other places use it as a neutral term to refer to East Asians. Even the English Speaking East Asians in Asia use it all the time.
I was actually surprised when I heard it was offensive, because my relatives from South East Asia use it all the time.
When you say "Asians", what are you referring to
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East Asians, or "Orientals" as they were once referred to as. I don't know why not anymore. If that's considered a racist term now, I do apologize.
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anti-hero
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shuggy-chan
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The Orient means "the East". It is a traditional designation for anything that belongs to the Eastern world or the Near East or Far East, in relation to Europe. So refering to what we think of as Oriental Japanese, Chinese, Korean and so on is wrong. I think it became offensive in the same way that negro became offensive. People decided they didn't like it anymore. I guess because it was often used in a negative tone by racists.
My understanding is that it's considered offensive now, yeah. Rugs are oriental, people are Asian. I think it's a euphemism treadmill situation. :-/ As long as people are assholes, though, euphemism treadmills will happen.
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It's only offensive in North America and Australia. All other places use it as a neutral term to refer to East Asians. Even the English Speaking East Asians in Asia use it all the time.
I was actually surprised when I heard it was offensive, because my relatives from South East Asia use it all the time.
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Rare
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Me too
Funk in Asian ching chong fuckfaces