My words continue to come back and haunt me, and they've been doing that for the past two weeks.
This time, Daniel Lue himself replies to a previous post:
Thanks for the free plug and thanks for standing up for Asian guys. I haven't read any of your other posts, but don't you understand how Asians are portrayed on TV? Isn't it more constructive to stick up for your fellow Asian brother rather than tear them down? I think Asians, particularly Asian men, have an uphill battle as it is, we don't need our own to push each other down.You're right; I'm being unfair. All my petty sniping and ad hominem attacks -- albeit within the informal context of blogging -- simply doesn't advance anything. I should really watch my tongue / fingers, especially since they've gotten me into a little trouble lately.Daniel
But the sexist banter between the guys (particularly you and Rob) -- though probably played up a little for the camera, highlighted via skillful (misleading?) editing, and brought out in the way that probably only a bunch of men shooting the breeze can do -- simply made me cringe. What was up with that?
And did you have to keep falling off that log??? =)
That said, I am indeed very aware of the lack of Asian Americans on TV, and of the constant need to battle demeaning stereotypes. And your calendar, I suppose, is a clear rebuttal to the stereotype of the Asian American male. My wife and I (and many other Asian Americans I know, actually) were really rooting for you to go far, and we had high hopes of you beating the Shii Ann curse, but the way in which you were portrayed as a leering frat-rat left much to be desired...
p.s. One of your cousins is a good friend of mine!
Posted by the wily filipino at November 9, 2003 09:14 PMTo hype up the "Men vs. Women" aspect of the game, the producers really wanted a gender based rivalry. All the men thought that it would be impossible for the women to defeat us. It just so happened that my confessional aired first with the whole "...the women aren't going to beat us in anything..." It seems that people forgot the comments that others such as Dave and Roger made. They're comments any group of guys would make, especially the A-type personality people they cast, whether they were at a local bar or in the Amazon rainforest. We're all very competitive people, of course we want to win. Whatever the case, it worked for CBS...over 22 million tuned in.
As for the balance beam, I am the type of person to turn a negative into a positive. That balance beam scene is something that people will always remember. As they say, there's no such thing as bad press. Besides, it made for great entertainment, no?
Battling sterotypes is a constant battle, in the office or on TV. Just like Shii Ann and the whole chicken eating scene. It will take some time, but any chance I get I will try to show a different, positive side to Asian culture. It would be even better if I could control the editing :)
So which cousin of mine is a good friend of yours?
Daniel
Posted by: Daniel Lue on November 9, 2003 10:34 PMBut the banter wasn't just about winning, either; there was all this rather juvenile stuff about hooking up. At the risk of sounding even more like a dick, I'd take exception at the "any group of guys" part -- but yes, I know exactly what you mean.
And yeah, the balance beam was funny. But now I'm laughing with you.
And since you're probably reading this as well, I thought I'd ask (though you're probably bound by a contract not to answer): I vaguely remember you alluding to some (racial?) tension at your last Tribal Council. Care to elaborate? (That old goat Roger couldn't have been very fun to live with...)
[Re your cousin: Dorothy, from North Carolina, who teaches at Northwestern. I think her folks live in Houston now...]
Posted by: the wily filipino on November 10, 2003 10:54 AM