KimyReizeger Posted August 15, 2008 Report Share Posted August 15, 2008 Olympics: tennis - Second photograph shows Spanish athletes making slit-eyed gesture | Sport | guardian.co.ukCould've gone into the Sport, Current Affairs or even Humour section. Played in safe with General. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest idol_wild Posted August 15, 2008 Report Share Posted August 15, 2008 Wasn't there someone on here recently who waxed lyrical about how great and cultured Spain was, too? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KimyReizeger Posted August 15, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 15, 2008 Disgusting Spaniards think RACISM is 'a bit of light bant'....if I owned a tabloid newspaper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Posted August 15, 2008 Report Share Posted August 15, 2008 Wasn't there someone on here recently who waxed lyrical about how great and cultured Spain was, too? Giving the other opinions put forward by that person I doubt they'd see anything wrong with this picture. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Le Stu Posted August 15, 2008 Report Share Posted August 15, 2008 That reminds me, is Prince Philip attending, this year?I also wonder if the chinese find that sort of thing actually offensive, or if it mainly makes us westerners uncomfortable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diesel Posted August 15, 2008 Report Share Posted August 15, 2008 That reminds me, is Prince Philip attending, this year?I also wonder if the chinese find that sort of thing actually offensive, or if it mainly makes us westerners uncomfortable.Probably the latter - we're very good at flagellating ourselves over the whole race/PC thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lemonade Posted August 15, 2008 Report Share Posted August 15, 2008 There have been a lot of instances of racism in Spain lately, as mentioned in the article, Luis Aragones calling Thierry Henry a "black shit", Wright-Phillips and Cole getting racist abuse off the Spainsh fans (which I believe is still quite common in La Liga), Lewis Hamilton getting monkey taunts from the crowd at the Spanish grand prix.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jake Wifebeater Posted August 15, 2008 Report Share Posted August 15, 2008 Probably the latter - we're very good at flagellating ourselves over the whole race/PC thing.And very fucking tiresome it's getting as well.Not Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Le Stu Posted August 15, 2008 Report Share Posted August 15, 2008 I'm just proud to be British, having witnessed our ever forward moving enlightened approach to other nations and races. There used to be murmours about 'those bloody Chinese,' now it's 'those bloody Han Chinese.'And I don't like the way some of the Spanish treat the fuzzy wuzzies. It's bad enough that they don't like it up 'em! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaki Posted August 15, 2008 Report Share Posted August 15, 2008 That reminds me, is Prince Philip attending, this year?I also wonder if the chinese find that sort of thing actually offensive, or if it mainly makes us westerners uncomfortable.I don't think I'd be offended if I was Chinese. "What's that? We (a quarter of the world) have different shaped eyes? How very dare you!!!" It's not like they're holding up placards saying "China are uneducated gay dicks who all smell like shit" or anything. Would the same offence be caused if the Olympic were in Jamaica and they all wore dreadlock wigs? Or See You Jimmy wigs in Scotland or they all dyed their hair blonde because it was in Sweden? etc. Certainly extremely ill advised in today's PC climate however. You'd have thought one of them at least might have had the intelligence to point out it may not be taken in good spirits. Would have loved to have been at the photoshoot. OK, everyone on the count of 3.........1,2,3 "ching chong chinaman!"Also, is that nae the playground symbol for Japanese anyway? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lemonade Posted August 15, 2008 Report Share Posted August 15, 2008 Also, is that nae the playground symbol for Japanese anyway?Easy-peasy, Japanesey. if I remember my playground days correctly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucius Posted August 15, 2008 Report Share Posted August 15, 2008 There was one at school about japanese and chinese and depending the kind of slant you gave your eyes (upwards or downwards) signified the nationality.I of course did not participate in this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest idol_wild Posted August 15, 2008 Report Share Posted August 15, 2008 I don't think I'd be offended if I was Chinese. "What's that? We (a quarter of the world) have different shaped eyes? How very dare you!!!" It's not like they're holding up placards saying "China are uneducated gay dicks who all smell like shit" or anything. Would the same offence be caused if the Olympic were in Jamaica and they all wore dreadlock wigs? Or See You Jimmy wigs in Scotland or they all dyed their hair blonde because it was in Sweden? etc. I see your both your point and where you're coming from, but you use illustrations that are relevant to the stereotyped cultures of the said countries, with the exception of Sweden - but even then not all of Swedes have blonde hair - that's merely a stereotype too. Whereas the photograph is showing them referring to how an actual race of people look genetically. Which is considerably different. And arguably racist.That said, it could also be argued that the photo was a homage to the Asian races. Which I'm sure it was. It's all about context, I guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cloud Posted August 15, 2008 Report Share Posted August 15, 2008 Why the fuss? China are miles in front in the medal table at the minute...does anyone care if a bunch of sour graped Spanish types are making a gesture or not? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lemonade Posted August 15, 2008 Report Share Posted August 15, 2008 Why the fuss? China are miles in front in the medal table at the minute...does anyone care if a bunch of sour graped Spanish types are making a gesture or not?I think the photo was taken before the games started. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cloud Posted August 15, 2008 Report Share Posted August 15, 2008 I think the photo was taken before the games started.Even better, not only did they make themselves look foolish before the games, but the Chinese are making them look stupid at the games, too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaki Posted August 15, 2008 Report Share Posted August 15, 2008 I see your both your point and where you're coming from, but you use illustrations that are relevant to the stereotyped cultures of the said countries, with the exception of Sweden - but even then not all of Swedes have blonde hair - that's merely a stereotype too. Whereas the photograph is showing them referring to how an actual race of people look genetically. Which is considerably different. And arguably racist.That said, it could also be argued that the photo was a homage to the Asian races. Which I'm sure it was. It's all about context, I guess.Aye, I see your point.Perhaps more comparable to it being in an African country and them all blacking up with boot polish on their faces......which wouldn't go down to well either. I'm not surprised at the outrage it has caused. I personally don't mind and am not at all offended by "racist" jokes (as long as they're funny) at the same time as despising actual racism. Maybe my opinion would be different if my racial forefathers had been opressed and brutalised. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KimyReizeger Posted August 15, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 15, 2008 I don't think I'd be offended if I was Chinese. "What's that? We (a quarter of the world) have different shaped eyes? How very dare you!!!" It's not like they're holding up placards saying "China are uneducated gay dicks who all smell like shit" or anything. Would the same offence be caused if the Olympic were in Jamaica and they all wore dreadlock wigs? Or See You Jimmy wigs in Scotland or they all dyed their hair blonde because it was in Sweden? etc. ?I guess as a species we have a pretty poor record for generalising and holding prejudices towards 'otherness'; therefore, this kind of gesturing has no place in the modern world. You may argue it harmless to acknowledge 'slitty-eyes', but history has proved humans somewhat xenophobic. Aesthetic difference is naturally related to broader political and social movement, from immigration, trade, war to outright irrational hatred of the unusual - themes of human failure of which the hardly-distant 20th century stands as a profound and ugly monument.On the simplest level I think it's just childish and demeaning, 'look at their funy eyes'. If I was Chinese I'd feel slightly embarrassed at the lame sense of humour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovers_spit Posted August 15, 2008 Report Share Posted August 15, 2008 I wouldn't care. If I can get past Frenchmen chanting "Rouge!" and pointing at my head, I'm sure Chinese people wont care about this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Stax Posted August 16, 2008 Report Share Posted August 16, 2008 Who gives a fuck. Besides a few of them are darn hot totty! And I can see that clearly through the haze of ill advised party gesturing! No big deal, move on! Lets, instead, have a look at the Chinese record on human rights, and stuff... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RossP Posted August 16, 2008 Report Share Posted August 16, 2008 Lets, instead, have a look at the Chinese record on human rights, and stuff...Stripey?? Is that you?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
His Majesty Posted August 16, 2008 Report Share Posted August 16, 2008 No big deal, move on! Lets, instead, have a look at the Chinese record on human rights, and stuff...Lets have a look at our own first though huh!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Stax Posted August 16, 2008 Report Share Posted August 16, 2008 Stripey?? Is that you??Seems that this is a nicer place to be these days and that simply isn't good enough Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KimyReizeger Posted August 16, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 16, 2008 Who gives a fuck. ..Don't you think it's in some way dangerous to still have twats doing this? I get the feeling, due to this that most of spain when they think of Chinese, literally picture 'slitty-eyes' and possibly chuckle at the funniness of it all. I'm sure you don't want to be defined by your unalterable exterior, so really, the spanish should be lambasted for this insulting, off-hand and very telling gesture. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaki Posted August 16, 2008 Report Share Posted August 16, 2008 On further reflection, I reckon if I was at the local Chinese carry out (as an example of where I might encounter the people of China, I'm not saying all Chinese in Aberdeen work at a Chinese carry out) and someone came in holding their eyes in this manner whilst placing their order, I reckon I'd be pretty disgusted. It's taking the piss really, isn't it? I take back my earlier comments on it being a bit of shit banter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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