Everyone is a Tough Guy on the Internet

I like to peruse the website Reddit often. I usually try to keep low-key. I do not normally instigate things via my comments. Up to a week ago, I made one comment regarding a misleading title of a posting.

Now, eight days ago, I encounter a posting entitled "[Video] Hot Oriental Girl Rowing A Boat." I got offended. I posted a comment. The original poster of the link decided to respond.

Me being me, I obviously had to respond and it got the ball rolling. As many of you know, in the past year or so, I have been trying to act much more mature and have been trying to take the higher road.

I will not be responding to his latest response. I am trying to take the high road at this point. I really hope that I come off as being "the better man" as I so have strive to be. I tried to be as diplomatic as I could be, but I will let you be the judge of that.

Below is the entirety of our conversation; I have edited that responder's user name (although it will not be too tough for someone to find out who I actually talked to):

bigmajor: Who still uses the term "Oriental" nowadays? It is just plain racist.

Responder: Many people use the term oriental.

bigmajor: Just because many people do something does not make it right.

Well I don't know where you are from, but it is not an accepted term anymore.

If you are still using the term "oriental" to describe an Asian person, I implore you to stop or risk looking like an ignorant person.

Responder: Oriental.

bigmajor: Brilliant, absolutely brilliant.

Responder: Yes, indeed. I refuse to conform to what is arbitrarily mandated as political correctness and to an America-centric world view. Not all our hangups and pretensions apply evenly around the world. And not to realize that is true ignorance.

bigmajor: I apologize for assuming you are American or at least living in America, and if I was wrong in my assumption, I apologize for accusing you of being ignorant.

However, if I am not mistaken, Reddit is website hosted in America, owned by an American based company (Conde Nast Publications), and is targeted towards Americans (And if you do not agree, please explain all the articles on American politics).

Given, it is true that many people around the world are able to access Reddit, I would argue it is only a natural assumption that the majority of people who use this site is American or at least living in America.

You should thus respect the political correctness of the target audience you deal with, which in this case is Americans.

I do not travel to foreign countries or visit foreign websites and disrespect accepted ideals and customs, impose my own ideals and customs while feigning a refusal to conform and then act like I am the victim.

This is not an issue regarding so-called American arrogance or imposing my beliefs around the world (As a side note, how is you imposing of your beliefs on me any different from what you have accused me of?). This is about acting like an adult and respecting others.

I am an Asian-American. I am offended by the title of the posting of the video and I am offended by your use of the term "Oriental." If you cannot accept this, so be it, but excuse me for believing in and standing up for my own beliefs.

Responder: At least read the entire wiki link cdills has supplied, and if it matters to you a whole lot, read some of the links at the bottom of the wiki page as well, and realize that your case is not as cut and you think. And if you make it your business to go around taking offense when by the context none was intended, they that's a lot in life of your own choosing.

bigmajor: Honestly, cdills is a personal friend of mine (i.e. I have face-to-face interaction with him); I feel like I know what he was trying to emphasize better than you, simply because of our friendship.

I have already apologized to you if you do not live in America, but notwithstanding, my points are still valid.

There is absolutely no point for me to try to argue with you further. This is a situation where we will have to agree to disagree.

I have already ceded the fact that you have valid points and I challenge you to view this argument from my point of view. Just because you choose to live with a "non-American centric view" does not necessarily mean that you are correct.

Edit: This is what cdills posted:

According to the American Heritage Book of English Usage:

It is worth remembering, though, that Oriental is not an ethnic slur to be avoided in all situations. It is most objectionable in contemporary contexts and when used as a noun, as in "the appointment of an Oriental to head the commission". In these cases Asian (or a more specific term such as Vietnamese, Korean, or Asian American, if appropriate) is the only acceptable term. But in certain historical contexts, or when its exotic connotations are integral to the topic, Oriental remains a useful term.

Responder: Honestly, I have no idea what cdills himself was emphasizing. That was not my point in referring you to the link he supplied. My point in referring you to the link is simply that the term is used sometimes in a perjorative context and sometimes not. If you won't see that and acknowledge it, that's your call. It's usage is still not categorically "racist" as you declare it to be, in a context that I thought was clearly not intended that way.

Yes, it is considered "politically correct" and hip in that some take your point of view, thus trying to make things starkly black/white that are not starkly black/white, and that's fine, but since it's not what I live by, I'm not about to make it so.

If it makes your life easier not to distinguish about such considerations as shades of usage, context and so forth--be it in or out of America or wherever--that's entirely your call. I don't agree with that, and I don't abide by it either. Simple. In which case you are most welcome not to read anything I post.

My take of this is: I made a general statement. I get an obnoxious response back, I respond in part. I get a very "cool" general statement. I respond with an apology and the point I want to make. I get a response that basically says, "Well so-and-so agrees with me." And I respond, not really, but hey, I want to meet you half way. And the other dude responds with a "Fuck you" (Cause you know, everyone is a tough guy on the internet. I honestly wonder if someone would actually make such an argument to my face.)

So naturally the question is, am I guilty of perpetuating the so-called American arrogance or is this person guilty of exhibiting the same kind of arrogance that he claims I am exhibiting?

I know I said things that I should not have said, but I had a point to make and I think I made it. I would like to think I came off as the more intelligent and tolerant person, and I would love to hear your opinions.