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[–]zupatol 334 points335 points ago*

My wife from Cameroon was very surprised when she first saw white people that were poor. She didn't think it was possible. However once I went to visit a market and I heard I guy shout "white people are rich, but not this one. This white guy is poor". That was probably a clever way to get my attention to sell me something.

Maybe as a consequence of being thought rich, white people are very important or prestigious. Once we met a cousin of my wife who was bragging that her husband had several cars. My wife replied "yeah well my husband is white".

In Cameroon most people believe in sorcery. One guy who was apparently knowledgeable about these kinds of things told me sorcery doesn't work on white people.

[–]lowercasepeople49 333 points334 points ago

  • 10 Magic Def

[–]Kill_Welly 514 points515 points ago

To be fair, he's technically right.

[–]0rgasmo 170 points171 points ago

Fuck yes, hidden racial bonuses for the win!

[–]whywasthatagoodidea 185 points186 points ago

In the mountains of Peru, it is an urban legend of sorts that white people will steal children. So much so that when I am around a misbehaving child the mother almost always threatens the child by saying that the gringo(me) will take you away.

[–]CatFancier4393 96 points97 points ago

Thats kind of funny. As a white I hold the stereotype that many South Americans would kidnap me and either sell me for ransom, or as part of a drug cartel plot.

[–]WhimperNotBang 520 points521 points ago

A lot of my middle eastern friends think that white people only ever eat turkey and mashed potatoes or meat loaf.

[–]TheHappyRogue 714 points715 points ago

That's ridiculous. We only eat bacon cheeseburgers and fries, of course.

[–]OmicsWizard 370 points371 points ago

I nominate the milkshake as the official white person drink.

[–]Anomaly_Partition 1463 points1464 points ago

Back in highschool (We had 60% foreigners, Korean or Taiwanese mostly), the funniest thing I've ever been called was a "Round eyed burger muncher". Kid was serious too.

[–]Bricktosser 370 points371 points ago

Round eyed burger muncher

I've been called that too. I thought of making a rebuttal then I thought about it for a second and realized nothing about it was a lie.

[–]girigiri 1362 points1363 points ago

I almost dropped my burger reading this!

[–]crazyeight 845 points846 points ago

Luckily I always keep a spare burger in my pocket for just such a mishap.

[–]Captcha_Imagination 509 points510 points ago

Don't even act like you don't like burgers, roundeye

[–]alijohnstone 120 points121 points ago

To be fair, he's found an insult so accurate that no one would really give a shit.

[–]beesareeatingmybrain 1061 points1062 points ago

When I lived in the Middle East, I was told by an Arab friend that she always thought that white people (mainly the women) were very slutty and stuck up. It explained a lot of the not so nice things some of my classmates said about/to me before they got to know me.

[–]FlackRacket 831 points832 points ago

You're not slutty and stuck up like the rest of us?

I'm so confused.

[–]Richeh 119 points120 points ago

My grandfather was killed being stuck up a slutty, you insensitive clod.

[–][deleted] 25 points26 points ago

We'll just mud wrestle our confusion away, as is the white custom.

[–]IraqiPanther 401 points402 points ago

When I grew up in South-west asia I had no prejudice about white people whatsoever, but american were dispised along with israel.

[–][deleted] 295 points296 points ago

When Southwest asians make disparaging remarks about Israelis, do they say "Israelis" or "Jews"?

[–]iamaravis 540 points541 points ago

Somewhat related: One of my students, a woman from Libya, was talking to me about the geography of the Middle East. I mentioned something about Israel, and she asked, "What is Israel?" I pointed it out on the map, and she said, "That's not a real country."

[–]calico_cat 368 points369 points ago

Tangentially related: A Scottish woman I knew was teaching in Japan. She had a lot of schools so she often would just talk about Scotland. Oftentimes the teachers would pull her aside afterwards and whisper: "The students... they'll think Scotland is a real country..."

Her response: "It IS a real country!" (not upset... but rather put out)

[–]dannomac 227 points228 points ago

It's as real as England.

[–]StaticSabre 1431 points1432 points ago

I lived in a predominately hispanic area, and one thing was always associated with white people. Money. You were a rich white kid no matter how much money your parents had. No matter where you lived or how poor you were, you were a rich white kid.

[–]LurkingisFun 1782 points1783 points ago

"Hey man, look at richy rich white boy over there, struttin' around walmart's car-park, begging for change like he owns the fucking place. Rich jackass."

[–]AdamBombTV 895 points896 points ago*

Dear god, I said all that in a Jamaican accent and I have no idea why.

EDIT: Thanks to my crack team of investigators below, I have come to the conclusion that it was the "Hey man" that made me think that.

Thank you crack team of investigators, without you there would be no me.

[–]homeskilled 307 points308 points ago

As soon as he said car park I knew he wasn't American, so my brain picked Jamaican also...

[–]Burritomoshhighfives 665 points666 points ago

So I went to this very "ethnic" grocery store in my predominately hispanic neighborhood and asked if they had any mayo. The dude just laughed at me and walked away.

[–]TheRealDrCube 519 points520 points ago

You should have told him it was for your grilled corn.

[–]imstillyourking 312 points313 points ago

I'm Mexican and I approve this statement.

[–]mh1563 753 points754 points ago

That's odd. I'm Mexican (born and raised in Mexico) and mayonnaise was not excluded from our diet. He might have been laughing at the absurdity of you asking him if he had any month of May.

[–]drinkalcohol 79 points80 points ago

He probably didn't understand what you were saying. Mexicans eat mayo.

[–]adrianrides666 720 points721 points ago

Among Dominicans, white people are considered rich and generally friendly. "We" also think that no crime occurs around white people. It is considered highly respectable for a Dominican woman to have a white man, even if he is a low life drug dealer. I can honestly say that most dominican mothers would rather have their daughter date a white, coke addict, garbage man than a rich, black doctor. White people are considered so above everyone else in our society. The funny thing is that to outsiders, Domincans are black. Domincan women in the US want to be as far away from black culture as possible. They think they're white basically. It is quite funny.

[–][deleted] 313 points314 points ago

When I went to the Dominican in October, they treated us like freaking royalty. It was ridiculous.

Our bus boy also told me he hated black people, which confused me. I assumed he was talking about Haitians.

And all of the women wanted kisses from my (blonde haired, blue eyed) kid. They'd all call him over with "Nino blanco!" and ask for kisses on the cheek. My husband said "Well, at least we know he'll never have a problem with the ladies in the Dominican"

[–]kurtgustavwilckens 144 points145 points ago

Ok, so Dominicana is top of my list of my next vacations.

Here I come girls. And I aint carrying a tan.

[–]prmaster23 63 points64 points ago

I know you are joking but I really need to warn everyone who thinks things are like this. A lot of Dominicans want to get out of the country and striking a relationship with a tourist is an easy way. I'm just sayin, not everything is as nice as it sound. If you don't believe me instead of going to a tourist town like Punta Cana visit the capital Santo Domingo.

There are a lot of white dominicans, the difference is that they do not represent a ticket out of the country.

TL:DR Don't believe everything you see/hear in a tourist town.

[–]Edifice_Complex 131 points132 points ago

All I've learned from this thread is that I can pretty much just go to other countries and be white and be fine/treated better. Apparently other countries consider white people to be important and crime free and if we do fuck up it's "because we don't know better".

[–]Thomas031 2180 points2181 points ago

In Zimbabwe, white people are thought to have no knees. This is due to them wearing long trousers / dresses all the time, apparently. This is also apparently extremely funny.

[–]4thredditaccount 1158 points1159 points ago

This is extremely funny.

[–]DrMrProfessor 1124 points1125 points ago

a real knee slapper, or long-leg slapper as my white brothers call it.

[–]4thredditaccount 530 points531 points ago

My brother is in jail for being a knee-slapper. It's classed as racially aggravated assault.

[–]G-razer 626 points627 points ago

TIL wearing trousers over there caused such merriment.

[–]gekk00 266 points267 points ago

well, trousers are the funniest of all the apparel

[–]twentyfive 2420 points2421 points ago*

Black people - their knee grows.

[–]tyelr 290 points291 points ago*

I've been to Liberia a couple times, and I've picked up that a lot of the people there think that white people are rather ignorant of how the world works. They're very nice and helpful, but they make you feel like a child sometimes. Most of the time you have to rely on the actual children to figure out what the heck is going on.

Edit: Clarity.

[–]ArthurTrollington 457 points458 points ago

In all fairness, perhaps you should let them watch out for you, even if it makes you feel like a child, given that you're visting FREAKING LIBERIA.

[–]tyelr 131 points132 points ago

Quite. The kids who I met there are more mature than a lot my grown peers in the US. That said, they will kick your skinny white ass in kickball. Holy balls are they good.

[–]TurbulentTurtle 668 points669 points ago

"I'll use my credit card."

[–]Paranoidexboyfriend 384 points385 points ago

"do you have any nondairy creamer?"

[–]00peligro 1278 points1279 points ago

I used to live in South Korea, and according to a friend: there is a belief among a few asians that white people are less evolved because they have more hair.

[–]dropkickoz 1782 points1783 points ago

I'm a balding white male. Am I evolving? Will I get super powers?

[–]The_Whereian_Kelly 1561 points1562 points ago

My chemistry teacher always said "The more hair I lose, the more head I get."

[–]HolgerBier 774 points775 points ago

That's actually a brilliant joke, most kids won't realize the dirtyness of it until they are long gone.

Or I need to get my mind out of the gutter...

[–]The_Whereian_Kelly 1188 points1189 points ago

Most of them didn't get it but those of us that did laughed the hardest. He also said, "Volume comes in liters, mass comes in grams and Elephants cum in gallons."

[–]justpetr 1106 points1107 points ago

The more you say, the more I think your teacher is creepy.

[–]FrankMorris 447 points448 points ago

Have you ever seen an elephant ejaculate? Really his chemistry teacher was just a scientist who liked puns. Puns pertaining to penises primarily.

[–]Snocean 299 points300 points ago

Your question made me curious as to what an Elephant Ejaculating looks like. You bastard.

[–]NoddysShardblade 62 points63 points ago

Yes.

See: Professor X.

[–]Foxtrot56 477 points478 points ago

Some koreans are pretty racist though, they believe that Koreans are just better than non-Koreans. I found this to be especially true in more rural areas and with older people, but many people shared some of that sentiment.

Also they think we smell like garlic.

[–]mark445 147 points148 points ago

I lived in Korea for a year. My Korean doctor asks me, "Do you have a Korean girlfriend?"

Me: "No"

Him: "Good"

[–]chodonski 89 points90 points ago

He was obviously coming on to you.

[–]theworldsmostgiantdr 46 points47 points ago

I understand that it is customary that in order to marry a Korean girl you must first defeat her father in Starcraft.

[–]MrMastodon 525 points526 points ago

Koreans are vampires. Solved it.

[–]fruchtzergeis 288 points289 points ago

I play starcraft since 2001

Koreans are better

[–]jayd16 187 points188 points ago

Of course, that's ludicrous. Modern day chimps are just as evolved as modern day man.

[–]Rebar4Life 202 points203 points ago

I had a black girlfriend that said my skin and hair were like a pig's. I was kind of amused by the observation.

[–]vetch222 685 points686 points ago

Don't let her near your feet or intestines.

[–]chaosroyale 797 points798 points ago*

I've lived in Tokyo most of my adult life. There is a stereotype heirarchy which goes from "foreigner" (that's the most important) then to the subsets of "white" (automatically considered a loudmouthed American who only speaks English) or "black" (automatically considered a Hip-Hop gangsta who only speaks parody MTV English) or "Asian" (yes, that's a stereotype in Japan: you'll be considered a dirty poor Asian). I'm a musician and unfortunately my appearance means I fall into a further subset: "dangerous foreigner, probably a drug dealer" because in Japan everyone assumes most crime is by foreigners (actually crime by foreigners is proportionately much lower). So I get stopped by the police all the time. EDIT- I should add: just as being a black guy in a nice suit getting a coffee in Manhattan is a very different experience from being black with sagging pants and walking into a truck-stop in Alabama, so Japan has a wide range of contexts which will affect your treatment here. DOUBLE EDIT: If you are just a tourist you'll only notice that people in stores are generally very polite to everyone.

[–]dermballs 812 points813 points ago

So is Japan sort of like the UK which pretends they are not part of Europe.

[–]CowplusCowequalsCows 538 points539 points ago

That actually makes a lot of sense (English my self). Japan does seem to be an Asian Britain. As you say, connected to the continent culturally and historically, but keeping their distance. A certain "aloofness" from your neighbours. Overly polite and traditional on the surface, but silly and irreverent in private/with friends. I've never been to Japan so not the best qualified to comment, but intuitively this makes sense to me.

[–]hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhl 63 points64 points ago

Consider the imperialistic history of both countries: both England and Japan are constitutional monarchies with periods of imperial expansion and naval projection. They were the first countries to fully industrialize within their respective portions of the world, after spending long stretches of time in isolation from the main continent in feudalistic periods. Also consider their sophisticated tea-brewing and tea-drinking cultures, and the presence of school uniforms in their educational systems. They both drive on the left-hand side of the road.

[–]TheVoiceofTheDevil 189 points190 points ago

Interestingly, during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many Japanese intellectuals became enamoured with Irish poetry and culture, mainly Yeats.

[–]nucca35 506 points507 points ago

My friend from Vietnam always talks about white people being crazy. He would say, if a black/asian guy wants to kill you, he will just shoot you.

But if a white person wants you dead he will eat you and rape your baby.

[–]ddwgclan 250 points251 points ago

Not hard to see where this one came from.

[–][deleted] 428 points429 points ago

White people dance with their elbows instead of their hips.

[–]CAPTAIN_MAGNIFICENT 230 points231 points ago

FALSE. I do not dance at all. IN YOUR FACE.

[–]BleakGod 51 points52 points ago

then you aint no friend of mine

[–]dottxt 1789 points1790 points ago*

When I lived in Pakistan: Whites don't really love each other, or know love. We spend too much time working and never really get close to anyone because of it. Whites have little respect for their family and upbringing. Whites are wealthy, educated, and because of lack of family ties get to do absolutely whatever they want. Whites are formal to the point where it is insulting (I say please/thank you etc even when speaking with my best friend, this level of formality was often seen as a lack of closeness).

When I lived in Lebanon: Whites are wealthy, can't hold their liquor and are loud.

When I lived in a predominantly black neighborhood: whites have no common sense and need constant looking after so they don't wander into traffic and die.

Due to Confusion I am a white American. I am describing stereotypes about whites I've come across living in non-white places, not giving my own opinion about whites.

[–]ImStillAwesome 1886 points1887 points ago

whites have no common sense and need constant looking after so they don't wander into traffic and die.

Finally, someone who understands me!

[–]Soquid 766 points767 points ago

I was going to make a gag about "Did you make sure to run that comment by a brother before posting?"

Then I thought about it, and realized my redditing would produce super-awesome results near constantly if I had a thoroughly urban black man to screen my comments.

[–]DJ_Velveteen 254 points255 points ago

I think this is actually a really good idea for Reddit.

[–]ChetBenning 467 points468 points ago

Who ever got picked would break his own neck from shaking his head so damn much...

[–]thatboatguy 213 points214 points ago

Buy one of these. Ask someone you trust to wear the belt end of it.

[–]Galinaceo 241 points242 points ago

My black friends holding white me by a collar? This is gonna be funny.

[–]peanut_butter_rules 1314 points1315 points ago

Black people are ALWAYS standing in the middle of the damn road

[–]tEnPoInTs 1293 points1294 points ago

That sounds fucking extremely racist at face value, but I live in Baltimore and I have almost run over a black person every single day of my life for years now.

Yesterday I got 3/4 of the way across an intersection, going about 30mph and this guy just starts walking across, didn't even look towards me. I stop dead short of hitting him, honk (really just to inform him that he was standing in traffic), and he turns his head, smiles at me and intentionally slows down so I have to wait longer. Also that was not exceptional, that sort of thing has happened to me many many times before. If you do that, no matter the color, fuck you.

[–]baeb66 545 points546 points ago

Black people: fastest athletes, slowest pedestrians.

[–]RittMomney 80 points81 points ago

I think this is a Baltimore thing. I've lived in a lot of US cities - Chicago, LA, NYC, SF... and I've never seen black people walk across an intersection UNTIL traffic starts moving except Baltimore. This happens almost every day when I'm there. The light turns green, I start to drive, and then they start to walk in front of me. It isn't about being black because I haven't noticed black people doing this anywhere else. I suspect it has something to do with urban Baltimore culture? A bizarre way of asserting territory? I don't know, but it is weird.

[–]ashhole613 432 points433 points ago*

seriously yes. I live in Mississippi in a mostly poor black neighborhood near a chicken plant. ALWAYS some motherfucker riding his bike down the middle of the road to work. I also have an old neighbor that rides his electric wheelchair in the road like it's a car instead of using the sidewalk. He acts like he's the only person on the road, and police never bother him about it. Wtf?

EDIT: I love how many Mississippi redditors have popped up here. All the chicken towns I know of have checked in except Laurel and Forrest - any of you guys out there?? :-)

[–]xxxSnappyxxx 178 points179 points ago

Same thing here in Birmingham... I have a friend who is black and asked him what was up with that. His reply was priceless; "it isn't because they are black, it is because they are fucking ignorant people" I was rolling

[–]Jackdaws7 300 points301 points ago

Chicken plant you say...

[–]thereadlines 450 points451 points ago

Yes, yes, chicken plant boy, for the I say, I say, the chickens. A plant for them. The chickens, boy.

[–]GalacticWhale 59 points60 points ago

At first I thought you were being racist. Then I got it.

[–]42Kayla 322 points323 points ago

...Especially while wearing dark clothing at night :(

[–]tumblingspider 265 points266 points ago

White guy here, but when living near the border, I had three different Mexican guy friends tell me on three separate occasions that "white women are freaks!" (i.e, sexually adventurous, to the point of intimidating). Apparently I have been hanging around the wrong white women.

[–]Jonthrei 24 points25 points ago

Nah, you just haven't been hanging around enough Latina women. White women are freaks in comparison, going by general cultural tendencies.

[–]tumblingspider 39 points40 points ago

Oh, I know. The Mexican girls had flirting perfected beyond all comprehension, but from what I could tell, that's as far as it goes. See Pierce Brosnan's quote as Julian in "The Matador": (after flirting with some Mexican schoolgirls) 'I hate these Catholic countries. It's all blushy-blushy and no sucky-fucky.'

[–]Dravidor 863 points864 points ago*

Where I grew up the word for white man was Mzungu (M-zu-ngu or Mu-zun-gu)... came from the word kuzunguka (ku-zun-gu-ka), it means to walk around in circles. Imo, this is a good basis for what they thought of white people.

Edit: I CANT SPELL!

[–]aeiluindae 418 points419 points ago

They sell shirts with "mzungu" written on them in Kenya, presumably to tourists. My (white) father bought one because he thought it humorous to have a shirt with "white guy" written on it.

[–]Crushy 152 points153 points ago

I have one of those shirts! Bought it in Uganda and it says 'My name is not Mzungu'. I heard that word so many times in those 2 weeks that when I finally saw the shirt I just laughed and threw copious amounts of money at the lady. They know how to work the tourists heh.

[–]Its_All_Literal 236 points237 points ago

Did you grow up in Zambia? I was there this past summer and wherever I went people would point and yell "Mzungu!"

[–]exelmans 827 points828 points ago

Note to self: If ever in Africa and people yell "Mzungu!", start walking around in circles and observe reaction.

[–]nucgaek 60 points61 points ago

Crap I was thinking about doing this then realised... I'm Asian...

[–]theshadowofdeath 23 points24 points ago

if they called you white guy they didnt notice anyways

[–]FingersMckenzie 267 points268 points ago*

It could have been pretty much anywhere in Africa. "Mzungu", or a variation thereof, exists in many african languages. So much so that practically every many africans know what it means.

So yes white people, if ever you hear black people use this word (pronounced mu-zun-gu) in a conversation, and you happen to be the only white person around, there's a good chance you're the topic at hand.

[–]older_soul 71 points72 points ago

It's used throughout East Africa as well. I've actually heard it used to describe rich Africans as well. It generally is used for whit people though.

In Rwanda, some kids are taught (jokingly, I think) that bazungu love to eat children, so sometimes my friends would say ndashonje (I am hungry) as they ran after the kids that stared.

[–]Olmifon 322 points323 points ago

Wachootoo Medicine Man: [upon seeing Ace] Equinsu ocha!
Ace Ventura: [to Ouda] What does "equinsu ocha" mean?
Ouda: White devil.
Ace Ventura: Well, tell him I'm not.
Ouda: I only met you. How do I know?
Wachootoo Medicine Man: [to other Wachootoos] Equinsu ocha! Equinsu ocha!
Ouda: He said...
Ace Ventura: Let me guess. "White devil, white devil"?
Ouda: Yes. You speak Wachootoo?
Ace Ventura: Mine's a little rusty. Tell them what I'm saying. [faces the Wachootoos] I come in peace.
Ouda: [in poorly-translated Wachootoo] White Devil say, "I will harm you."
[The Wachootoos look suspicous]
Ace Ventura: [to Ouda] I couldn't help but notice the "equinsu ocha" part. Did you just refer to me as "white devil"?
Ouda: That's how they know you.
Ace Ventura: Leave that part out from now on. [to Wachootoos] I represent the princess.
Ouda: [in poorly-translated Wachootoo] "I am a princess."
[The Wachootoos look confused; one young man eyes Ace with interest]
Ace Ventura: War is hell. The last thing we want is a fight.
Ouda: [in poorly-translated Wachootoo] "I want to fight, so go to hell."
[The Wachootoos roar in anger] 

[–]TwoThreeSkidoo 215 points216 points ago

Lmao, this needs to be more common knowledge. I would totally walk around in circles just to fuck with people.

[–]goosie7 883 points884 points ago

In Western China (where seeing a white person is so rare that people would stop dead when they saw me, stare, and often pull out a camera to snap some pictures of me/with me) white people are considered beautiful, fashionable, sometimes ignorant, and a little sneaky. They assume we all speak English. Most people assumed that I was British (I'm American) because I'm skinny (In fact I had people ask me, after finding out that I'm from the US, "why are you not fat?")

I didn't talk a lot of politics with everyone (kind of a touchy subject in China), but I talked about it with the family I was living with. They thought that Americans are war mongers. They thought it has been too long since we had real war on our soil, and we've forgotten what it's like. We go into war to "try and help people", but their opinion is that war helps no one.

[–]trashinplato 949 points950 points ago

As a Chinese person who mainly grew up in the United States, I don't know much about how whites are stereotyped in China, but my parents do.

Essentially, in China people have a love-hate relationship with white people, wanting to be like whites (which is mainly just "westerner"; btw: in Cantonese a slang term for blacks literally translates to "fermented soybean," because of the black color of fermented soybeans) because of the power and status it represents but at the same time are resentful of that power and status.

People will fall head over heels around a white person, to the point where they'll just hire random white people to attend important parties or become spokesmen for products. Contrast that with the disdain they have for chinese that come from America. My mom once said that if you, as a chinese american, ever want to go back to China that you'll get better waiter service if you bring along a white friend wearing a business suit. Sad, but true. There was an Economist article a while ago that talked about how chinese were criss-crossing Europe to buy lots of Western goods, because it was a symbol of status in society that you could afford to buy those things.

Many chinese, likely due to the lack of education and exposure, are what I'd like to call extreme passive racists. This means that they have very stereotypical views of other ethnic groups, but they don't plan on taking action on those beliefs anytime soon. I'm sure it is like this for many other cultures as well.

[–]Lawyer_Boy 574 points575 points ago

So you're saying that if I moved to China and brought all my suits I could do well for myself without a fulltime job? I'd schmooze and eat for a livin I that was an option...

[–]tries_new_things 859 points860 points ago

Yes, and in fact there are people whose full time job it is to simply be white and wear a business suit as part of a group.

[–]ApatheticDeveloper 1163 points1164 points ago

NOW WE KNOW WHAT BARNEY STINSON'S JOB IS!!!!

[–]SirRonaldofBurgundy 313 points314 points ago

Ha ha! Please.

[–]Darkbro 297 points298 points ago

This man has solved it. Now WHO IS THEIR MOTHER!!!

[–]Harry_Seaward 274 points275 points ago

Finally, a job I'm qualified for.

Does anyone have a suit I can borrow?

[–]TwoThreeSkidoo 281 points282 points ago*

Yes. Do some googling, this shit is not made up. Put on a suit, get paid to stand around doing nothing, or even better sit around in comfy chairs attending meetings, while still doing nothing. No training required. Blue eyes help.

Edit: Sorry guys, I don't know the specifics. I think it's one of those things you fall into while teaching English in China.

[–]ScratchyBits 83 points84 points ago

I believe I have just found what it was that I was meant to do in this world.

[–]jaskmackey 51 points52 points ago

What about a uterus? Or is this for boys only?

[–]MistaWrek 172 points173 points ago

It can happen in japan as well. My father used to live in Kyoto and apparently people used to pay him to come to dinner with their friends so that they could prove they knew a white person

[–]harryballsagna 73 points74 points ago

Funny, I live in Kyoto, am white, and often couldn't pay someone to occupy the seat next to me on a packed train.

Honestly, if you want to feel like a freak everyday of your life, Japan's the place.

[–]chet_lemon_party 360 points361 points ago

I heard a story on the radio awhile ago (This American Life, maybe?) about a white, American actor in China who made a living being as a stand-in for important officials at various corporations. He'd fly out to some random town, inspect the factory, maybe make a remark or two and then go home.

The idea was that many Chinese (especially rural Chinese) think having a white executive in your company gives you great prestige.

[–]nebbish 295 points296 points ago

A more straightforward reason could be it makes your company look like its big enough to have an overseas operation in the US

[–]haochi 45 points46 points ago

[–]dermballs 246 points247 points ago

I think that diaspora hate happens everywhere. If you really want to piss off an Irish person be an American of Irish descent and go up to any Irish person and tell them 'Hey, I'm Irish too'.

It was weird when I was living in the US and I had to stop saying 'I'm Irish' and started saying 'I'm from Ireland' so people would know what I meant.

[–]runningformylife 54 points55 points ago

The accent didn't give it away that you were actually Irish?

[–]itsdr00 55 points56 points ago

It actually has a name, "benign racism".

[–]Noowai 201 points202 points ago*

I've been to China twice, with a Chinese-Born friend of mine. I'm from Norway, with blue eyes, white/very blond hair and a VERY pale/white skin. When I visited some rural-areas, where some of the elders HAD NEVER SEEN A WHITE PERSON, they came up to me and asked what was wrong with me and if I were albino o.o

Got a few pics of them, if anyone's interested:p

Picture of an Old Woman lauging at me :( - http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f240/RosiestOcean/ChinaPRIVATEA/China09217.jpg - http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f240/RosiestOcean/ChinaPRIVATEA/China09224.jpg

The rural-area that i visited http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f240/RosiestOcean/ChinaPRIVATEA/China09215.jpg http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f240/RosiestOcean/ChinaPRIVATEA/China09233.jpg http://s48.photobucket.com/albums/f240/RosiestOcean/ChinaPRIVATEA/?action=view&current=China09228.jpg

My friend :) http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f240/RosiestOcean/ChinaPRIVATEA/China09235.jpg

The place i stayed/my friends family homeplace http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f240/RosiestOcean/ChinaPRIVATEA/026.jpg http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f240/RosiestOcean/ChinaPRIVATEA/004.jpg

I got a lot more pictures, but I doubt you'll find them that interesting:p (Though the Karaokee whore-bar was fun! _) - Though that was last year, not from 3 years ago :D

[–]tritlo[S] 80 points81 points ago

Care & share!

[–]AKXLVII 720 points721 points ago

some koreans jokingly think a lot of white (american) people greet each other with "yo wassup man" with the hand grab chest bump

[–]moop44 1176 points1177 points ago

i thought stereotypes werent supposed to be true

[–]WhimperNotBang 326 points327 points ago

Every male I know under age 22 does this, regardless of race.

[–]Missingid 135 points136 points ago

male under the age of 22 here: hand grab chest bump overcomes all barriers.

[–][deleted] 520 points521 points ago

My Asian friend told me that all her friends always felt that the white people they had encountered smelt like milk. All the time.

[–]PaperSt 152 points153 points ago

I guess I could smell like worse, right?

[–]lanks1 271 points272 points ago*

I've heard this too and it makes sense. People tend to give off odours based on their diets. Only white people drink so much milk and cheese. Most of the rest of the world is lactose intolerant.

[–][deleted] 578 points579 points ago

I don't drink cheese

[–][deleted] 311 points312 points ago

It's about time you started: http://i.imgur.com/3q3VT.jpg

[–]Tac0s 257 points258 points ago*

Important distinction: the person drinking the cheese is Asian. This is a rebuttal to the parent parent grandparent comment.

[–]Vennificus 360 points361 points ago

Washichu- he who takes the best meat for himself

[–]The_Music_Director 279 points280 points ago*

I'm a white guy who lived on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation for a few months, I always thought that Washichu was the only slur I've ever been called that actually bothered me. A young Oglala told me it means "Takers of the fat," for white people killing buffalo and only taking the fat (the best part). We had a little joke/pun at meals; "Who took the last piece of frybread? Washichu?"

Other stereotypes held by some Oglala, were that we're incredibly hairy (which we pretty much are compared to most Native Americans), and that we're all uncircumcised. I still don't really understand the uncircumcised thing, but I saw it on a lot of graffiti.

Edit: While not penis-related, I did take two pictures of some artwork I saw on a wall just outside of the Wounded Knee mass grave and the second Wounded Knee Incident of 1973, that show some natives feelings towards whitey. Tasunke Witko, and AIM.

[–]TwoThreeSkidoo 74 points75 points ago

I didn't realize Native Americans were so big on circumcision.

[–]ZiggyPox 274 points275 points ago

but... but I like my foreskin :(

I'm attached to it...

[–]tuxedoisadog 137 points138 points ago

I went to Nepal last year and apparently they believe white people never work. I was helping build playground equipment and crowds of people would show up to watch. They would gawk for hours. It weirded me out, and this is what I was told when I asked.

[–]pachinkopunk 50 points51 points ago

When I was in Nepal some kids bathing in the local river yelled "you are American! You eat cats!!!

...I thought it was hilarious

[–]Some_Africans 283 points284 points ago

In Gambia, we think your really nice. Seriously.

[–]iwsfutcmd 124 points125 points ago

I live in Bangkok, and here, White people are seen as rich, culturally disrespectful, and, for the men specifically, perverts.

Also, completely unable to eat spicy food.

[–]whitepeoplethrowaway 416 points417 points ago*

There's a few stereotypes I grew up hearing in an immigrant mixed race (South Asian and African) family in the West. These mostly seem to be about middle class white people. NOTE I AM SIMPLY REPORTING THESE - I DO NOT AGREE WITH THEM. I am writing them as if my grandparents are saying them. E.g.:

  • White people don't love their kids as much because they kick them out when they are 18 and don't support them after that. Also white people are not as educationally driven when it comes to their children (e.g. they won't work long hours in a multitude of jobs and save pennies to send them to the best schools and hire extra tutors and focus on their kids winning maths championships etc). The exception to this is Jewish people who are very admirable.

  • White kids, in turns, put their parents in nursing homes as soon as they're able which is unacceptable.

  • White people are all into artsy fartsy things like liberal arts and art school and painting that don't get you anywhere. They don't realise that the only worthwhile paths are medicine, law, engineering, pharmacy, sciences, accountancy and business.

  • White people eat really bland food. Like they eat things like chicken cooked only in salt and pepper and carrots in strange creamy sauces.

  • White people like to go to India, Africa, etc to discover themselves which is hilarious because then they start wearing saris and things and thinking that if you use curry powder you've made a curry and attributing erroneous spiritual wisdom to ethnic people

  • White people are not as clean, for example white people will put clean clothes on an unbathed body in the morning and they only use toilet paper in the bathroom (EDIT: AS IN THEY ONLY USE TOILET PAPER AND NOT WATER TO CLEAN THEIR ASSES). Also they wear shoes in the house and own lots of cats which walk on their kitchen benches.

  • White people have more random sex, especially white women. If you take them to a fancy restaurant and give them a rose and chat about poetry they will sleep with you (disturbingly, this is according to my grandfather). That's all it takes!

  • Some white people smoke pot with their kids

  • White people drink a lot, especially white women who often inexplicably consume wine alone. White people are obsessed with wine.

OH AND ONE MORE : White people are too gentle with their kids and don't discipline them properly (see also: Russell Peters)

[–]dmun 176 points177 points ago

Wow, some of these... I won't say white people but they are accurate to western culture. Wine, for instance.

The first one is funny because, in the states at least, the best thing you can do for your kid is make sure they are independent. Americans THRIVE on the idea of independence. Funny that, to other people, that means you love them less. Out here, we'd find someone weird for living too long with their parents-- psychologically weak and co-dependent.

[–]whitepeoplethrowaway 35 points36 points ago

I do find that really weird and it was a bit stressful growing up because, as a 2nd generation immigrant, you want the same independence as other kids but your family is used to a very collective, family-based existence. For example, it wouldn't be unusual for a child that got married to live with their spouse in the family home (especially if the child is male).

To my parents, a close family meant a strong family that would always take care of one another and support one another.

[–][deleted] ago*

[deleted]

[–]neftalydotcom 91 points92 points ago

Reddit taught me that she was actually trying to steal you, one piece at a time.

[–]TenshiS 247 points248 points ago

You're only complimenting her because she told your blond-haired voodoo doll to do so.

[–][deleted] ago

[deleted]

[–]ooowl 27 points28 points ago

This is a really cool little story. It's nice to hear something positive.

[–]ipfreely_12386 1970 points1971 points ago*

The stereotype of whites amongst south asians is that white people can't manage their finances properly. And that they are (in a sense selfish) self concerned rather than being considerate about others. In that parents 'kick-out' kids at 18, and kids throw their parents into old homes, all because they're self concerned and only care about their lives. Also, that they can't plan for the future (part of why they're poor with finances). Also, white people, particularly americans are scared of everything. (seatbelts, pollution, terrorism, etc.), and by that I mean to an unhealthy level of scared of stuff in their minds. That's generally the stereotype.

Edit: Wanted to update this after people rightfully bringing up asians being inconsiderate. Keep in mind, the thing of most importance to South Asians is family and its family/social-circle that they feels deserves the most consideration. Given the highly populated natures of these countries and the laissez-faire styled capitalism/society, one quickly realizes being considerate to everybody is shooting yourself in the foot (unless everybody else is also considerate, which is rare). Thus, this consideration is limited to your family/friends. Its not as extreme in south-asia (in that they're willing to help a random stranger if it isn't detrimental to them), but the further extreme in an even more populous country such as China can be seen with the Toddler/Van accident. So I'm just giving that perspective, where they're perplexed by why white people don't have any consideration of the ones they love (family).

Also, you folks with the fans, south asia=/east asia.

And you dolts ;) , I don't mean whites are literally afraid of seatbelts... rather the wearing of seatbelts from fear.

[–]SupriyaLimaye 96 points97 points ago*

I'm South Asian, and I think most of the stereotypes I've heard come from the fact that South Asians (and most Asians, for that matter) are still very collectivist, while America is becoming more and more individualistic. Therefore people assume Americans don't care for anyone besides themselves, have no respect for family (as someone mentioned, putting your parents in an old folks home rather than caring for them personally), and have no culture as a by-product of not having any traditions/community.

Interestingly enough, I know many people in my parents generation who immigrated to the U.S., abhor the idea of their children (my generation) taking care of them in old age. They like the idea of being independent, and have no desire to do the work that generally goes along with staying with your kids, like looking after grandchildren all day.

Edit: I think there may have been some confusion, so let me clarify: I do not endorse or believe these stereotypes, I'm just commenting on what I think is the source.

[–]WhatYouMeanNameTaken 470 points471 points ago*

As a Caucasian who lived in China and other parts of Asia for some years... I'm generalizing a couple of stereotypes I came across (i.e. not everyone has them!):

  • White people are all from the US (I'm not), and can all speak English
  • White people all have money
  • White people have "more beautiful skin/ eyes"
  • White people who marry a local and have a kid will have a "very smart child" (because it's "mixed")
  • White people cannot understand Chinese (so it's fine to talk about them openly even when they're 1 meter away, nevermind if they understand every word)
  • Many white people have a more open attitude towards relationships
  • White people can be more rude, but that's mostly OK 'cause they don't know better

As a pink (err, "white") in China, I've pretty much never encountered hatred or open attacks. The racism, for better or worse, slightly favors white, which I suppose has to do with average income of foreigners there (Chinese have a lot of "whitening" products advertised, which I suppose may have to do with certain lower-status jobs like field-workers having more exposure to sun, hence are darker). However, my views are filtered from the racism I as white encountered: in other words, there may be a lot of stereotypes I never heard of because no one told me, or because of the language barrier (I speak a bit, but wouldn't understand everything). All in all Chinese were incredibly open and friendly (including being openly outspoken about race).

Note that the stereotypes some westerners I talked to had about Chinese were much more brutal than this ("they're like ants, uncreative, can't be trusted" etc. were some of the bad racist highlights I encountered).

Also note that the stereotypes of Chinese in relation to blacks are worse, too. Talking about race I've asked a couple of Chinese "what would your parents say if you dated a black guy?" and the answer was often that the parents would be strictly against this.

As a final note, let's repeat: above stereotypes are not held by all Chinese (maybe not even the majority -- maybe even only a minority). They're just some patterns I ran into.

[–]mongzords 506 points507 points ago*

In my family I was always told by my parents white people were lazy, never put value on education and had no culture of their own.

Note: Above is not my personal opinion

[–]logarythm 242 points243 points ago

... Are your parents Asian?

[–]mongzords 388 points389 points ago*

South Asian. Specifically Indian. Even more Specifically, Punjabi. But born and raised in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Edit: Thanks for making me chuckle with these pun comments.

[–]logarythm 419 points420 points ago

Do you sword fight?

[–]tick_tock_clock 572 points573 points ago

He's probably Sikh of all these sword comments by now.

[–]Tidler 189 points190 points ago

I'm surprised I didn't see this one yet. When I lived in the Bay area in San Francisco for about half a year, any of my friends that were chinese / korean thought that all white people never took their shoes off. I was constantly reminded to take my shoes off when entering their houses because they thought we all just walk around the house dragging dirt everywhere.

[–]stillsittinghere 85 points86 points ago

Chinese here. My parents think white people are all divorced.

[–]blacklisted4life 39 points40 points ago*

Chinese in China view white people with fascination and curiousity, like they were aliens from the planet caucasoid. They generally don't have strong negative opinions of white people. However, Chinese expatriots living in the western world think most white people are extremely selfish and completely tactless. Many are also seen as outwardly polite but inwardly racist to some degree. Some, not all, white people are seen as excessively aggressive and have very incurable alpha male syndrome. They seem to be poor problem solvers... Only being able to plan one or two steps ahead. They don't like to think unless they have to. They can be very attractive but age very quickly and seem to gain weight easily - especially the women. They are thin skinned. And in negotiations dealing with them bluntly and directly is the preferred approach over diplomatic or passive aggressive methods. Also, never let white people borrow anything for very ling because after a while they will consider it theirs and won't return it.

[–]Jonthrei 271 points272 points ago*

I lived in South America for 9 years, and the predominant stereotype is that white people are rich, entitled, and immoral. White women are seen as easy. The former comes from nearly a century of abuse from the US Government and Corporations (particularly the latter). US tourists most certainly do not help alleviate this.

As a white guy, I ran into a lot of prejudice until people realized I was far more South American than American culturally, and spoke perfect Spanish. These feelings mostly manifested in me getting charged roughly 10x the cost a local would whenever I went anywhere or bought something, until I began to haggle in Spanish and they realized they had made a mistake judging me.

This will probably get buried, but I wanted to offer my own experiences, and noticed most of the comments up top refer to Asian stereotypes.

[–]Filberto 438 points439 points ago

White guys have names like Lenny, whereas black guys have names like Carl.

[–]mariposa888 176 points177 points ago

In Mexico, white americans are stereotyped as stupid, loud, and the girls as incredibly slutty. weirdly enough, its the same in chile and argentina, where the population is more european than indigenous.

[–]kielbasa330 369 points370 points ago

Too be fair, much of their exposure to white girls would be college girls on spring break.

[–]TwoThreeSkidoo 89 points90 points ago

This coming from the country with the cheesy soaps with all the titties!?!

[–]ninoffmaniak 306 points307 points ago

White people cant starcraft

[–]OTO-Nate 422 points423 points ago

My best friend who happens to be black said that all white people love Wayne Brady. After asking around, I came to the conclusion that he was right.

[–]esoterrorist 82 points83 points ago

[–]PointyStick 75 points76 points ago

Yeah. He makes Bryant Gumbel look like Malcolm X.

[–]BroganTheBoss 657 points658 points ago

Somewhat relevant. Although we're both white, european nations stereotype we americans. I have a german exchange student in my school, and i overheard someone talking about stereotypes with him.

Apparently, the stereotypical american is: (actual quote) a big fat stupid rude cowboy who drinks beer at mcdonalds.

Well, sh!t.

[–][deleted] 995 points996 points ago

Do they understand that America is one of the only countries where McDonalds doesn't serve beer?

[–][deleted] 695 points696 points ago

TIL That McDonalds serves beer in some countries.

[–]borderlinebadger 264 points265 points ago

Well, you can walk into a movie theater in Amsterdam and buy a beer. And I don't mean just like in no paper cup, I'm talking about a glass of beer. And in Paris, you can buy a beer at McDonald's

[–]tritlo[S] 184 points185 points ago

Well, the classic stereotypical American is obese and stupid. But that might be because we watch the Simpsons all the time and take Homer to be the stereotypical American.

[–]v4n3554 1582 points1583 points ago

[–]TheIceMachine 408 points409 points ago

[–]aiinokkie 63 points64 points ago

From my parents: Tall, loud, always willing to wear less and less clothes, long nosed, can't control their emotions, fat.

But at the same time, they're modern, civilized, savvy, they get things done in an honest manner (government, business, etc.).

First typically describes a tourist, second typically described the colonialist.

They are nicknamed "Falang", or "white foreigners". Sometimes they're called "Ki-nok", which means "Bird Shit".

[–]Chicken65 155 points156 points ago

"They have no culture but agriculture."

[–]myninjaway 277 points278 points ago

Hmm...I'm indian, and this is an actual conversation I had:

White Woman: So in India, do you really go to school on elephants?
Me (laughing making it obvious I was joking): No. We have camels for that.
WW (laughs too): So what did you think of the US when you first came here?
Me: It was just like the movies!
WW: Which movie?
Me: Terminator.

Unknown to her, I wasn't joking! Apart from the action, the country looked exactly like in the movies and people seemed to act exactly like in the movies.

Hmm...This is kind of irrelevant to the question, I just realized. But...since I've typed it all....

[–]bobaphetamine 108 points109 points ago

When I was teaching in India, one of my students told me after class that I didn't act like a typical American. I asked him what he thinks a typical American is like, and he responded by yelling, "I'm cocksure, super-strong American! I break bones and do anything I want! BANGBANG! Come in, Iceman, Come in!"

I told him to stop watching Top Gun. I still don't know where he learned the word 'cocksure' either.

[–]SittinOnTheToilet 746 points747 points ago

Black person here: most of us believe white people don't like being fisted.

[–]Eddicus 535 points536 points ago

It's racist stereotypes like this that are destroying America

[–]HazzyPls 200 points201 points ago

This is accurate for at least half of all white people.

[–]spaceman9 173 points174 points ago

[–]Catters 72 points73 points ago

Words cannot explain how thankful I am for this information.

[–][deleted] 385 points386 points ago

Rapacious, murderous and oppressive, apparently. At my NYE party I walked into a room where my room-mates (black) sister was talking about how she wants to kill all of the white people in a bloody revolution. There wasn't really any dissent coming from the rest of the room.

As the only white guy in the room I just kind of backed out the door quietly.

[–]LincolnSt 80 points81 points ago

Should have laughed and said "bring it"

[–]jamaicasumo 50 points51 points ago

I'm Jamaican and people generally think whites (tourists and non residents) are crazy risk taker's (have been known to do things like go to the beach during a hurricane) that always wear shorts and carry a huge backpack with everything they own in it at all times also they prefer to walk every where (all look like hikers) btw local whites are not thought of like this

[–]dirtymoney 245 points246 points ago

I have noticed in a lot of asian anime that the enemy always seems to be a blond white man.

[–]zxoq 73 points74 points ago