Is the term "Oriental" offensive?

As some of you have already mentioned, the words Oriental and Orient mean Eastern(er) and East, going back to the Latin word oriens which means East or rising sun (the word originally referred to the rising sun, but since the sun rises in the East, the word also took on the meaning of East).

iT Just means you are from the Orient

What the **** is wrong with it?

I wasn't aware that it is...

I would tend to avoid it, mainly because it doesn't do a very good job narrowing down where the person is from, and I like to be as specific as possible. But i've never heard some one say it's offensive. 

I wasn't aware that it is...

I would tend to avoid it, mainly because it doesn't do a very good job narrowing down where the person is from, and I like to be as specific as possible. But i've never heard some one say it's offensive. 

 

 

BuryMe

Chinaman is not the preferred nomenclature, DudeMrPraline

Apprarently it is.  I never used the term, but some older generations refer to asians as orientals.  I dont think they use it as a slur, it's just what they know.  I usually try to call groups by what they prefer.  Just courtesy.

Chinaman is not the preferred nomenclature, DudeMrPraline

too much racism here, oriental isn't offense