<p>There are still some major differences between the joke in the Chronicle and the Princetonian.</p>
<p>In the first paragraph you quoted, they’re playing with a stereotype of engineers (viz. emotionally unavailable, boring, overworked). They softened it up a bit with “taken.” The only “offensive” portion is the “…, or Asian” part.</p>
<p>But, this doesn’t offend me anywhere near the level of the Princetonian’s joke.</p>
<p>The Asian stereotype used is the one where Asian men are portrayed as sexually unassertive. It’s outdated (and completely illogical, 1 billion people? come on!), but it’s a twentieth-century stereotype, not a nineteenth-century one.</p>
<p>The student, Kevin Wang, spoke in pretty relaxed Modern American English, complete with loose profanities and all. In short, he sounded as if he were your average American. The author of the article didn’t resort to broken English. Big difference.</p>
<p>Did they use the joke about wang referring to the phallus? Yeah. At least this partially reversed the prior stereotype about sexually unassertive Asian males.</p>
<p>This joke is just a lot more balanced than the Princeton one.</p>
<p>the chronicle was serious and not a joke…and i dont understand why some would be offended by the chronicle article because its true that alot of engineers are asians…lots not be denying basic facts guys</p>
<p>and as for the pton article—while i thought it was stupid, labeling it racist is rather extreme. if anything, it was making fun of racism and ridiculous stereotypes. the purpose behind the article is understandable as it was making fun of Jian Li, who sued a school for not getting in. I think Asians are so “offended” by this article as a way to cover up their embarrassment about Jian Li.</p>
<p>Wow. You think stupid. I guess the idea of being offended by railroad jokes, laundry jibes and dog-eating jokes is just so incredibly outrageous to you. When black people get offended by fried chicken and watermelon jokes, I guess its not about historically offensive and demeaning stereotypes but rather its some deep ulterior “cover up” motive. When Jews get offended over jokes about starting wars and having big noses, its a “cover up” issue for deeper things instead of being peeved over historically demeaning stereotypes.</p>
<p>No. Actually, if anything needs covering up, its how utterly clueless and shocking stupid Pton students like you can be.</p>
<p>guppy:
=D wow thank you for supporting my previous posts =D
edit: kateapollo, i think a princeton student would know mroe about his newspaper than you would O.o</p>
<p>Free press, even when in questionable taste is better than other options.</p>
<p>The Princeton issue is traditional, athough they picked a different subset to lampoon. Funny how some who advocate not looking at ethnicity, saying it matters little, get a little bothered by a less than even-handed portrayal of Asians in a humor issue of a college newspaper. Words do have an effect.</p>
<p>Strange that some Asians (myself not included) want to use stats as the primary way one should be judged as qualified for college admissions, yet balk when that is satirized (and exagerated), albet in bad taste.</p>
<p>What a tangled socio-political web we weave.</p>
<p>But obviously not about racial sensitivity. My issue was his statement that he believes Asians are somehow secretly just trying to “cover up” any embarassment over Jian Li by reacting negatively to jokes that actually lampoon and mock their race, heritage, history and culture. Oh, those inscrutable Orientals, they’re just acting offended over dog eating jokes, I know that deep down they have these <em>secret motives</em>!</p>
<p>darkhope, I don’t think too much of you either, mostly because most of your posts are incoherent and poorly written.</p>
<p>as for your allegation that I “think stupid”: my point is that while the article was not funny, the public outcry about the article is a little overblown as the intentions were not made in malice and the writers of the article had apologized. for example, if it was written by a nazi youth talking about how bad the jews, blacks, etc. are in complete seriousness, then yes, i would be a little concerned. </p>
<p>now let me explain from a female point of view. i will admit that being a woman i am sensitive to sexist jokes. so then, if there is a woman who sues a school for being rejected on the basis she is a woman and clearly is not even a compelling candidate (as Jian Li was not: Rapelye said herself she was not impressed by his app) I would be embarrassed on the behalf of women. and if such an article came out, I would be embarrassed even more as the article reminds me of these facts. </p>
<p>point is: I understand why Asians would be offended. but now its getting to the point of being ridiculous, and turning into a PC war: Who is The Racist Person? and thus completely turning the debate away from the point of the article which is Jian Li.</p>
<p>while the article was not very funny, we must remember the importance of humor in lightening the mood. the article was attempting to make light of the issue of Jian Li. </p>
<p>also, i would like to respectfully disagree with kateapollo’s belief that I am clueless, as I would to humbly point out I am going to a pretty good school.</p>
<p>also, i would like to point out that i am not racially insensitive. i also happen to be an african american. please dont make unfounded allegations.</p>
<p>“darkhope, I don’t think too much of you either, mostly because most of your posts are incoherent and poorly written.”
that hurts =(…i hope this isn;t because of my arguments in the duke vs berk thread in which ucb was completely classified as an overrated undergrad institution…if anyone is interested in that thread please take a look =D…and i would also like to defend myself…i am sorry i write soo poorly because of my 630 sat 1 writing score, but please do not judge a person by their writing capabilities…i’m actually extremely hurt by that…=(
edit: to defend my credibility more, look at my past posts and it is evident that most of my posts though poorly written provide extremely credible written proof in support of my views…</p>
<p>Oh, so you lighten the mood and lighten the issue by restorting to race? What does Jian Li have to do with broken English? What does Jian Li have to do with laundry or dog eating? Oh, right, because he’s Chinese/Asian. Great excuse, how thoughtful. </p>
<p>I guess if Princeton ever gets sued by someone named Adam Schwartzbaum it’ll be time to break out the big nose, money-counting jokes. You know, to lighten the mood.</p>
<p>Yes, a beloved and hallowed university went through some controversy by being sued by a Chinese American. So that means they have to deal with it by going through MORE controversy by lampooning him by deliberately targeting his race. Congratulations, all that tradition and brilliance is showing.</p>
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<p>Well, now we all know how you “earned” your way into Princeton. You probably took Jian Li’s spot. Ouch. Just kidding; trying to lighten the mood.</p>
<p>Sorry, but I’m not gonna join the bandwagon here: That stuff made me LoLLeRgaSM. Funny article I thought. I know asians might be ****ed, but if somebody wrote stuff like that about my culture (I’m german), I’d laugh. Some people are just to uptight. Not accusing any1 here of being that btw. Stereotypes are sometimes as valid as the truth believe it or not…</p>
<p>kateapollo check your attitudes, i don;t think i ever attacked your character but from your posts, i can say you must have really regretted choosing ucb, or is this how the general population of ucb students are…they must be ashamed =(</p>
<p>kateapollo, im sorry: but your arguments are not very pragmatic and rational. i would like to say yes, i earned my way into Princeton. i worked two job shifts after school to help with the electric and light bills as my parents have not attended college. i find time for homework when I’m not working or going to school, which is usually when most people sleep. point is, I have worked very hard to get where I am now.
thats why I dont have much sympathy for people like Jian Li who are bitter about not getting into a school.</p>
'Fraid not, guppy. Jian Li isn’t bitter. He’s being noble and attacking the racist adcoms out to get Asians. Despite the fact that we haven’t seen any proof that URMs have lower admissions standards. Despite the fact that many, many colleges eagerly recuit Asians.</p>
<p>Gosh, it was a joke, no need for the sob story. I thought you were being a jerk, so I made a little affirmative action joke to lighten the mood. Big deal.</p>
<p>warblersrule86,
You’re taking things a bit too far. No one’s said anything about racist adcoms (at least not Jian).</p>
<p>He said he wasn’t suing to get in (or because he got waitlisted), rather he doesn’t want race to be a factor in the admissions process. Would you call that self-serving? Bitterness?</p>
<p>saro, that was intense sarcasm. I will be sure to note it next time. As for bitterness, I don’t know Jian Li, so I don’t have the faintest idea. :p</p>