How do aliens explain us to their own?

CplFerro · 17th June 2006, 07:34 PM

How do alien nationalities, such as Middle Easterners or Orientals, explain the West to their children and to each other? I'm thinking of how we in the West have documentaries featuring a narrator discussing various strange rituals that the Babootoo tribe in Godknowswhere Africa have, putting their ways in some kind of context so we have a sense of why they do what they do. I have never heard of this being done, however, for the West by an alien culture. Are there videos in Japan entitled "The Crazy West" or "Wild and Woolly America"? Enquiring minds want to know.

coalesce · 17th June 2006, 08:04 PM

Oh, thooooose kind of aliens. I thought you meant the Niptonians or the Skreed.

Michael

Marquis de Carabas · 17th June 2006, 10:33 PM

They mainly show them Carrot Top's Chairman of the Board, I'm afraid.

slingblade · 18th June 2006, 09:31 AM

"Body Ritual among the Nacirema"

But to answer your question seriously.....in lots of different ways. Probably as many ways as there are people to explain, and to whom to explain.....

I think many people like the idea of the United States, but not its reality.
Or vice-versa, or both, or neither.

I think a lot of people don't think about us, in much the same way I don't think about Qatar or Sri Lanka.

I think many would like to come here.

I think many would never want to come here, either on a bet or to save their lives, or both.

I think categorizing all non-U.S.Americans as "aliens" is just a tad xenophobic, and one may be interested in knowing the term "Oriental" has been replaced with the more accurate "Asian."

Zep · 19th June 2006, 04:24 AM

What is this "America" you speak of?

"Let us be lovers we'll marry our fortunes together."
"I've got some real estate here in my bag."
So we bought a pack of cigarettes and Mrs. Wagner pies
And we walked off to look for America

"Kathy," I said as we boarded a Greyhound in Pittsburgh
"Michigan seems like a dream to me now"
It took me four days to hitchhike from Saginaw
I've gone to look for America

Laughing on the bus
Playing games with the faces
She said the man in the gabardine suit was a spy
I said "Be careful his bowtie is really a camera"

"Toss me a cigarette, I think there's one in my raincoat"
"We smoked the last one an hour ago"
So I looked at the scenery, she read her magazine
And the moon rose over an open field

"Kathy, I'm lost," I said, though I knew she was sleeping
I'm empty and aching and I don't know why
Counting the cars on the New Jersey Turnpike
They've all gone to look for America
All gone to look for America
All gone to look for America

Paul Simon - America

coalesce · 19th June 2006, 07:48 AM

Great, Zep. Now I want to listen to the Yes version of this song.

Michael

bjb · 19th June 2006, 09:57 AM

One story I heard was that people in India think Americans and other Westerners were very, very bad in a previous life. Their karma was so bad they were reborn in a land without Hinduism, so now they can never get back on the path to enlightenment. Even the poorest Indians would not trade places with the richest American.

Kaarjuus · 19th June 2006, 10:22 AM

Originally Posted by bjb

Even the poorest Indians would not trade places with the richest American.

Yeah. I guess that is why there are practically zero immigrants from India in America, and hundreds of thousands of Americans are flocking to live in India.

Err..

tkingdoll · 19th June 2006, 10:32 AM

Originally Posted by slingblade

one may be interested in knowing the term "Oriental" has been replaced with the more accurate "Asian."

Not in the UK. Asia is too vast to be of any use to describe any group, really, but here it's used only to mean Pakistan or India (which should really be referred to as Asian Subcontinent, but isn't). As over 60% of the world's population live in Asia, the term 'Asian' is about as vague as you can get. Turkey, for example, is in Asia (although it's also in Europe

).

If you meant a person from Thailand, and used "Asian", no-one in the UK would know what you meant. The term "Oriental" isn't widely used here, (although the term "The Orient" still is, e.g. The Orient Express), but Oriental is not the insult here that I've heard it is in the USA. I was recently told that it's akin to the 'N' word there.

Marquis de Carabas · 19th June 2006, 10:41 AM

Originally Posted by tkingdoll

If you meant a person from Thailand, and used "Asian", no-one in the UK would know what you meant. The term "Oriental" isn't widely used here, (although the term "The Orient" still is, e.g. The Orient Express), but Oriental is not the insult here that I've heard it is in the USA. I was recently told that it's akin to the 'N' word there.

I know of no-one who thinks "oriental" is nearly that bad, and I live in an area with a decent sized Vietnamese population. In truth, the only people I have ever heard denounce the use of the term are white.

tkingdoll · 19th June 2006, 10:42 AM

Originally Posted by Marquis de Carabas

I know of no-one who thinks "oriental" is nearly that bad, and I live in an area with a decent sized Vietnamese population. In truth, the only people I have ever heard denounce the use of the term are white.

Well, this was a white person. It was also a skeptic. Therefore, all skeptics are white. Or something.

Marquis de Carabas · 19th June 2006, 11:00 AM

Originally Posted by tkingdoll

Well, this was a white person. It was also a skeptic. Therefore, all skeptics are white. Or something.

All white skeptics are people, you mean.

tkingdoll · 19th June 2006, 11:48 AM

Originally Posted by Marquis de Carabas

All white skeptics are people, you mean.

Evidence?

Marquis de Carabas · 19th June 2006, 11:54 AM

Originally Posted by tkingdoll

Evidence?

I am a white skeptic and I am a... oh, I see your point. Nevermind.

slingblade · 19th June 2006, 09:20 PM

Zep · 20th June 2006, 04:04 AM

Re the OP, perhaps you might define what you mean by "alien nations". AFAIK, by definition, any non-USAian is an "alien". I think the UK has picked up on that term too. That's the label on the gate I have to go through at customs...

brodski · 20th June 2006, 05:13 AM

Originally Posted by Zep

Re the OP, perhaps you might define what you mean by "alien nations". AFAIK, by definition, any non-USAian is an "alien". I think the UK has picked up on that term too. That's the label on the gate I have to go through at customs...

That's not beceasue you're not from the UK, it's beceaue HM Customs and Excise found out which planet you are REALY from, couldn't you at least have picked a more earthly name, eh zep?

Zep · 20th June 2006, 06:23 AM

Originally Posted by brodski

That's not beceasue you're not from the UK, it's beceaue HM Customs and Excise found out which planet you are REALY from, couldn't you at least have picked a more earthly name, eh zep?

Think so? The name is derived originally from Ferdinand Adolf August Heinrich Graf von Zeppelin, who, it appears, was from the planet Germany. He was responsible for a certain type or aerial transport, which, as a young FPS gamer, I tended to emulate.

Anyway, I was only wondering if the term "aliens" is a universal term for those not citizens of {insert-country-name-here}.

Walk The Line · 20th June 2006, 06:59 AM

Originally Posted by slingblade

I think categorizing all non-U.S.Americans as "aliens" is just a tad xenophobic, and one may be interested in knowing the term "Oriental" has been replaced with the more accurate "Asian."

I think categorizing all non-Americans as "aliens" is perfectly acceptable if one is an American. After all, according to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, an "alien" is:

"relating, belonging, or owing allegiance to another country or government"

So, in other words, not xenophobic at all.

CplFerro · 20th June 2006, 03:27 PM

Originally Posted by Zep

Re the OP, perhaps you might define what you mean by "alien nations". AFAIK, by definition, any non-USAian is an "alien". I think the UK has picked up on that term too. That's the label on the gate I have to go through at customs...

Dear Zep,

I might, but I think my intention was quite obvious in my original post. Any takers, yet?

Cpl Ferro

Marquis de Carabas · 20th June 2006, 07:13 PM

Play any of the DOA video games. The American characters are how the Japanese view us.

ARubberChickenWithAPulley · 20th June 2006, 10:37 PM

Quote:

How do alien nationalities, such as Middle Easterners or Orientals, explain the West to their children and to each other? I'm thinking of how we in the West have documentaries featuring a narrator discussing various strange rituals that the Babootoo tribe in Godknowswhere Africa have, putting their ways in some kind of context so we have a sense of why they do what they do. I have never heard of this being done, however, for the West by an alien culture. Are there videos in Japan entitled "The Crazy West" or "Wild and Woolly America"? Enquiring minds want to know.

I've seen miscellaneous TV shows in Japan that focus on explaining aspects of American culture. Usually they use a "fish out of water" scenario where they take a Japanese person and send them to the U.S. and have them experience (often comically) unfamiliar aspects of the U.S. They don't usually (at least the shows I have seen) go into the sociological/anthropological aspects of American culture like a National Geographic documentary on an African tribe would, but in short, the answer to your question is yes, at least in regards to Japan and Korea, they do make some effort to explain unfamiliar aspects of western culture.

brodski · 20th June 2006, 10:47 PM

Originally Posted by Zep

Think so? The name is derived originally from Ferdinand Adolf August Heinrich Graf von Zeppelin, who, it appears, was from the planet Germany. He was responsible for a certain type or aerial transport, which, as a young FPS gamer, I tended to emulate.

Well, that went down like Kieth Moon's proverbial led balloon

Originally Posted by Zep

Anyway, I was only wondering if the term "aliens" is a universal term for those not citizens of {insert-country-name-here}.

In the UK government the term alien is the preferred legal word for a non citizen. Even sting uses the term!

Quote:

I'm an alien I'm a legal alien
I'm an Englishman in New York

Dcdrac · 22nd June 2006, 12:09 PM

oh i thought you meant people from another world somewhere not other humans

Kimpatsu · 23rd June 2006, 05:24 AM

Originally Posted by Dcdrac

oh i thought you meant people from another world somewhere not other humans

As evidenced from their behaviour, Americans are definitely NOT human.

Zep · 23rd June 2006, 06:27 AM

Originally Posted by ARubberChickenWithAPulley

I've seen miscellaneous TV shows in Japan that focus on explaining aspects of American culture. Usually they use a "fish out of water" scenario where they take a Japanese person and send them to the U.S. and have them experience (often comically) unfamiliar aspects of the U.S. They don't usually (at least the shows I have seen) go into the sociological/anthropological aspects of American culture like a National Geographic documentary on an African tribe would, but in short, the answer to your question is yes, at least in regards to Japan and Korea, they do make some effort to explain unfamiliar aspects of western culture.

Just one (weird) example: Some years back, there was a sudden fascination in Japan with a certain type of Australian lizard, chiefly because it ran on its hind legs only when frightened. Now that's cute and all, but we don't view it as weird, because we're used to it. But the Japanese were totally fascinated with it, in sort of the same way we view manga and harajuku. Why? I don't know...

Zep · 23rd June 2006, 06:37 AM

Originally Posted by brodski

Well, that went down like Kieth Moon's proverbial led balloon

Da-boom tish!

ZirconBlue · 27th June 2006, 11:41 AM

Originally Posted by Marquis de Carabas

I know of no-one who thinks "oriental" is nearly that bad, and I live in an area with a decent sized Vietnamese population. In truth, the only people I have ever heard denounce the use of the term are white.

I've never really understood how being called "Eastern" could be offensive. I certainly wouldn't object to being referred to as Occidental. An Asian-American friend of my wife's once said "Rugs are oriental, people are Asian." Nice bumper sticker, but it still seems like going out of ones way to take offense.

Polaris · 1st July 2006, 05:16 PM

Originally Posted by ZirconBlue

I've never really understood how being called "Eastern" could be offensive. I certainly wouldn't object to being referred to as Occidental. An Asian-American friend of my wife's once said "Rugs are oriental, people are Asian." Nice bumper sticker, but it still seems like going out of ones way to take offense.

I once saw a black stand-up comedian say the movie The Mexican was a racist title because the actors were white...or something. Apparently now even using the name of the nation-state of non-whites is racist. People will find anything to be offended by if they are so inclined.

Art Vandelay · 2nd July 2006, 10:03 PM

Originally Posted by Zep

Anyway, I was only wondering if the term "aliens" is a universal term for those not citizens of {insert-country-name-here}.

I would imagine that it would be rather uncommon among non-English-speaking countries.

Originally Posted by CplFerro

How do alien nationalities, such as Middle Easterners or Orientals, explain the West to their children and to each other?

That does seem lioke an odd use of the word "alien". You could just say "other". "Alien" is a relative term. One isn't an "alien" in an absolute sense, one is "alien" with respect to particular countries.

Originally Posted by Zep

Re the OP, perhaps you might define what you mean by "alien nations". AFAIK, by definition, any non-USAian is an "alien".

Well... in the US.

Originally Posted by brodski

In the UK government the term alien is the preferred legal word for a non citizen. Even sting uses the term!

Yeah, after spending time in the US, and speaking to a US audience.

CplFerro · 4th July 2006, 03:30 PM

Originally Posted by Art Vandelay

That does seem lioke an odd use of the word "alien". You could just say "other". "Alien" is a relative term. One isn't an "alien" in an absolute sense, one is "alien" with respect to particular countries.

Dear Art,

If you're not going to respond to the actual question of the original post, there's no need to reply at all. I thought it was quite an interesting question, myself, but you obviously do not. There's no need to go out of your way to express your aloof disinterest by nitpicking with my verbiage.

Cpl Ferro

brodski · 4th July 2006, 03:41 PM

Originally Posted by Art Vandelay

Yeah, after spending time in the US, and speaking to a US audience.

it is used in the UK as well
http://search.opsi.gov.uk/search?q=a...ult_collection

Art Vandelay · 5th July 2006, 01:33 PM

Originally Posted by CplFerro

Dear Art,

If you're not going to respond to the actual question of the original post, there's no need to reply at all. I thought it was quite an interesting question, myself, but you obviously do not. There's no need to go out of your way to express your aloof disinterest by nitpicking with my verbiage.

Cpl Ferro

Wow, you sure are touchy. So the rules are:
I am not allowed to respond to any post other than the first one
I am not allowed to respond to anything in the original post other than the question that you explicitly ask
If I don't have an answer for a question, that means that I don't think it's interesting, and it means that I'm expressing "aloof disinterest"
Commenting on someone's word choice is "nitpicking... verbiage"

Beerina · 24th July 2006, 12:48 PM

Originally Posted by tkingdoll

I was recently told that it's akin to the 'N' word there.

Nah. I do notice nobody uses "Oriental" anymore, now that I think about it, but I cannot see it as being because it's considered bad.

It's kind of the opposite here, though. "Asian" refers to what might have been called Oriental, whereas people from India are just Indian. I have a dietetic frozen dinner called "Beef with Asian Style Vegetables", and they aren't talking about lamb vindaloo.

gtc · 31st July 2006, 02:20 AM

Originally Posted by Beerina

Nah. I do notice nobody uses "Oriental" anymore, now that I think about it, but I cannot see it as being because it's considered bad.

It's kind of the opposite here, though. "Asian" refers to what might have been called Oriental, whereas people from India are just Indian. I have a dietetic frozen dinner called "Beef with Asian Style Vegetables", and they aren't talking about lamb vindaloo.

The term Asian Style is a wonderfully non-descript food description isn't it.

rjh01 · 31st July 2006, 04:28 AM

almost as good as European style food.

17th June 2006, 07:34 PM	#1
CplFerro Graduate Poster Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,383	How do aliens explain us to their own? How do alien nationalities, such as Middle Easterners or Orientals, explain the West to their children and to each other? I'm thinking of how we in the West have documentaries featuring a narrator discussing various strange rituals that the Babootoo tribe in Godknowswhere Africa have, putting their ways in some kind of context so we have a sense of why they do what they do. I have never heard of this being done, however, for the West by an alien culture. Are there videos in Japan entitled "The Crazy West" or "Wild and Woolly America"? Enquiring minds want to know.

17th June 2006, 08:04 PM	#2
coalesce Illuminator Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 3,354	Oh, thooooose kind of aliens. I thought you meant the Niptonians or the Skreed. Michael
	__________________ "I want the kids in bed by nine, the dog fed, the yard watered and the gate locked. And get a note to the milkman NO MORE CHEESE!"

17th June 2006, 10:33 PM	#3
Marquis de Carabas Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: vuori Posts: 27,106	They mainly show them Carrot Top's Chairman of the Board, I'm afraid.
	__________________ Jesus ... wasn't he the bloke who turned fish into wine and made the lepers multiply? -KateHL Violence is more acceptable than incest. I have been told to keep this in mind.

18th June 2006, 09:31 AM	#4
slingblade Guest Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 23,642	"Body Ritual among the Nacirema" But to answer your question seriously.....in lots of different ways. Probably as many ways as there are people to explain, and to whom to explain..... I think many people like the idea of the United States, but not its reality. Or vice-versa, or both, or neither. I think a lot of people don't think about us, in much the same way I don't think about Qatar or Sri Lanka. I think many would like to come here. I think many would never want to come here, either on a bet or to save their lives, or both. I think categorizing all non-U.S.Americans as "aliens" is just a tad xenophobic, and one may be interested in knowing the term "Oriental" has been replaced with the more accurate "Asian."
slingblade Guest Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 23,642

19th June 2006, 04:24 AM	#5
Zep Banned Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 26,985	What is this "America" you speak of? "Let us be lovers we'll marry our fortunes together." "I've got some real estate here in my bag." So we bought a pack of cigarettes and Mrs. Wagner pies And we walked off to look for America "Kathy," I said as we boarded a Greyhound in Pittsburgh "Michigan seems like a dream to me now" It took me four days to hitchhike from Saginaw I've gone to look for America Laughing on the bus Playing games with the faces She said the man in the gabardine suit was a spy I said "Be careful his bowtie is really a camera" "Toss me a cigarette, I think there's one in my raincoat" "We smoked the last one an hour ago" So I looked at the scenery, she read her magazine And the moon rose over an open field "Kathy, I'm lost," I said, though I knew she was sleeping I'm empty and aching and I don't know why Counting the cars on the New Jersey Turnpike They've all gone to look for America All gone to look for America All gone to look for America Paul Simon - America
Zep Banned Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 26,985

19th June 2006, 07:48 AM	#6
coalesce Illuminator Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 3,354	Great, Zep. Now I want to listen to the Yes version of this song. Michael
	__________________ "I want the kids in bed by nine, the dog fed, the yard watered and the gate locked. And get a note to the milkman NO MORE CHEESE!"

19th June 2006, 09:57 AM	#7
bjb Graduate Poster Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 1,079	One story I heard was that people in India think Americans and other Westerners were very, very bad in a previous life. Their karma was so bad they were reborn in a land without Hinduism, so now they can never get back on the path to enlightenment. Even the poorest Indians would not trade places with the richest American.
bjb Graduate Poster Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 1,079

19th June 2006, 10:22 AM	#8
Kaarjuus Critical Thinker Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 252	Originally Posted by bjb Even the poorest Indians would not trade places with the richest American. Yeah. I guess that is why there are practically zero immigrants from India in America, and hundreds of thousands of Americans are flocking to live in India. Err..
Kaarjuus Critical Thinker Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 252

19th June 2006, 10:32 AM	#9
tkingdoll AKA TEEK Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Up Myself Posts: 12,471	Originally Posted by slingblade one may be interested in knowing the term "Oriental" has been replaced with the more accurate "Asian." Not in the UK. Asia is too vast to be of any use to describe any group, really, but here it's used only to mean Pakistan or India (which should really be referred to as Asian Subcontinent, but isn't). As over 60% of the world's population live in Asia, the term 'Asian' is about as vague as you can get. Turkey, for example, is in Asia (although it's also in Europe ). If you meant a person from Thailand, and used "Asian", no-one in the UK would know what you meant. The term "Oriental" isn't widely used here, (although the term "The Orient" still is, e.g. The Orient Express), but Oriental is not the insult here that I've heard it is in the USA. I was recently told that it's akin to the 'N' word there.
	__________________ www.stormmovie.net Official website of Tim Minchin's Storm Movie

19th June 2006, 10:41 AM	#10
Marquis de Carabas Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: vuori Posts: 27,106	Originally Posted by tkingdoll If you meant a person from Thailand, and used "Asian", no-one in the UK would know what you meant. The term "Oriental" isn't widely used here, (although the term "The Orient" still is, e.g. The Orient Express), but Oriental is not the insult here that I've heard it is in the USA. I was recently told that it's akin to the 'N' word there. I know of no-one who thinks "oriental" is nearly that bad, and I live in an area with a decent sized Vietnamese population. In truth, the only people I have ever heard denounce the use of the term are white.
	__________________ Jesus ... wasn't he the bloke who turned fish into wine and made the lepers multiply? -KateHL Violence is more acceptable than incest. I have been told to keep this in mind.

19th June 2006, 10:42 AM	#11
tkingdoll AKA TEEK Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Up Myself Posts: 12,471	Originally Posted by Marquis de Carabas I know of no-one who thinks "oriental" is nearly that bad, and I live in an area with a decent sized Vietnamese population. In truth, the only people I have ever heard denounce the use of the term are white. Well, this was a white person. It was also a skeptic. Therefore, all skeptics are white. Or something.
	__________________ www.stormmovie.net Official website of Tim Minchin's Storm Movie

19th June 2006, 11:00 AM	#12
Marquis de Carabas Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: vuori Posts: 27,106	Originally Posted by tkingdoll Well, this was a white person. It was also a skeptic. Therefore, all skeptics are white. Or something. All white skeptics are people, you mean.
	__________________ Jesus ... wasn't he the bloke who turned fish into wine and made the lepers multiply? -KateHL Violence is more acceptable than incest. I have been told to keep this in mind.

19th June 2006, 11:48 AM	#13
tkingdoll AKA TEEK Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Up Myself Posts: 12,471	Originally Posted by Marquis de Carabas All white skeptics are people, you mean. Evidence?
	__________________ www.stormmovie.net Official website of Tim Minchin's Storm Movie

19th June 2006, 11:54 AM	#14
Marquis de Carabas Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: vuori Posts: 27,106	Originally Posted by tkingdoll Evidence? I am a white skeptic and I am a... oh, I see your point. Nevermind.
	__________________ Jesus ... wasn't he the bloke who turned fish into wine and made the lepers multiply? -KateHL Violence is more acceptable than incest. I have been told to keep this in mind.

19th June 2006, 09:20 PM	#15
slingblade Guest Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 23,642
slingblade Guest Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 23,642

20th June 2006, 04:04 AM	#16
Zep Banned Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 26,985	Re the OP, perhaps you might define what you mean by "alien nations". AFAIK, by definition, any non-USAian is an "alien". I think the UK has picked up on that term too. That's the label on the gate I have to go through at customs...
Zep Banned Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 26,985

20th June 2006, 05:13 AM	#17
brodski Tea-Time toad Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 15,089	Originally Posted by Zep Re the OP, perhaps you might define what you mean by "alien nations". AFAIK, by definition, any non-USAian is an "alien". I think the UK has picked up on that term too. That's the label on the gate I have to go through at customs... That's not beceasue you're not from the UK, it's beceaue HM Customs and Excise found out which planet you are REALY from, couldn't you at least have picked a more earthly name, eh zep?
brodski Tea-Time toad Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 15,089

20th June 2006, 06:23 AM	#18
Zep Banned Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 26,985	Originally Posted by brodski That's not beceasue you're not from the UK, it's beceaue HM Customs and Excise found out which planet you are REALY from, couldn't you at least have picked a more earthly name, eh zep? Think so? The name is derived originally from Ferdinand Adolf August Heinrich Graf von Zeppelin, who, it appears, was from the planet Germany. He was responsible for a certain type or aerial transport, which, as a young FPS gamer, I tended to emulate. Anyway, I was only wondering if the term "aliens" is a universal term for those not citizens of {insert-country-name-here}.
Zep Banned Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 26,985

20th June 2006, 06:59 AM	#19
Walk The Line We ARE Virginia Tech Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 936	Originally Posted by slingblade I think categorizing all non-U.S.Americans as "aliens" is just a tad xenophobic, and one may be interested in knowing the term "Oriental" has been replaced with the more accurate "Asian." I think categorizing all non-Americans as "aliens" is perfectly acceptable if one is an American. After all, according to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, an "alien" is: "relating, belonging, or owing allegiance to another country or government" So, in other words, not xenophobic at all.

20th June 2006, 03:27 PM	#20
CplFerro Graduate Poster Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,383	Originally Posted by Zep Re the OP, perhaps you might define what you mean by "alien nations". AFAIK, by definition, any non-USAian is an "alien". I think the UK has picked up on that term too. That's the label on the gate I have to go through at customs... Dear Zep, I might, but I think my intention was quite obvious in my original post. Any takers, yet? Cpl Ferro

20th June 2006, 07:13 PM	#21
Marquis de Carabas Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: vuori Posts: 27,106	Play any of the DOA video games. The American characters are how the Japanese view us.
	__________________ Jesus ... wasn't he the bloke who turned fish into wine and made the lepers multiply? -KateHL Violence is more acceptable than incest. I have been told to keep this in mind.

20th June 2006, 10:37 PM	#22
ARubberChickenWithAPulley Master Poster Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Kentucky Posts: 2,152	Quote: How do alien nationalities, such as Middle Easterners or Orientals, explain the West to their children and to each other? I'm thinking of how we in the West have documentaries featuring a narrator discussing various strange rituals that the Babootoo tribe in Godknowswhere Africa have, putting their ways in some kind of context so we have a sense of why they do what they do. I have never heard of this being done, however, for the West by an alien culture. Are there videos in Japan entitled "The Crazy West" or "Wild and Woolly America"? Enquiring minds want to know. I've seen miscellaneous TV shows in Japan that focus on explaining aspects of American culture. Usually they use a "fish out of water" scenario where they take a Japanese person and send them to the U.S. and have them experience (often comically) unfamiliar aspects of the U.S. They don't usually (at least the shows I have seen) go into the sociological/anthropological aspects of American culture like a National Geographic documentary on an African tribe would, but in short, the answer to your question is yes, at least in regards to Japan and Korea, they do make some effort to explain unfamiliar aspects of western culture.

20th June 2006, 10:47 PM	#23
brodski Tea-Time toad Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 15,089	Originally Posted by Zep Think so? The name is derived originally from Ferdinand Adolf August Heinrich Graf von Zeppelin, who, it appears, was from the planet Germany. He was responsible for a certain type or aerial transport, which, as a young FPS gamer, I tended to emulate. Well, that went down like Kieth Moon's proverbial led balloon Originally Posted by Zep Anyway, I was only wondering if the term "aliens" is a universal term for those not citizens of {insert-country-name-here}. In the UK government the term alien is the preferred legal word for a non citizen. Even sting uses the term! Quote: I'm an alien I'm a legal alien I'm an Englishman in New York
brodski Tea-Time toad Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 15,089

22nd June 2006, 12:09 PM	#24
Dcdrac Illuminator Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 3,679	oh i thought you meant people from another world somewhere not other humans
Dcdrac Illuminator Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 3,679

23rd June 2006, 05:24 AM	#25
Kimpatsu Illuminator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Tokyo Posts: 3,145	Originally Posted by Dcdrac oh i thought you meant people from another world somewhere not other humans As evidenced from their behaviour, Americans are definitely NOT human.
	__________________ Tony Kehoe "Most people, I believe, think that you need a God to explain the existence of the world, and especially the existence of life. They are wrong, but our education system is such that many people don't know it. "--Richard Dawkins

23rd June 2006, 06:27 AM	#26
Zep Banned Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 26,985	Originally Posted by ARubberChickenWithAPulley I've seen miscellaneous TV shows in Japan that focus on explaining aspects of American culture. Usually they use a "fish out of water" scenario where they take a Japanese person and send them to the U.S. and have them experience (often comically) unfamiliar aspects of the U.S. They don't usually (at least the shows I have seen) go into the sociological/anthropological aspects of American culture like a National Geographic documentary on an African tribe would, but in short, the answer to your question is yes, at least in regards to Japan and Korea, they do make some effort to explain unfamiliar aspects of western culture. Just one (weird) example: Some years back, there was a sudden fascination in Japan with a certain type of Australian lizard, chiefly because it ran on its hind legs only when frightened. Now that's cute and all, but we don't view it as weird, because we're used to it. But the Japanese were totally fascinated with it, in sort of the same way we view manga and harajuku. Why? I don't know...
Zep Banned Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 26,985

23rd June 2006, 06:37 AM	#27
Zep Banned Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 26,985	Originally Posted by brodski Well, that went down like Kieth Moon's proverbial led balloon Da-boom tish!
Zep Banned Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 26,985

27th June 2006, 11:41 AM	#28
ZirconBlue Sole Survivor of L-Town Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Wilson, North Carolina, USA, Earth Posts: 11,330	Originally Posted by Marquis de Carabas I know of no-one who thinks "oriental" is nearly that bad, and I live in an area with a decent sized Vietnamese population. In truth, the only people I have ever heard denounce the use of the term are white. I've never really understood how being called "Eastern" could be offensive. I certainly wouldn't object to being referred to as Occidental. An Asian-American friend of my wife's once said "Rugs are oriental, people are Asian." Nice bumper sticker, but it still seems like going out of ones way to take offense.
	__________________ Religion and sex are powerplays. Manipulate the people for the money they pay. Selling skin, selling God The numbers look the same on their credit cards.

1st July 2006, 05:16 PM	#29
Polaris Philosopher Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 5,171	Originally Posted by ZirconBlue I've never really understood how being called "Eastern" could be offensive. I certainly wouldn't object to being referred to as Occidental. An Asian-American friend of my wife's once said "Rugs are oriental, people are Asian." Nice bumper sticker, but it still seems like going out of ones way to take offense. I once saw a black stand-up comedian say the movie The Mexican was a racist title because the actors were white...or something. Apparently now even using the name of the nation-state of non-whites is racist. People will find anything to be offended by if they are so inclined.
Polaris Philosopher Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 5,171

2nd July 2006, 10:03 PM	#30
Art Vandelay Illuminator Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 4,790	Originally Posted by Zep Anyway, I was only wondering if the term "aliens" is a universal term for those not citizens of {insert-country-name-here}. I would imagine that it would be rather uncommon among non-English-speaking countries. Originally Posted by CplFerro How do alien nationalities, such as Middle Easterners or Orientals, explain the West to their children and to each other? That does seem lioke an odd use of the word "alien". You could just say "other". "Alien" is a relative term. One isn't an "alien" in an absolute sense, one is "alien" with respect to particular countries. Originally Posted by Zep Re the OP, perhaps you might define what you mean by "alien nations". AFAIK, by definition, any non-USAian is an "alien". Well... in the US. Originally Posted by brodski In the UK government the term alien is the preferred legal word for a non citizen. Even sting uses the term! Yeah, after spending time in the US, and speaking to a US audience.

4th July 2006, 03:30 PM	#31
CplFerro Graduate Poster Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,383	Originally Posted by Art Vandelay That does seem lioke an odd use of the word "alien". You could just say "other". "Alien" is a relative term. One isn't an "alien" in an absolute sense, one is "alien" with respect to particular countries. Dear Art, If you're not going to respond to the actual question of the original post, there's no need to reply at all. I thought it was quite an interesting question, myself, but you obviously do not. There's no need to go out of your way to express your aloof disinterest by nitpicking with my verbiage. Cpl Ferro

4th July 2006, 03:41 PM	#32
brodski Tea-Time toad Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 15,089	Originally Posted by Art Vandelay Yeah, after spending time in the US, and speaking to a US audience. it is used in the UK as well http://search.opsi.gov.uk/search?q=a...ult_collection
brodski Tea-Time toad Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 15,089

5th July 2006, 01:33 PM	#33
Art Vandelay Illuminator Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 4,790	Originally Posted by CplFerro Dear Art, If you're not going to respond to the actual question of the original post, there's no need to reply at all. I thought it was quite an interesting question, myself, but you obviously do not. There's no need to go out of your way to express your aloof disinterest by nitpicking with my verbiage. Cpl Ferro Wow, you sure are touchy. So the rules are: I am not allowed to respond to any post other than the first one I am not allowed to respond to anything in the original post other than the question that you explicitly ask If I don't have an answer for a question, that means that I don't think it's interesting, and it means that I'm expressing "aloof disinterest" Commenting on someone's word choice is "nitpicking... verbiage"

24th July 2006, 12:48 PM	#34
Beerina Sarcastic Conqueror of Notions Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: A floating island above the clouds Posts: 23,835	Originally Posted by tkingdoll I was recently told that it's akin to the 'N' word there. Nah. I do notice nobody uses "Oriental" anymore, now that I think about it, but I cannot see it as being because it's considered bad. It's kind of the opposite here, though. "Asian" refers to what might have been called Oriental, whereas people from India are just Indian. I have a dietetic frozen dinner called "Beef with Asian Style Vegetables", and they aren't talking about lamb vindaloo.
	__________________ "Great innovations should not be forced [by way of] slender majorities." - Thomas Jefferson The government should nationalize it! Socialized, single-payer video game development and sales *now!* More, cheaper, better games, right? Right?

31st July 2006, 02:20 AM	#35
gtc Philosopher Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: the downunderverse Posts: 7,114	Originally Posted by Beerina Nah. I do notice nobody uses "Oriental" anymore, now that I think about it, but I cannot see it as being because it's considered bad. It's kind of the opposite here, though. "Asian" refers to what might have been called Oriental, whereas people from India are just Indian. I have a dietetic frozen dinner called "Beef with Asian Style Vegetables", and they aren't talking about lamb vindaloo. The term Asian Style is a wonderfully non-descript food description isn't it.