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Thursday, May 2, 2013

'LAsian' is another derogatory phrase for Asians?

According to the Urban Dictionary, the first definition for LAsian is:

 
An Asian American, typically from Los Angeles or other large cities on the West Coast. Their style is a blend between street gang and skater. LAsians wear slightly tilted to the side baseball caps without curving the bill, oversized designer sunglasses, and sleeveless basketball jerseys even if they have no muscles. In their minds they are a player, in your mind they are a gigantic douche. You will find these types everywhere on the west coast. They are exceptionally bold in their Mecca, Las Vegas, where they constantly brag about their access to the hottest clubs on Facebook well into their 30 and 40s. There is a high probability that they are night club promoters and fill their photo albums with pictures with women who they never had a chance to sleep with.


That definition comes from Vegas Insider, that writer's one and only contribution to date as of 23 January 2013.

The example given is: Look at that LAsian and his Hyundai, must be on his way to their Mecca, Vegas...

I'm not originally from Los Angeles and the LAsians who I found a bit cliquish were the Gardena-area Japanese Americans who were sure they knew just what a banana was because I didn't understand their subculture or appreciate it. There is actually more to Japanese American culture than what grew up in Gardena and no one in San Diego had called me a banana before except as a rhyme with my name.

However, this description doesn't fit with the Gardena Japanese Americans (except for that 30-something who was still living at home that had nothing but disposable income but there are plenty of men like that in other ethnic groups) I knew nor many of the Asian Americans I've met.

The second definition in the Urban Dictionary is a "lesbian of asian descent." Seriously do writers for the Urban dictionary know how to use caps? That contribution came from Improve Asylum on 21 June 2005. This is Improv Asylum's only contribution as well. According to this expert, "lasian was first used in the show 'Pork Fried Clowns,' as performed by the Improv Asylum, Boston, MA, in the spring of 2005."

While I've been accused of being a lesbian (usually by white men who I wouldn't date while I was single, especially those who didn't believe heterosexual guys danced), I've never had the urge to be intimate in a carnal sense with a woman and I've also not fond of Las Vegas. I don't gamble at all.

The last definition, contributed by JLow on 28 October 2012 is Lasian for a "lady asian." JLow has also only given one contribution.

So as a lady Asian, a guerrilla geisha and dancing dragon lady, this blog is from the LAsian point of view. As a writer, I don't think we can erase some phrases but sometimes we can tweak how they are used and some of my short story writing is about tweaking, twisting and expanding the images and stereotypes of Asians, Asians Americans and women.

What's LAsian?
Who do we let define us?
Lady Asian asks


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