I don't see how classifying members by race has anything to do with the topic. I've closed the poll as it serves little valuable purpose.

As for the topic, yes the term is negative IMO. I don't want that shit on my car.

 

The term "rice" came from Harley Davison bikers that called Japanese sport bikes "Rice Rockets". To me the term rice is a deragatory term. Since bikers back then were primarily racist. So yes the term rice is a degatory statement given to classify a particular product made by Japanese who are Asian and eat rice. Some how the term rice is now used today which really offends me. And how does the term rice become associated with a particular type of car.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Primer To me the term rice is a deragatory term.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Insomniak
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i don't think there is a common name for domestic rice.. i just call it grits.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by SilverFog
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GRITS -- that's awesome.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by SilverFog
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GRITS -- that's awesome.

 

I think you may be arguing against yourself there SilverFog. Basically you've associated the term 'rice' with a derogatory term used to describe poor taste car modification and a particular race.

I think you are making Primer's point for him.

Primer is right that the origins of the term 'rice' related to bikes and cars comes from racial fear. The book "Well made in America" about the turnaround of Harley Davidson makes references to descriptions of Honda's early motorbikes as "Rice rockets" and goes on to talk about HD's fight back with the Fat Boy (a combination of Little Boy and Fat Man, the names of the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki) that was coloured silver with orange stripes (after Enola Gay, the airplane which dropped Little Boy). To try to say that the term 'rice' is not a racial slur to someone of asian decent who finds it offensive is like trying to explain that the 'N' word is derived from the word 'negro' (latin for black) to an African-American. It may be technically correct but I wouldn't expect a pat on the back and a thank you for the lesson in etymology.

BTW I mean no offence to anyone of African or other dark skinned origin with my reference to the 'N' word. I am aware that it is held in the highest contempt.

 

Thanks for all the response. This was my attempt to find out why this term "rice" was so often used and even became so popularly blended into the american car culture without thinking about the consequences in how it might effect the social justification on how asian countries are viewed as. I was even thinking that as an asian, I would never use a such term, because it is generalizing the idea of asia into one term, "rice", and it is used on cars that you guys think is bad, or tasteless. Yes, every asians eat rice in daily bases, but there is nothing wrong with that. The rice is same thing as the bread people eat here. So you guys don't call saleen wannabe mustangs, bread?

I grew up in georgia and there was much racism where I grew up. It was subtle, but it was definitely there and it's easy for redneck mustang owners to call asian cars, "rice', 'chinkmobile' or other degrading terms. So my point is that there is a negative origin in where that term 'rice' comes from. It's ignorant in how it's used and also if it's not properly used, it might progress into degradation of all asian cars easily. Also, if this term is used and is accepted, then what is stopping anybody to use other harsh terms for asian cars in general?

I would ask what would be the good asian terms that you guys use for tasteful asian cars? Do we have a good asian term for those cars? No. because it is easy to use the sterotypically general term to describe bad things from other culture in america than it is to use a well thought out different cultural terms to describe a good product from other cultures.

One of another thing that bothers me is that the cars you guys laugh at is the product of people who wants to express themselves but doesn't have enough money to buy an expensive car like s2000, or to do a $10k mods on integras or preludes. So you guys are laughing at those cars and their owners because they don't have enough money like all of you? It's fun and easy to use the popular terms and make fun of other less fortunate. Don't you think if the people who have so call 'rice' cars had money, they wouldn't get a porche 911 turbo or get a s2000 and talk among us about how great this marvel of technology is?

There is a difference between european and americans. Not in the race, but in their culture. I wasn't trying to find out the race of every owner, but to find out the culture of where we all come from. My apology for the bad poll. So, feel free to post some more opinions, because I would gladly like to see some well thought out counter points. Maybe I could learn more than I bargain for.

 

One more thing. I love georgia, don't get me wrong. i think it's one of the greatest city in us. I don't want to give an impression that georgia is a bad place, matter of fact, I believe that most of people in south is very friendly and have great respect for many things different. But there are few ignorant people who just don't understand how to get along... I think this is true in any country and any cities.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by phyphorous2ki
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