What do you think of interracial couples?

You guys, please tell me you're joking. Please? I. am. not. a. racist. I'm just very, very jaded and stubborn and set in my ways and I didn't want to marry someone who doesn't (or is more likely to not) agree with me on stuff.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Maybe I'm ugly because I'm mixed. I never thought of it that way. Of course, my parents weren't exactly the most beautiful people ever, either.

So basically, I'm borderline freak-of-nature, because I had ugly parents to begin with, now I'm slapped with the worst traits from each of my parents. This blows.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Finally someone who understands me!

I was speaking idiomatically.

Originally Posted by AliceNWondrland

You guys, please tell me you're joking. Please? I. am. not. a. racist. I'm just very, very jaded and stubborn and set in my ways and I didn't want to marry someone who doesn't (or is more likely to not) agree with me on stuff.

Just out of curiosity, what happened if that person turned out to be black. Or Iraqi. Oooo.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

umma - You are being silly. If you are going to express your point of view, be tactul and support your ideas. I do not think attractiveness is a fair grounds to argue against interacial dating and marriage. In addition, if you make radical statement, you should surely expect people to react with hostility towards you.

devo - hmm, I don't think this is the first time we've been in this situation? Right?

I felt like I have to contribute to this thread. I am a full blooded Korean, although I really consider myself an Asian-American, more of an emphasis on the American because I do not particularly latch onto my parent's culture and value. There is of course a reason for this.

First and foremost, a lot of east asian cultures idealize pure bloodedness and only want you to marry within the race. Much of my family and all my grandparents are this way. My aunt who married an Italian, still to this day gets a lot of trouble for her marital decision by my grandmother. Luckily, my parents are very open minded about interacial dating because both my brother and I have dated white girls.

On that subject, interacial dating is not restricted between white, black, asian, latino, native american. These are all broader constructs. Right now, I am dating a Filipino-Chinese girl. While I am still dating another asian, there are certain situation where this would not be easily accepted. The best example of this would be between Korean and Japan. Because of past colonization, there is a deep seeded animosity between these two countries.

I myself am very supportive of interacial dating. However, I must admit, it is something that did take me some getting used to because of my relatives. This may sound silly, but from a biological and genetic standpoint, it increases heterozygosity and genetic fitness. However, from a sociological point of view, interacial dating and marriages allow for a greater mixing of culture, ideas and most importantly values.

The real take home message is that interacial dating and marriage is prominent with every day and every generation as our global social, economic and business market expands. With the healthy exchange of goods, values and ideas will be the marriage of people, races and ethnicities. Whether of not people are comfortable with the prospect of interacialism, it is something everyone will confront within their lifetime. It is perfectly fine to not be OK with the idea, but at the same time know that there are people are OK with it as well. Ultimately, it is better for the two sides to come to an understanding.

FELIPE NO

Oddly, I feel constrained due to my own perspectives. I set up my own boundaries on certain races (specifically Korean) that I want to marry. This has been prevalent for my entire life until recently...since I want to date out of my race but marriage seems...different. I feel really polarized about the issue it is a conflicting struggle in my being for I wish I didn't have this personal constraint (my parents are fine with this too...if I intermarry) but I feel rather uncomfortable for I would like to but feel as if I cannot. Bleh...hope that wasn't too scattered <_<

How ya doing, buddy?

Part of the reason I started this thread is because of my own families opinions on this. My mom doesn't have a problem with it but she thinks both white and black guys will try to kill me for dating a black girl. She also thinks it would be a bad idea to get married to a black girl. Saying it's ok to date her but it's not alright to marry her makes no sense if you ask me. To me the main point of dating is to eventually find someone to marry. But then my mom contradicts herself all the time. For example she thinks it would be alright if I stole someone else's girlfriend, but thought it was wrong that a friend of mine asked out a girl that I liked that wouldn't even go out with me.

I also found out my grandma would be particularly mad about this, but I figured she was racist anyhow when she ranted about how she was mad that they got rid of a crayon called "Nigger Brown". I don't really care what she thinks with her outdated point of view anyhow though... I mean I hear she was mad about my dad marrying my mom because my mom wasn't catholic.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by Hydelloon

umma - You are being silly. If you are going to express your point of view, be tactul and support your ideas. I do not think attractiveness is a fair grounds to argue against interacial dating and marriage. In addition, if you make radical statement, you should surely expect people to react with hostility towards you.

Yeah, you're right. I just didn't expect the others to be so touchy with the subject. It's not the first time I get into an arguement that way. I shouldn't have said anything!

Originally Posted by Hydelloon

On that subject, interacial dating is not restricted between white, black, asian, latino, native american. These are all broader constructs. Right now, I am dating a Filipino-Chinese girl. While I am still dating another asian, there are certain situation where this would not be easily accepted. The best example of this would be between Korean and Japan. Because of past colonization, there is a deep seeded animosity between these two countries.

This will sound racist, but I really want to know: how can East Asians tell the difference between their races?

I didn't expect that someone would consider interracial couple one that belongs to a major race... thinking about it that way, I'm of mixed race, then!

The problem between Koreans and Japanese sounds more related to national than ethnic conflict, though.

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Originally Posted by Umma

Yeah, you're right. I just didn't expect the others to be so touchy with the subject. It's not the first time I get into an arguement that way. I shouldn't have said anything!



This will sound racist, but I really want to know: how can East Asians tell the difference between their races?

I didn't expect that someone would consider interracial couple one that belongs to a major race... thinking about it that way, I'm of mixed race, then!

The problem between Koreans and Japanese sounds more related to national than ethnic conflict, though.

It's like how Europeans can tell the difference between each other. There really are differences, though it maybe be subtle. But then again, it's not always easy to tell. Can you tell the difference between someone from Czech or Poland? Romanian and Hungarian? Kenyan and Ethiopian?

The conflict between Korea and Japan can be trace to history. Japan has on numerous occasions tried to invade the mainland. To do this, they had to go through Korea, since Korea is a peninsula country. Also, probably because of WWII when Japan tried to destroy Korean culture when Japan occupied Korea.

This whole "race" thing is ridiculous. How the hell do you draw the border line? I think you're thinking everything in black and white terms. There are a lot of different shades of white, yellow, black, and brown "races".

How ya doing, buddy?

Originally Posted by Umma

This will sound racist, but I really want to know: how can East Asians tell the difference between their races?

I didn't expect that someone would consider interracial couple one that belongs to a major race... thinking about it that way, I'm of mixed race, then!

The problem between Koreans and Japanese sounds more related to national than ethnic conflict, though.

Oh, you can certainly tell to an extent, especially if you're an East Asian. They're not all exactly the same "race", but rather distinct varieties of a particular subset of human physiology, much like how you have all kinds of African looking people, or all kinds of Caucasians ranging from the Middle East to Ireland.

It takes a bit of exposure to get a concept of the distinctions between Japanese, Koreans, Northern Chinese, Southern Chinese, Mongolian, Taiwanese, Vietnamese, Thai, Laotian, Cambodian, Malay, Filipino, etc. You're not expected to really KNOW the difference, and unless the person is a complete ass or extremely chauvanist, normally no one would be offended if you accidentaly confuse them with a different ethnicity.

Personally, I can roughly estimate from where someone came from, having to see countless Asians during my commute every morning and afternoon to and from the university. Most are Chinese, occasionally I see some Koreans, Vietnamese and Japanese though it is only confirmed when they talk amongst themselves. Most of the time you can simply tell by the way they dress. Plainer wardrobes usually indicate FOB grad Chinese students, more in fashion are the Koreans, Vietnamese and Japanese (especially with hair). Asian Americans are usually a bit more eclectic but trend towards suburban white kid wear.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Originally Posted by FallDragon

Though that was probably because our society embraces the idea that light/white represents purity while dark/black represents animal/base instinct. I wouldn't find it surprising if they were most requested because white men thought they'd have better sex with a mixed race woman.

Really? I thought it was because of their exotic features? Cool.

Originally Posted by FallDragon

Jesus, why are celebrities needed to prove that interracial people can be hot. That's like ordering a $500 chocolate cake in order to prove to someone that chocolate can taste good.

LOL, probably because if I were to say, "La'Quena is half African-American and half Caucasian and she's attractive to most guys." People would probably say, "Who in the world is La'Quena?" However, many people tend to recognize celebrities, and those who don't recognize some of the names can find pictures of them (or have pictures provided by the poster).

Originally Posted by doodle

I hear the "ugly kids" reasoning a lot too. One guy played it off as "well the kids would have a tough time being biracial so we shouldn't do it". Um. And I heard another crackpot Jesus nut say he was concerned about a Tower of Babel scenario where there were no differences and everybody was the same. Again. Dumb people. And these were University students, mind you.

Unless they're 50% one race and 50% another, there is a very good chance that they can avoid receiving a hard time based on their race, so those people should probably look at themselves and wonder about their own race. Seriously, most people are shocked to find out that they are more than just African American or Caucasian. I'm not sure if Hispanics or Asians have the same problem.

I can believe that University students are dumb. Heck, I once got into an argument with a DOCTORATE here at college when he claimed that Pocohontas married John Smith. Obviously, someone hasn't seen the second movie (or know enough to realize it was John Rolf). Sadly, everyone in my class, and even my roommate, began to think that I was wrong about the whole John Rolf thing.

I was speaking idiomatically.

I think 'Damn, me and my girlfriend are good together!'

Haha, but seriously though, I see nothing wrong with interracial dating. If people love each other, who can stop them really?

Although I have been told 'You chink, stay away from our women' once.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Originally Posted by Dullenplain

It takes a bit of exposure to get a concept of the distinctions between Japanese, Koreans, Northern Chinese, Southern Chinese, Mongolian, Taiwanese, Vietnamese, Thai, Laotian, Cambodian, Malay, Filipino, etc. You're not expected to really KNOW the difference, and unless the person is a complete ass or extremely chauvanist, normally no one would be offended if you accidentaly confuse them with a different ethnicity.

That much difference? Wow. So it really *is* like with Europeans and Africans over there.

But come on; I can't, for example, tell the difference between an Irish and a Scottish; how could they possibly tell the difference between Laotian and Vietnamese? Both countries are small... and are right next to each other! Would *that* be considered interracial amongst them?

FELIPE NO

Originally Posted by Umma

That much difference? Wow. So it really *is* like with Europeans and Africans over there.

But come on; I can't, for example, tell the difference between an Irish and a Scottish; how could they possibly tell the difference between Laotian and Vietnamese? Both countries are small... and are right next to each other! Would *that* be considered interracial amongst them?

Other than nationality and culture, there's no real difference racially is there?

Originally Posted by Yamamanama

You know what, just read Uncyclopedia. It has all the information you need.

Awesome, someone else who know that Uncyclopedia exists. I love how it's a fictional parody of wiki.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Originally Posted by Umma

But come on; I can't, for example, tell the difference between an Irish and a Scottish; how could they possibly tell the difference between Laotian and Vietnamese? Both countries are small... and are right next to each other! Would *that* be considered interracial amongst them?

Maybe I'm splitting hairs. It's not really race, but ethnicity that makes the difference, hence you have all those tribal conflicts Africa today. To the outsider, they all look very similar to eachother and are perplexed at the infighting, but to the one who knows, there are reasons why this exists.

Here's a fun diversion for you to try. All Look Same is a small game that tests to see if you can identify if the person in question is Chinese, Japanese, or Korean.

I never get a good score because most of the people chosen are so unique to the point of ambiguity.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

7 out of 18. But I got better near the end!

Anyway... Yeah, I thought the actual difference would be in their cultures like Visavi said.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

DarkMageOzzie, just out of curiosity, where in the US are you from?

Quote:

Pretty much everywhere they go people stare at them

When people stare, it doesn't automatically mean that they disapprove of what they see. It could just be because an interracial couple is not as common as people dating within their own race. I think the same could be said for gay couples. I might not stare when I see one, but because it is very uncommon, I usually take a double-take whereas I would pass over any straight couple only because you see them everywhere.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

If you're happy, then hey, it's all good. I've been this side of the fence before. People can be mean when they see you and someone of a different race holding hands and stuff. Even though my ex-sister-in-law and I are the same race, I think she had it worse than I did. Every time her and her husband went out somewhere, somebody was always saying some dumb crap. This one guy told her, "Well, damn, you couldn't find nobody in your own race?".

My only real experiences with it mostly had to deal with when I had my son. These two stupid girls in the mall were staring at us when I was pushing my son in the stroller one day. They looked at my son and then at me. While they were walking past, I heard a very audible, "That's not her kid". My ex had to distract me real quick because I was in the process of turning around and walking towards them to confront them.

I don't see what the big deal about interracial couples either.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Ugh, why do I even go back to read this? I hate being reminded that there are rude people out there that will stare and go so far as to make silly comments like that.

That reminds me that I have several friends of mixed descent that I realize I could never distinguish were mixed:
One was Portuguese + Canadian and she jokes about how she's "mulatto".
One person was half-black, half-white.
One friend is Chinese + Vietnamese

No problem. I didn't stare when I met some of their parents, so in conversation I can definitely be cool with it. Although I still try to avoid looking if I were to pass by a couple on the street, because I think that might be rude of me to glance and smile.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Originally Posted by VitaPup

DarkMageOzzie, just out of curiosity, where in the US are you from?

I live in Michigan.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Hmm I don't see any problems with it whatsoever. As long as the two people can either accept or work through the cultural differences that tend to go with it but then you hardly need to get with another race to have those pop up.

FELIPE NO

Basically I think it like this: If you can make it work, more power to you. There isn't anything wrong with interracial marriage at all. We're all human.

However, many marriages like this just don't work out at all due to cultural differences. Basically, just be careful if you are involved in a relationship like this.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

So one doesn't need to be careful as to whom they have a relationship with/marry if they are the same race?

Wouldn't the 'cultural' differences be just one of the many, many things that you need to work out just like any other?

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by Summonmaster

One was Portuguese + Canadian and she jokes about how she's "mulatto".

hate to pull the incredibly obvious "just so you know" card, but Canadian isn't a race or ethnicity; it's a nationality. we've got a little bit of every race/ethnic background here, so it's not like saying you're Canadian is going to help the other person have any idea what background you hail from.


as for my opinion, I don't see what the big deal is. it's two people in love, you see it all the time everywhere you go, only this time the skin colour isn't exactly the same. though even if you are perfectly okay with it, I suppose it can still catch you offguard in that you notice just because it's not something you see all the time. I don't mean in any way that interracial couples are unnatural, it's just not something we're all used to seeing yet since not even a century ago this kind of thing was shunned by most everyone for whatever silly reason they had back then.

the town I live in, for instance, is predominately white folks, so it's not common to see interracial couples (my old neighbours were though and they had the most adorable children), whereas cities like Toronto that have a higher concentration of multicultural backgrounds would be more likely for you to come across an interracial couple. infact having more exposure to it, you probably wouldn't even look at it as interracial anymore, they'd just be a couple of people.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by PUG1911

So one doesn't need to be careful as to whom they have a relationship with/marry if they are the same race?

Wouldn't the 'cultural' differences be just one of the many, many things that you need to work out just like any other?

That isn't what I said.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.