Foreigners can be so funny

Sauce · 11-05-2006 8:10am #1

I was going home from work yesterday when I seen a sign saying "Chinese and Thainese Takeaway" in a chinese takeaway window

I love it when non english speaking people get english totally mixed up. It can be so funny.

delly · 11-05-2006 8:12am

Sauce wrote:

I was going home from work yesterday when I seen a sign saying "Chinese and Thainese Takeaway" in a chinese takeaway window

I love it when non english speaking people get english totally mixed up. It can be so funny.

Whats so funny about that

Jumpy · 11-05-2006 8:23am

delly wrote:

Whats so funny about that

All your base are belong to us.

The 'engrish' mix ups can be quite funny. Im sure we would do the same thing in their language

FillSpectre · 11-05-2006 8:26am

delly wrote:

Whats so funny about that

It should say Thai but if that is the name it is quite good. I still don't quite see how it is very funny to laugh at somebody who doesn't have english as a first language.

Sauce · 11-05-2006 8:35am

FillSpectre wrote:

It should say Thai but if that is the name it is quite good. I still don't quite see how it is very funny to laugh at somebody who doesn't have english as a first language.

Its not the name of the chinese.

ferdi · 11-05-2006 8:36am

FillSpectre wrote:

I still don't quite see how it is very funny to laugh at somebody who doesn't have english as a first language.

yeah, its probably racist, right?

11-05-2006 8:39am

ferdi wrote:

yeah, its probably racist, right?

we are all terrible human beings for laughing at that:mad:

Genghis · 11-05-2006 8:41am

Lighten up guys. You'd often laugh at a child who comes out with a funny phrase that expresses things in a non-conventional way. I think that is funny, partly because it shows that the guy was trying to follow what he thought was a convention in the English language (add '-ese' to the nationality), while English has some many rules, and even more exceptions.

Sauce · 11-05-2006 10:35am

I dont see whats wrong with having a chuckle at an honest mistake.

Some people here are just too up tight.

Ag marbh · 11-05-2006 10:44am

Nothing wrong with it at all and it's even funnier in Asia when you see Crab soup written as Crap soup on a menu(true story) and other similar mixups.

Spalk0 · 11-05-2006 10:52am

Too right Sauce

Look this aint america!you should be able to laugh at things like this.Take things too seriously christ everyone will be getting sued!

Hobbes · 11-05-2006 11:00am

I've seen funnier.

http://www.engrish.com/

Misty Moon · 11-05-2006 11:08am

I've heard Thainese used quite a lot though - thought it was just becoming the norm to describe the many originally Chinese restaurants that started to serve Thai dishes as well. Not sure when was the first time I heard it, probably a year or more ago.

walt0r · 11-05-2006 11:13am

I totally agree with that on the basis that is is quite racist of you to think it is funny to laugh at...them people.

Degsy · 11-05-2006 11:14am

"Tourist" Menu (English Spake)
Soap Of The Day
or
Crudities
.......................
Dreaded Veal Cutlets
With Pees and Chips
........................
Grilled Chaps With Grins
Boilins Potatoes
.........................
Hot Tart of The House
With Cold Cream

mikedragon32 · 11-05-2006 12:08pm

Sauce wrote:

I was going home from work yesterday when I seen a sign saying "Chinese and Thainese Takeaway" in a chinese takeaway window

I love it when non english speaking people get english totally mixed up. It can be so funny.

It's funnier still when supposed "native English speakers" mock foreigners, then fail to punctuate properly and fail to conjugate verbs in the appropriate manner.

Allow me to demonstrate:

I was going home from work yesterday, when I saw a sign which read, "Chinese and Thainese Takeaway" in a Chinese takeaway's window.

I love it when non-English speaking people get English totally mixed up. It can be so funny.

Dave! · 11-05-2006 12:08pm

RAAAACCCIIIISSSSTTTTTT!!!!!!!!111111111111111oneoneone

:mad:

Earthhorse · 11-05-2006 12:15pm

There's actually a takeaway near me called the Thainese. It's been there for years and I suppose I found it funny at first.

DaveMcG wrote:

RAAAACCCIIIISSSSTTTTTT!!!!!!!!111111111111111oneoneone

Admitting you're a racist is the first step. Well done.

FillSpectre · 11-05-2006 12:25pm

Misty Moon wrote:

I've heard Thainese used quite a lot though - thought it was just becoming the norm to describe the many originally Chinese restaurants that started to serve Thai dishes as well. Not sure when was the first time I heard it, probably a year or more ago.

Many of the "chinese" restraunts are not chinese but people did really know that people of orintal look are not from china. Many take away places around Dublin are run by Vitnameese people. THe ignorance of the time meant it was acceptable, but think how you would feel if you were constantly refered to as English Or American jsut becasue you look like them?

ferdi wrote:

yeah, its probably racist, right?

No It is petty, mean and denotes an air of superiority based on somebodies ability to learn a new language. What is your chineese like? How is your history of china etc... It's very child like to post up a thread about it. I guess it is vaguely funny if you saw it but posting it up saying "foreign people are so funny " is at best in bad taste. I am not PC I just think it isn't that funny and the title has a racist tone and shows a lack of empathy.

Dave! · 11-05-2006 12:26pm

Earthhorse wrote:

There's actually a takeaway near me called the Thainese. It's been there for years and I suppose I found it funny at first.

Admitting you're a racist is the first step. Well done.

I know, but he didn't actually *outright* say it, but just hinted at it -- y'know?

gandalf · 11-05-2006 12:28pm

Errr it just not funny fullstop !!! I want my 10 seconds back !

Femelade · 11-05-2006 1:21pm

i used to work with a girl from senegal, now i'm not racist atall, she was a great friend of mine, but she used to come out with some funny things....

i remember one day she was asking me for the keys...i pointed to where the keys where kept but she just kept saying "no the keeeeeyyyss.." i kept pointing "there they are!!! look!!!" but she kept insisting she wanted the keeeeyyyss....

turned out she wanted the cheese.

she loved kips and keys... (chips and cheese)

Sauce · 11-05-2006 1:36pm

mikedragon32 wrote:

It's funnier still when supposed "native English speakers" mock foreigners, then fail to punctuate properly and fail to conjugate verbs in the appropriate manner.

Allow me to demonstrate:

I was going home from work yesterday, when I saw a sign which read, "Chinese and Thainese Takeaway" in a Chinese takeaway's window.

I love it when non-English speaking people get English totally mixed up. It can be so funny.

Get a life will you. Its only a bit of light hearted fun. Id say your a right barrell of laughs to be around.

Native english speaker i may be, but I never said I could write it. Big difference. The english teacher in school must of loved correcting your homework.

FillSpectre · 11-05-2006 1:45pm

Sauce wrote:

Get a life will you. Its only a bit of light hearted fun. Id say your a right barrell of laughs to be around.

People are pointing out that it is not light hearted and has a racist overtone. If you had "bad english can be so funny" then it would not. THis is not PCness but understanding of what your words are implying. It is the kind of thing I expect a racist to say if they are trying to hide their nature. If you are not, it doesn't matter it supports the view and shows ignorance of what you are saying

Sauce · 11-05-2006 1:46pm

FillSpectre wrote:

Many of the "chinese" restraunts are not chinese but people did really know that people of orintal look are not from china. Many take away places around Dublin are run by Vitnameese people. THe ignorance of the time meant it was acceptable, but think how you would feel if you were constantly refered to as English Or American jsut becasue you look like them?

It wasnt Dublin and they are chinese.

FillSpectre wrote:

No It is petty, mean and denotes an air of superiority based on somebodies ability to learn a new language. What is your chineese like? How is your history of china etc... It's very child like to post up a thread about it. I guess it is vaguely funny if you saw it but posting it up saying "foreign people are so funny " is at best in bad taste. I am not PC I just think it isn't that funny and the title has a racist tone and shows a lack of empathy.

My chinese is non existent. My history of china is even worse.

I didnt mean to cause offence to anybody by starting this thread but if you look at the title again you will see it is called "Foreigners can be so funny" not "Foreign people are so funny".

And come on, you are been PC, dont kid yourself.

Beruthiel · 11-05-2006 1:54pm

walt0r wrote:

I totally agree with that on the basis that is is quite racist of you to think it is funny to laugh at...them people.

what a sad, pathetic attempt at humour..
kindly go away and don't bother coming back again,
racists are not welcome around here.
B

Dave! · 11-05-2006 1:55pm

FillSpectre wrote:

Many of the "chinese" restraunts are not chinese but people did really know that people of orintal look are not from china. Many take away places around Dublin are run by Vitnameese people. THe ignorance of the time meant it was acceptable, but think how you would feel if you were constantly refered to as English Or American jsut becasue you look like them?

Oh don't start that bullsh*t, Asians look similar! It's a fact, get over it. Stand me next to an English bloke and you couldn't tell the difference, I won't get offended, because I know that we look similar.

You're obviously clued up, so go here: http://www.alllooksame.com/

take the test and report back with your results, thanks.

FillSpectre · 11-05-2006 2:04pm

Sauce wrote:

And come on, you are been PC, dont kid yourself.

Then simply you are being racist and insenitive and have no sense of the language you are laughing about. "can be" doesn't make it any better. Come on and realise you are laughing at somebody becasue you feel superior to them due to your knowledge.

It isn't particularly funny and the title shows a lack of commad of the language if you did not mean to casue offense. You think it is funny to laugh at somebodies lack of understanding and knowlwedge as such I choose to laugh at people who are insensitive and stupid enough to not realise what they say can be offensive. Guess who that means I am laughing at:p

Sauce · 11-05-2006 2:17pm

FillSpectre wrote:

Then simply you are being racist and insenitive and have no sense of the language you are laughing about. "can be" doesn't make it any better. Come on and realise you are laughing at somebody becasue you feel superior to them due to your knowledge.

It isn't particularly funny and the title shows a lack of commad of the language if you did not mean to casue offense. You think it is funny to laugh at somebodies lack of understanding and knowlwedge as such I choose to laugh at people who are insensitive and stupid enough to not realise what they say can be offensive. Guess who that means I am laughing at:p

If laughing at someone, who is not from my country is racist, then I am racist:rolleyes: . But I bet everybody has laughed at someone who is not from there country at some point or time making everybody racist. Were all a big bunch of racists YEEEEEAAAAAAAAHHHHHH:rolleyes:

And it shows your lack and command of the english language if you think "can be" and "are" imply the same thing. Let me explain:

"can be" implies sometimes but not always.
"are" implies always

Now if your not busy could you give me a hand down from my horse. I need a break from all this superiority

FillSpectre · 11-05-2006 2:18pm

DaveMcG wrote:

Oh don't start that bullsh*t, Asians look similar! It's a fact, get over it. Stand me next to an English bloke and you couldn't tell the difference, I won't get offended, because I know that we look similar.

Yes they look similar to your eyes but when you are in take away with a map of Vitenam on the wall it tends to give it away.There was guy in my class who was called various incorrect racist names.
If you had to open an English pub and be called a "brit b**tard" all the time I think iyou might understan. I would get offended if that was the case and I empathise with people on that basis.

I can generally spot English people in Dublin as there is a difference the same as spotting an Italian, French and Spanish people. Not 100% but close enough and I think I could spot Japneese people from Chineese. I think people who see them all as foregners are ignorant.

Dave! · 11-05-2006 2:22pm

Take the test and see how you get on, then. I'm sure you'll do great, but the average is I think 6 correct, out of 18. But we're all ignorant racist scumbags, it's nothing to do with them looking similar.

FillSpectre · 11-05-2006 2:24pm

Sauce wrote:

And it shows your lack and command of the english language if you think "can be" and "are".

I think you missed the point it is the reference to foreigners being funny is the problem not whether you said they "are" or "can be". It really is quite sad that you don't understand why what you said can be offensive. What you said is the language of Stormfront on boards

DaSilva · 11-05-2006 2:26pm

I'm in Shanghai at the moment, and somewhere in the city is a small park I visited a while ago, on the sign just after the entrance was a description of the park and then a few warnings. Stuff like "No littering in the park" was in the warning but then I got further down it, and it said "This is a sacred park so please refrain from urinating and shíting in the park".

I thought it was funny in a toilet humour sense of way, I'm in noway trying too put them down as I love the people over here. Infact I wouldn't be suprised if there was a westerner behind that sign convincing his Chinese workmates that "shíting" was the correct translation from Chinese. After all I doubt you would find any dictionary that gave that translation!

Sauce · 11-05-2006 2:27pm

FillSpectre wrote:

I think you missed the point it is the reference to foreigners being funny is the problem not whether you said they "are" or "can be". It really is quite sad that you don't understand why what you said can be offensive. What you said is the language of Stormfront on boards

I really think you are been too PC over this one.

What title would you have suggested then?? I would hate to let a foreigner know that they really brightened up my day.

Sauce · 11-05-2006 2:29pm

DaSilva wrote:

I'm in Shanghai at the moment, and somewhere in the city is a small park I visited a while ago, on the sign just after the entrance was a description of the park and then a few warnings. Stuff like "No littering in the park" was in the warning but then I got further down it, and it said "This is a sacred park so please refrain from urinating and shíting in the park".

I thought it was funny in a toilet humour sense of way, I'm in noway trying too put them down as I love the people over here. Infact I wouldn't be suprised if there was a westerner behind that sign convincing his Chinese workmates that "shíting" was the correct translation from Chinese. After all I doubt you would find any dictionary that gave that translation!

This is exactly what I was trying to hit at.

catholicireland · 11-05-2006 2:33pm

I think you missed the point it is the reference to foreigners being funny is the problem not whether you said they "are" or "can be". It really is quite sad that you don't understand why what you said can be offensive. What you said is the language of Stormfront on boards

But who's really offended?? I dont see any foreigners on here complaining. But its the usual whining liberal left that get offended. Maby you need to stop wrapping them in cotton wool - they can stand up for themselves.

impr0v · 11-05-2006 2:34pm

Welcome to the nth after hours holier-than-thou contest, with a "no, I'M more pedantic" tie-break in the event of a draw. Winner takes the moral high ground, loser is burnt for war crimes against everyone without red hair and freckles.

FillSpectre · 11-05-2006 2:39pm

Sauce wrote:

I really think you are been too PC over this one.

What title would you have suggested then?? I would hate to let a foreigner know that they really brightened up my day.

Well I am not the only one.

I told you what you should have siad but you obviously are more bothered about defending yourself than bothering to understand.

Hobbes · 11-05-2006 2:46pm

Beruthiel wrote:

what a sad, pathetic attempt at humour..

Whats funnier is that Gook means "Country". People took it to mean "I am stupid" when Koreans said "Mee gook" but that is actually Korean for "America/n".

So they are laughing at him, not with him.

Sauce · 11-05-2006 2:46pm

FillSpectre wrote:

Well I am not the only one.

I told you what you should have siad but you obviously are more bothered about defending yourself than bothering to understand.

But there are alot of people here also who think, that its ok to have a chuckle at inoccent mistakes.

There are alot of people on Boards and in Ireland that have become very uptight and PC about every little thing in the last couple of years. Just chill out and relax.

FillSpectre · 11-05-2006 2:58pm

Sauce wrote:

But there are alot of people here also who think, that its ok to have a chuckle at inoccent mistakes.

There are alot of people on Boards and in Ireland that have become very uptight and PC about every little thing in the last couple of years. Just chill out and relax.

Why should I relax at somebody being at least compliant with racist tones. Maybe the reason you feel people are uptight and PC is becasue you and others are ignorant and being pulled up on it. If not you others do so intetionally to speread racist views.

What you have said is not an innocent laugh due to your own ignorance of what you have siad.

Why don't you relax and chill by saying sorry and stop defending what people have taken offense to. Are you too uptight to let go something you didn't mean? THe fact you are a newbie would make me think you are a Stormfront troll and as you are talking with experience on boards I am guess you are already banned too.

Ruu_Old · 11-05-2006 3:00pm

Stormfront ftw.WHOITE POWEH..YEAH KKK.

Seriously its just a bit of fun so stop making this into some racism ****e and learn to calm down. Turn off your computer, go have a nice walk and come back:rolleyes:

walt0r · 11-05-2006 3:18pm

I live with one. I wish I could keep her as a pet in a cage and poke her with a stick. With her satellite head.

koneko · 11-05-2006 3:20pm

Yeah we're totally hilarious.

Sauce · 11-05-2006 3:21pm

FillSpectre wrote:

Why should I relax at somebody being at least compliant with racist tones. Maybe the reason you feel people are uptight and PC is becasue you and others are ignorant and being pulled up on it. If not you others do so intetionally to speread racist views.

What you have said is not an innocent laugh due to your own ignorance of what you have siad.

You are the only one here pulling me up on it. Have you never laughed at anything in your life??? I hope you havent because if you think about it, it was at someone or somethings expense.

FillSpectre wrote:

Why don't you relax and chill by saying sorry and stop defending what people have taken offense to. Are you too uptight to let go something you didn't mean? THe fact you are a newbie would make me think you are a Stormfront troll and as you are talking with experience on boards I am guess you are already banned too.

You cant really call me a newbie now can you??? You are only a member since April. And you are the one trolling my thread, turning it into something its not.

You are the only one here pulling me up on it.

mikedragon32 · 11-05-2006 3:22pm

Sauce wrote:

Get a life will you. Its only a bit of light hearted fun. Id say your a right barrell of laughs to be around.

Native english speaker i may be, but I never said I could write it. Big difference. The english teacher in school must of loved correcting your homework.

Actually you never said you were a native English speaker either, but I obviously made a correct assumption.

I merely was making the point that if you wish to mock a foreigner's command of the English language, you should at least display an aptitude for it yourself. Please note: I stopped short of calling you a hypocrite.

I don't believe what you wrote in your O.P. was racist, merely purile, and had you a better command of English, I would have probably defended you against those remarks.

If you wish to try and improve your English, I'm sure someone may be able to point you towards classes on writing. Otherwise a fun way to improve may be to watch "Never Mind the Fullstops" on BBC4 tonight.

Terry · 11-05-2006 3:58pm

fillspectre, do not under any circumstances watch the paramount comedy channel. they are currently running a promo for a stand-up show. in it, one of the comedians (a black american) tells a joke about chinese people. i think your head might explode upon seeing it.

FranknFurter · 11-05-2006 4:09pm

And I suggest you never ever listen to Margaret Cho either, now that would really confuse you! LOL

b

Degsy · 11-05-2006 4:10pm

Carefull now,if you think being PC all the time is a bit much you're no doubt a troll for stormfront!!There's a form of Mccarthyism going on here,if you find anything funny about foreigners you're called a racist.A cheap shot.

11-05-2006 4:14pm

Sauce wrote:

The english teacher in school must of loved correcting your homework.
...
I really think you are been too PC over this one.

If you're going to make fun of signs, please stop abusing the English language.
Those are two horrible, horrible mistakes.

hepcat · 11-05-2006 4:27pm

Sorry Sauce, whatever about the PC-ness and racism argument, the fact remains that you cannot speak English properly yourself. "must of loved"??? Do you really speak like this? I agree with the poster who said it's even funnier when someone who has a brutal command of the language finds it hilarious when they recognise another's mistake.

Foreigners can be so funny

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