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chinese, fandom, foodie, links, lj, lytdybr, meme, poll, ◆writing_game

Food & Sex meme (and ethnicity too)
Because they belong together. Like cocoa cream, banana slices and bread.

WARNING: Potentially offensive to Asians...and humanity in general =P

Meme seen at anthimaeria, titti, started by yanniconny

1. Ethnicity

a. Do you feel your ethnicity is a large part of your life?
Yes.

b.What is your ethnicity?
My father’s family is Hakka. My mother’s family is Cantonese, but they’re fifth generation of Overseas Chinese. Since I came to the United States when I was seventeen, this makes me a first generation Asian American.

c. Is your ethnicity distinct from your national identity?
In a way. Considering my government made it illegal for anyone to learn Chinese, yes it’s distinct =P (It’s legal now, and Chinese schools are cropping everywhere.)

d. Do you speak the same language your Grandparents spoke?
My paternal grandparents spoke Hakka. My maternal grandmother speaks Hakka. My maternal grandfather had a Dutch education so he couldn’t even write his own Chinese name. I don’t speak any Chinese dialects but Mandarin. I speak the same language as my maternal grandfather.

e.Great great Grandparents?
I assume that my father’s side spoke Hakka. My mother’s side probably spoke Hakka and the national language.

f. Do you have a feeling of solidarity or even simple recognition for people of similar backgrounds?
Yes. I get along fine with my parents’ friends who are Hakka. I don’t like their friends who are Hokkien as much =/ Their philosophy is just…different, a lot of times. Plus, all the Hokkien boys I knew growing up are all Mommy’s boy, and most of the Hokkien parents I know are over-controlling...even when their children are in their 20s...and married =_=

I get along well enough with my Cantonese side of the family but not as much with the non-family Cantonese people. Depends on the individual, I guess. I don’t really have that many Hongkong friends to make any generalization.

g. What part does the perception of race play in your understanding of your own ethnicity?
Not sure what is meant by "perception of race"—if you mean do I categorize people by race, yes I do. Mostly strangers and people I only see once or twice my entire life.

I label myself by my ethnicity, and I dislike it when people (who know zilch about my ethnic and cultural background) do so. The nice thing about the Internet is, most people don’t assume I’m Asian =P Dunno why considering I specifically chose the username “Lilian_Cho”—Cho being a common Chinese surname, that is.

Whenever an Asian American act stupid, I do feel ashamed for the rest of us.
I’m annoyed at Asians who know zilch about their own culture =_= I don’t like Asian Americans who dress (or talk) like African Americans because they want to be “cool.” We have enough of our own stupidity; do we need to copy the Caucasians’ delusions too? (I do know a few Asians who are actually decent rappers, but they’re more of the exception than the rule)

On the other hand I also don’t like Asian Americans who go all “Rice Power OMG!111”
You don’t even eat authentic Asian food, darnit. =_= If you can’t even write your own name in your parents’ native alphabet, don’t go around flaunting your “OMG I’m AZN n that made me spehshul!111”
(Most overseas Chinese I know can’t even pronounce their Chinese name correctly. FAIL.)

I want to shake Asian immigrants who side with the Republicans on immigration issues.
Not everyone has the good fortune of being well-educated back in their own country. Not everyone has the financial resources to hire a lawyer to help them navigate the @#$#% immigration paperwork. (I’m lucky to count myself among the fortunate ones, but that doesn’t mean I remain blissfully ignorant of the ones who can’t even read the Latin alphabet.)

It’s stupid for families to be split up because one parent’s appeal was granted, and the other’s was rejected.

h. Do you feel your ethnicity is a matter of "blood" or descendency or do you feel it is cultural?
…descendency?
In any case, IMO ethnicity is about who your parents are, where they’re from, where you were born and raised. People sometimes ignore how important geography is. And it’s not just a matter of nationality either.

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3. Sex

a. Do you feel sex is a moral issue?
It can be, yes.

b. Do you ascribe an inherent value to virginity?
Inherent? I suppose, in a way. If the person who’s a virgin also places value on it. It’s not a value if the person just “can’t get some.”

c. Do you feel that some sexual thoughts/feelings/or behaviours are acceptable for one gender but not for another?
Like how? Wanking all the time, you mean?

d. Is the "forbidden" somehow more sexually exciting for you?
Eh, sometimes. In fantasies that is.

e. Do you tend to be more passive or aggressive sexually?
lololol. What do you think? ;-)

f. Do you think celibate people are "better" people or simply have less of a sex drive?
Depends. If they’re celibate because of a religious profession, then I admire their dedication.
If they’re celibate because their spouse is ill, then I admire their commitment.
If they’re celibate because they’re a widow/widower, then they’re probably not ready to move on.
If they’re celibate because they just are not all that interested in sex, then they have a low sex drive.
=P

g. Do you feel sex between two consenting adults can be "wrong"?
Mmm…depends on your definition of “consent.”
Also, doctor/counselor-patient relationship is iffy. Ditto on guardian-ward (“Dick Grayson, twelve years old.” *coughs*). Ditto on college professor-student (Wait until you’re no longer taking the professor’s class, for goodness’ sake!).

h. Do you believe there are any inherent differences between the minds of men and women?
Hmm. There’s always an exception to the male-female stereotypes. I can v. easily compartmentalize things, for example. I do believe/think that males are more easily derailed by thoughts of sex. Maybe because it’s way easier for them (biologically) to get aroused? *shrugs*

i. Do you think strangers can have satisfying sex?
Sure why not. You don’t have to know someone to be a sexually considerate partner, I think. And some married couples are still not sexually considerate even after years of being married…

j. Conversely do you think it is possible to have sex with the same person for 30 years and still find it exciting and fulfilling? What about hot?
Sure. Although I’m unsure about the 30 years thing. Ten years, maybe…Eh, depends on what you mean by “hot.” If you can only have hot sex if it’s unpredictable/surprising/something new, then it’s probably not hot.

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4. Food

a. Do you cook?
Yes =)

b. Do you feel the use of mixes and prepared foodstuffs is a moral question?
Hm. I know some religion have dietary restrictions. But I can’t think of a religion that strictly prohibits mixes/prepared food. Vegan? ^^;; (In a way, it’s like religion.)

c. How often do you eat meals outside the home?
I try not to. But lately with everything I often don’t have an appetite for what I do have in the fridge, so. Eating out it is. =]
Normally I only eat out…twice a week maybe? I used to faithfully bring bento every day, but then I ruined my blue Peter Rabbit bento box ;_; And I lost motivation to bring bento.

d. How often do you have a sit down meal at home?
Dinner. Usually at the kotatsu while watching anime/movie/TV show though X-D

e. Do you feel eating is a moral question? Do you feel you are a moral failure when take great pleasure from eating?
We’re meant to derive pleasure from eating. Why else would we have tastebuds? =P
It’s only a moral question when you gorge yourself and then throw up afterward because there’s just not enough space in your stomach (like the Roman’s feasts). Basically, enjoy food, but eat to live, don’t live to eat. Or something.

f. Do you feel morally superior when you refrain from eating?
Not morally superior. I usually forget eating more often than not.
Fasting is a…hmm…deliberate denial of your physical sustenance so that you can focus on spiritual pursuits. So if you don’t do the spiritual pursuit part, fasting’s useless =P Oh yeah and if you don’t do the “give to the poor” part fasting’s useless too. And the “do justice unto the less fortunate,” etc. etc. There’s a long list. Heh.
Under that criteria I haven’t truly fasted for years and years.

g. Do you ever pass judgment on strangers based on the items in their grocery carts?
When it was this young Japanese boy and his cart is filled with Japanese snacks X-D
Hahaha cute <3 Miss home, did you?
Or sometimes it’s “Wow, the entire cart is filled with healthy food.” Or if it’s all fresh ingredients, “Mmm--foodie. Nice.”
Or if it’s all junk food and the man/woman is slim, “O_o I guess…they’re throwing a party or something? Their metabolism must be darn good.”

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1. Please to be answering this writing poll. Thanks! =)

2. We have two new people over at writing_game \o/ Whee!

3. If Harry enlisted Eugenides to steal the Horcruxes...

(X-posted @ LJ here and here.)