Ugh. Apparantly, there's a whole series of TV commercials being built around these characters.

You can view the two out so far using the links in the right column under "Puttin' Spinners on my Kla":
http://whoyoutalkinat.blog-city.com/ewww_girl_ewww.htm

Wow, thanks Phil. This is what I get for not watching tv. Apparently, these animated characters are live action on tv. The white and Latino dudes are fakin' da funk, but the Asian has a cheesy-chinesey accent.

Wow. So over this already, and I've only been aware of it for 24 hours.

Actually, I think your initial post still applies. It's a pretty offensive campaign. It's clear all of the characters' races were chosen deliberately (though, irresponsibly).

I've fired off an email to T-Mobile Press Relations and Marketing. I'll keep you posted on what happens.

This is absolutely ridiculous! Why can't satire and parody exist in commercials that are meant to be funny? The message is clear to most people, don't buy into a company's image - buy into a service that isn't going to hit you with fees, connect charges and other hidden costs. Are you all actually offended by the commercials? I'm white and I think its funny stuff. It's people like you that are the cause of censorship in America. You should be ashamed of yourself for complaining about a G rated television ad and you should feel embarrassed that you are compelled to email T-Mobile's Press Relations and Marketing. You can keep your boring existence to yourself - turn off your television sets and your radios so as not to hear all of the "racism" in advertising. Stop trying to destroy our America where free speech and free press are the foundation of our freedom as well as our media. I hope your crusade doesn't turn out to be a witch-hunt.

Jeb,

You should be ashamed that you never noticed, at the very least, that the image of the Asian guy was stereotyped and racist. Better check yourself, your ignorance is showing.

There were plenty of white people during the civil rights movement who were protesting at the ridiculousness of objections to "funny" images of blacks: Stepinfetchit, figurines of Mammies with breasts caught in laundry wringers, African "savages" with bones in their noses and enormous lips cannibalizing whites, etc, etc, etc. Do you agree with them?

The fact that Asians are now protesting the persistence of racism in images of Asians is not a sign of our ridiculousness. It's a sign of our growing awareness and willingness to speak up. The reason that racism in images of Asians persists is that people like you don't see it, or object to it -- just like those whites in 1950's and 60's America who could see the problem with lynching, but couldn't see the problem with minstrel shows.

By the way, "censorship" is not the same as protest, another point on which you display your ignorance. I am exercising my freedom of speech by protesting against an advertising campaign I feel to be racist. You'll notice that I did not call for the government to crack down on T-Mobile, nor did I call for a new law preventing racist stereotypes from being presented on television. That would be censorship.

Instead, I called for Americans to exercise their freedom of speech and protest by contacting the corporation that is committing this egregious act of racism. We all have the right to do so, and if enough of us do so, T-Mobile will realize that it is not in their best interests (read: it's bad publicity) for them to continue to offer racist stereotypes in their advertisements and will choose to stop. This is not censorship. This is consumer activism. God bless America, and pass the soy sauce.

I'm white and I think its funny stuff.

You don't say.

Ahh, it is your own ignorance that prevents you from clearly understanding my message. In the commerical you have a Latino, an Asian and one FAT, "gansta wannabe" white boy. I'm white and I'm not a "Gangsta - wannabe", yet I'm not offended by an amusing commercial. Why would you protest a commercial that depicts people as they sometimes appear? Not all latinos, asians and whites are "thugged out" but THEY DO EXIST in that exact form. That commercial was perfectly acceptable and depicted a portion of American society. Admittedly the portion of society that was depicted is not exactly what I consider to represent the best of each race, but what do you think the "gangsta's" feel when they see a stuffy asian politician or attorney? They're probably saying "Awww, dawg, thats not how we keep it real, thats B.S". You can't please everyone all the time and you can never please the ignorant masses that demand conformity to a "standard" that not everyone agrees with. Your protest is unwarranted and does nothing to help inter-racial relations. Until you stop looking at things in a racial light you will always be crusading against "the man". Why can't you just see a group of thugs that represent "poser mobile" instead of a stupid white thug, a stupid latino thug and a poor, misrepresented (and stereotyped) asian?

You seem to be somewhat intelligent and I think you could truly benefit society if you channeled your energy into something productive instead of this pseudo-crusade for morals.

It is you that needs to check yourself.

Jeb,

You're funny! Speaking of checking, why don't you check out the rest of this website and see what I'm actually channelling my energy into? I think co-founding and co-editing a magazine that advocates for the rights and responsibilities of my community is pretty productive. What have you done this lifetime?

Speaking of which, if all of this is such a waste of time, why are you wasting your time on it? Maybe you ought to start thinking about exactly whom you are defending when you defend a T-Mobile advertising campaign. Here's a hint. I'm defending all the Asian Americans out there, those wearing tracksuits and those not wearing them, who don't speak with cheesy accents, and whose identity is not a "pose".

So, can you please explain again exactly how "25 Cent" Chang is not a stereotype created to make consumers like you feel good about themselves because they are "cooler" and understand more than the "posers"?

Having some trouble posting. This is just a test.

Jeb,

These ads are about using stereotypes and stoking racial divisions in order to sell telephones. This is not about making fun of "posers" in general. The message here is that "poser" companies are analogous to Latinos, Whites and Asians who try to act "Black" (note the quotation marks). That's pretty clear considering the choice of characters in the banner ads and the fact that there are no African-American members of the "Poser Mobile Posse."

Now White people don't have to worry about stereotypes. That's one of the privileges attached to being White in this country. People don't use "White" stereotypes to pre-judge you or make assumptions about you based on your race. No one cares that you're not offended by the "gangsta wannabe" White character. I'd be more surprised if you were.

But it seems like what you're really trying to say is that racial stereotypes shouldn't be taken seriously, especially when they're used to get a laugh.

Now I don't expect White people to notice that a disproportionate percentage of people on television are White (especially when you focus on speaking roles). There's no reason for you to. And I don't expect you to notice that there are almost no Asians on TV either. But, for obvious reasons, I notice. And when I see that an ad agency has finally decided to include an Asian character only so that they can publicly mock them (or even a subset of them), I get upset.

And when they do it using stereotypes like non-English accents and kung-fu bulls**t like "25 Cent Chang: Master of the Connection Fee", I get even more upset.

If they had mixed around the casting, they could have put across the same message, used the same satire, and kept it funny.

Although, some of the stereotype humor may be lost. But, hey, do I find it funny when Asians and Latinos look foolish? Not usually. And do I find it funny when people make fun of the accents my parents speak with? Of course not. And do I have the right to tell T-Mobile: "hey, you guys are potentially marginalizing a large customer base"? Of course. Hey, sometimes I feel charitable.

Just because some people find a joke funny doesn't mean everyone else does. We all have legitimate, personal reasons for why we like or dislike content. And don't forget that the right to voice an opinion and protest something you find unjust also falls within the foundation of our America. And that enlightening people towards others' views and feelings is a way to strengthen, not destroy race relations.

Please don't feed the trolls.

Its a commercial - it in no way says "Asian people are poser's". I also find it a little unnerving that you seem to find it okay to have a white "poser" but not an asian "poser". You say they leave a black person out of the group because the posers are trying to "act black". Imagine if a black person were in with the other minorities, then you'd probably say they were racist for only having minorities in the "poser mobile" clique. It's you're own mindset that makes you paranoid and allows you to "see" all of this stereotyping and racism. When I saw that commerical I never thought for once about how I'm better than those "poser mobile" guys, or how pathetic they were. I saw a funny advertisement. You say that writing letters and complaining to get get change isn't censorship. If you complain, probably with threats of boycotts from groups of people, you are effectively limiting what the company uses in advertising campaigns. Its not exactly censorship, but its damn close. Its akin to saying "you can print whatever you'd like, but if it offends me I'll kill you". If that threat is believed to be truthful odds are that the printed article will not represent what the writer actually wants to write, but more so what a specific person or group of persons want to hear.

I never said that discussing the "issues" that you have are a waste of time. I don't feel that I'm wasting my time by pointing out how childish (imo) your quest against a T-Mobile commercial is.

Just out of curiosity do you find the movie "Kung Pao: Enter the Fist" to be offensive? How about movies like "Big Trouble in Little China". In that movie you see most of the asian people are bad guys, supporting the demonic leader Lo Pan, in his quest to rule the universe from beyond the grave! Now we all know that most Chinese people aren't sorcerers using black magic for evil, but thats how the movie portrays it.

Relax, all day long I deal with reverse racism because I am white. No one is afraid of firing a white man because how can that be racism? Last time I checked there were no quota's on how many white people you need to have employed for affirmative action or to get that special tax break. If I score the same as a minority on an entrance exam, most universities will take the minority over me. You see how everyone deals with real racism? Let satire and parody exist as just that. Forget about the "stereo-types" that normal people don't see.

I wish everyone saw things like I do. I see a group of people who should be able to get along. You apparently see races, different races that are out to keep you down. You even stated that you are an advocate for "your community", I'm assuming you mean people of Asian descent and definitely not your non-asian neighbors (because in a racist world you see "us" and "them" - if you didn't see things that way I don't think that commercial would have been a big deal)

Please join me in being a man (or woman), plain and simple.

jeb, i think you pretty much said it all there.

"It's you're own mindset that makes you paranoid and allows you to "see" all of this stereotyping and racism."

And "Jeb," it's your preconceived notions that may allow you to overlook this bigotry.

In the US we live in a community that is comprised of laws and socialization that are heavily (if not primarily) underwritten by over 250 years of White privilege, for the de facto (and sometimes intentional) benefit of members of such group. So for many of "us" it is difficult to see where the subtle gourd of racism chooses to rear itself.

Not a big deal if you're of the group that creates and enforces the rules, but if one is not of that group it's a song of a different color no pun intended. However, for others it is a bit easier to see/be sensitive to it due to different frames of reference; upbringing, education, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation.

You may take the reactions of some people who have posted here purporting to have sent letters to PR and marketing divisions of T-Mobile to be extreme, and within certain contexts you may be correct. But without such vigilance, often times companies and ad agencies will act in an absent-minded manner (at the very least) or amorally (at the other end of the spectrum) if they go unchecked.

Perhaps what they set out to do was create free publicity/discourse between people with differing opinions? In which case they have succeeded with all of "our" (yours and mine) assistance.

I too wish everyone could get along in a Rodney King post LA Riots fashion. But until situations such as the advertisement in question are seen for what they subconsciously may signify to both the creators and viewers, that's not going to happen.

Wow, Jeb, thanks for showing all of your cards.

Nice post, Cletus.

one thing that hasn't been mentioned (though possibly alluded to via quotation marks) is that the posers seemed to feel that the only way to communicate with the Black consumer is to play that tired hip-hop\street rep B.S. and that Blacks are (potentially) easy 'sells' if you coat a garbage product in pseudo keepin-it-real-ism.
if T-Mobile had wanted to be demographically correct, they would have made the 'mark' (potential customer) a white guy from suburbia.

the insults created by frontin' the poser characters as something that they are not is bad. especially crappy accents which reinforce their 'other-ness'. why not have the white guy say 'aye laddie' and take a swig of whiskey, suck down a spicy meat-a-ball-a or wave a falafel around?

but consider this, at least the Asian, Latino and White guys have enough savvy to (try to) hustle a business, even if it is built on BS. apparently they were not willing to try to sell that crap to white, latino or asian consumers. by having no black 'poser' it could be read that blacks lack the where-with-all to 'run' a business. furtehrmore, who is it that has to buy the PAYG phone 'cause they don't have enough 'gap' to cover the monthly? i'l be that ad isn't running during the US Masters but is on Yo MTV Raps!

at least, for once, they let the Black character make a decision based on rational thought and not 'image'. However, in the end, his 'rational thought' leads him to buy his stuff from the 'other' man rather than the 'brother' man - even step-brother. so no $$ stop in black-biege-brown town. net result - 'same as it ever was'.
isn't ice all supposed to be the same temperature?

as for Jeb, if I had a dollar for every whiney white man that claims 'reverse discrimination' i would be a millionaire. if i had $10 for every white man who has acutally been harmed by reverse discrimination i still couldn't cover cheng's 25 cent charge.

Give that horse a rest. Puh-llleeeeeaaasssse!

as an aside - check out the book 'White' by Richard Dyer. interesting reading. almost everything he says in the first 80 pages is in this commercial.

Phil (and Cletus), I can definitely understand your point and I will happily cede this debate to you. I'd like to thank you for engaging me in this well spoken discussion that will (hopefully!) make people ponder the subject matter - from both points of view.

"Anonymous" You are a moron, plain and simple. I hate to start off with an attack like that, but implying I'm a "whiney white man" really shows your ignorance or your racist agenda. I doubt I will respond to any of your future comments. Just so you know, in two of the commercials that I've seen, the "mark" was a white suburbanite - guess your theory is out the window. "So no $$ stop in black-biege-brown town" - let me guess, the man keeps you down, right? Keep thinking that, wallowing in self-pity and see how far it gets you. I take solace in knowing that the rewards that I enjoy are benefits of my hard work and dedication and not some "meal ticket".

"Jeb" You are a moron, plain and simple. I hate to start off with an attack like that, but implying I'm a "whiney Asian man" really shows your ignorance or your racist agenda. I doubt I will respond to any of your future comments. Just so you know, in the vast majority of mainstream TV, film, print, and radio content, Asians have been set up to look ridiculous (or invisible). I guess your theory of "it's just satire and parody" is out the window. You whine, "all day long I deal with reverse racism because I am white." - let me guess, the yellow man (and the black man, and the brown man) keeps you down, right? Keep thinking that, wallowing in self-pity and see how far it gets you. I take solace in knowing that the rewards that I enjoy are benefits of my hard work and dedication and not some "meal ticket".

Parody. It's such a funny word.

Wow, you guys sure do wear your hearts on your sleeves in this place! Should I go protest because the fat white guy portrays white people in a bad light? By your reasoning I should. But if I did I wouldn't be taken seriously. You guys operate under a double standard and probably need to get your mom to pick you up a new box of tampons down at the 7-11. Either that or you need to just simply get a life.

You're stupid. I'm asian through and through and i find this commercial hilarious. why? PEOPLE LIKE THIS ACTUALLY EXIST. PEOPLE LIKE 25 CENT CHANG ROAM THE STREETS WITH THEIR PLASTIC MEDALLIONS AND CHECK OUT THE 'HOOD' LOOKING FOR 'STREET CRED.'



T-Mobile didn't mean to piss any of you conceited bastards off, you're just being closeminded stickassed sons of bitches.



Why are you all taking this so seriously? Seriously though, i think you're all obscenely stupid if you're going to waste your time hating a 2 MINUTE COMMERICAL because of some 'unsavory' characters.



LET IT GO. it's not worth your time to rant about it in your (stupid) blog. IT'S JUST A COMMERICAL. IT'S NOT LIKE IT'S INSPIRING PEOPLE TO GRAB A 'GAT' AND 'POP' AN ASIAN.



You all act so noble and talk about 'protecting the ideals of America.' IT'S A JOKE. DON'T CRY ABOUT IT. In fact, you know what? THIS MESSAGEBOARD MAKES ME HATE BEING AN AMERICAN. I'm going to go outside and commit vehicular homicide on the way to the suicide gorge. Ta.



p.s. hooray for funny advertisements, t-mobile, make some more!

the ‘t’ in t-mobile stands for ‘wtf?’ WTH IS THAT? That doesn’t even make sense. Stop trying to be so catchy. You’re asian, you were meant to be boring, right? That’s what it sounds like the people in this message board are implying. Stop trying to be so righteous, I hate you and what you make America look like.

kim, "hate" is a strong word, but i guess what we make america look like, i.e. diverse, is too much for you. thanks for the racism.

eggsandbakey, do you really think something is only racist if it causes someone to grab a gun and shoot somebody? how about the racism that makes you laugh at offensive representations of yourself? just because you don't identify with 25-cent chang doesn't mean that others won't identify you with him. do you really think that when the rest of america sees you on the street they'll say, "hey, that guy is cool, not like 25-cent chang"? how many asian american characters are there on tv right now? can you name a single young asian american male character on tv? what references do americans have when thinking about asian american young men? well, right now, they have 25-cent chang ... is that how you want to be seen? as a skinny, accented poser? don't fool yourself into thinking that you won't be seen this way. you already are seen this way.

Personally, I am extremely offended by this commerical. I am also offended by The Karate Kid and its racist portrayal of Mr. Miyagi.

claire- suck it. you're lame. just 'cause you fall subject to the composition fallacy ( the fallacy that one person represents every other person like them ) doens't mean anyone else does. Just because people see ONE skinny asian guy on tv known as 25 cent chang, doesn't mean they'll assume everyone else is that way too.

you, however, are a bigot and an idiot who DOES assume that people are so blatanly moronic that they associate 25 cent chang with EVERY OTHER ASIAN IN AMERICA. you're method of thinking is truly immature and i suggest a critical thinking course.

if all of you think this tmobile commerical is racist, have you ever watched anything else on comedy central? 94 percent of it is racist.

on mad tv, the white lady who acts as an asian lady who does nails. it's funny. i'm asian too. why don't you all write letters opposing every remotely racist thing on tv? until you do, shove it.

SORRY.

p.s. THIS IS TMOBILE
p.p.s. I'M REALLY SORRY.

i have an idea for a game. LET'S ALL MAKE A BIG OL' DEAL OUT OF A *$&#) COMMERICAL THAT (ON A RACISM SCALE OF ONE TO TEN IN THE RECENT AUGUST ISSUE OF PEOPLE MAGAZINE WAS GIVEN A '3') AND BLOW IT OUT OF PROPORTION!!!!! WHOO!

i don't understand why you people think it's so satanic. stick your head in a toilet.

claire, are you mentally disabled? if so, your argument has suddenly held more persuasive meaning to me.

did i say that 'racism' was synonymous with 'offing someone with a gun'? no. i didn't. don't try to use loaded terminology with me.

your comment, according to your (unwritten but implied) definition could be deemed racist. you just said that the commerical held offensive representations of myself. do you know that? no. YOU ARE ASSUMING THAT BECAUSE I AM ASIAN THAT THESE IMPLIED 'OFFENSIVE REPRESENTATIONS' APPLY TO ME. why would they? because i'm asian and i have black hair people are going to look at me and think: 'whoa, look, there's another chink like 25 CENT CHANG!!'

i think the only people who would react this way are people who think like YOU. hopefully, people with this small of a mental capacity can only be found in a sixth grade classroom for the academically challenged.

another point: just because there aren't that many asians on tv doesn't mean that people's memories will automatically flock to the only asian-american figure they can find: 25 cent chang. not everyone (like you) takes these commericals so seriously. They are advertisements, meant to catch your eye.

Congradulations, t-mobile, you've caught our attention. And when would anyone say 'hey, look at that guy, he's pretty cool, not like 25 cent chang?' No one thinks about these commericals for any longer than 15 minutes after its been shown (according to Elementary Statistics 9th edition by Triola published by Pearson and Addison Wesley). I happened to stumble upon this site because i'm a big fan of hyphenmagainze.com. Not everyone sits glued to their tv eating paint chips, finding little bits of media to over-analyze as you apparently have been doing for the last 5 consecutive years.

p.s. thanks for the poorly pieced together shred of an argument.

You all think that just because 25 Cent Chang and the other characters are on TV that it automatically means people associate them with Asians like us (or me at least)? Claire, according to your last statement, you see Asians this way too. Right? You said, “don’t fool yourself into thinking you aren’t seen this way. You already are seen this way.” By you, maybe, you fascist torch-wielding KKK-er. But oops. I’m being racist. By your own definition, you are racist too. Oh no, better call the police and tell them to lock you up. I don’t want you here anyway.

My point is, anything nowadays can be deemed racist. A ‘got rice’ tshirt could be racist, as it would be saying that all Asians are rice-mongering lunatics. It just depends on your perspective on it. From most of the people on this comment list, I notice that your thoughts are either ‘lighten up,’ or ‘it’s racist.’ I personally don’t think it’s so severely racist that it should be taken off the air. On the E! entertainment channel, they use racist jargon daily. Hourly, actually. I’m watching it now; they just called Nicole Richie ‘white trash.’ She’s not even white. She’s Hispanic. She was adopted by a black man, for crying out loud. What would compel them to call her white trash? It’s unmistakable. They’re practically implying that since she is rich (and pale, at that), she’s white trash.

So now, by Claire’s handbook, when I look at a pale Hispanic woman with a Dooney and Bourke purse, I’m supposed to think she’s ‘white trash’ as well as Nicole Richie? I think I understand how you could perceive T-Mobile’s commercial as offensive and racist, but I don’t think it should cause anyone more than a little discomfort.

Who says that the ‘crew’ in the video were labeled ‘posers’ just because of their nationality? It could be the way they’re dressed. It could be that aluminum looking thing around 25 Cent Chang’s neck or the eyewear bling that chubby man in the background is wearing. Or the fact that Big Spenda stands there and says things like, ‘wickawicka’ when it is obvious he is not even remotely talented in the art of beatboxing.

Why are all of you, both pro and con-posermobile and so quick to jump to the conclusion that these people are posers because of their nationalities? Would you all be satisfied if an African-American person joined the crew, Spazzy McGee? Maybe the ‘crew’ are labeled as posers because they come off as not knowledgeable in hip-hop culture. Please don’t take any offense, I’m not attacking anyone. I merely wanted to show that there are infinite ways to perceive this commercial, and that if one glances at it with an open mind and heart, they will see that there is probably an innocent joke at heart, not a pitchfork wielding pencil pusher trying to perpetuate sterotypes in the American media.

The asian guy doesn’t even have an accent. Maybe that’s the way he naturally talks. My brother sounds exactly like that and he’s white.

"I'd be more than happy to respond to the ridiculousness of that statement, but evidently I'm supposed to be offended by how idiotic that commercial makes the white kids look.
How miserable your life must be if something like this is all it takes to offend you. Get a sense of humor. "



-mmmikey, taken from the eww,girl, ewww website the video was found on.


i couldn't have said it better myself. Claire, you need to stop worrying about such mild humor. Maybe if you weren't so uptight, you'd learn to laugh a little. I wonder if it's people like you that make others sterotype asians as broom-wielding rice shovelers who can't take a little joke.

you're a disgrace and i'm more ashamed to call myself asian because of you rather than because of 25 cent chang.

claire, you're not getting laid, are you?

Do you have any friends? If so, why? You overanalyze too much and find ways to hate people. shame on you. You're a discrace to asians everywhere. Everyone thinks asians are so uptight thanks to figures like you. I would approve if 25 cent chang tackled you right now and hijacked your phone. I bet you hate life and phone companies because you think you're so original and smart. You're really actually quite primitive and i have no respect for you as an Asian, blogger, or human being.

To all the people who are jumping up and down to lighten up (And doing it rudely by the way. Telling people to shove it or suck is isn't really conducive to having a dialogue.) -- You are forgetting to look at the whole historical context of how Asian Americans are portrayed in the media in this country.

Perhaps it’s true that ONE representation, in this particular case the 25 Cent Chang character, is not something to get worked up over. People on the street walking by probably won't look at you and think "Hey, there goes a cheap chink like 25 Cent Chang."

However, this is one character is a long line of characters that make Asians looks like idiots. Claire is right in that there really aren't any positive portrayals of Asian American men in the media. Well, maybe BD Wong on Law & Order. That's the only one I can think of. Most of the time they're uber dorks, or waiters. Even when they are portrayed as bad ass (surprise, another martial arts dude), they are apparently sexless. I mean, Jet Li stars in a movie like Romeo Must Die as the hero and doesn’t even get to kiss the girl?

Now, perhaps you are lucky enough to live in an area where there are plenty of Asian Americans, and people won’t associate you with these images because there are plenty of real live, diverse asian americans to interact with. Or perhaps you are too young to remember some of the terrible stereotypes of Asian Americans that have been in our media in the past.

But do realize, that you are only 4 percent of the population. And there are plenty of places where people have never met an Asian American, and their ideas of you are informed by what they see on TV and the movies. And what is on TV and in the movies, is generally, not good. I know. I’ve been in some of these places where people have never met an Asian before and then people proceed to ask me annoying questions, like I am some being dropped from outer space and not the American that I am. And sometimes, people say racist things to me, out of nowhere.

This commercial may not be a big deal in itself, but when there are a lot of :not big deals" taking place, then it does eventually snowball into a big deal. Kind of like when your sink is leaking. You know?

Peace everyone.
Just want to say that I am asian (Vietnamese-American) and My female, mexican friend and I both enjoy the humor in the commercial. I think if anything it makes fun of the "hip-hop" poser/wannabe community which as you can see is represented here with all different races.

true! true!

Asians who are (still) portrayed in the media? Stephan Chow (shaolin soccer& kung fu hustle) Bruce Lee (who DOESN’T know bruce lee?) others include the lead actor for the (kickass) film Ong-Bak. Ziyi Zhang, although female, is another strong asian figure. Lucy Liu is also female, and she’s a very sophisticated asian icon. Hehehe anna you have good points, but I still don’t like Claire because the tone she is striking sounds like it’s out to prove everyone who isn’t with her wrong. No offense, though.

Claire, I personally disagree with you completely, in every way. I think that because you think it's offensive you think everyone else should, too. That's not being 'diverse,' now is it? If you find it racist, I think you should keep it to yourself and not begin an entire blog war over it. Obviously it's offensive to some Asian-Americans, but to many others, it's not. They're entitled to their own opinions, though i wish they would do it without sounding so vulgar. ('suck it?' 'shove it?') I don't think it's so offensive that everyone should get all riled up (eggsandbakey, jeffery, bruice and crew) because Claire has voiced her own opinions. Let's play nice.

I know an Asian "poser" who thinks he's "black" (the rapper style black). Hip hop music, bad grammar, latest cell phone, badly lowered car... everything but the big chain around his neck. I think I'll send him this commercial! Lol. Who's racist when it's the truth?
I prefer to call them bruised bananas. ;)

Paula, a lot of the people you mention (Stephen Chow, Zhang Ziyi) are Asian, not Asian American. Let's throw in Jackie Chan too as the other one who's in movies alot. So the American public watches these and if they are not too discerning (forgive me for being so negative and pessimistic, but I think most of them are not), they think Asian and Asian Americans are the same thing. And I don't know about you, but I really don't feel represented by imported martial arts Asian actors. I sucked at karate.

This just underscores the importance of Asian Americans needing to making their own movies, create their own images, and tell their own stories about Asian Americanness (or not about Asian Americanness, just about living or whatever.)

Of course, Bruce Lee is an icon of bad ass. And sexy to boot. But he's the only one (and he's doing martial arts).

And yeah, there's Lucy Liu. Wow, one whole Asian American woman in the movies. Sandra Oh is a rising star now. Oh wait, she's Canadian, but close enough. So there we have it - 2 whole Asian American women actors. Whoopee

well, this has gotten lively lately!

I agree with: most Americans have a hard time distinguishing 'Asian' from 'Asian American' - certainly from looking at them.

On 'being quiet' about what offends, I disagree. For too long the injured party has remained quiet which just allows people to operate under the belief that 'there's no harm done'. BUT there is a limit to how much noise you should make about specific issues - kind of the 'group' that cries wolf thing. Plus you can get into a 'Mapplethorpe in Cinncinnati' rut where you don't want others to see it just because you don't like it. Decisions decisions.

Bruce Lee - great guy, but also dead, so he is an icon like James Dean or... Not much 'currency' in today's culture.

A lot of people grouse about Lucy Liu (stereotypical persona or roles).

Sandra Oh does play 'just people' roles and does it well. Nice little interview in KorAm this month. Missed some points about the new show I would have liked to read about, but...

You kind of skipped Parminder Nagra (f), Ravi Kapoor (m) and Sarita Choudhury (f)

Umm, 'poser' blacks?? Well, that sort of assumes a monolithic 'style' for blacks which would be as bad as assuming a monlithic way of being Asian. The 'poser' is (probably) a poser bad-ass\thug. All in all, a waste of time, but an all to common pose taken by those that want to be 'rebels', most are without a cause and it demeans themselves and all the black people that DON'T do any of that stuff. Lots of Chicanos don't drive low-riders, wear hairnets or have jobs as gardeners.

ok, this is weird for me, cuz normally i hate getting on the internet and voicing my oppinions, cuz everybody does that. i mean too many cowards out there are so quick and ready to say something behind the safety of an alias and computer screen, but then smile to my face shake my hand in the real world. i only stumbled upon this page cuz i wanted to find some video captures of the poser mobile crew ... but after reading the convo taking place, i felt compelled to once again voice my voice...

ok - i think people should really lighten up on claire and see what she is saying. And don't use this to just jump and say - ok either you agree with Claire or are against her.
UNDERSTAND my point - I originally found the commercial entertaining. I still kinda like it. But then again, i'm black, not asian. Although i feel personally that many of "us minorities" can identify moreso with each other than say a white person could indentify with us, we still each have our own world views and history of expereinces that shape us and how we perceive things. Like i said - me not being asian may be the reason that the commercial didn't trigger an immediate reaction to the characters on the screen, even though i like to believe i am sensitive to other ethnic groups and injustices against them.
so it took me a minute. it took me coming to this site to realize that it DOES offend some people, so even though "offense" is a subjective thing, the fact that it does 'hurt' other people is enough cause for me to re-examine what is there.

try and realize that Claire does have a point. although we may like to belive in and hope for understanding and open-mindedness across all people of every color, that isn't the case. This isn't to say all white people are bad, cuz thats not the case. that'd be just as stupid as saying every balck person or every asian person is good. i've met great people and a-holes of every race and color. But thats not my point right now.

I think my point is that there really IS a pervailing under-current of racism floating around. Not accepting that, doesn't make it go away. I don't know how to convince you of it, if you refuse to see it. Just know that those that DO see it become more sensitive to such thing. I personally find the woman on mad tv a gross characicature. at some point people have decided what are "safe" and PC targets of humor and mockery. it IS too easy to say - "hey! lighten up! it's just a joke." ... but after everything that has gone on in this country over its whole history? ... i dunno.

i've heard so many nasty things said about other races other than my own by white people. and these people are saying it to me, cuz they assume that i'm not OF that race, so i shouldn't be offended. but they don't realize that when they are slamming asian people, or talking dirt about latinos - in my eyes - they ARE insulting me just the same - cuz this is their biew on people who are different than they are - people who aren't white ... thats the insanity that's walking around day to day in front of your faces and behind your backs... so when something like that offends one of your own people - one of "US" - myself included - you are gonna attack her?

wow... i'm sorry.
i think i lost my point.
i didn't mean to rant, and i really have to get outa here. got folks waitin on me ...

i'm just gonna say - yeah, i find humor in a lot of things. and i can laugh at myself. and some of the funniest comedy out there is racially based, and i can appreciate the bravey of shows like south park, and family guy, and various comedians that aren't afraid to step on toes and make social humor - about all races equally.
what i'm saying is that i can take a joke. It would be nice if everyone could. But please don't be blind to the racism that still exists - live and well - in all facets within this culture. So don't jump all over someone who takes offense to something, just because you don't.
At the end of the day - it's the people that don't stand for the little sh* and will vocally stand up and speak out for all of our behalf and benefit - those are the people that you'll WANT on your team.

I know that I will.

Thanks Claire. Thanks Jeb. Thanks Eggsbakey. Thanks Averageguy. Thanks Paula. Thanks Anna.

- I hope we can all learn a little something from this to hopefully make our days better in the real world and appreciate our fellow man all the more.

ciao

thanks alittleok, for a calm, thoughtful response, with no name-calling. i'm not interested in getting everyone to agree with me, but the hysteria and hatefulness of the posts you were responding to ruin the fun and interest of debate for everyone.

unfortunately for anyone who attempted to respond to these posts with rationality, one of our blog administrators just pointed out to me that all of the hateful posts--asking if i have any friends or if i'm getting laid, or calling me "mentally disabled" or telling me to "suck it"--all came from the same IP address. it's all one person, folks. this person has used the following names on this thread: "amanda", "paula", "ERkanis", "Jeffery", "Bruice", "Jojo", "Bear", "eggsandbakey", "Mackky", "T-MOBILE", "james", "Julia", and "kim"

so as much as i'd love to continue an active, lively debate with folks like alittleok, who are ready to reflect and discuss, unfortunately someone with no grasp of etiquette and no respect for others has hijacked this debate. responding to any more such posts would only encourage this hateful individual-- and send the message to other immature minds that personal attacks are an acceptable form of discussion in this forum. personal attacks are not acceptable on the hyphen blog forum.

so thanks to everyone who continues to make the hyphen blog a good place to have a discussion. i'd encourage you to continue to use this forum for such a purpose, and also encourage you to neither emulate nor respond to hateful, personal flame wars in the future.

You Democrats make me sick... why aren't you fightinh tje real racisim problems in this country?

Or if you're some kind of bleeding heart liberal, why don't you fight the stereotyping of men as stupid and weak in the media?

Pedro,

I totally agree with you that there is stereotyping of men as stupid and weak in the media. It's almost impossible, for example, to find an adult male on a sitcom who isn't an idiot. That is a good point, dude.

Having said that, you're still a major dumbass. You should re-read the original post. And who says the people who write about racism on this website aren't already fighting "real" racism in "real" life, dude? Who the f*ck are you to throw that kind of criticism at us? You cheap little coward, I'll bet you never stick your neck out for other people and other groups EVER. You should shut up about what other people should do. It's like an atheist criticizing a religious person for not believing "properly." Shut the f*ck up.

Here, I'll help you understand the complicated point that Claire was trying to make. Pedro, you know how you automatically assumed that people who care about racial stereotypes are all Democrats? Well, Pedro, that's a stupid, stupid comment based on a stereotype that insults both non-racists and Republicans. (Pedro, here's a hint: a lot of anti-racists are not Democrats, and a lot of Republicans care about equality and justice.) This is sort of the problem with the T-Mobile commercials. If you spend more than 20-seconds thinking about it, even your peanut brain will have to agree you have some reading/thinking problems. You are truly a dumbass. And a poser.

Now that I think about it, I should apologize. Just like you, Pedro, I made an assumption based on a stereotype. I assumed someone as simplistically anti-Democrat and anti-Liberal as you will automatically be a Republican. I'm sorry for assuming you're a Republican. You might be a fascist, for example.

This has gone way to far. Everywhere I look, I see ad hominem attacks. I think anybody, outside of the passionate e-warriors here, who read these posts will see that most if not all of the contributors are unable to conduct themselves formally.

I might be too cynical, but I tend to question the maturity level of someone who, without actually reading all the posts, writes off an entire discussion thread as being full of 'ad hominem' attacks with a poorly selected 'ad hominem' attack. By the way, I knew there had to be a pretentious latin term for it (and someone to deliver it). For some reason, however, I just thought many of the people here were just getting frustrated at the growing number of unfettered ad hominem attacks on this and other threads (since this website stubbornly remains unmoderated).

Thanks for showing everybody what constitutes a "proper" posting with your own example on the "New Orleans on My Mind" thread (September 5, 2005 11:02 AM). I guess everybody should follow your lead and post only irrelevant, superficial comments or inappropriate platitudes under the easy, breezy mask of "formal conduct." Yes, from now on, I will do as you do and make no contributions myself while chastising others for being passionate and condescendingly (and very inaccurately) label all posts here ("Everywhere I look," you sighed rather dramatically.") as ad hominem attacks. Why analyze arguments (and motivations) when you can whip out your AP Style Guide and nitpick at inconsequential (at least for the discussion at hand) slips in grammar and more-or-less dismiss "the masses" as low-class. Nice. Sophisticated. Principled. Not lazy or hypocritical at all.

Why are you acting like you've just encountered the Internet for the first time. All online discussion boards go into unfortunate directions without rules and/or enforcement.

we've rarely had to moderate any discussions on our blog before, and hyphen's bloggers would just as soon not have to do it. but someone posted an extremely offensive comment here today and i had to remove it.

the comment contained completely gratuitous racial slurs, using racial epithets repeatedly to refer to members of various ethnic groups. this is unacceptable, and i'm pretty sure the poster knew that we would consider it unacceptable. in fact, i'm pretty sure the post was made just to insult and anger us and our readers.

we at hyphen are currently discussing posting a policy for comments on our blog. until we have a policy (if we decide to create one) i will personally be moderating this post and its comments, since i posted the story, and since this post has been such a magnet for inappropriate comments.

there will be no more personal attacks, name-calling or racial slurs on this particular thread. feel free to post any opinion you actually hold -- but watch your language.

wow, i didnt realize how many hypersensitive whiny Asian people there were. their commercials were only trying to convey the idea that substance over style rules, not offensive attempts at stereotyping everyone but blacks as rap posers. frankly i found the commercials amusing and anyone whos sent emails or complained to t-mobile over them need to go outside, calm down, and get a life. my best friend and i were laughing our asses off for about 15 minutes imitating the commercial in the bowling alley. 'fees shorty, fees!' pssst by the way im Asian (Filipino t.b.e.)

i'd just like to give you all a little background to seriously consider before you continue to blast T-Mobile's "Poser Mobile" campaign:

this campaign began as an attempt to MOCK the hip-hop flavored campaign launched by boost mobile. you might have seen those commercials - "where you at?" - one has Eve and one has Fat Joe, and they're frankly really stupid.

anyways, the whole point of "Poser Mobile" is to make fun of those commercials - and to me it makes a lot of sense to make a group of wannabe thugs include an asian, a white guy, and a latino (it's kinda hard to pull off a black wanna-be thug, lol).

stereotypical as it may be, the commercial came out really funny, so i guess the t-mobile execs just decided to extend the campaign out to include banners - so they named each of the characters and just assigned them generic names (lopez, chang, etc.). i don't think there was any malicious intent in that either.

look, the point is, the commercial was EXTREMELY funny. and not because the asian guy said anything in particular, or because the white guy was acting thuggish, or anything like that -- it was the lines ("fees, shorty, fees!") and the acting performances. i think most people appreciated the commercial for what it was, an attempt to make fun of boost mobile, and not as some racist attempt to make fun of asian people trying to be black.

incidentally, i'm indian american, so while i'm not exactly east asian, i'm asian american nonetheless, and i found this perfectly funny (and so did all of my CJK friends, and all of my white friends). i think you should take this at face value, and not read in too much to names like "25 cent chang" or depictions of the asian american, because t-mobile obviously isn't making fun of asians.

Wow. I liked seeing this dialogue through, although I liked it more before it began its descent 1/4th of the way through.


Thanks all who participated (constructively), once again, for providing some exercise for my brain--especially in race matters. If it were not for this site (largely) and ones like it I would not have known about the media portrayals of recent: Abercrombie and Fitch, and Details are the two I can name. Being in a area where I'd say the radar is less likely to pick up, and people are less likely to speak up, it's good to know someone's out there checking things out and speaking up. Without this, things would just pick up momentum in likely, the wrong way, I think.


However, I am Asian-American and I didn't even get the offense, really. Others have made the point: I saw it as a take on "posers." I saw it as a multicultural thing, actually(!) Although now I do wonder how they could have handled a "black" person on the "poser" side...


I am more offended by the above two, and now I recall the tsunami disaster. I admit I haven't looked up the resolution on that one, but I feel that everyone forgives and is forgiven too easily, and then the whole thing is forgotten.


Using Abercrombie & Fitch as an example, because I feel it most appropriate, I actually wish in that case, the offending t-shirts had at least stayed on market for a while. I would have worn one! I don't know if it would have been productive, but I think that they took them off the market so quickly, the whole thing died down and few people learned anything. If these issues left would we have a forum for discourse? Perhaps I am a little extreme in this matter, but I feel it is good to throw something in the fire, if it can be used as a way to learn, and to teach others. (?) At least, for that reason, it's good to have this stuff pop up every so often. I don't think we can idealistically erase everything at once, but it must happen over time, with lessons like these...??? Ask an American about the Abercrombie and Fitch thing and most will likely not know...?


Or for example, when I once took a class on queer culture, a woman in the first day said "I don't understand, as a straight woman, how this is all important..." and admittedly that was asking for trouble, but the (my impression) most outspoken critic of straightness jumped on her comment and one of the very few vocal perspectives that may have enlightened those of some straight woman left the class. I would have loved to have known what else she had to say. But the other woman set the tone.


If Asians used as humor is the wrong idea, what is the right idea? I wonder... it almost seems Asians have been portrayed in so many ways (some more than others, unfortunately) that most options have been exhausted?


The big issue, perhaps, is the lack of a number of positive role models or images that can help to neutralize already negative stereotypes. Maybe?


I like B.D. Wong. He's one of the few current Asian people I can think of on TV (although all I watch is Law and Order). He's still a doctor though...(?) And pretty much the only guy.


With only that, people perpetuate whatever they see. And as it's been said, people watch the media. Sure, not everyone, but certainly it happens. I always get pinned as the Chinese who can't speak English but can kick your ass. And a lot of martial arts inspired noise...


There will be a fight until we have neutralized the negative stereotyping. Negative stereotyping perpetuated in the media is not helping to reverse the trend.


Certainly not all see Asians in a negative light, but some do--I agree, don't think you aren't going to be subject to racist behavior in some way, somewhere, because you will be. And this is why it's important to speak up.


In times like these, I wish there was a "Top 10" for understanding race relations. I think the first of those would be something like the whole "put yourself in their position" thing.

A few points:

1. Some people are reading (and writing off) this discussion too quickly. The, um, "critique" that "all" of the complaints are complaining about anti-Asian racism is sadly mistaken. If you look (and think) carefully, you'll see that there are subtle, but important differences in the REASONS for being concerned about the commercials. In other words, you're doing a George Bush ("You're either WITH 25-Cent Chang or you're AGAINST 25-Cent Chang!!!").

2. It is not anyone's business to refer to some imaginary hierarchy of "suffering." Just because some people "suffer more," it doesn't mean that people who "suffer less" shouldn't seek (and be given) justice. People who care about social/cultural justice should confront (or discuss or combat) matters of possible social/cultural injustice whenever it occurs. Telling other people that their concerns are less important than others is really stupid and invalid.

3. I'm not sure if these commercials are "racist," but they obviously depend on RACIAL/ETHNIC STEREOTYPES for their humor (see Phil U's post immediately above). If you don't agree, I'm sorry to tell you this, but you have a poor vocabulary. Please consult with a dictionary to look up stereotypes before hysterically screeching that that I'm this or that (see point 1 above). Which stereotypes are "posers" and which stereotypes are "real"? Follow? Now, is it possible that stereotypes do more bad than good (to stereotype holders and stereotype targets)? It becomes clear that it's not just about "racism" and it's not just about Asians (as some people have been trying to point out). It's also about people being very comfortable with some stereotypes.

4. T-Mobile is an awful mobile phone service provider with indisputably the worst signal strength/coverage among the major providers. Once again boys and girls: T-Mobile is crap. If you subscribe with T-Mobile (whether it's because you think Catherine Zeta Jones is hot or you don't want to be a "poser"), you are a sucker who cares more about image than quality. Congratulations, T-Mobile subscribers on being certified posers.

interesting...
yeah, i'm back again.
Just sorta wanted to re-iterate my point, just in case it got lost in the thread, or if i didn't say to well the last time - I do agree that not everything is meant as a malicious or even passive attack on a specific race or ethnic group, and its probably not the best thing overall to go around hunting for demons everywhere you go. But at the same time - just because we, for whatever our own personal reasons, or all the people in our circle (friends, in a lot of ways tend to share many similar view points and humor anyway, which is in a large part why you are friends in the first place) don't find something offensive (like, say ... i dunno ... the T-Mobile commercial) - That doesn't mean that it's NOT offensive. Offense, i'm pretty sure, is a subjective and personal impression on a given situation. I would hope that people wouldn't assume to take away or discount anyone's right to feel the way they do about something that affects them.

someone made an interesting queery - as to how they might have tried to include a black person (keeping in mind that i'm black myself) as one of those "posers". I dunno, exactly - but it instantly brought to mind that Sprite commercial a few years ago "Image is nothing, taste is everything" where they had these 2 black guys and 1 white guy on the basketball court, trash-talking or something, looking all hard-ass and whatnot - ya know - tough street ball players. and then the guy is holding the can upside down, and upon this being pointed out to him, he breaks off into his "real" method of speaking - some kind of uppity, pseudo-british-whatever, high-class artsy tone, highlighting that he's really an actor, "pretending" to be that image of a "black street-baller". and i dunno. I didn't find it offensive or anything. Funny, at the time. Nobody really spoke of it, but just in thinking now - i'd guess that that would be a somewhat "fair" image of a "black poser" trying to put on an image of supposed "black-ness" (not exactly a real word), or trying to portray an image of something people like to attribute to "black culture", (i.e. - basketball in the sprite commercial, or hip-hop in the T-mobile commercial)
not making a super huge point with this - just thought i'd mention.

and yeah, like I said - i find the t-mobile commercial funny, and i personally interpreted the message of it the way - "Patrick" (a few posts earlier) did - that of "substance over style".

But people that did and do take offense to it, must have their reasons and are perfectly justified in that.

oh, and last point - I agree that asians aren't adequately represented in media. there aren't alot that don't have anything to do with martial arts in movies or the like. But some notable ones are Daniel Dae Kim on Lost. Great f'n show. and he only speaks Korean on the show the whole time. He's not a comical or silly stereotype at all. He's actually one of the more inspiring characters, and was the focal point of some of the best and most endearing scenes and episodes last season. If you don't watch the show - you are missing out.

Also - there's John Cho - from American Pie, that awesome short-lived show on the WB - Off Centre, Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, and Better Luck Tomorrow. - I think he's done great work, and is breaking a lot of ground against the stereotypical roles that many asians had once been confined to.

oh, and also - yes, men are often cast as idiots on many sitcoms on televison today. The fathers are always crazy and stupid, with the wife balancing them out and fixing whatever problems they get into. why is this? - how would I know? i have my theories, but i don't want to get into that right now. But this is something ive noticed as well. makes me miss and appreciate one of my all-time favorite shows - Married With Children, which had no shame or fear in portraying the wife in a super humorous, though exceedinly flawed fashion.

ok, i'm out.

ciao

interesting posts of late including the return of Phil U. (how is the social life shaping up Phil?)

so it would seem that a black person (man) as 'thug' is to be accepted as real (un-pose-able?). so to is it 'unreal' that a black person (man) would have a british accent or use proper diction. i suppose that it would be equally 'unreal' for him to NOT be a 'baller'. while I am sure that most of you would decry holding these limiting opinions of black people, ask yourself this: to what extent do i 'assume' certain attitudes, postures or presupositions regarding interests, political positions or other 'social' constructs based on the ethnicity of whom I am looking at? I found the T-mobile commercial amusing and offensive. Amusing in that the 'mark' - the customer - was ASSUMED by the posers to be a 'hip-hopster' and that such 'trinkets' as ridiculous 'bling bling' and sideways-worn baseball caps would make them (the posers) 'credible'. Thankfully the marks shut them down. Ah, critical thinking by 'the mark'!

It was insulting in that a decidedly black-created subculture (hip-hop\b-boys) can be instantly appropriated by almost anyone and they expect instant access to the 'society' that created that culture. Thus, blacks are being told 'you may create it but you can't own it'. This is more insulting from T-Mobile (and Boost, who should be slapped for their 'tag line) than even Chang and Lopez. The thing is if all it takes to 'enter black\hip-hop -dom' is an oversized t-shirt, a baseball cap and some fake chains, are blacks afforded the same 'passport' into the "other's" world by donning a tie and suit? a banana bike and chinos? a mandarin collar shirt and a souped-up Civic?

Evidence would suggest no. Evidence would suggest that certain people, no matter how acclimated they are to whatever 'society' they are in, are never truly 'accepted'. This is a problem. The key perpetrators of this one-way border crossing phenomenon are white men (no offense to any white men out there). They are somehow afforded the veneer of 'legitimacy' in any 'culture' to which they decide to venture. This is repeated so often in so many instances that I will not bother to cite examples. This is not to suggest that all such 'incursions' are posing and bogus. In many instances, the is true admiration and 'love' of that which they are inserting themeselves into (the obvious twists this metaphor can take are left to your imagination). However, it is amazing how often we (by 'we', I mean non-whites) are accepting of their incursions but skeptical of simimlar incursions by those unlike us (specifically) but 'not white'. One of the other problems is that in the US (Canada and other places right now, but coming soon to a culture near you!) 'Culture' is fluid - it is miscible in free societies. When is a imitation flattery and when is it theft? What happens when culture meets CuisinArt life? latkas and scallion cakes. catfish and black bean sauce. Be careful where you throw your rock, there may be a window in the way.

Historically in this country, blacks have fared least well in this exchange (Jim Kelly always loses eventually in the Bruce Lee films but Chuck Norris gets a TV show; Eric Clapton is a great blues guitarist and Chuck Berry can't pay his rent). Asian men are not portrayed much at all - but at least B.D. Wong is a doctor (better that than a thug, Phil). The lack of positive and realistic representations is bad. Chang would not be nearly so annoying if there were more Daniel Dae Kims - a man of many facets, including 'enforcer' for a business boss - not exactly a 'model' minority (and his wife befriends the black guy (Aww Shit!!!) who actually BUILDS a raft, but is perpetually pissed off). His use of Korean heightens the acting challenge - except where subtited he must convey his 'meaning' with his face and not words. Tough role.

John Cho? his best attribute is that he has become 'just a man' as an actor. THIS IS A GOOD THING!!! Maybe he will be cast in roles (probably comic - John Cusack-ian?) that have nothing to do with the fact he is Asian. Sort of like Denzel Wahsington (but he still didn't get to kiss Julie Roberts at the end of the Pelican Brief and neither will J.C.).

So, after all of this, check yourself for allowing stereotyping to cloud your field of vision and work actively to present a more realistic view of yourself and your respective 'affinity' to the larger world. Don't 'pose' and don't assume others are either.

And if you see somebody frontin' step to 'em.

What races should they have picked for each character?

good question Evan. Everybody is 'something' so no matter who they picked they would have the chance of offending someone. I think the real sensitivity is not that the commercial pokes fun at a group, but that there are so few images of certain groups and so limited a range of images that the resulting 'stereotyping' produced by such a limited view is bad for them.

Being blunt, one of the problems in the US is that when a white guy does something (or portrays a role) he is judged or viewed as an individual, not a representative for all white guys, but for non-whites that is not the case. How often, after the OJ case, did non-blacks ask black people 'so what do you think of the OJ verdict?' like black people all have some sort of psychic link to OJ or a collective consciousness. Do people ask white men 'so what do you think of the BTK killer?' Are ALL white executives questioned in business because of Ken Lay at Enron? No. You don't see 'white leaders'. You see 'conservative' or 'liberal' or 'business' or whatever. This range of representation is not afforded 'minorities' so they are a bit more sensitive to singular negative portrayals because they will be 'asked' to answer for those portrayals.
See the problem.

I've haven't read through all of this, nor am I, it's nonsense. Poser Mobile is a parody. If you're insulted by that, then I think you're way too sensitive and probably shouldn't watch any TV. I'm a proud Chinese-American and I'm going as 25-Cent for Halloween.

Stu,

Why don't you try being "a proud Chinese-American" who reads before he preaches?

IT'S A COMMERCIAL! Too bad people just can't see humor without screaming "Racism!" I thought the commercial was clever.

Listen, we are ALL Americans. Why should it matter who came from what country? The fact of the matter is that we all live here NOW! I admit, I take a liking to a sertain race, am 100% European American, and yet I prefer Asains over many other cultures... that does NOT mean that I wouldn't like any other culture... I just have a weird taste for what I think looks good... What REALLY matters is on the inside though. On the inside, you could be "gangsta'" "goodie goodie" "brainy" the list goes on...
I found this blog because I like that commercial for two reasons and I did a search to find it.
1. I think the Asain is hot(that doesn't mean I like him... I can think that the worst person in the world is hot if I wanted to... THAT DOESN'T MEAN I LIKE HIM!!!!!)
2. I think it's funny. Imagine if it was a Brittish guy, a Senegalese guy, and a Brazilian guy... wellll?? would it make a difference???? NO!!!(or any other race for that matter)

the point I'm trying to get across here is that we are all Americans and should all treat eachother as such!!

just for the record - neither 'British', 'Senegalese' nor 'Brazilian' are, nor define 'races'.
People really really really have to get this concept straightened out.

Your citizenship does not define your 'race'. You can go to any of the countries you mentioned and find people of different races who are all citizens of that country. Don't get it twisted.

I'm an American too. And my family tree has been here a long, long time.

Hey, let's not get into details about what I said, just look at the meaning. Which is that it doesn't matter where we come from. So what if there aren't many ghetto Latinos, Asians, and white people. The fact of the matter is that there are some out there and anyone who doesn't believe that is a racist themselves. Maybe T-Mobile just wanted to show that... EVER THINK OF THAT!?!?! ...Didn't think so...

we this is a hilarious commercial.

AKA AKA AKA !!!!!
we love gangster asians.

all you stop being so critical.

itsz a freking commercial ! look at the world we live in.. everyone is so racist !

WHERE iS THE LOVE !?

jusz laugh at the commercial.. itsz meant to be funny !! i mean seresally.. whos not laughing at someone goin AKA AKA AKA !

This commercial rules. The only stereotypes are POSER stereotypes. Let me ask the asians here, do you know any asians that speak in broken english? Does that make them a sterotype? or are they simply who they are? If a white person notices they speak in broken english, does that make him racist? To be honest, my friends speak in broken english a lot. I help them out with it because they are TRYING to learn more english. I call one of my friends a damn ching chong, she calls me a racist whitey. We are JOKING. I think a sense of humor is what's missing from the negative poster's sensibilities. It's like a black man calling another black man nigger. It was and can still be a very hateful word. But now it's losing its steam because of how it's being used. When I see a white dude trying to act "black", i laugh at him. When I see a filipino guy trying to act "black", i laugh at him. So do my asian friends, so do my black friends. These commercial are about POSERS, not about race. Putting a black guy in simply wouldn't work as well just because that's who these characters are imitating. I guess if you had a very proper "white" black guy, then maybe it would work. But they are trying to make a point and they only have 15 seconds to get that point across. I think they did a great job. This commercial is against the people who use ethinicity as a selling point. It's like those SPRITE commercials that go on and on about how nothing in a commercial matters just obey your thirst.. but then they show athletes, products, attitudes, anything that any other advertiser might use, and then claim that it's the thirst that matters. It's stupid. The poser commercial is just making fun of that garbage. the other companies POSE as being good phone companies when they aren't. The posers are used because they are SO EASILY RECOGNIZABLE AS POSERS!!! Maybe you should listen to the point of the commercial. Maybe this is why i tend to hang out with the broken english speakers... they don't have all this silly assumed stereotype crap. They are who they are, and they dont care if someone has a problem with that. It's funny how so many people here use their freedom, to step on other's freedom. I'm an italian american. Many of my relatives speak in the so called "STEREOTYPE" broken english. This way of speaking is used over and over again in tv and radio... am I supposed to feel offended?? Why? Are they putting my relatives down?

Basically what YOU are saying, is that if an ASIAN or Italian doesn't speak complete proper white english, then they are a sad stereotype and should be ashamed. WTF??? IF anyone exhibits any amount of similarity to a stereotype, then it must be a bad thing and put down?? HELL NO! All you are doing is creating a false problem and then building yourself up by putting the problem down. This is like IT managers networking some crappy PCs, knowing they will fail, and knowing they will always have a job "fixing" the problems.

KEEP RACISM ALIVE!! That way you will always be able to denounce it, right?

First of all, I want to tell you that I am Chinese. Why? Because you won't think that I will use the name CHING CHONG, will you? Why does it matter? It’s just a name, like the commercial, it's just trying to be FUNNY. Why not? Why do you (those of you who think that the commercial is full of racism and stereotype shit). OH, COME ON! GIVE ME A BREAK!!! WHY CAN'T YOU JUST LAUGH AT A STUPID COMMERIAL AND BE HAPPY? My friend and I laugh about everything because we don’t over think “RACISM”. You should really look up this word in the dictionary. Maybe you are the one who's racist and begging for some pity here. DO YOU KNOW WHY ASIANS ALWAYS GET MADE FUN OF??? Because some stupid morons like you guys, think everyone is being racist to your races. INSTEAD OF TRYING TO GET ALONG WITH OTHER PEOPLE, you decide to "SO CALL STAND UP FOR YOUR RACE" and use some silly commercial to prove your stupid idea. I was not born here in the U.S., I came from Hong Kong. I don’t get offended by a silly commercial. Some black folks will say “CHOW MEIN”, so? DOES IT MEAN THEY ARE RACIST? We all have something we are most familiar with one race. YOU AND ME AND EVERYONE ARE RACISTS THEN???? “CHOW MEIN” IS A RACIST STATEMENT? CUZ A BLACK FOLK SAID THAT??? It’s just an example if you know what I mean. I LOVE DAVE CHAPPELLE. He makes fun of all races, including his own race. BUT IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT HE IS A RACIST. INSTEAD, HE MAKES FUN OF RACISM. Because RACISM exists in this country, and all over the world, SOMETIMES WE CAN JUST STOP THINKING TOO HARD AND LAUGH AT A LITTLE SKIT. Why is it racist just because a little asian guy dressed “ghetto”? BECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE DRESSING THAT WAY???? DOES IT PUT A LABEL TO ALL ASIANS AND SAY WE ARE GHETTO? No. Those of you who watch the Chinese channel in California. There was a commercial about a white guy going into a Chinese store ang wanting to get a wallet. The Chinese people were speaking in Chinese and make fun of him because he can’t understand Chinese and he’s a drop out. It is A FUCKING CHINESE COMMERICAL. SO WHITE PEOPLE ARE SUPPOSED TO GET UPSET AND RISE UP “YOU CHINESE ARE RACISTS BECAUSE YOU MADE SUCH COMMERICAL!” My friends just laugh at it. TAKE IT EASY AND LAUGH. MAYBE IF ONE DAY SOME WHITE PEOPLE DRESS LIKE KKK AND TRY TO HUNT YOU DOWN, THEN YOU CAN CALL THEM RACISTS.

what's the deal with people fucking talking about white people not having to deal with being stereotyped and are not accepting of incursions?

pretty ignorant to the "real world" if all you can assume is this petty little bullshit that "the man" is demanding to be accepted into anything he wants to "venture" into.

people that have the skills and qualities to do things in this country are accepted regardless of race, creed, color, religion or sexual preference.

and if you think i'm speaking out the side of my neck like what most of you limp dick asswipes are doing then why don't you just take a look at sports, music, hell....take a fucking look at all entertainment.

one of the best guitarists ever was an acclaimed black man named Jimmy Hendrix, one of the best up and coming centers in the nba is an asian name Yao Ming, too many funny latino comedians to name but a few are Cheech Marin / George Lopez / and yes Carlos Mencia.

and as i said before, are all of these "people" not accepted regardless if they worship buddah, eat chittlins, drink tequilla, or most of all represent their culture / ethnicity to the extent of being proud about who they are and where their ancestors came from?

everyone bitches about racism this and racism that, how about you stop pulling the fucking race card everytime something offends you...all you're doing is fueling the fire for an even bigger explosion.

theres racism anywhere you want to lay your head at in this world, but you come to a country based mostly on freedom of basically everything you can imagine, and you want to nit pick at the simple fucking things that are done such as a funny ass commercial about overcharging cell phone companies and the competition that they're up against.

i just can't seem to grasp the concept of how all you petty fucking neglected people can deal with life everyday considering that "the man" is out to get you and that everything people do nowdays is racist.

i mean may it be forbidden that you have to deal with real life issues such as murder, rape and starvation, because there are people far worse off than any of you could imagine being.

did any of you asians bitch about all of the names of the asian family in the movie My Babies Daddy? or do you think that white people bitched about that white guy Brad in Malibu's Most Wanted?

hell no, simply because it was what it was....comedy at it's best. why don't all of you people do what alot of others have said in this forum and get a life other than the one you have that lets you sit at a computer for 90% of your concious life looking for shit to argue about and try to make a senseless point about.

if T Mobile had made his name Chop Stick Chang rather than 25 Cent Chang (which was meant to make fun of 50 Cent) then i'd see a crumb of a reason to yell "THE RACIST COATS ARE COMING".

but until someone blatently says or does a racist act towards you or your "people" then pipe down and drink a nice tall glass of shut the fuck up like CJ says in Dawn of The Dead.

and one other thing that i could think of just before i went to sleep was that all of you dumbass arrogant fuckwads that keep saying "us" pertaining to people of color rather than mankind are the reason that others want to discriminate and segregate themselves from you.

maybe if you started seeing shit from as many perspectives as that eggdrop "brain" (i use that word in moderation considering some of you have none or never read the instructions on how to use it) then maybe life wouldn't seem so one-sided that the white man is against you or that life is stacked against all minorities.

because i for one don't see asians as saki drinking rice eating kamikazes, nor do i see blacks as lip plating spear chucking cannibals, and needless to say that i don't see latinos as border jumping car stealing lazy bastards.

now as i'm saying plain and simple, come out of your ninja turtle shell and live a life full of love and enjoyment rather than resentment and generalization...open up your minds rather than your mouths or more bluntly think before you speak because your alligator mouth can oveweigh your canary ass.

alright, children, did you not hear mommy say "no namecalling" and "no personal attacks"? since you still haven't learned to play nicely, mommy's taking the toy away. go to your rooms now. no more comments will be accepted for this post.