Is the phrase “fresh off the boat” offensive in all circumstances?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Growing up in California in the 70s/80s, FOB was solely used to refer to Vietnamese immigrants (aka boat people), and it was very derogatory. I would never use FOB, ever.

My dad was an immigrant, who came to the US on a ship from the UK in the 1950s. I would never use it to refer to him, because of the negative context it's used with others. But then I've also never, ever heard it used in relation to our many family members who also immigrated from the UK and Ireland.

+1. I would never use it to describe anyone. It’s comparable to “wetback.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm foreign and don't mind the phrase at all. Fresh off the boat, fresh off the airplane, I've BTDT, not understanding what's offensive here.

Same. I am a European immigrant and I use this phrase in reference to myself or my family. It is part of our culture ( our descendants arrived here by the boat), and I am not comfortable when people are telling me I should not use part of my history. My descendants did not arrive by crossing Rio Grande by foot, they crossed the Atlantic. I crossed the Atlantic too ( by the plane), but for respect of my descendants I will continue using this phrase.

Comparing it to the N word is so stupid.

It IS comparable to the N-word.

However, it’s probably ok for white people to use the phrase. But it would not be ok for BIPOC people to use it.

If a BIPOC person says the phrase, it’s at least a micro aggression, and likely a form of oppression.

So many rules, rules, rules!

Yes, it is hard to be civilized.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm foreign and don't mind the phrase at all. Fresh off the boat, fresh off the airplane, I've BTDT, not understanding what's offensive here.

Same. I am a European immigrant and I use this phrase in reference to myself or my family. It is part of our culture ( our descendants arrived here by the boat), and I am not comfortable when people are telling me I should not use part of my history. My descendants did not arrive by crossing Rio Grande by foot, they crossed the Atlantic. I crossed the Atlantic too ( by the plane), but for respect of my descendants I will continue using this phrase.

Comparing it to the N word is so stupid.

It IS comparable to the N-word.

However, it’s probably ok for white people to use the phrase. But it would not be ok for BIPOC people to use it.

If a BIPOC person says the phrase, it’s at least a micro aggression, and likely a form of oppression.

So many rules, rules, rules!

Yes, it is hard to be civilized.

And kind. So much easier to say whatever you want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm foreign and don't mind the phrase at all. Fresh off the boat, fresh off the airplane, I've BTDT, not understanding what's offensive here.

Same. I am a European immigrant and I use this phrase in reference to myself or my family. It is part of our culture ( our descendants arrived here by the boat), and I am not comfortable when people are telling me I should not use part of my history. My descendants did not arrive by crossing Rio Grande by foot, they crossed the Atlantic. I crossed the Atlantic too ( by the plane), but for respect of my descendants I will continue using this phrase.

Comparing it to the N word is so stupid.

It IS comparable to the N-word.

However, it’s probably ok for white people to use the phrase. But it would not be ok for BIPOC people to use it.

If a BIPOC person says the phrase, it’s at least a micro aggression, and likely a form of oppression.

So many rules, rules, rules!

Yes, it is hard to be civilized.

What civilization are you talking about? asian? European? African? Because you cannot follow one without offending the others.

Civilized means polite. Only a nut like you would think otherwise. Carry on ranting about how life is so hard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm foreign and don't mind the phrase at all. Fresh off the boat, fresh off the airplane, I've BTDT, not understanding what's offensive here.

Did you grow up in the US since childhood? If you came later in life, as a late teen or adult, you may not have experienced the insults and racism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Growing up in California in the 70s/80s, FOB was solely used to refer to Vietnamese immigrants (aka boat people), and it was very derogatory. I would never use FOB, ever.

My dad was an immigrant, who came to the US on a ship from the UK in the 1950s. I would never use it to refer to him, because of the negative context it's used with others. But then I've also never, ever heard it used in relation to our many family members who also immigrated from the UK and Ireland.

What is the negative context?

The “boat people” (Vietnamese, Laotian, Cambodian) were war refugees and very poor. They left with the shirts on their backs. Many ignorant racist people (most of the population at the time) used the term “FOB” with a derogatory sneer. I’m not sure there’s anything comparable in the current climate because Ukrainian war refugees have been welcomed with such open arms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People are too sensitive. Sticks and stones

So white!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s a little like the N word. White people don’t get to use it, even to refer to themselves.
.

Oh please, get the F’ over yourself, you sanctimonious moron.

It was a term originally applied TO white people who just got off a boat from Ireland. In the 1830’s.

Now according to you, white people can’t use it even to refer to themselves?

Well, the reference to “fresh off the boat” that was targeted at the Irish has long been replaced by other recent immigrants. And you and your generation are not the one to have felt the sting of that derogatory term.

About 30 years ago in CA, an Italian American wanted to put “WOP” on their license plates. WOP meant “without papers” and was a derogatory term for Italian immigrants. The older Italian American immigrants who remembered the sting of racism, objected to having this put on license plates while the younger Italian American generation never experienced it so wanted to claim it as a badge of pride of their heritage. Insensitivity is nothing to be proud of.

Curious- how does one bestow themselves with such arrogance as you? How do you do it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am fifty-five & Asian.

Growing up, I heard that term (especially in my teenage yrs!) as derogatory toward people of color so just to hear that phrase now, no matter who it is directed to…..just stings + brings back bad memories. 🤨

Though I realize this is only my personal experience.

“Fresh off the boat” originally had nothing to do with Asians at all. It originated in NY as a descriptive of people coming from Ireland and then Italy. It was never applied to Asians until the mid-19th century when immigration from China to the west coast began. But by then it had been used for various Europeans for 30+ years.

It was basically cultural appropriation of a slur originally intended for white people. It was stolen from us.

And then applied to refugees from Southeast Asia, with a derogatory intent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Growing up in California in the 70s/80s, FOB was solely used to refer to Vietnamese immigrants (aka boat people), and it was very derogatory. I would never use FOB, ever.

My dad was an immigrant, who came to the US on a ship from the UK in the 1950s. I would never use it to refer to him, because of the negative context it's used with others. But then I've also never, ever heard it used in relation to our many family members who also immigrated from the UK and Ireland.

What is the negative context?

The “boat people” (Vietnamese, Laotian, Cambodian) were war refugees and very poor. They left with the shirts on their backs. Many ignorant racist people (most of the population at the time) used the term “FOB” with a derogatory sneer. I’m not sure there’s anything comparable in the current climate because Ukrainian war refugees have been welcomed with such open arms.

I grew up in So California at that ti me. No one used that term and there were no derogatory comments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Growing up in California in the 70s/80s, FOB was solely used to refer to Vietnamese immigrants (aka boat people), and it was very derogatory. I would never use FOB, ever.

My dad was an immigrant, who came to the US on a ship from the UK in the 1950s. I would never use it to refer to him, because of the negative context it's used with others. But then I've also never, ever heard it used in relation to our many family members who also immigrated from the UK and Ireland.

+1. I would never use it to describe anyone. It’s comparable to “wetback.”

No, it’s not. You are really dumb.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Growing up in California in the 70s/80s, FOB was solely used to refer to Vietnamese immigrants (aka boat people), and it was very derogatory. I would never use FOB, ever.

My dad was an immigrant, who came to the US on a ship from the UK in the 1950s. I would never use it to refer to him, because of the negative context it's used with others. But then I've also never, ever heard it used in relation to our many family members who also immigrated from the UK and Ireland.

What is the negative context?

The “boat people” (Vietnamese, Laotian, Cambodian) were war refugees and very poor. They left with the shirts on their backs. Many ignorant racist people (most of the population at the time) used the term “FOB” with a derogatory sneer. I’m not sure there’s anything comparable in the current climate because Ukrainian war refugees have been welcomed with such open arms.

I grew up in So California at that ti me. No one used that term and there were no derogatory comments.

You are so emphatic in speaking for everyone and everything that I'm going to naturally doubt you and think maybe you were blind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Growing up in California in the 70s/80s, FOB was solely used to refer to Vietnamese immigrants (aka boat people), and it was very derogatory. I would never use FOB, ever.

My dad was an immigrant, who came to the US on a ship from the UK in the 1950s. I would never use it to refer to him, because of the negative context it's used with others. But then I've also never, ever heard it used in relation to our many family members who also immigrated from the UK and Ireland.

+1. I would never use it to describe anyone. It’s comparable to “wetback.”

No, it’s not. You are really dumb.

No you are dumb

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Growing up in California in the 70s/80s, FOB was solely used to refer to Vietnamese immigrants (aka boat people), and it was very derogatory. I would never use FOB, ever.

My dad was an immigrant, who came to the US on a ship from the UK in the 1950s. I would never use it to refer to him, because of the negative context it's used with others. But then I've also never, ever heard it used in relation to our many family members who also immigrated from the UK and Ireland.

What is the negative context?

The “boat people” (Vietnamese, Laotian, Cambodian) were war refugees and very poor. They left with the shirts on their backs. Many ignorant racist people (most of the population at the time) used the term “FOB” with a derogatory sneer. I’m not sure there’s anything comparable in the current climate because Ukrainian war refugees have been welcomed with such open arms.

I grew up in So California at that ti me. No one used that term and there were no derogatory comments.

You are so emphatic in speaking for everyone and everything that I'm going to naturally doubt you and think maybe you were blind.

+1000

[Anonymous]

Lol you're an idiot, OP. Trash.