Asian americans and asian fobs?

Question

is it just me or is there obviously alot of tension between the two, i'm asian but i was born in america, i see alot of fobs and just find them kinda odd, especially when they speak vietnamese, since i don't know vietnamese (oddly.) how can people look at asians and tell the difference between the two, MINUS THE WAY THEY TALK. for me, i can just tell? and what do people mean when they call some asians white washed. is it just the way they dress and the certain music they listen too that they are called "white washed?" hoiw about if a fob starts listening to boys like girls?

*this isn't meant to be offensive, i'm just wondering. thanks.

Additional Details

Fob (Fresh Off tha Boat)
- You were not born in America
- You know who Leon, Aaron, Sammi, Hikki, and Kangta are. In fact, you have seen them at Atlantic City or Las Vegas recently
- You speak your native language fluently and so do all your friends
- You do not have any non-Asian friends
- Your parents do not speak any English
- When you speak English, you like to make everything plural
- You get extremely good grades in school
- You cannot dance
- Your fashion sense comes from whatever country you're from and you incorporate nothing from American fashion into your wardrobe

i don't think people see us as the same, or at least i don't want them too, i think that sounds bad but i'm just being honest. i have tried communcating with "fobs" but it has never worked, i have talked to mexicans new to america and have no problem, but with "fobs" it's difficult. it's like we have nothing in commen, thanks for the answers. glad to know i'm not the only one who thinks this way.

oh and for the girl/guy who said i hated on my own race. i don't hate them, they make me uncomftorable. i'm half vietnamese/chinese. if a fob ever came up to me i'd be pleased to talk to him/her. but most of them i have talked to or have tried to talk too. don't amuse me and it just gets awkward.

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

To answer your question No, there is no way a person can tell if on is a "fob" or Asian American.
Some Asians call other Asian white washed not because of what there style is, its how some Asians have forgotten there culture.
I am Filipino and i see the same thing in my family. Some of my nephews feel no need to learn there parents culture.
You must be frustrated on how some people in your family (and around you) label you as white washed. We live in the free world, the old ways are good but you are American, you are free to choose what you want to be in life. Some day if you choose to, you may learn more of your culture but hopefully you don't feel same towards your family and culture.

Source(s):

I am south-east Asian (Filipino). Immigrated to Canada when i was 17.

Answer 2

I think there is. I'm Asian American too. I know some "fobs" look down on Asian Americans because they feel that we lost all our culture. White-washed means that the person won't recognize the Asian part of them. For example, the person might only listen to American music, only speak English, only talk to Caucasian people, and will only wear your stereotypical "white-washed" clothes (Hollister, Abercrombie, etc). At least, that's what "white-washed Asian" means over here where I live.

Answer 3

I've been there and yes, there is some tension between American born Asians and those who are more recent immigrants ("FOBs")

Yes, American born Asians or those who've grown up here may feel more pressure to conform to "white" American norms. This might take the manifestation of denying your ethnic heritage, making a conscious effort to date only whites, have exclusively white friends, etc. You may shun those who are immigrants and consider them outdated, unfashionable, etc.

OTOH, more recent immigrants may consider their American born counterparts "twinkies" or "bananas" - white on the inside, yellow on the outside - devoid of any cultural underpinnning, deficient in understanding their mother tongue. That's what they mean by "white washed".

In my opinion, it's best to have a happy medium and be comfortable with yourself. I'm a little unusual in that I'm proud to be American and well versed in the ways, but also very grounded in my Chinese heritage and can speak Mandarin and Cantonese - though I did that by years of working in Hong Kong, Taiwan and China.

Source(s):

A 2nd generation Chinese American who's been on both sides and am bilingual!

Answer 4

You are my kind. I am an American born Asian as well. Fobs are strange to me too. People who can't tell the difference are ignorant and prejudge us Asians as all the same. Fobs obviously have not as great grammar and they got accents. Fobs also have a different style in hair and clothing. White wash Asians are us the American born Asians. We have been raised here and start to lose our cultural background slowly.

A Fob is a foreign Asian, you know Fresh Off the Boat. I still can't believe people see all of us as the same.

Answer 5

I think some people might consider "fob" offensive...And I don't know why Asians hate on each other! You guys are so weird anyway! I know a lot of Asian people from different cultures and you all are snobbish to each other. What's up with that? My friend is from Burma and he absolutely hates Chinese people, I have Korean friend who doesn't like Cambodians or Vietnamese. And everyone hates Filipinos! Whats wrong with you guys?

I also can tell the difference. Vietnamese people use their tongue a little more. It sounds like "Cluck, Cluck" a little. Not trying to be offensive. You can just tell Japanese apart and I know Chinese apart from other languages too. Korean as well. Although I know none of these languages!

Answer 6

My friend... this is why the Chinese call American born Chinese "Juk Sing" bamboo. You look Chinese but inside your are not. I was also born in America, when I was young I had problems relating because my ABC friends didn't get along with my FOB friends.

I'm still trying to find my fit... but I am much more at ease with who I am now than when I was young. I've learned to embrace the culture of my heritage... though I still identify with being an American... When I meet others who deny my American Heritage... I don't really care what they think because I'm also something they are not... I am Chinese. (the sad reality of this quandary... the more prejudice I encounter the more Chinese I become.)

Answer 7

Whats a fob?

Edit: I know fobs then...except they didn't come on a boat, they came on a plane. I'm a fob too. There shouldn't be any tension between fobs and non-fobs, we're all the same bar minor cultural differences (We speak in another language, you have American accent and customs, we can learn from each other D: ) which we can overcome - prove we have brains for once.