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Mrz 08/21/2011 2:21:00 AM
The article is about how you can't go out to a club now in Seattle or Bellevue without it being 'overrun' by Asians.
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07/15/2011 1:28:00 AM
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Statsare4loosers 05/29/2011 12:23:00 PM
Asiaphiles? I'm white and that might be the funniest thing I've heard.
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matt 03/25/2011 3:04:00 AM
try honolulu. asians actually comprise the majority (not even a minority) in honolulu.
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Mai_linh1 03/12/2011 3:52:00 AM
And orange-flavored vodka chased with pineapple juice? YUCK. And baked spaghetti is the "tha bomb" because it's sweeter than normal spaghetti? How embarrassing. Clearly all the money they are able to waste hasn't bought them an ounce of good taste. Duds from Forever 21? Figures. Puzzling that some people enjoyed this article and found it "enlightening." Is it news to people that Asians like going clubbing? Seriously?
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Mai_linh1 03/12/2011 3:41:00 AM
I am puzzled as to why this is newsworthy. There is no point made, no discernible arc, no conclusion, no real commentary on the whys behind this "phenomenon," if you could call it that. They go out, they drink, they dance, they eat, they go home. Zzzz. Oh, and they are shallow dumbasses. It reminds me of how lame I was 10+ years ago while thinking I was awesome. Everything described here is very much old hat in California.
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powkang 07/30/2010 11:19:00 PM
asians are able to party? and to think i've been wasting all my time playing violin and studying math.
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Rico P 10/03/2009 8:54:00 AM
Seattle is the only metropolitan area in the United States that has Asians as the largest minority, more than blacks and more than Latinos. I am from Vancouver another "Asian City" and I feel right at home when visiting Seattle and its club scene. I've been to Venom and it seems like there is way too many guys and not enough girls at that club LOL. This was a great article even though yes it portrays Asians in Seattle as club nuts who live to get drunk but I guess it's good to have some contrast to the stereotype that all Asians are the "model minority".
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Mike 10/03/2009 7:48:00 AM
This article is total bullshit, never should've been published and will get hundreds, thousands of angry readers will be protesting this article and the author.
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Jack 09/04/2009 10:15:00 AM
He is right here is the article she copied.
http://www.metroactive.com/papers/metro/04.23.98/cover/asian-nites1-9816.html
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Mr. Seattle 09/04/2009 10:11:00 AM
She COPIED this article from an asian american article from 1998. This is typical from racially biased viet/cambos from the southend who never went to college and work at the bank such as her. HERE is the link to the originally article she copied and re worded.
http://www.metroactive.com/papers/metro/04.23.98/cover/asian-nites1-9816.html
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Reread the comments Narnia 09/01/2009 10:09:00 AM
Narnia,
Coming from the one that made the comments about the lawsuits, I encourage you to reread what I stated... My suggestion for the lawsuit mostly fell along the lines of misquotations of particular people. I know for a fact that a number of people quoted NEVER said what Erika stated they said. Additionally if she suggested that people who were underage went into clubs, she needs to provide proof to back that up, or the clubs have a legal case against her for stating the clubs engaged in illegal activity. But if you call either of those acceptable forms of journalism, that just shows the sad state of this country.
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Jaimi 08/31/2009 12:30:00 AM
I hope that when people read this article they realize that this small percentage of Asians does NOT represent all Asians, or even a majority. This article does little more than further a FOB stereotype, which embarrassingly associates Asians with Forever 21 and the low-end Belltown club Venom. Though this may be true for some Asians, it is not true for most.
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Anon 08/28/2009 3:54:00 AM
I don't think that people are overreacting to this article at all. And it's definitely not a fair or valid way to describe "Seattle's Asian Nightlife". Ragin' Asians? Really? Wow. Just because you're Vietnamese and you've done everything in the article doesn't mean it's accurate enough to describe the ways in which other individuals categorized as Asians "party"...I'm Korean and I've never step foot in that sort of scene, and I wouldn't appreciate it if ppl assumed I was part of it just because I'm Asian. There's so much to differenciate and take into consider. Ugh, I'm really disgusted by article.
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D-One 08/28/2009 3:43:00 AM
Is this article blatantly racist? NO.
Is this article slanted, bias, misinformed and in some ways unfair? YES ABSOLUTELY IT WAS BIASED. The generalization in the article is disturbing to anyone with more than a surface understanding of the Asian-American community in Seattle.
It was written at some points with a condescending undertone.
Within a very narrow viewpoint, it was an accurate portrayal of the EVENTS during two instances of "Asian clubbing."
I'd question the authors and furthermore the editors decision to publish such shallow writing on a topic apparently so newsworthy it deserves a 4-page feature.
That being said, it has been interesting to see different people react to this article.
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Me 08/26/2009 11:48:00 PM
Stooping that low to the point of peeing in parking lots and wearing slutty looking clothing...that's a positive light? I think it's gross. I'm Asian..but I'd hate for people do think I'm like this. And you're saying that MOST Asians do this? Maybe your friends do..but I sure as hell don't, and neither do the people I know. Clearly there are a lot of asians out there who don't party like you given the amount of comments written against the writer, so no, this doesn't depict "asian" nightlife.
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narnia 08/25/2009 6:22:00 AM
for the people that are so angry about this article, you can't blame the writer. she is accurate. that is what MOST asians do- travel in groups, wear the same damn clothes from the same store, sip goose, dance together, pee in the same places, go to the same damn clubs, and go to chinatown afterwards. how can you be angry at the writer when she is pretty much speaking the truth? i've done all of what she's said... there is nothing wrong with it. so what's wrong with publicising it when the photogs usually capture photos of you AND post them online (which is another public domain)? there is no need for a ridiculous law suit or writer slander... she meant to shine a positive light to show that seattle is a great place to party and this is just the "asian experience". a lot of people think that white folks rule seattle- she's telling everybody that there is a huge asian community too and we know how to party and have a good time. i'm vietnamese and chinese- so there is nothing wrong with what she pretty much detailed in this article- i did all of the above and then some. so you all are just overreacting.
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kimmy 08/24/2009 12:45:00 PM
SO ACCURATE! The clubs, Goose, Purple Dot - could not have made a better portrayal of the Seattle Asian club scene.
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Nhi Tran 08/21/2009 7:16:00 AM
Ah... I tried so hard to finish this article but it was an unbearable read after page 2. Seattle Weekly... maybe you should review all the comments above and reevaluate your employee's writing and researching skills before allowing her to author another article. I'm not at all offended by this poorly-written article, I'm just surprised the Seattle Weekly published it. I didn't major in English nor Common Sense at the UW but I might consider applying for a job with you soon...
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Nhi Tran 08/21/2009 7:16:00 AM
Ah... I tried so hard to finish this article but it was an unbearable read after page 2. Seattle Weekly... maybe you should review all the comments above and reevaluate your employee's writing and researching skills before allowing her to author another article. I'm not at all offended by this poorly-written article, I'm just surprised the Seattle Weekly published it. I didn't major in English nor Common Sense at the UW but I might consider applying for a job with you soon...
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Mark 08/20/2009 10:53:00 AM
Hey ThyThy, I will hange with you. You can fight over the bill all you want - I have no problem with that. I won't even fight aobutt it - you can have the bill. I am cool with that. When and where can we meet up and party. You da man!
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captain marvel 08/20/2009 5:12:00 AM
so wait, asians who participate in seattle's nightlife don't act as they've been documented in the article written? the people in the article never committed the acts written in the piece? the author made a declaration that the piece will be referring to asians as a whole? a free weekly publication with a liberal bent is having its fine journalistic pedigree attacked? that the angry people in the article and comment thread who've been working tirelessly to prevent the perpetualization of asian stereotype feel there has been a huge disservice to their efforts by said fine publishing establishment? that these same ppl have never known or condoned anyone behaving in similar fashion?
*checking around the desk for crazy pills*
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ThyThy 08/19/2009 1:41:00 AM
we work hard, play hard, some what accurate but seem to be very mean heart on your article, many other would love to be like us but they do not want to hang out with Asian boy, so we have no choice to hang in our own culture. Also will white guys willing to pay for 20 drinks at the time and knowingly the girls are not going to sleep with you? HUH!!!!! last week at See sound our friend buy 100 shot of Vodka for every one it is just the way we roll, As a Vietnamese, we always fight to take care the bills, it is just the way we are, that's why all the places love to have Asian we Tip well drink only top shell liquor,
We would love to hang out with you white folks but you girls would not give us the time of the day. Oh well your lost, btw lot of time when we go eat the girls are always pay too, it is a lot of respect here in the Asian community
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ThyThy 08/19/2009 1:41:00 AM
we work hard, play hard, some what accurate but seem to be very mean heart on your article, many other would love to be like us but they do not want to hang out with Asian boy, so we have no choice to hang in our own culture. Also will white guys willing to pay for 20 drinks at the time and knowingly the girls are not going to sleep with you? HUH!!!!! last week at See sound our friend buy 100 shot of Vodka for every one it is just the way we roll, As a Vietnamese, we always fight to take care the bills, it is just the way we are, that's why all the places love to have Asian we Tip well drink only top shell liquor,
We would love to hang out with you white folks but you girls would not give us the time of the day. Oh well your lost, btw lot of time when we go eat the girls are always pay too, it is a lot of respect here in the Asian community
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seattle style 08/18/2009 12:51:00 AM
looks like a bunch of people from the venom camp infiltrated the comments section. don't worry, venom profits won't be hurt:) this article will be forgotten by next week.
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seattlestyle 08/18/2009 12:46:00 AM
loved the article, not a fan of thugged out asians at clubs.
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chris 08/17/2009 8:08:00 AM
so for the diversity-loving person who wants a diverse place to kick it on the weekend, where do i go? as a new transplant to seattle, i've witnessed the crazy self-segregation in many of these clubs: whites here, black theres, asians over there.
where do i go if i just want a mixed crowd? as long as the girls are pretty and the guys are not douches, i don't care what color they are. (i know this is wishful thinking).
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KamPhong 08/16/2009 6:32:00 AM
one word: Pulitzer
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Trisha 08/15/2009 1:28:00 PM
Whoever says that asians are racist cause we only like to hang with just asians? That is false! It's not because we're racist, it just works that way and not just for asians, but for every race that's out there. For all non-asians, people don't understand what we've been through. Our first generation parents new to America work so hard to get where they are today. For us Asian-Americans "second generation", we understand each other the most because our families come from the same background. That's the instant connection that we have because no one really understands where we come from. You'll see Latinos hanging out with just Latinos. It's not because they're racist! It is because their families gone through the same things in life and they have that instant connections like what Asians have with other asians. If you were to look in a high school, you'll see that the Asian students are mainly the ones hanging out with other race other then their own. It's unlikey to see a whole bunch of Latinos hanging out in African- American crowd. This is what I experienced when I was in high school. Why do most white folks hang out with only white folks? Same thing my point exactly!
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Blah 08/15/2009 10:20:00 AM
This article is bad
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Andy 08/15/2009 3:47:00 AM
Mr. NGUYEN! How old are you? 29? If so, you really need to grow up. Your tantrums are more of a 16 year old with a bunch of zits. Just because your are a drink Goose doesn't mean you need to be so vile. What the fuck is Goose anyway? I know it is tough being you. But, jeesh - give others a break little man. Oh! I see. You suffer from little man complex; berate and attack others becasue you have a one inch Johnson. Oooops! I am starting to appear like you - personal attacks. I hope I meet you at Venom. Are you so insecure that you need to resort to vicious personal attacks. Why not just comment as to why you believe the story is inaccuate or not a portrayal of your Ragin Asian behavior. And, all the rest of you who just use personal attacks - grow up. Can you read the article and give input that is relevant to the article? I read the artcle twice to make sense of the stroy and the comments. Somewehre there is a disconnect. It is not like great literture. But, it is an alternative paper. What did you expect - The Washingotn Post. All of you that only attacked the writer have no credability. Why - because the comments are noting more than insults - and most folks realize you are seriously suffering from some sort of mental ailment. NGUYEN suffers from little man complex. What about the rest of you. There are new stories in the Weekly; lets move on to them. You know, I will say this though - I know several Korean, Chinese, and Japanese Americans who would not act out this way. I think there is a differene with SE Asians with backgrounds from Vietnam, Cambodia, etc. I mean, your countries were pretty much raped time and time again back when, and other than Ho Chi Min, and the little hos I saw in the movie "Good Morning Vietnam" what is there. But, don't worry because all will be good. Lastly, all the negative and vile attacks against the author, eachother, and so on really tells more about al of us than anything else. America is a country of whimps. The melting pot is total bullshit.
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Mystique 08/15/2009 1:14:00 AM
We're all feeding into this monster of an article. Personally, I've always thought the Asians (like every other ethnic group) come in different subgroups. The individuals covered in Seattle Weekly�s �Raging Asians� story does indeed exist. Her downfall is her execution of �lack of� professional journalism�I�ve seen better writing in middle school newspapers. What we can�t deny is the fact that groups like this co-exist in YES�SEATTLE�S NIGHTCLUB SCENE(anywhere and everywhere)! You�ve got your conservative professionals and then you�ve got your not-so-savvy patrons, who�s English does NOT surpass a 6th grader�s vocabulary (like those depicted in the article). And then of course, you�ve got those that fall in the middle. Asians are definitely an underrepresented group, especially in MASS MEDIA, but versus crying foul and shouting �you�s a b*tch Erica�; approach it with class and dignity, and just be glad you�re not any of these people. HOWEVER TO THE YOUNG GENERATIONS OF IMMIGRANT PARENTS THAT DO ACT LIKE THIS ON A REGULAR BASIS: PLEASE quit trying to �act a fool at clubs� and imitate antics you see on BET�and get your sh*t together! Don�t feed into this image! Realize that some of you have parents who work their janitorial jobs to maintain all of your lavish desires only so you can feel �accepted� amongst your peers ,appreciate their sacrifices and make something of yourselves! You think when your parents escaped from their war-torn coutries 20+ years ago, they envisioned their children wasting away their sacrifices in total debauchery at a downtown nightclub? Don�t think so buddy?!!! It�s bad enough that the rest of us EDUCATED/ACCOMPLISHED ASIAN AMERICANS are the ones doing major damage control to clear this image! I can�t say I�m as upset at the writer and publisher for this article, as I am of the people who live like this day to day without the clear conscience of knowing of how ridiculous they make the rest of us look!
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jj 08/15/2009 12:37:00 AM
i am somewhat confused about the intention of this piece. this writer, erika hobart, has written a surprisingly heartless, unsympathetic and even down-right mean-spirited depiction of asian night life here in the pacific northwest. to her credit, she doesn't miss a beat in describing the manic pointlessness of it all, but based on some of the previous comments, i am guessing that her "subjects" had no idea that she'd depict them in such a fashion. i heard that she is half-asian and half-white and so you'd expect she'd have more insight into the circumstances of these 20-somethings; hobart only gives a cursory explanation (and replete with stereotypes about strict parental expectations) to this phenomenon that is found in seattle, and she also ignores the fact that this behavior can be found in all ethnic minority groups and in the majority white population as well.
her quotation from a promoter that asians travel around in schools "like neon tetra fish" only exposes the ignorance of the whole article: for the most part, what ethnic group doesn't travel around in packs??? whites hang with whites, asians with asians, blacks with blacks. thus when examined from a broader perspective, the article is as pointlessness as these kids' drinking. hobart uses some smart, clever metaphors - but the article ends up too full-of-itself; rather than saying anything important or revealing about asians and their nightlife, the author just drones on with her condemnatory recitation of these kids' night out. the whole thing seems like one big ego-stroke for the writer: "look at these pathetic people pissing in parking lots and getting blindingly drunk; i am SO glad i am not one of them." yeah, this is just an example of a self-aggrandizing, (almost masturbatory,) essay by a pretty damn sneaky "aspiring" writer.
and considering how many people are undoubtedly upset by her article, ms. hobart should probably park her car in the garage to avoid getting her tires slashed... at least for the time being - until most of the seattle weeklys containing her forgettable article are either recycled or end up in the landfill.
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heartstranger 08/15/2009 12:02:00 AM
haha this is hilarious!!! thanks for sharing...
http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2009/08/13/morning-mail-bag-ragin-asian-edition
F-U Seattle Weekly!!!
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Ukulele Nguyen 08/14/2009 11:29:00 AM
This be the UKELELE PLAYING NGUYEN!
How can you write an article after being so fucked up.... It's amazing you can remember all that??? Taking shots for shots!!! How you end up at my house??? If I knew you were like that I would've left you outside!!! I can't stand people like you coming to my house! Be real!!! I can't stand you!!!! SEATTLE WEEKLY is a JOKE!!!! No wonder why your newspaper is FREE!!!! Quit hiding behind your work! Be a real woman!!!! I hope YOU LOSE YOUR JOB AN LIVE UNDER an I-5 interpass!!! You are a WASTE of time and SPACE!!!!! Is that why your SINGLE???
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jimmy 08/14/2009 8:48:00 AM
Wow, way to screw over Venom by saying they allow underage ppl in.
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zzz 08/14/2009 4:34:00 AM
What was the point of this article, exactly? Annoying young people dress up, go out, spend a lot of money getting bombed, are tasteless. Oh, but here's the twist: these annoying young people are Asian! Whoo-hoo?
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Astranger 08/14/2009 4:26:00 AM
In case you missed it:
http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2009/08/13/morning-mail-bag-ragin-asian-edition
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Astranger 08/14/2009 4:25:00 AM
Sometimes the most appropriate response is public ridicule:)
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D41 08/14/2009 2:40:00 AM
Terrible, shallow article.
This has nothing to do with Asians, and everything to do with Drunk Morons.
How about an article about people who max out their credit cards at clubs every night?
And if you want to know whether or not this article is racist, substitute the word 'Caucasian' or 'Black' whenever you see the word 'Asian.'
This rag would never allow an article that quotes 'Blacks all look alike...'
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MISS BABYDOLL 08/14/2009 12:37:00 AM
Erika,
Though it seems like you've done your research well to know which clubs are the major nightclubs in the city, you have MISQUOTED ALL my friends that are in your article. THEY are NOT HAPPY with your article; myself and many others that have worked in the Seattle nightlife industry for years are EXTREMELY DUMBFOUNDED how you could TWIST everyone's words to reflect poorly on the Seattle nightlife as well as on Asian-Americans.
You have completely MISINTERPRETED how the Asian-American nightlife culture is to your readers. You made everyone seem like drunken alcoholics -- I'm sure all the other ethnicities that go out to bars and clubs like to get their drink on as well! As for being "humble" during the day and working hard, I completely agree with Junior. For those of you who commented about it afterwards -- way to realize that Erika tried to quote a woman speaking about her family right after she left the bar -- while Erika was drunk as well.
Everybody that goes to Venom Nightclub knows about how strict their security is there! Absolutely no underage club-goers go in or out of that venue -- so get your facts straight. As well as, you missed the large diversity of people that go to Venom! All the industry people work hard, the bouncers, bartenders, go-go dancers, promoters, and management -- this article seriously needs a lot of work.
Basically (which I really do hope you read this Erika): YOUR ARTICLE IS ANNOYING BECAUSE OF ALL THE FALSE INFORMATION YOU TALKED ABOUT. A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD LIKE A PUBLIC APOLOGY -- ESPECIALLY THOSE IN THE ARTICLE. You seem like an intern writer, maybe you'll learn from this mistake. I'm very disappointed in the Seattle Weekly for allowing this article to post without validating the sources.
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Miss B 08/13/2009 11:12:00 PM
I'm one of Venom's in-house gogo's and FYI i'm not black, you idiot of a reporter. All you did was make the scene look bad in vain. Get your facts straight about what the hell your reporting before you print. You definitely stereotyped the scene and the people involved.
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thetruth 08/13/2009 4:14:00 PM
hahaha this is great. kinda a ridiculous article but both sides on the argument have points.
I mean seriously, if the events portrayed in the article ACTUALLY happened, you might wanna check yourself or those other guys about perpetuating stereotypes if youre angry about those stereotypes, or just decide not to care about it because thats just who you are
Still at the same time, at the people saying "lighten up", ...seriously? I mean what if the article was titled "Seattle's Crazy Black People" or "Seattle's Drunken Whities"? Youre lying to yourself if you dont find these titles somewhat offensive. Well maybe not the white people one, because since white people are the majority most people will dismiss it that not all white people act that way. But still, the article inherently implies with its title that a majority of Asians/Asian-Americans in Seattle act like the people in the article when in fact they do not
in the end thoough, the only people who would actually change/validate their opinions on an ENTIRE race of people based on this one article dont have enough critical thinking to be significant to society anyway, so whatever
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S. P. 08/13/2009 4:10:00 PM
Let me remind those who may come across this article, that journalists have the ability to form their article into whatever will benefit a particular viewpoint they may have regarding the subject they cover.
I wonder if Erika became a journalist with hopes to reveal some dark side to an ethnicity she has personal issues with, or to do anything else of the like.
What I read in this article was definitely not what you, Erika Hobart, claim to have intended to write (in "Response to All You Ragin' Asians")
It was, rather than the exposure of Asian American nightlife in Seattle in a positive light as you claim to have aimed at, a series of unpleasant and insensitive descriptions meant to mock the individuals and groups you covered.
The remarks and complaints that the majority of the Asian Americans within the comments section had highlight their anger towards just how you wrote this article. They were because of your vocabulary, your pure indiscreet hatred for what you saw (and not just the few misunderstood habits those covered had), and every strenuous effort you put into twisting practically all quotes and events into as dark a portrayal as you possibly could have. All of what you wrote was of course put together in a way that would not reveal too much of your bias towards the Asian ethnicity.
I am not even Asian-American, or at least I wouldn't be identified as one, and I was sick of what turned out to imitate the smearing campaigns politicians have against each other.
Allow me to give you a very small example (plucked from the hundreds of unpleasant statements you made) of how you did write a sentence, and how you could have written it if you actually were not biased against the Asian American population:
What you wrote:
"...the group drops, on average, about $500 per visit on booze."
What you could have written:
"...the group drops, on average, about $500 per visit on drinks."
What makes a world's difference is just the description of what is one of the main components of your article, and if a person was actually intrigued by what they experienced that night or liked it in any way, they would have described it in a brighter manner. You on the other hand, described it in a way which you could only have intended to make as unpleasant yet professional as possible.
Clearly you have some problem with the Asian ethnicity, and it doesn't matter whether you're Asian American yourself, because there are many people out there who have issues with their own identity. Whatever your problems may be, it would have helped you significantly if you had made your article less robotic and more human, less anal and more lively, less dark and a bit brighter. Why would it have helped? Because although you're given the power to write articles on subjects and shape them in whichever way pleases you best, you should still recognize that tiny amount of responsibility we all have towards our fellow human beings. That responsibility which makes us sympathetic towards each other even if we come from different backgrounds, or are happy with activities or social gatherings that some of us are not. If anything at all, you could have been constructive with your criticisms, i.e. perhaps you disagree with drunk driving, you could have made gentle gestures that warned people from drunk driving. What I read had nothing cheery about it, because it was littered with arrogant criticisms from a perspective that was fueled more by hatred or annoyance than one that intended to do good.
On a side note, I also found it amusing that most of the honest Asians who responded to this article were angered, while many non Asians were spewing vividly racist remarks or fully supporting everything this article said as if they were experts on the subject.
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Elle Jones 08/13/2009 6:32:00 AM
What exactly is the point of this "article"? It seems like a poorly written blog at that. I mean, what do you expect? You follow a group of trashy people regardless of race, you're going to get trashy results. I read up to the third page, hoping to find some kind of moral. Instead, it's page after page of useless ramblings and trashy anecdotes.
The only real purpose I can see this article serving is acting as a diversion. The author clearly wants to steer the Asian stereotype away from (smart, hard-working, conservative) to simply (reckless and dirty). This long piece was clearly written by an jealous amateur. Stereotypes will always exist for better or for worse. There is NO USE in scouting out one group of people and using them to represent the whole Asian race.
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Antares 08/13/2009 6:14:00 AM
The person who wrote this is perpetuating stereotypes and negative perceptions. The people whom this article was written about is "*(&^g stupid and that's the reason why I stay away from the mutha345678 scene. What a waste of a mind...drink your night away and stay fit in the night club. A bunch of low spirits. I'd be happy to b()$%# slap their face real quick. I cannot believe some persons think that this article was well written and done. Are you serious? This shit is not gonna do shit for the Asian-American community. Everyone else will have a messed up perception of the whole community based on this article of young party-goers. You guys are STUPID, so get STUPID.
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Dee 08/13/2009 5:50:00 AM
It's sad to know how many journalists sink so low and report on such worthless things. Instead of doing your job informing the public with useful information, you sink so low as to stereotype/generalize a group of people. As I read your article I cringed at how biased and how uninformative this article was. First off you seem to have a knack at interviewing those with the lowest intellectual levels. As an Asian American I have never met anyone as stupid as those you have interviewed in this article. From the looks of it, it seems that majority of those who you interviewed were clearly drunk out of their minds.
Although you may believe that you had no intentions as to portraying Asians in such a negative light, it has clearly been the opposite. I've read your defense to this article and you are the saddest thing I've ever heard of in journalism. I hope that your superiors fire you for your stupidity, Seattle Weekly and the region of Seattle deserves real news from real journalists.
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Katherine R. 08/13/2009 2:27:00 AM
Wow, this is a ridiculous cover story that was written in a wholly unconvincing and offending manner. I am stunned the Seattle Weekly would pitch and approve such a narrow-minded and blatantly ignorant article which headlines Southeast Asian ethnicities such as Cambodian and Vietnamese cliques, as representative of "Asians" as a whole, particularly when writing of a city noted for its vast and varied demographic.
The Asian demographic includes: Chinese, Indonesian, Malaysian, Singaporean, Sri Lankan, Hmong, Japanese, Korean, Filipino, Thai, Laotian, Indian, Tibetan, Taiwanese and Pakistani people...of which Seattle has many factions of each, who all fall under the "Asian" race. I sincerely doubt you could credibly argue in any way that all these Asians "rage" or party in the same manner as you described in your article. The author simply strengthens and perpetuates predisposed ethnic prejudices to its readership. This article does nothing to help promote diversity awareness and understanding.
I would expect this article in perhaps a more ethnically ignorant city weekly such as Dallas or Tampa. But in Seattle? This is such a disappointing read. Could you not find another story to pitch/write besides how particular sects of Southeast Asians and Caucasian men with predilections toward a particular ethnic look/image party in the lamest clubs in Seattle? Shameful!
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DudeAbides 08/12/2009 7:32:00 AM
Thanks for devoting a long cover story to let us know that young clubgoing Asians can be just as vapid, shallow and obnoxious as the white, Axe-body-spray-wearing d-bags and dumb-ass ex-sorority sisters who frequent the other Belltown clubs.
You call this journalism?
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Wasted 20 minutes of my life.. 08/12/2009 12:01:00 AM
To the Editor: Elevate your journalism... This article is about as valuable to your paper as grass growing... Your author alienates readers in what appears to be some sort of vendetta towards a certain group of people. I'm not even going to pull the ethnic card, because not being Asian, I don't have the right. Plus, I think it is more than just targeting "Ragin Asians".
To the Author: While I'm sure you have talent and love your job, I know for a fact that you twisted quotes from at least one of the people in this article... I won't mention the quote or person, because I will leave it up to them to respond directly if they choose. I would go out on a limb and suggest that you approached the group you "followed" in this article and suggested you were going to write about what it is to be "Young and Asian in Seattle's nightlife" and then completely flipped it to attack a lifestyle they choose. Is there some anger you hold towards young Asians in Seattle? Or maybe hostility towards a type of music or lifestyle? I am calling for you to issue an open apology to the people, promoters and businesses mentioned in this article. I would hope this would be published in similar fashion in the Seattle weekly, with reference on the cover.
To the people represented in the article: Learn your rights... If you were grossly misquoted or represented in a matter that is false, you may have a Slander case against the paper or author. I would encourage you to look at your options and if needed contact a lawyer and any other media outlet in the area to make it public. (Mind you I am not a lawyer and can not provide legal advice, so speak with your legal advisor before doing anything)
To the business owners of anything mentioned in the article:
I suggest you pull your advertising for any businesses that you, your investors or friends have in the Seattle Weekly. Make a statement that articles like this will not be tolerated from any media outlet. The Seattle Weekly is a free paper, which generates most of it's revenue from ads. Demand anywhere a retraction from the paper all the way up to dismissal of anyone from the author to the editor. If enough business owners stand up can make a difference in how the paper is run...
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land of the... 08/11/2009 6:13:00 AM
Don't worry, we're headed for a culture where you can't write or express anything because someone's panties are gonna get twisted. Be there soon enough.
In the meantime, I'm happy to see some people still remember what it's like to express themselves freely (even if they lack substance and/or can't write) Enjoy it while you can.
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Van 08/11/2009 4:47:00 AM
Being a Vietnamese-American, I'm pretty embarrassed by this article. It's a shame that this poorly written article actually got published, but it's worse that those who are offended by this article are also being attacked.
I agree that Asians are being misrepresented in this article. A lot of details in this article should have been left out because it says nothing about Asian culture or our lifestyle. I don�t shop at Forever 21, so I�d hate to be categorized as a �Skimpy Asian�. I like to go out too, but blowing hundreds of dollars at a club isn�t the only thing I do, so are we all wannabe Diddys now? I don�t think all of my Asian friends look like they�re 16 and I can tell them apart. My parents came to America during the Vietnam War and went through hell in order to give my sister and me the life that we have now; sure they were strict, but they weren�t military sergeants who confined us from going out when we were teens. My parents were protective only because they wanted to make sure that we never had to go through the same hardships that they did, not because they�re insane parents who never trusted their kids. Have some respect for the way our parents raised us; we�re not a bunch of drunk Asian losers who party because our parents never allowed us a social life.
So Erika wants to show Asian nightlife, but we don�t party any differently than people of other ethnicities. Harsh criticisms could have been avoided if Erika had left out unnecessarily details like the slutty clothing and attempts to break the law because this is nothing but a negative portrayal of Asian-Americans.
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MC 08/11/2009 3:47:00 AM
what's racist about this article? i keep hearing that it's racist, but i could not find one ounce of racism. the events in the article is on point. a lot of people, asian white black do this. if she followed me and my friends around for one club night, she'd come up with the same thing, minus the urinating in the parking lot and going to chinatown. the only issue i have with this is the format and lack of intelligence. she should've been more open with her research instead of only hanging with this certain group.
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charlie 08/10/2009 5:45:00 PM
why are you people treating this like modern anthropology?
is it really that interesting that asian americans, like every other flavor of american, party?
that asian americans, like every other flavor of american, are demographically targeted by event promoters?
man. i love how there's a bit about the resentment of the fetishizing of asian women, yet this article seems to be a pretty solid example of fetishizing asians as a fascinating object of study. they party? they're almost like real people!
don't get me wrong, i'm all for community-related stories and research, and the asian american youth scene is definitely one underrepresented in the media, but the tone of this article ("It's like the Asian version of No Child Left Behind") is not scholarly even on a casual level--it's oohing and aahing at the normalcy of people the writer expected to be devoid of, as Asians.
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iluvazns 08/10/2009 1:30:00 PM
Remember this?
hahahahah
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008023055_webstabbing29.html
Any tetra fish hit up the club this weekend?
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Ryan 08/10/2009 11:57:00 AM
Is it just me or does this read like an uninspired book report? I would like back the Seattle Weekly that writes intelligent and well researched pieces. This is just childish drivel. Big news, young people at Belltown clubs get drunk and then eat diner food at 3 am. Ragin' Asians, seriously? And that cover art! Yikes.
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Bartender 08/10/2009 6:50:00 AM
I am a bartender for 10+ years and have seen this shift in Seattle nightlife first hand.
I work at one of these venues and although there are many, many issues with this article the foundation of it is very true!
This is my job, my work place. One of the reasons I choose to work in this environment is because of my love of music, art and DIVERSITY! It also true there is great freedom and opportunity to make good money. But since this shift in the last 4 or 5 years the above mentioned has at least changed if not all together disappeared!
The club/night life is it�s own culture, a meeting place for all the people that have chosen something different from a 9-5 lifestyle. It is NOT just about getting wasted and acting a fool! My co-workers and me have always understood that all the cool, urban, art and music happens during the week and that Friday and Saturday nights have always been �fill in�. The people that have chosen the 9-5 lifestyle come to the city to relieve stress from their workweek, they are allowed.
The difference now is that these people have driven the others completely out of these venues, there is no mix of people.
I understand that night life is very "trend" oriented, fickle and by nature shifts every year or two, in fact this has always been something I have enjoyed seeing until now!
I think there are a few things that these very young club goers and promoters should understand.
The Customers:
The age of the club goers but more importantly the lack of education, savvy and respect they have for night life culture and the people that work very hard for there excessive drinking and bad behavior is completely out of control and unacceptable!
The Article discusses "Traditional Asian culture� Parents say work hard become lawyers doctors etc. sometimes forgetting to teach them how to live.
The universal problem with this is that unless you become a Lawyer or a doctor that you do not have value and do not deserve respect in society. This is a problem on many levels but since we are talking about nightlife this works it self out in very demanding, rude, disrespectful and yes cheap customer! They have not been taught how to �go out�, say please, thank you and how to tip appropriately.
The much savvier liquor companies and there marketing people have convinced these customers that they must spend $10 to $15 per shot in order to look cool! The customers have now decided that it is way more important to look cool, pay these prices and get wasted, then treat me with respect! The customers often order several rounds totaling $100 or more. They will pay the total but do not feel that they should tip me for my services and in fact are completely offended at the idea.
If you must be victims of a marketing plan, be followers there are responsibilities that come along with this way of living.
If you come into my work place and act immature, entitled, abusive, disrespectful and cheap you will not get good fast and respectful service in return, in fact you may not get service at all! You get what you give and if you continue to act this way you are not allowed to act surprised or offended when WE act in the same manner.
Here are the rules: (there are only 5)
1. Say excuse me, not HEY, or Yo! Do not wave your money at me, you will get served LAST!
2. ALWAYS say please and thank you.
3. Do not ask me to �top it off� or �hook you up� It is STEALING!
4. Do not order what you cannot pay for this means if you cannot afford to include a 10 to 15% tip in your total bill than you cannot afford to go out!
5. ALWAYS have your money/payment ready!
FYI�s
It cost us money every time we run your card so leave a tab open (it is not our fault if you get so wasted you cannot remember your card at the end of the night) or pay cash.
�Backs� cost money, do not expect FREE pineapple or coke backs.
The Promoters:
You are doing what is easy, and without any respect for us the people that work at these venues and help you pay your bills. Not to mention the lack of respect you give the people you are promoting to!
"Asians are like neon tetra fish�they travel in schools," Truong says. "You always see masses of them together. Once you get the group leader to come, you get the entire group. Then you get the friends of people in that group, and so forth." That's exactly why club promoters targeting the Asian demographic�.
WOW, this is the most telling quote in the article! A lot of the comments here have been about racial profiling, segregation, racial profiling and stereotypes. Guess what folks; talk to your promoters! They are the ones responsible for these feelings, NOT the one that wrote this article!
There is a whole lot more that goes into �promoting� than getting heads in the door.
If you also must be victims of a �life style marketing plan�, There are responsibilities that come along with this way of living for you too.
It is your job to be an example, to educate your customers on what is and what is NOT appropriate behavior.
You cannot imagine what kind of support and respect you could get from the staff at these venues you work at if you took the time to educate your customers. This is your responsibility!
You could also consider giving us the same respect you give the venue owners. They provide the space and the liquor but WE just like your DJ�s/talent provide an essential service. Would you let your customers talk shit make unreasonable demands or even throw up on your DJ�s/talent?
We all wanna make money and have a good time but if we could work in tandem we could ALL make more money, have more fun and work in a safe and respectful environment.
I will say to you what I said to the customers. If you come into my work place and act immature, entitled, abusive, disrespectful and cheap you will not get good fast and respectful service in return, in fact you may not get service at all! You get what you give and if you continue to act this way you are not allowed to act surprised or offended when WE act in the same manner.
Both customers and promoters should ask them selves a couple of questions when going out!
Would I act this way at my job? Would I treat the people that I work with this way? What would happen if the roles were reversed? What would happen if this person came to my 9 to 5 and demanded instead of asked, dictated how much money I could make that day? Threw up on my desk?
I love my job and I am good at it! I refuse to let immature, irresponsible, entitled and rude customers and promoters take that away from me.
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AngryMiddleAgeWhiteman 08/10/2009 6:50:00 AM
OlderAngryAsianMan, DITTO brother.
The lyrics to Everybody's Free to Wear Sunscreen, by Mary Schmich:
Wear sunscreen.
If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.
Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Oh, never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they've faded. But trust me, in 20 years, you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked. You are not as fat as you imagine.
Don't worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blindside you at 4 p.m. on some idle Tuesday.
Do one thing every day that scares you.
Sing.
Don't be reckless with other people's hearts. Don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.
Floss.
Don't waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. The race is long and, in the end, it's only with yourself.
Remember compliments you receive. Forget the insults. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.
Keep your old love letters. Throw away your old bank statements.
Stretch.
Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life. The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives. Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don't.
Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees. You'll miss them when they're gone.
Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll have children, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll divorce at 40, maybe you'll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary. Whatever you do, don't congratulate yourself too much, or berate yourself either. Your choices are half chance. So are everybody else's.
Enjoy your body. Use it every way you can. Don't be afraid of it or of what other people think of it. It's the greatest instrument you'll ever own.
Dance, even if you have nowhere to do it but your living room.
Read the directions, even if you don't follow them.
Do not read beauty magazines. They will only make you feel ugly.
Get to know your parents. You never know when they'll be gone for good. Be nice to your siblings. They're your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.
Understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle, because the older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were young.
Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard. Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.
Travel.
Accept certain inalienable truths: Prices will rise. Politicians will philander. You, too, will get old. And when you do, you'll fantasize that when you were young, prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.
Respect your elders.
Don't expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund. Maybe you'll have a wealthy spouse. But you never know when either one might run out.
Don't mess too much with your hair or by the time you're 40 it will look 85.
Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia. Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth.
But trust me on the sunscreen.
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OlderAngryAsianMan 08/10/2009 4:29:00 AM
Ok folks... Inhale...exhale.
Here is some perspective from an older (Angry) Asian Man.
For most of you, none of this will matter in a couple years.
Small comfort, I know, but just take it to heart.
I can say this because I was just like you. The story is satire and pretty accurate. I can laugh at myself because
this story is virtually written verbatim...from the early 1990's! Different names and places, but same old shit.
Back in the day, I was in a fraternity at the U and mixed
with both the Caucasian and Asian crowds. It was exactly
the same: Pre-func at the frat house or someone's apt, go
dancing/club/frat house/, try to get laid and take girl home/house, or go eat somewhere if not successful, and go home and visit Rosy Palm. So, cool it with the racist bullshit and act like your shit don't stink.
To take it further, it is exactly the same in most
parts of the world. I lived in NYC, Boston, LA, and other places in my youth. Same old shit.
I don't want to go all 'Oprah' on y'all, but it was like
a rite of passage from young adult to getting married and
paying a mortgage A-Dolt. It's ok to be confused and fumble
around for awhile.
The only people who benefit from this time of transition
are the the promoters and club/bar owners. How about a big
cup of STFU, trying to cover your ass?
Yeah, it seems cool to be living the "life" as portrayed in the media and your favorite liquor ad. However, after getting drunk so many times, waking up with someone or somewhere you don't want to be, some dumb bitch wrecking your car b/c she wanted to borrow it for a sec and you were too horny to say no, and being $5000 in debt from clubbing, it gets old and you will move on. Until then, you are young, free, and single. Have a good time.
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svent5cent 08/09/2009 9:53:00 PM
Tip for the asiaphiles: you're never going to score at the clubs or china town afterhours.
Get yourselves a BMW, an expensive watch, and cherry pick the cuties lower on the food chain at your workplace. Those little honies are suckers for bling.
But they will turn their noses up at you when out with the pack, or should I say : school.
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Andy 08/09/2009 10:10:00 AM
Steve, and everyone else who commented how they do not see the point of the article - so be it - but why does everyone keep commneting? Next person to comment will meet a horrible fate sometime in 2009 - not sure what kind of fate - horrible none the less.
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08/09/2009 7:33:00 AM
Jerry Seinfeld once stated:"My TV show is show about nothing!" I loved Seinfeld.
Sadly, this poorly written article is a boring story about nothing, and all I can say is who cares!
Maybe,you have helped,"The Nerdy white Guys with the stereo typical asian girl fetish",who now know which club to vist,so they can hit on the "Neon Tetra fish packs," as they descend en-masse to various club sites.
It's as if the Seattle Weekly woke up one day in August 2009,and said:
"Gee whiz we have lots of Chinese, Vietnamese,Thai,Hmong People,Korean, Japanese and Cambodian people living in our fair white city who spend large sums of money on booze and clubbing!"... Really!!!!!
So it goes!
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Chris 08/09/2009 5:08:00 AM
Is this really what those asians talk of white people when we are not around? How rude! Funny, cause they sure dont mind going home with us after the club!
Interesting article, surprised it would even be notable in the Seattle Weekly. You really didnt say anything we didnt already know. So what is the point?
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Mark 08/09/2009 4:32:00 AM
WIKI - According to The Elements of Journalism, a book by Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel, there are nine elements of journalism. In order for a journalist to fulfill their duty of providing the people with the information they need to be free and self-governing. They must follow these guidelines:
1. Journalism's first obligation is to the truth.
2. Its first loyalty is to the citizens.
3. Its essence is discipline of verification.
4. Its practitioners must maintain an independence from those they cover.
5. It must serve as an independent monitor of power.
6. It must provide a forum for public criticism and compromise.
7. It must strive to make the significant interesting, and relevant.
8. It must keep the news comprehensive and proportional.
9. Its practitioners must be allowed to exercise their personal conscience.
RAGING ASIAN'S is a story that meets these tests. ESPECIALLY number 6.
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Haole 08/09/2009 4:21:00 AM
haha, funny, cause i'm a white dude, and i think its funny that every time we go to china town after the clubs, all the asian dudes get mad that i'm with a fly ass asian girl, and i can lay more pipe than them.
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james bond 08/09/2009 3:07:00 AM
this article is a vacuous single perspective fluff piece of journalism which may accurately portray a certain lifestyle but fails to provide adequate disclaimers and is void of any social consciousness.
That said, the truly awful part of this article is that it fails to force people to examine the assumptions they make about race and about each other. So it divides the conversation between racism naysayers and lifestyle apologist...and the truly ignorant. The Asian community is diverse and homogenous and more interesting than is being portrayed here.
It is depressing but not surprising that the comments thread devolve into personal attacks on each other. For shame....
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club goer 08/08/2009 10:47:00 PM
the writer is a racist bitch who has no idea what journalism is. she must be very unhappy with her life and was probably never included so she hates the social scene. its so obvious.. did anyone learn anything new from this article? i sure did NOT
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Andy 08/08/2009 11:07:00 AM
Comment by swong from seattle on Aug 7th, 2009, 18:08 pm -
NO! You don't get a $1,000. But, your response was at least intellgient.
Folks, we live in a racist world, filled to the brim with sterotypes, and all is not fair.
Hey Swong, I will give you $5 if you can tell me what parking lot they all pissed on - I want to ensure not to park my beamer there.
All of you; GET A SENSE OH HUMOR PEOPLE. Suggestion - buy and wear a Micky Mouse watch. When you start taking yourselves way to seriously - look at the MM watch. Then just say to yourself, what am I getting all serious about. I am wearing a Mickey Mouse watch.
OK - a new day...lets move on and just get over it, becasue the writer will and so will most of us.
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Mark 08/08/2009 10:53:00 AM
Man, you all need to get over your selves. Talk about some thin skinned, lame asses.
Acutally, I only read the article after I read many of the comments. Those comments in themselves tell quite a story -funny as shit if you ask me.
With an exception - WTF is Luis Ongpin on? Man, take the tree trunk out of your ass you sissy. Like a f###ing three year throwing a tantrum. As long as we are being so judgemental and critcal to the point of insults - let me add my own.
~Luis Ongpin - you are a first class A HOLE - and that tree trunk stuck in your ass is probably way too deep to ever be pulled out. That shit must hurt. You are awarded the Emmy for the category of "Worse Comment by n A HOLE. My Congrats!
Photographer - of what? Let me guess. Other A HOLES.
206.501.1960
info@luisongpinstudio.com
www.streetpaparazzi.com
JERK!
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Pich 08/08/2009 6:47:00 AM
Why the fuck do you have to write about urinating in the parking lot when you did as well. You're full of shit!
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Joyce 08/08/2009 6:42:00 AM
For those of us who are enraged by this article, we are not (at least not I) denying the accounts of these young Asians that the writer reported. Some of the things they have done are typical of anyone, at any age, of any culture. I certainly can't deny enjoying a drunken and foolhardy night on the town w/ my group of friends (who sometimes consists of mostly Asians, but most times consists of non-Asians). Many people go through that. By including comments that these individuals made about Asian-Americans made it seem as though they were spokesmen for the Asian community. Her opinions and her observations about these individuals may have been an accurate description about many young Asians, but the same could be described about many other young adults, no matter what their cultural background is. To pinpoint these generalities to a specific group creates stereotypes, and a very negative one at that. She even manages to display certain attributes (the fact that Asian parents want their children to be hard-working, highly-respected professionals, or that Asians have a youthful appearance) as a burden and comes across as belittling. Taking away the idea of stereotype, I agree that this article is all fluff. I tried to understand if there was a point to it all. She claims it was meant to be a review of the little-known night life in Seattle, but to me it seemed like an uninteresting expose on a group of club heads as reported by a rambling teenager. Now, if any non-Asian ever sees me at the Purple Dot, I'll just be one of "those Asians". Thanks, Erika!
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cindie ho 08/08/2009 5:02:00 AM
what was the point of this article? its so biased and it makes all asians look like we are a bunch of raging alcoholics who like to pee in public. this article paints a horrible picture of asian night life. this might have been true for the people in the article but most of us do not party like that.
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asiatic static 08/08/2009 4:04:00 AM
This article isn't about "real" asians, Vietnamese, Cambodians, and Filipinos are considered lower class then let's say your Koreans, Japanese, and Chinese, which are creme de la creme. Just sayin!
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John P. 08/08/2009 2:59:00 AM
Good story, with an instant take-away of late-night eating spots and and update on the asian kids I went to high school with. But as I stewed on the ideas of the article I saw the flip side to the references to "asian-philes" and cultural fetishistic behavior; xenophobia. From living in Chicago I can tell you that socio-cultural segragation breeds distrust. I don't think isolating their night scene is good for the growth of Seattle as a cosmopolitan city.
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Nic 08/08/2009 1:19:00 AM
Wow, I can't believe this article was even produced! Really? I am an asian american whom grew up in the burbs and all my friends are multi-cultural and I understand the stereo-type that asians have, but this article is still pretty offensive.
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Luis Ongpin 08/08/2009 1:04:00 AM
to ILUVNY
I write my name & email at the end of my post because unlike you who hides behind a pseudonym like ILUVNY, i am a real person who is known very well in the scene, and i have no qualms about going public with my name.
If she isn't manipulative, why is EVERY person interviewed taken out of context, even my good friend Tony Truong's who is a very smart and well-respected in the Asian Community, and also a good friend of mine had his "neon-tetra fish" quote turned into the propoganda style artwork on the front of the page, i can guarantee you, he did not sign up for that when he was interviewed.
As for the "backtracking" you claim i am doing, is it wrong for me to defend the clubs i work at when someone is obviously misusing a quote in order to slam them and try and get them shut down
quote:
"often witnesses the operation go down while shooting at clubs like Venom and the War Room"
note, that she conveniently uses the words "clubs LIKE Venom & the War Room", and cannot quote me me exactly, because i never said such a thing. The question she quoted me on was whether i had seen an underage asian girl in any club, EVER, not those clubs in specific, but she conveniently uses that quote to implicate that Venom & the War Room let underage people in all the time, which is false. I have a strong feeling someone here was bribed.
I have a right to defend those places i work at, because i as a nightlife photographer, i work with with many owners and promoters to promote their nights with my photos.
Erica, you have poor ethics, poorer judgement, terrible writing skills and again, should be ashamed of yourself for trying to slander an entire race, and try and use the words of respectable people in the community against us. You obviously are not fit to be writing for any sort of published magazine, except for maybe a blog for ignorant racist girls, Your parents didn't raise you right.
That's right...i said it.
~Luis Ongpin
Photographer
206.501.1960
info@luisongpinstudio.com
www.streetpaparazzi.com
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bweezy 08/08/2009 12:42:00 AM
i really like how you exploited your friends and culture in this article. keep up the good work! hopefully i will run into you at venom!
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Luis Ongpin 08/08/2009 12:31:00 AM
You are a dirty manipulative "journalist", and the fact that you could not stand up and apologize for this piece of garbage you've published only shows how narrow-minded you and the other editors at the Seattle Weekly are.
Take responsibility for your actions, retract the story and apologize. Using quotes and misleading language doesn't make you a better journalist, it just shows you as a poor writer who trys to go for shock value over real stories. Every person interviewed in the article has gone public on record to say that you mislead them during the interview saying it was supposed to be a piece about promoting the diversity of asian culture in nightlife, instead you cherry-picked a few quotes and focused on a few drunk partiers thus creating a worse stereotype for those who aren't frequent to the nightlife scene to understand it.
You should be ashamed Erika. You are a poor journalist, and an even worse person for perpetuating racism and stereotypes.
~Luis Ongpin
Photographer
206.501.1960
info@luisongpinstudio.com
www.streetpaparazzi.com
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Erika Hobart 08/08/2009 12:14:00 AM
See my response here.
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louie 08/07/2009 9:48:00 PM
foolishness! it might be fun to follow a group of douche bag frat boys in their Express longsleaves around as they blow off steam, listening for douchey quotes and jotting down notes about they way they put mayonaise and butter on everything- and call it "Seattle's Ragin' White Scene" but that would be stupid. the white community is not a monolith and neither is the asian community. furthermore, would this article have been greenlighted if the focus was a different ethnic group? Re-read it replacing "Black" for "Asian" and see how far you get before recognizing that its complete bullsh*t. Case in point: "Seattle's Ragin Black's"... an article about chugging grey goose, sneaking into clubs, eating greesy food?
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seattle 08/07/2009 9:27:00 PM
These kids aren't from Seattle, they're from the dirty south: Tukwila, Federal Way, Renton, Kent, Tacoma, etc.
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thug life 08/07/2009 9:21:00 PM
Venom = drunk asian kids with guns
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Andy 08/07/2009 8:27:00 PM
My God! I have been reading the Seatlle weekly for some time, and the re-action to a pretty lame stroy is like f'in unreal. What are you assholes so ticked about? It is just a fucking story you idiots. I offer $1,000 to the one MFer who can ex-plain what the big deal is. Are there that many Asains in Seattle?
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ichiro 08/07/2009 8:19:00 PM
bukkkakeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
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Wise Old Black Seattleite 08/07/2009 7:12:00 PM
What soberness conceals drunkeness reveals. One bad apple can spoil the bunch.
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JINNA 08/07/2009 3:26:00 PM
Asiaphile? WTF kind of nonsense is that? That's disgusting. Get some new slang people, something that actually makes sense. The only thing that I would blame the author for, is her writing style, && choice in interviewees. I would really like to say that her choice in interviewees, makes all us Asian American's look like fools, idiots, && drunken unclassless people. But if you think about it, that's not true. The people she interviewed did that to themselves. && they don't make all Asian Americans's look like that, just themselves. Because if we all stopped giving in to "stereotypes" then we'd all understand that. This article isn't racist by any means. It just gave us a look into what it's like to hang out with a few douchebags that apparently seem to think that are the shit in Seattle, drive irresponsibly, drunk, i mean, no stopping til you throw up, real classy guys.)
My fiance && I have been going to Venom for years. Three to be exact. We pretty much know everyone who works there. I honestly have to say that out of every club I have every gone to, Security at Venom has to be the tightest. They don't fuck around there. They do their job, && they do it well.
I see lots of guys in the club leering at women. Some of them are black, some are Hispanic, some of them are Asian, some of them are white. && I'm sure some of them are a mix of anything I haven't even listed. Not everyone that hangs out at Venom is Asian, at any given time, yes there are a lot of Asian people there though. Other clubs have Latin nights in Seattle, so what? Asian people can't have their nights? Also, might I add, it's not Asian at Venom EVERY night either.
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Fawaz 08/07/2009 1:06:00 PM
I'm still perplexed as to why anyone (excluding the club letting minors in) would be offended by this article. All the people cited in it - lighten the FUCK up. We're young and allowed to act a certain way. "Junior Pham", shouldn't you be more concerned trying to find a new job than bashing a news article online?
I don't understand how this article can be construed as "racist" in any way, shape, or form. Why hasn't she mentioned any other ethnicites? I don't think she meant to write an encyclopedia on the different party scenes in Seattle. If anything, this article makes me more inclined to frequent those hot spots.
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Rodney 08/07/2009 12:07:00 PM
Well I guess this one article will ruin all your lives...I mean that is the point the majority of you upset people are stating right? Everybody who reads this will automatically assume every Asian person they see is a douche bag. I am willing to bet this article will have NO effect on your lives at all and you should all go listen to a blue scholars cd if you are so mad.
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Diana 08/07/2009 11:46:00 AM
LOL this is hilarious... It's on point! Too bad they didn't do Ibiza's because that's where all the asians are at now. Venom and War room don't even compare. Esp. now with Yama opened up in Bellevue. I've been there and done that too many times where I know the promotors and bouncers all too well. Great article!
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Aggravated 08/07/2009 11:24:00 AM
I didn't know that in order for an article to be racist and slanderous it also had to be blunt. It didn't NEED to say "All Asians do this and that..." The damn title says Seattle's Ragin' Asians." Their nationality is merely implied, it's brought up again and again. The writer chose those words and those quotes and intentionally orchestrated such a fine piece of writing to create yet another stereotype that we all have to work hard to break.
Just because it is/has been true for some people does not mean it is true for all (and don't be so hurt that your lifestyle has been depicted to be quite revolting, if you used to live this way, and so what if it is!). This article isn't called "A Night in the Life of Junior Pham." Don't be so naive. This article has done more harm than you realize and it's existence is irresponsible and all parties should be reprimanded.
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Andy 08/07/2009 10:33:00 AM
Jeremy K from Seattle, your GF is Japanes. Hmmm! My guess is you have never dated anything but. What really perplexes me is your regard for the article being poor. I am amazed how personal many of you haters are taking a simple story of some Asians bar hopping on a weekend. FROM what I see this story has touched a NERVE. A BIG NERVE - yours included. SOMETHING IS GOING ON HERE, and I cannot put my finger on it. Hey, ALL YOU HATERS WAS IT IT THE IS REALLY BOTHERING YOU? LET IT OUT. Oh Jeremy, my bet is your little JN GF might know. Ask he, dip shit. Oh yeah, you are a dip shit for being judgemntal. Don't judge less thee be judged.
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Jeremy K 08/07/2009 8:06:00 AM
I am caucasian with a Japanese girlfriend. didn't know I was an asiaphile. that was one of the poorest pieces of journalism I have read. not biased at all.
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Ragin A's 08/07/2009 7:44:00 AM
Silly little island people. Pham, don't be mad because your ignorant, racist little ass got exposed.
These people dont have a clue, and will go nowhere in life. They do this on the weekend, then just go back to working their 9-5 at the bank. Then they marry someone from their own scene and continue on failing to mix with any other nationalities but their own. We look at you and laugh. No musical taste, no backbone, nothing to say, nothing to offer society, no soul...worthless human beings. have your club dumb gook.
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marcel 08/07/2009 7:25:00 AM
hate to say it, but did you really think she was going to depict poise and priveldge in her article?
point being, the writer went out with a bunch of young drunk people (asian or not) and she described what went on on a random night out.
im almost 100% sure the people in her presence did make those obnoxious douchey comments and actions, that you, yourself probably can not deny.
wether things were taken out of context or not, i dont see how else something like "No stopping until you throw up!" can be interpreted.
you're young, you were drunk, and that probably is what you do and say all weekend. its a phase, get over it.. i sure hope you do. m
maybe this article will help you.
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steve g 08/07/2009 7:16:00 AM
yea, all the white guys that ever end up at one of these clubs has an asian fetish.... keep dreaming
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meso 08/07/2009 6:12:00 AM
Sorry to be a wet blacket, but could someone please tell me the point of this article? Was it to make people (who actually live in Seattle) more aware of the drunk driving going on downtown in the wee hours? Or to notify the general public and the WSLCB that Venom serves minors?
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Jon Keto 08/07/2009 5:48:00 AM
I heard about a new drink that Asian people love. It's called Bubble Tea. Can you write an article about that please?
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classy 08/07/2009 5:28:00 AM
I actually LIKE going to these clubs on Fridays and Saturdays. I'm an educated Asian woman with a college degree AND a master's degree. My girlfriends who accompany me also have college degrees and are in graduate programs or have great careers. It's a great way to unwind after a long week and meet people with similar backgrounds.
This article SCREAMS biased judgment and stereotype. The author didn't have to explicitly say "this is what all Asians are like." The way she wrote it implies that Asians frequenting these clubs 1) are uneducated, 2) have no taste in clothing, 3) spend wastefully, 4) have nothing more interesting to do on a weekend, 5) are alcoholics, and 6) are shallow and vein.
EH: You are portraying ME and a handful of others like me THIS WAY. How did you not see anything wrong with writing this article, being half Asian yourself? You have successfully labeled me all of the above stereotypes and I will now be thought of as uneducated and distasteful every time I set foot in another club. Thanks.
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DT 08/07/2009 5:27:00 AM
Worst and most irresponsible writing I have ever seen. And a COVER STORY!!! One with koi fish with asian heads!!! I think all Asian people should be offended and surely boycott this magazine that is starving to write a decent article. This writer needs to be fired if you want to keep integrity of this magazine...regardless of what she's writing about. Seattle Weekly...very sad.
