Why Momopi and L. Yakuza Have Totally Different Experiences?

[ladislav]

Lone Yakuza and Momopi have two totally different experiences about the USA. Momopi is very positive and never mentions US racism. On the contrary, he always portrays the US as a very hospitable land with very friendly people.

L. Yakuza otoh paints a very grim pictures of how the US persecutes the Asian male and dehumanizes him. According to him it is really not a place for an Asian man to be.

I have shared similar experiences about me living in Japan and Thailand and just about how Asians treat white people and the daily slur one has to endure there.

Then, every time I share something like that- some joker posts- "oh, I have been living in ( put name of Asian country) for ____ years and it has never never happened to me. The people are lovely and I've never had any problem. I've prospered here, have a wife, my kids go to local schools and everything is fine. And if you have a problem, it is because you are a f****g a***ole and you are a misfit and a socially inept dodo and a total j*rk and racist and you should go back to your country, blah blah blah".

Is there a logical explanation?

Partly- Momopi lives in S. California - a very cosmopolitan area- and has a highly technical position which provides him with enough money to protect himself. He has also not served in the US military.
Also, most parties/social events which momopi showed here feature people majority of whom look like him.

The Yakuza is evidently not as financially well off, has lived in poorer all white areas and has served in the US military.

Also, when I went to Asian countries to live, I went there alone and had to establish myself as an average person, not some rich exec. So the country looked totally different to me. I also learned the languages which other white people do not. This I guess shows why at least partly I had so much hard time.

The rest of the reason would be parallel universes, I guess?

[Falcon]

My experience is much more like Momopi's. My main complaints have been about the materialism, airheaded pop culture, and superficiality in the US. My rants on Asian-American women are also about their materialism, addiction to airheaded pop culture, and superficiality. For me, racism is simply not in the picture. Nevertheless, I still do think the US is "hospitable with friendly people."

See my post on lone_yakuza's first thread (it's the second to last post on the 1st page): viewtopic.php?t=16244

For me, the problem was neither racism nor height. I stay out of the whole "racism against Asian-American males" issue, and am neutral about it. Sure, it does exist to some extent and floats around many Americans' subconscious minds, but I have not experienced overt racism that would have affected my dating and ability to socialize / make friends. In California, most AA men are still mostly dating AA women, despite all the talk about the "white male - Asian female" trend.

Also, I stand at 6' 0".

The problems were:
(1) Fitting into mainstream American youth culture
(2) The ridiculous dating scene, as experienced by those of nearly all races, backgrounds, personalities, and looks
(3) Not being a typical Asian American

[momopi]

Lone Yakuza and Momopi have two totally different experiences about the USA. Momopi is very positive and never mentions US racism. On the contrary, he always portrays the US as a very hospitable land with very friendly people.

viewtopic.php?t=9190

"How dysfunctional is Los Angeles? Once when I was fishing on Redondo Pier, the cops came in and cleared the mostly Hispanic folks on the pier for a movie shoot. Then they bought in busloads of young white people from elsewhere and put them on the pier for the movie (or TV show) shoot, just so that they can show the place is full of young and beautiful white people..."


I could b*tch and complain about being pushed off the pier, ad naseum, but that would be "月经贴" -- it's a Chinese internet slang "menstruation news/post". Like a person who has an urge to post his dirty sanitary napkins on regular basis like a women's menstruation cycle.

But, yes, I have far more positive experiences than negative ones here in North America since elementary school. However, I'd also point out that I came from a bad experience moving from rural Changhua (TW) to urban Taipei when I was young. Back then Taipei had open sewers everywhere and I was sick all the time from the city pollution. Quoting my parents, when we left Taipei I resembled a malnourished Vietnamese boat refugee.

My parents finally had enough and packed our bags and moved to Southern California. The coastal suburbs here was much cleaner and less crowded in the 1980s. The US education system was also less competitive with fewer hours spent at school. I had the opportunity to go fishing after school, and go shooting in the mountains or take extended fishing trips up to Big Bear with my older cousins on weekends. The clean air and exercise did wonders for my health as a kid.

Also, when I went to Asian countries to live, I went there alone and had to establish myself as an average person, not some rich exec. So the country looked totally different to me. I also learned the languages which other white people do not. This I guess shows why at least partly I had so much hard time.
The rest of the reason would be parallel universes, I guess?

I had a great time when I went to SG for work assignments over a decade ago. But again, I need to specify that I did not go there as a stranger. In college I dated a number of foreign exchange students and had girls from SG in my social circles. I also knew a couple dozen coworkers in SG office. So when I arrived there, I was the guest and the girl's family would take me on trips to JB Malaysia to go shopping and eat seafood, introduce me to their friends, etc.

If I were a complete stranger and did not know anyone in SG prior to my arrival, then my experiences would've been different. Parallel universe? Naw, just Chinese social relations (reciprocal social network). My friend's parents were hospitable because I looked after their daughter's welfare as her sempai in the US, and if they should decide to take vacations to LA in the future, I'd take time off to drive them around.

Had I approached my earlier relationship with their daughter from the perspective of "if I'm not getting laid with her ASAP then it's a waste of time", then I'd also have found myself alone sitting in my hotel room.

[lone_yakuza]

Lone Yakuza and Momopi have two totally different experiences about the USA. Momopi is very positive and never mentions US racism. On the contrary, he always portrays the US as a very hospitable land with very friendly people.

L. Yakuza otoh paints a very grim pictures of how the US persecutes the Asian male and dehumanizes him. According to him it is really not a place for an Asian man to be.

I have shared similar experiences about me living in Japan and Thailand and just about how Asians treat white people and the daily slur one has to endure there.

Then, every time I share something like that- some joker posts- "oh, I have been living in ( put name of Asian country) for ____ years and it has never never happened to me. The people are lovely and I've never had any problem. I've prospered here, have a wife, my kids go to local schools and everything is fine. And if you have a problem, it is because you are a f****g a***ole and you are a misfit and a socially inept dodo and a total j*rk and racist and you should go back to your country, blah blah blah".

Is there a logical explanation?

Partly- Momopi lives in S. California - a very cosmopolitan area- and has a highly technical position which provides him with enough money to protect himself. He has also not served in the US military.
Also, most parties/social events which momopi showed here feature people majority of whom look like him.

The Yakuza is evidently not as financially well off, has lived in poorer all white areas and has served in the US military.

Also, when I went to Asian countries to live, I went there alone and had to establish myself as an average person, not some rich exec. So the country looked totally different to me. I also learned the languages which other white people do not. This I guess shows why at least partly I had so much hard time.

The rest of the reason would be parallel universes, I guess?

Um I haven't served in the military. Just to be clear, I was IN TRAINING, not official. I was basically halfway there.

Right before I became official, I had to leave the ROTC because of health/climate related issues.

I have lived in most places in the US.

I am painting mainly a grim picture of the rest of the USA, not talking about coastal cities in California or certain cities in Washington state. I now live in Western Washington state and the people here are much more friendly. I got shunned a bit by the people here back in high school, but that is because the town I live/lived in is still somewhat "redneck" or "country" and still 95% anglo-saxon caucasian American. I got in a few fights in high school. One where I was cornered by several people 5-6 if I remember, and I had to mess somebody's knee up and run for it.

The knife threat incident was in Idaho/Eastern Washington, which is only 20 miles from KKK headquarters over there.

Threats of being shot by shotguns were also in Washington state, but these guys were not liberal -> they were the conservative redneck racist types transplanted from the deep south and from Texas.

While I was living in the deep south... I mainly got glares or "jackie chan" or "jet li" not as much outright hostility, though they seemed pretty hostile when they threw racial slurs at me.

I think Momopi lived in more open-minded, west coast cities or maybe I just have bad luck and meet the worst.

I am not that financially well off, but my family is not lower class. I am middle class. My experiences are mainly about interactions with other middle class people.

[Rock]

Lone Yakuza and Momopi have two totally different experiences about the USA. Momopi is very positive and never mentions US racism. On the contrary, he always portrays the US as a very hospitable land with very friendly people.

L. Yakuza otoh paints a very grim pictures of how the US persecutes the Asian male and dehumanizes him. According to him it is really not a place for an Asian man to be.

I have shared similar experiences about me living in Japan and Thailand and just about how Asians treat white people and the daily slur one has to endure there.

Then, every time I share something like that- some joker posts- "oh, I have been living in ( put name of Asian country) for ____ years and it has never never happened to me. The people are lovely and I've never had any problem. I've prospered here, have a wife, my kids go to local schools and everything is fine. And if you have a problem, it is because you are a f****g a***ole and you are a misfit and a socially inept dodo and a total j*rk and racist and you should go back to your country, blah blah blah".

Is there a logical explanation?

Partly- Momopi lives in S. California - a very cosmopolitan area- and has a highly technical position which provides him with enough money to protect himself. He has also not served in the US military.
Also, most parties/social events which momopi showed here feature people majority of whom look like him.

The Yakuza is evidently not as financially well off, has lived in poorer all white areas and has served in the US military.

Also, when I went to Asian countries to live, I went there alone and had to establish myself as an average person, not some rich exec. So the country looked totally different to me. I also learned the languages which other white people do not. This I guess shows why at least partly I had so much hard time.

The rest of the reason would be parallel universes, I guess?

1. I also went to Asia alone (Taiwan and HK) and had to establish myself as an average person, not some rich exec. And I learned the language as did many other white people I know there. How did I get treated? IMO, I got treated wonderfully most of the time. I felt it was actually an advantage most of the time to be a white foreigner in Taiwan.

How about others I knew there similar to myself? Well that's where the mystery comes in. Some of them felt like me (ala Sean of "I love Taiwan" fame). But others felt they were discriminated against or just didn't like the Taiwanese, similar to Winston. I've seen same dynamic play out with foreigners in certain other countries and I'm talking about those with local language skills. Therefore, I've come to believe that different people (for whatever reasons) have vastly different experiences in a given place irregardless of whether or not they speak the local language and/or are just English teaching nobodies. Please don't consider me a joker for sharing this. You share your experience in Asia and I can share mine.

2. Momopi travels a lot to very local and even backwater areas of the States and seems experience decent treatment most of the time according to his accounts. Remember too, Momopi and L. Yakuzza will probably strike very different impressions to those around them. Momopi is a stocky 6 foot guy with a soft look IMO. L. Yakuzza is just 5'6" but he's young (different generation) and perhaps (just my guess) carries himself in a more aggressive manner since he's angry inside and is a well trained fighter.

3. Regarding Thailand, I know its pretty bad and all. But how much Thai does a foreigner need to understand to be able to realize when locals are barking "farang, farang, farang" at them all the time? That's really just one word after all, lol. If people cross the road when they see you or won't sit on a bus, you don't need to know any Thai to be aware of that. On the other hand, if the racism is more subtle and often hidden in the speech, then a lot of foreigners might get a very incorrect impression in the short run.

BTW, I find it strange that Thailand is known as the Land of Smiles. I really never thought they smiled that much, at least in greater Bangkok. Many of them look downright stressed out. Did people smile a lot there back in the period u were there?

[Falcon]

Remember too, Momopi and L. Yakuzza will probably strike very different impressions to those around them. Momopi is a stocky 6 foot guy with a soft look IMO. L. Yakuzza is just 5'6" but he's young (different generation) and perhaps (just my guess) carries himself in a more aggressive manner since he's angry inside and is a well trained fighter.

I'm an athletic-looking 6-foot guy. I ran a lot in high school, and have a runner's build. In rural China, a few times people asked me if I was a traveling athlete participating in local competitions. I don't have a soft look, but it's not an aggressive one either.

Sometimes I've felt like posting angry stuff too, but decided to focus on more positive things instead. If I wanted to, my posts really could have been as angry as some of L Yakuza's or even Winston's posts (not saying that they're angry all the time).

[Rock]

Sometimes I've felt like posting angry stuff too, but decided to focus on more positive things instead. If I wanted to, my posts really could have been as angry as some of L Yakuza's or even Winston's posts (not saying that they're angry all the time).

Its funny u mention Winston as it reminds me that online personas are often very different than how people come across in person. IMO, Winston is considerate and very soft in person. Sometimes he even gets annoyed at me for bringing up what he feels are non-PC topics with groups of foreigners we've encountered in Taiwan. Like he's nervous about how they might respond and is afraid of potential conflict; more like the behavior of totally local Taiwanese lol. But in the online world, he can be a pitbull when riled-up and transform into a blogging tornado.

Falcon comes across as very optimistic and positive so far. But maybe if he spent enough time in Taiwan, he might become as jaded as Winston if he has the same sorts of experiences. Highly unlikely though. Different people = different perspective = different experiences, even for same race in same country.

[Falcon]

In real life, I would be a positive, optimistic guy who finds it hard to be angry. I would talk about my geeky interests and travel experiences most of the time, and be an adaptable person who goes with the flow. Outgoing, friendly, interested in new things. I wouldn't talk about HA topics, since that's left for the Internet. Most people probably wouldn't even guess that I'm frustrated with the dating scene in the US.

[lone_yakuza]

.

[momopi]

I have shared similar experiences about me living in Japan and Thailand and just about how Asians treat white people and the daily slur one has to endure there.
Then, every time I share something like that- some joker posts- "oh, I have been living in ( put name of Asian country) for ____ years and it has never never happened to me. The people are lovely and I've never had any problem. I've prospered here, have a wife, my kids go to local schools and everything is fine. And if you have a problem, it is because you are a f****g a***ole and you are a misfit and a socially inept dodo and a total j*rk and racist and you should go back to your country, blah blah blah".

One of the senior managers at my work had the unfortunate bad timing of being sent to Thailand for his LDS mission in 1970s, after an incident where 2 LDS missionaries were photographed sitting on top of an ancient Buddha statue. The news ran for weeks on front-page and the idiots involved were sentenced to jail. Fortunately, the King of Thailand graciously pardoned the missionaries after few months and the locals followed suit. For a while, Thailand was anything but the "land of smiles" to the missionaries, and the incident's effects spilled over to Jehova's Witness and other missionary organizations as well.

[odbo]

momopi is on the left, Lone Filipino is on the right

[Cornfed]

Partly- Momopi lives in S. California - a very cosmopolitan area- and has a highly technical position

Nagging delinquent employees to start their nerf gun battles a bit later is a highly technical position now? I'd say Momopi is part of the post-war tradition of corporate welfare handout jobs which were largely the norm for educated people who started their careers between 1950 and 1985. Basically you turn up at an office, take part in some arbitrary and silly activities and indulge in S&M type relationships with the upper management. You are rewarded with a salary that allows you to live a middle class lifestyle and a job description couched in technical-sounding jargon that allows you to pretend you are a skilled professional. Part of the deal is that you say nothing strident or politically incorrect, speak largely in idle pleasantries and generally don't rock the boat. It follows that complete physical cowardice is also mandatory, such that if a middle class white or east Asian man in the West makes a physical threat you can pretty much laugh in his face. (This physical impotence makes women's flesh crawl, which is one of the reasons they now go for dirtbags). On the other hand LY is presumably not being given the opportunity to avail himself of such a deal, hence his outlook.

[momopi]

Partly- Momopi lives in S. California - a very cosmopolitan area- and has a highly technical position

Nagging delinquent employees to start their nerf gun battles a bit later is a highly technical position now? I'd say Momopi is part of the post-war tradition of corporate welfare handout jobs which were largely the norm for educated people who started their careers between 1950 and 1985. Basically you turn up at an office, take part in some arbitrary and silly activities and indulge in S&M type relationships with the upper management. You are rewarded with a salary that allows you to live a middle class lifestyle and a job description couched in technical-sounding jargon that allows you to pretend you are a skilled professional. Part of the deal is that you say nothing strident or politically incorrect, speak largely in idle pleasantries and generally don't rock the boat. It follows that complete physical cowardice is also mandatory, such that if a middle class white or east Asian man in the West makes a physical threat you can pretty much laugh in his face. (This physical impotence makes women's flesh crawl, which is one of the reasons they now go for dirtbags). On the other hand LY is presumably not being given the opportunity to avail himself of such a deal, hence his outlook.

Thank you, Mr. Cornfed, for paying for my corporate welfare handout job! Every time you pump gas, turn on your lights, use the refrigerator, buy new batteries, use your computer, and eat food, you're subsidizing my middle class lifestyle. To compensate for our lack of physical thuggishness, we train 5 days a week with our nerf weapons! Please give yourself a hug!




p.s. at my previous highly technical job, we had XBox 360 and Wii on every floor w/cable TV, game room with pinball, arcade, ping pong, basketball hoops, etc. Our conference room had a surfboard mounted on the ceiling. Thanks to you, every time when you use a credit card, you supported my (previous) job and I got paid for playing Galaga. Dude, you rock!

[Cornfed]

Thank you, Mr. Cornfed, for paying for my corporate welfare handout job! Every time you pump gas, turn on your lights, use the refrigerator, buy new batteries, use your computer, and eat food, you're subsidizing my middle class lifestyle.

Indeed, corporations are like government departments in that they effectively have the ability to tax the economic transactions of others, so most of their revenue streams are a free good. Also, they are effectively workers co-ops run by and for their administrative staff. Since virtually all actual productive work is now done by machines, computers and coolies, and corporate culture is too dysfunctional to produce much even if it were desirable to do so, the admin staff are free to indulge in farcical sycophancy and self-admin rituals and hire quotas of people just like them. As I've said before, it is a shame they are allowed to hire worthless maggots to do silly stuff instead of hiring talented men to work on long term beneficial projects. Now even the maggots are apparently not maggoty enough for corporate upper management so they are mostly hiring the intrinsically genetically inferior (females, blacks, Indians etc.) who are no threat to them. Eventually all of these welfare jobs will be cut as a cost when they have served their purpose, as is slowly happening, whereupon the corporate welfare spongers will have to go on regular welfare.

[celery2010]

Yes this kind of thing can be extremely variable-- and more often based on the person than race.

A few examples

1. When i was traveling in India, certain people were practically walking targets for getting ripped off, overcharging, crime, etc, while others almost never had any problems!
2. When in Asia, there's always the loud, obnoxious and rowdy guy who gets himself in trouble in Asia, and the soft-spoken tranquil guy who gets along really well with Asians.

IMHO, your personality, how you look and how you carry yourself make a big difference. For example, Colin Powell, is a black guy than even many conservative whites seem to like enough. But it doesn't hurt that he is very light skinned, very white featured and carries himself in a dignified fashion.

People with more extreme features or fobby appearances ( or uglier people) may get more hostility and racism. But this may also hold true (but only to some degree) in their home countries as well.

Nevertheless, it is an interesting topic and true of the experiences of people in different countries. I even remember being out with some people in Thailand discussing India and their "horrific" experiences there, while i had a great time with no real negative experiences (other than the time i got overcharged for 4 waters, about 70 cents, (a large amount in India btw!)