Cmon, man, don't take a side if you're going to cowardly backpedal as soon as you're confronted. At least teekee has a spine.

These things they are banning aren't pinball machines, they're flipperless gambling devices.

Referring to people as "orientals" is pretty messed up (which is what the cultural insensitivity comment was in reference to).

You're going a bit off the rails in here though, may want to slow your roll a bit. Friendly advice.

We had slaves for hundreds of years too. Going to use the same argument to defend that? It's weird that you think "we did it for years" somehow justifies it.

I was merely pointing out "we did it for years" is a weak justification.

From the New Oxford American Dictionary: "USAGE: The term Oriental, denoting a person from the Far East, is regarded as offensive by many Asians, esp. Asian Americans. It has many associations with European imperialism in Asia. Therefore, it has an out-of-date feel and tends to be associated with a rather offensive stereotype of the people and their customs as inscrutable and exotic. Asian and more specific terms such as East Asian, Chinese, and Japanese are preferred."

I mean if those people are like "hey call us something else" how hard is that?

You have all the freedom of speech you want. You do not have freedom from social consequences of that speech. Huge difference. the first amendment guarantees you won't be put in jail for expressing unpopular opinions. It doesn't guarantee you won't be called out by others when they think you're being a dick. That would be weird.

Uh, no. Why would they be? Is it really such a burden to not refer to people as orientals after they ask you not to?

It wasn't PC people who decided to change terms arbitrarily, it was people from east Asia and Asian Americans. I will never understand why old white dudes throw such temper tantrums about this kind of thing, rather than being like "oh hey they prefer to be called something else? Cool, I'll try to remember that" and moving on. Would save everyone a lot of trouble, and make you look a lot less like guys being intentionally rude for no particularly good reason.

If you can cite some sources indicating PEZ dispensers agree, I'll consider changing it. That's the difference here.

Fine, call them American. If they asked you not to call them Orientals, would you freak out or would you comply? That's the situation we are in, even of the people involved aren't literally your friends.

swing and a miss. Please don't tell me what you "know" about me when you are simply making up nonsense. Thank you.

I was making a key point there. I invite you to read it again and respond with something other than an insult.

Nah, I enjoy the vastly superior income and education levels up here.

Asian Americans asking you not to call them Orientals is ruining the country? Really? You don't think your freakout is a little hyperbolic?

...? I live in something like the 7th richest county in the U.S. Great schools, great restaurants, great local craft breweries, great neighborhood. What's not to like? traffic is pretty awful, but that's my only complaint.

Politicians aren't a big enough part of the population to make a difference. Most of us are defense contractors.

Dude you and Eggbert have been the ones slinging unmitigated insults all thread. I've been completely respectful in my responses.

So much anger. Really, you would be better off taking a little break from the keyboard. Friendly advice.

What would you prefer to be called?

The only reason the thread derails is because of Sirs who instead of saying "oh they don't like being called orientals? Ok" want to cry about how America is ruined, their freedom of speech is being taken away by liberals, etc.

I've taken dozens of insults in this thread and I think the closest I've come to insulting anyone is using the phrase "old white dudes". The insults don't bother me, but don't pretend I'm not the one taking them, or that I'm the one dishing them out. Thanks.

I can be friendly to people without being their friend. It's pretty easy and refreshing, actually.

Two thumbs down on my last post. Is friendliness also ruining America?

Declares the guy who says he hasn't read a post of mine in 2 years, haha.

Wow it should be really easy for you to find lots of examples of me calling other people names. I mean I could easily cite a dozen examples in this thread of insults made directly at me. I am not complaining, just pointing out the hypocrisy in that complaint.

I can be called a lot of things, but implying that I'm (effectively) stupid is one I have no trouble at all laughing off.

Same applies here.