Is Oriental considered offensive worldwide?

[Deleted]

Something that I was discussing earlier was whether oriental is considered offensive everywhere? In the UK Oriental was often used to refer to the Chinese & Japanese as Asian is synonymous with people of Indian subcontinent... However the question is do you think Oriental is offensive? Is it considered socially unacceptable in your country

[Deleted]

Not offensive but dated.

[Independent voter]

It's not used often in the US, but it's also not offensive.

I referred to someone as a Chinese the other day, got a lot of flack because of it. Vietnamese, Taiwanese no problem, but Chinese triggers some people.

[vindicatorx]

My Korean friend used to get highly pissed off when someone called him oriental so I guess yes, some people take offense to it. He preferred to be called Asian.

[Calzaeth]

What Lilla Blomma said.

Personally, I use georgraphical terms to differentiate, generally. East-asian, south-american etc.

[Endus]

It's not "offensive", in that it's used as a slur, but it's way outdated. When was the last time you referred to anything/anyone as "Occidental"? Same difference, really, since they're related terms.

[Forgettable]

I've never considered it offensive, but then again I'm not Oriental/Asian/etc. I usually just ask a person what ethnicity they are and then just call them that.

[Alefnir]

It's kind of rare hearing it in the U.S., but as far as I know, it's fine. People tend to say 'Asian' or sometimes 'Eastern' when speaking about culture (ex: 10th Century Eastern art tends to feature X styles as opposed to 10th Century Western art, which features Y.) with Europe as the Western point of reference.

[Deleted]

The word is so outdated that last time I typed oriental into google I got adds for funeral services.

[looorg]

Definitely dated, can't recall it being used for people in a long time. Porcelain or rugs and such might still be oriental but for people it does seem dated.

[Deleted]

who cares if it is

[Kathandira]

Something that I was discussing earlier was whether oriental is considered offensive everywhere? In the UK Oriental was often used to refer to the Chinese & Japanese as Asian is synonymous with people of Indian subcontinent... However the question is do you think Oriental is offensive? Is it considered socially unacceptable in your country

I don't use the term, I call them asian, or if I know the exact country, I use that name.

[Kalis]

Not offensive but dated.

It's not "offensive", in that it's used as a slur, but it's way outdated.

The word is so outdated that last time I typed oriental into google I got adds for funeral services.

Screw the lot of you.

The problem is, Asian usually refers to people from the sub-continent, so that's out. They obviously aren't Middle Eastern, so that's out. You can't call them Chinese, as lots of them aren't, so that's out. And now 'oriental' if for old people.

What inoffensive general description am I allowed to use goddamnit?

[Deleted]

Screw the lot of you.

The problem is, Asian usually refers to people from the sub-continent, so that's out. They obviously aren't Middle Eastern, so that's out. You can't call them Chinese, as lots of them aren't, so that's out. And now 'oriental' if for old people.

What inoffensive general description am I allowed to use goddamnit?

East asian? Asian in Sweden is commonly associated with eastern asia.

[Kalis]

East asian? Asian in Sweden is commonly associated with eastern asia.

Asian in Britain is generally used for Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, etc.

I've always called them Orientals, I'm buggered if I'm changing now.

[apples]

Screw the lot of you.

The problem is, Asian usually refers to people from the sub-continent, so that's out. They obviously aren't Middle Eastern, so that's out. You can't call them Chinese, as lots of them aren't, so that's out. And now 'oriental' if for old people.

What inoffensive general description am I allowed to use goddamnit?

so you typically go around talking about large groups of people as if they were a single unit?

maybe its best you dont know what to call "them"

[Kalis]

so you typically go around talking about large groups of people as if they were a single unit?

maybe its best you dont know what to call "them"

Of course I do. It's especially helpful whenever someone asks me my nationality.

[Rixis]

Asian in Britain is generally used for Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, etc.

I've always called them Orientals, I'm buggered if I'm changing now.

Damn right

There are other words that can be used if you want to be offensive, this a great word for explaining what you mean.

[Deleted]

Asian in Britain is generally used for Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, etc.

I've always called them Orientals, I'm buggered if I'm changing now.

I know, it irks me.

[Kalis]

I know, it irks me.

That I use the term orientals? I don't use it that often.

We don't even talk that often. You never ring. You never write. Nothing. Nada. Zilch.