Why do people say asians?

This is something that's bugged me for a while. Why do people refer to Japanese, Chinese, Koreans ect. As asians? That doesn't make sense, shouldn't it be east asians?

Asia is huge and covers places like Iraq and Russia.

So why would refer to people like Jackie Chan for instance, as asian?

That's the most vague C.lassfication ever.

This is kind of like the complaint that people sometimes raise about calling citizens of the United States of America "Americans", despite the fact that technically speaking anyone living in either North or South America could be called "American", just as those from Europe are "Europeans". It's a valid complaint, but at the same time the terminology used is well understood and sufficiently precise and descriptive that there is no real practical reason to change it.

This is something that's bugged me for a while. Why do people refer to Japanese, Chinese, Koreans ect. As asians? That doesn't make sense, shouldn't it be east asians?

Asia is huge and covers places like Iraq and Russia.

So why would refer to people like Jackie Chan for instance, as asian?

That's the most vague C.lassfication ever.

SideSwipes

even tho Russia is an asian country. it is usually referred to a European country

This is kind of like the complaint that people sometimes raise about calling citizens of the United States of America "Americans", despite the fact that technically speaking anyone living in either North or South America could be called "American", just as those from Europe are "Europeans". It's a valid complaint, but at the same time the terminology used is well understood and sufficiently precise and descriptive that there is no real practical reason to change it.

GabuEx

even tho Russia is an asian country. it is usually referred to a European country

pc-ps360

It's kind of half and half. Western Russia is generally considered part of Europe, while the rest is generally considered part of Asia.

[QUOTE="SideSwipes"]

This is something that's bugged me for a while. Why do people refer to Japanese, Chinese, Koreans ect. As asians? That doesn't make sense, shouldn't it be east asians?

Asia is huge and covers places like Iraq and Russia.

So why would refer to people like Jackie Chan for instance, as asian?

That's the most vague C.lassfication ever.

pc-ps360

even tho Russia is an asian country. it is usually referred to a European country

[QUOTE="SideSwipes"]

This is something that's bugged me for a while. Why do people refer to Japanese, Chinese, Koreans ect. As asians? That doesn't make sense, shouldn't it be east asians?

Asia is huge and covers places like Iraq and Russia.

So why would refer to people like Jackie Chan for instance, as asian?

That's the most vague C.lassfication ever.

pc-ps360

even tho Russia is an asian country. it is usually referred to a European country

Probably because they identify physical appearances with a particular region. People who appear as someone said "mongoloid", orignate from Asia, and this is how society percieves Asians due to cultural influences. Likewise, many Moroccans, Khazakhstanis and some Russians appear "Arabic", despite Arabia being a separate region entirely. It's all based on society's views being influenced by certain cultures; it is what it is.

Well, we tried saying "Orientals" for a while, but they weren't happy with that either.

Well, we tried saying "Orientals" for a while, but they weren't happy with that either.

Metal_Mario99

Is that considered degratory?

Maybe they generalise too much.

Thorpe89

But it doesn't cover such a vast expanse of countries and peoples. It only covers the Far East type. You know, the Japanese, Chinese, Koreans, Vietnamese, etc. The Indians are called Indians, the Russians are called Russians, and the warmongers in the desert are called Arabs.

Metal_Mario99

Russia is in both Europe and Asia......

LJS9502_basic

This is something that's bugged me for a while. Why do people refer to Japanese, Chinese, Koreans ect. As asians?SideSwipes

My personal anecdotes/experiences (as an Asian) have been that if they don't really know what specific ethnicity you are, then they'll just label ya with what continent you come from.

[QUOTE="SideSwipes"]

This is something that's bugged me for a while. Why do people refer to Japanese, Chinese, Koreans ect. As asians?doanm

My personal anecdotes/experiences (as an Asian) have been that if they don't really know what specific ethnicity you are, then they'll just label ya with what continent you come from.

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"]

Russia is in both Europe and Asia......

Ninja-Hippo

Istanbul is a city which also spans two continents. It must be destroyed.

[QUOTE="Ninja-Hippo"][QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"]

Russia is in both Europe and Asia......

SideSwipes

Istanbul is a city which also spans two continents. It must be destroyed.

But it doesn't cover such a vast expanse of countries and peoples. It only covers the Far East type. You know, the Japanese, Chinese, Koreans, Vietnamese, etc. The Indians are called Indians, the Russians are called Russians, and the warmongers in the desert are called Arabs.

Metal_Mario99

I didn't know Texans were known as Arabs... But seriously though, Texas was a nice place when I visited.

generalizations, generalizations everywhere:shock:

Ok I just realized that pronz movie titles are wrong all along. I am disappoint.

and the warmongers in the desert are called Arabs.

Metal_Mario99

That's why we call them Arabs and not Asians.

That dude in the picture is not Jackie Chan,that's Bruce Lee.Jackie Chan died in 1973.

Because we're talking about the "race" of people. Which is why we don't call Russians or Japanese people asians.

[QUOTE="pc-ps360"]

even tho Russia is an asian country. it is usually referred to a European country

GabuEx

It's kind of half and half. Western Russia is generally considered part of Europe, while the rest is generally considered part of Asia.

Would that make them Eurasians?

I thought we had to say Asian because the arbiters of what is and is not politically correct have deemed that we can't say Oriental anymore.

That dude in the picture is not Jackie Chan,that's Bruce Lee.Jackie Chan died in 1973.

Lto_thaG

Lulwut?

Geography is HARD!

I think it's cool that people from the far east can hog the title of Asian all to themselves even though there are all kinds of races in Asia :P

Yeah I find it hilarious that white russians, arabs, jews, indians, pakinstanies, mongolians, as well as chinese and japanese and many many others, are all asian. You could literally have a person of any colour/features be Asian.locopatho

Because he's an Asian.

Thankfully we don't live in a world where everyone needs to abide by the TC's level of correctness. It would be a horrible place.

Yeah I find it hilarious that white russians, arabs, jews, indians, pakinstanies, mongolians, as well as chinese and japanese and many many others, are all asian. You could literally have a person of any colour/features be Asian.locopatho

even caucasian!