Is this Racist or just poor taste?

[barrk]

Abercrombie Pulls T-Shirts After Protest
Fri Apr 19, 7:54 AM ET

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Clothing maker Abercrombie & Fitch said on Thursday it was pulling a new line of Asian-themed T-shirts after Asian-American groups complained they were a blatant example of racist stereotyping.


The shirts, which retail for $25, hit the shelves this week and carry caricatures of slant-eyed Asians in conical hats along with such slogans as "WONG BROTHERS LAUNDRY SERVICE: TWO WONGS CAN MAKE IT WHITE" and "WOK-N-BOWL -- CHINESE FOOD AND BOWLING."

"It is not and never has been our intention to offend anyone," Abercrombie spokesman Hampton Carney said.

"These graphic T-shirts were designed with the sole purpose of adding humor and levity to our fashion line. Since some customers have been offended by their content, we are pulling these shirts from our stores."

Asian-American groups in California reacted with anger this week after the shirts appeared in local Abercrombie stores, with local activists saying their cartoonish representation of Asian figures carried a racist message.

"This is really blatant. It is just like the 1800's," said the Rev. Norman Fong, program director at San Francisco's Chinatown Community Development Center.

"The company has been totally insensitive, and people are pretty upset."

Carney said the popular youth clothing maker had believed the shirts might appeal to Asian-American consumers, and was surprised by the hostile reception they received.

"The thought was that everyone would love them, especially the Asian community. We thought they were cheeky, irreverent and funny and everyone would love them. But that has not been the case."

Carney was unable to estimate how many shirts would be recalled from Abercrombie's roughly 500 stores nationwide, although he said a number of stores had not yet taken delivery of the items.

Abercrombie & Fitch, based in New Albany, Ohio, has been the target of consumer complaint before. In 1998 Mothers against Drunk Driving protested a two-page advertising spread entitled "Drinking 101" that contained recipes for alcoholic drinks, while other parents have complained that the youth-oriented company frequently features overtly sexy photos in its advertising layouts.

[Ianpbaker]

bloody typical .....

[JPicasso]

What's typical?

A company making money at the expense of others?
or a social group taking offense at a stupid joke?

--

Personally, I don't think they are harmful, but
I don't think I would try and sell them if it were my company.

[sail3005]

i don't think it's racist. i don't even see how it is offensive. it's obviously ment to be a joke, just some lighthearted fun, not picking on anyone.

i think that minorities step over the line way too much, and take advantage of the "racial card" too much for stupid things like this. It makes people like me question more and more when they actually have a serious complaint.

[filburt1]

I thought it was kinda funny when I saw it on the news this morning...

[Wynd]

Originally posted by sail3005
i don't think it's racist. i don't even see how it is offensive. it's obviously ment to be a joke, just some lighthearted fun, not picking on anyone.

i think that minorities step over the line way too much, and take advantage of the "racial card" too much for stupid things like this. It makes people like me question more and more when they actually have a serious complaint.

I agree completely. Minorities take advantage of their "disadvantaged" status way too much.

[markman]

I think asll those shirts (stuff like 'Arctic Swimming Club Memer') are just stupid. It in no way relates to the wearer, and they are just wearing a brand name. Instant advertising.

[cafeenman]

Originally posted by markman
I think asll those shirts (stuff like 'Arctic Swimming Club Memer') are just stupid. It in no way relates to the wearer, and they are just wearing a brand name. Instant advertising.

I don't get it. What's wrong with expressing your individuality through brand name conformity?

[markman]

Originally posted by cafeenman

I don't get it. What's wrong with expressing your individuality through brand name conformity?

exactly what imean, except w/o the sarcasm

[cafeenman]

Originally posted by markman

exactly what imean, except w/o the sarcasm

(just providing a little back up)

[Jethro]

Local thai resturant

"Thai Tanic"


Jeez, even the minorities wouldn't know a joke if it bit them on the bum in seppoland.........


We have some great ethnic comedians downunder who take the piss out of themselves, favourite line from Hung Lee (seems the local asians all wont Englih Names

"Got off the boat and decided to change my name so the locals wouldn't be confused. In hindsight deciding on Hung Lee Jacks was a mistake"

[ghost ryder]

i thought i was quite funny actually

but there is a line between funny and rude...that however is on the safe side

[Aerials]

Minorities always say they want to be treated equally when they want to be treated better than others lol

also being offended by a joke is idiotic

[JungleMan]

I think that's pretty damn funny.

[ghost ryder]

Originally posted by jpbtennisman
I think that's pretty damn funny.

it would be a smash over here...especially if they could get jonathan ross to do the advert

[Skitchen8]

im gunna have to run to abercrombie quick and see if theres any left... damn, which reminds me, i haven't been there in a few weeks... shopping time...

[DerFarm]

It's racist.

I don't care if anyone thinks its funny, because if your name is Wong it isn't funny.

Cariacatures of blacks with something like "Watermelon means
never having to eat bananas" would be the same.

Note for the uneducated: both watermelons and bananas have
a disproportionatly high percentage of potassium. I have heard
doctors claim that black people have a lower incidence of
hypokalemia (a kidney disease) due to eating watermelon.

[Guru]

I would say they are racist.

That wouldn't really bother me if they were actually funny, but they're not.

They're just corny.

[Suzzi]

I don't think it's racist. People think I'm dumb, just because I've got a good body and great breasts. I don't mind that, it gets me into nightclubs free.

[xuralarux]

Hrmm....

• You really are who you say you are: I'm sorry, but the nightclub scene is not exactly a hotbed for intellectual activity
  
• You're really some goof (male who's either desperate for attention, or just likes screwing with peoples' minds): ....Get a life.

I hope you're not too offended, but as far as I'm concerned, anyone who either has an unjustfied high opinion of themselves or thinks it's funny to mess with people they don't know is fair game.

Well...that is all.

[cafeenman]

xuralarux, after reading your post, I read the entire thread again. I have no clue what you are referring to. I found the night club part, but *** are you talking about?

[Suzzi]

Originally posted by xuralarux

I'm sorry, but the nightclub scene is not exactly a hotbed for intellectual activity

Who said anything about going there for intellectual stimulus? You are sooooooo quick to judge aren't you Xualarux.

Just because I'm big breasted, have a fabulous body, am incredibly wealthy, have long blonde hair and like to screw on the first date.... that doesn't mean I'm shallow.


P.S. Not all of the above statements might be true. You can decide

[cafeenman]

Well, if it makes you feel any better, I'd like them all to be true. Except the part about poisoning your partner in their sleep.

So.... what clubs do you go to? And about what time will you be there? Do you like fat men wearing loin clothes?

[Skitchen8]

so, it sounded good... bsides, i could be asking where shes been the past 14 years... so ha!

[Wally Pipp]

I think humor should be outlawed and those practicing it trialled for crimes against humanity and sentenced to a lifetime of imprisonment, mime artists should be shot on sight and funny t-shirts ritually burnt on the town square.

Then our streets will be safe again.

[beachbum]

Originally posted by xuralarux
Well, it seems I've ruffled some feathers...

My work is done.

Oh! There will be a $30 charge for my services. Said bill should arrive by tommorrow morning. There will also be a surcharge on the printing of the previous bill, and you can expect that within a week. An additional fee-...

Hmm seems more like u were outsmarted bigtime by Suzzi and are trying to get out of it