Racism

[Essence_of_hope]

Just curious, how bad is racism over there? I came across this site by accident while searching something else. It's call onescotland, reading it makes me have second thoughts about going over there. It's bad enough, that a lot of the world dislike Americans, the last thing I wanna do is become someone's victim in a foreign country. I know in the US we have the same problem, even after so many years there are still closed minded people who cant see past the physical stuff. We all bleed the same, how hard is that to see?
Fornately, I've never had to deal with racism, it could be the fact that for some reason people sometimes dont realize I'm asian. No, I'm not mixed (or if I am I dont know about it).

[Polwarth]

You keep saying 'I'm Asian'. Are you aware that what the US call Asians, we call Chinese or Korean or Vietnamese etc... whilst in the UK, our 'Asians' encompasses people from the Indian sub-continent, ie India, Pakistan and Bangladesh? Never assume that people from other cultures totally understand the terminology used in your country - that is a very insular attitude, and is often a cause of things that can be perceived as 'racist'.

Racism is everywhere - but on the whole I would say that we are a very tolerant people. Live and let live is the motto that most British people live by. That's not to say we don't have our own racist nutters, but I would say that we are more tolerant than, for example, some of the Southern States in the USA.

[Essence_of_hope]

Originally Posted by POLWARTH

You keep saying 'I'm Asian'. Are you aware that what the US call Asians, we call Chinese or Korean or Vietnamese etc... whilst in the UK, our 'Asians' encompasses people from the Indian sub-continent, ie India, Pakistan and Bangladesh?

Racism is everywhere - but on the whole I would say that we are a very tolerant people. Live and let live is the motto that most British people live by. That's not to say we don't have our own racist nutters, but I would say that we are more tolerant than, for example, some of the Southern States in the USA.

Tecnically I'm Asian American...but yes, Asian by heritage. The US refers to anyone of asian/oriental heritage 'asian' it's just easier when it comes to filling out forms and what not. You cant list every ethnic background, well I guess you could but there's too many to list and the US probably fears that if they left one out those people would like outcasts. So, we group people be ethnic heritage. For example: Asians/Pacific Islanders, Caucasians, African Americans, Native Americans, Latin/Hispanic, Middle Eastern, and I think there's and 'other' too.

Originally Posted by POLWARTH

Never assume that people from other cultures totally understand the terminology used in your country - that is a very insular attitude, and is often a cause of things that can be perceived as 'racist'.

I wasnt assuming anything, I refer to myself as 'Asian' because that's what I am. I wasnt referring to anyone else. I only asked because I came across this site call onescotland.com and it freaked me out a little. It doesnt help that since I've been planning to go there I've been doing research to see how safe it was and came across a couple of news articles on racist crimes. I do my research just like I would with any place that I plan on going to visit. It's just common sense, you dont travel abroad for the first time blindly, especially when you're a single, 20 something woman.

If you're offended or taking this personally, I'm sorry. I was just asking around, I wasnt assuming anything. How else am I suppose to find out about something if I dont ask questions? What better way to get answers about Scotland then from Scottish people. If I find out how things are I can figure out how to deal with it. Over here I live in the city, I'm constantly on guard, I always lock my cars when I get in. I have a pocket knife (my dad gave me) in my glove compartment, pepper spray/mase. I'm also looking to get a stun gun. Self Defense is not a crime here, although there have been cases where women are locked away for 'accidently' killing their attacker. I dont know how much of that stuff I can actually carry with me around in another country.

FYI: My ethnic heritage is of Southeast Asian decent.

[Polwarth]

You don't seem to understand my comments - we have 'ethnic' groupings, too - but our ASIAN grouping refers to the peoples from our ex-colonies from the indian subcontinent.

I'd really like to help you with some of your questions but frankly they are often extremely naive and I fear that my replies often come over as 'lecturing' - I certainly don't mean to do that.

[anSiarach]

I wouldnt say racism is any worse in GB than it is in the western world as a whole.

[Secret_Squirrel]

Originally Posted by Essence_of_hope

Just curious, how bad is racism over there? I came across this site by accident while searching something else. It's call onescotland, reading it makes me have second thoughts about going over there. It's bad enough, that a lot of the world dislike Americans, the last thing I wanna do is become someone's victim in a foreign country.

If you don't want to take any risks in your life, then Don't come over.

[Polwarth]

Hiya, Squirrel
Long time no see!