Is Boba Making Asians Too Soft? (Bubble Tea)


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45 replies
  1. Tracy Tran
    Tracy Tran says:

    I think it speaks to more classism than racism. Racism still plays a huge part of what people do, but if you’re in the middle to upper class, you don’t necessarily worry about what others are doing except you and your inner circle.

    As for boba, it’s everywhere and I play a lot of claw machines and a bunch of my friends are playing Japan claw machines, like Toreba, to collect Japanese figures and plushes. It’s the kawaii culture people enjoy similar to people collecting squishmallows. I find it interesting. Boba plays some part of it as well.

    Reply
  2. TheRashnu1
    TheRashnu1 says:

    One of the major reasons for the violence is due to a certain population being displaced from the areas mentioned in the video. “Ethnic cleansing” is not a smooth, non-violent process. It comes at a cost. Guess which group it is? (Hint: the “exodus” or “reverse migration” back to the South)

    That is the tough question most people are avoiding: does a few spectacles of overt violence justify the even more massive indirect violence required to “ethnically cleanse” a population from an area? Anyone want to engage that?

    Reply
  3. OVI-Wan Kenobi
    OVI-Wan Kenobi says:

    Today's motherlanders & fobs are soft af, the growth of the East Asian economies over the last couple decades have made them that way. They never had it tough like first generation ABCs.

    Reply
  4. Katherine Morton
    Katherine Morton says:

    I dont mind Boba growing in the food industry. Although for myself I do like foods to stay authentic more often than not to where they are from, wherever that is. I do like fusion foods too but there's nothing like an authentic food or drink no matter where you are to me.

    Reply
  5. Hidden Agenda
    Hidden Agenda says:

    No, Self-hate is making Asians too soft. A lot of these self-hating Asians comes from white worshiping countries like HK, Taiwan, Korea, Vietnam, etc.

    The only proud Asians are the Chinese. They are acutally doing everything for the Stop AAPI hate movement, while every other Asian groups are ashamed to stand up and fight. Honestly, many of these other Asians are hella jealous of the Chinese Americans. lol

    We all saw it when Crazy Rich Asians came out. More white people saw this movie than Non-Chinese Asians. They were bitter as fuck! Straight hating.

    Reply
  6. Dark Purple Gold Roses
    Dark Purple Gold Roses says:

    Oh yea I mean look at African American or black culture within the country and how mainstream it will explode but then a backlash or hatred for the people themselves will ever be present or not decline at all. Shoot we got cinco de mayo and taco Tuesday and also Latino kids locked in cages or the Morons wanting to build a wall showcase their hatred

    Reply
  7. Michelle Jaelin
    Michelle Jaelin says:

    Fantastic topic and so important. You are totally right about the disparities amongst AAPI communities and I’m glad you’re raising awareness.

    These are discussions we need to have more as children of the Asian diaspora, I don’t think we have them enough, how we can help others in our community. Also, many but not all hate crimes towards Asian target women and seniors. How we can support women/AFABs and the elderly, it would be great to see more content on that. Thank you for your great work 👏🏼

    Reply
  8. You Only Live Once
    You Only Live Once says:

    Us asians are feminine by nature. American dudes are bigger and more aggressive that asians on an average. That's the reason we can't fight against the xenophobic attacks. I don't support what I am about to say, but it is a harsh reality that nobody likes soft dudes.

    Reply
  9. charles womack
    charles womack says:

    I am a 45 year old white man who absolutely loves Boba! This is one of the many great things that have come out of Taiwan, or the free China! Am I soft?? I hope not!! Define soft. Oh, I see what you are saying. You are referring to the general lax attitude that many recent immigrants have when they first immigrate to the US. I don't think that this extends to the US born/raised people. In general, of course.
    And I would make a distinction between "Chinese-owned" and Taiwanese-owned. If it is a US citizen whom happens to be Asian, then it is American owned. In my mind, at least! Just my opinion! Which I like to share with people unsolicited. At least, here on YouTube.
    Awesome video as usual! A lot of the issues that you bring up face the non-Asian population as well.

    Reply
  10. Gad
    Gad says:

    It's always okay when Asians cook nice food or prepare tasty drinks. Or entertain other people…but when it comes to being accepted in politics or society in general, there's still a lot of bigotry towards Asians. Even by the people who enjoy Asian products or entertainment. Luckily there are also many people who are open-minded and accepting. And you guys always try to contribute in a positive way and keep the discussion going. Love your videos!

    Reply
  11. i Lai
    i Lai says:

    I think the initial metaphor you guys were looking for was, since African Americans most enjoy eating KFC, then if other people like KFC, they would also like the people and not view them as thugs (same can be translated to fandom of African American athletes but not being scared of getting mugged if they ran into a black person at night). Just cuz they like your product doesn't mean they like you as a whole (no offense to any African Americans reading this)

    Reply
  12. Django
    Django says:

    Boba and food are the superficial, non-offensive, comfortable symbols of Asian identity that we cling to, to avoid confronting the real issues like the white male hegemony's impact on our psyche, worldviews, biases, and self-worth. Those are harder, more uncomfortable conversations to have as it forces us to challenge the world we were indoctrinated into, criticize ourselves, and to break down what we've been fed for decades.

    But boba's delicious though!

    (BTW, not a criticism of the video at all – I enjoyed how you ended up tying it to broader, more important issues.)

    Reply
  13. dowsy
    dowsy says:

    LOL that's quite a stretch there trying to make a connection with Boba and racist attacks. Bruce Lee would be rolling in his grave hearing this 🤦😖🤦😖

    Reply
  14. Willow
    Willow says:

    At first I was confuzzled by the hypothesis y'all were presenting wondering if it was a reach, but by the end, I found it a really interesting dichotomy with which to look at the cultural trends of Asian America. On one side, we got the the soft cute kawaii boba shop type shit (more aligned with the meek passive conception of Asians in America) becoming more mainstream, and on the other, the increasing danger and threat associated with being Asian (stereotype that Asians are meek and easy targets?) Which, when I put it like this, maybe there is some positive correlation between the two? Although, I might be the one reaching now. Anyways, good video, thumbs up

    Reply
  15. Toby Park
    Toby Park says:

    I may or may not have understood the argument in the video, but I'm gonna go off of my understanding of it. I sorta equate it to the divide between Asian Americans who have found their Asian bubble vs those who never really found such a social group. I definitely identify more with the latter. I know for a long time the former group gave me a lot of resentment. I was having thoughts like "look at these pussies. You guys are the reason I'm not accepted in wider American society. You guys are the reason everybody picks on me and thinks we're soft". Obviously as I got older I learned this was horseshit, and I was just jealous I never found my Asian tribe. It took a long time and a lot of growth and therapy to get there tho. I think looking back I see the more cutesy aspects of the bubble Asians as they feel secure enough to express these things. I never felt secure in myself, and acting cute was always counter to the sense of self-preservation I felt as a sorta periphery Asian person. I hate that my angst ever led me to turn against other Asians. They had nothing to do with it. I learned that American society is cruel to Asians and POCs in general. But it's kinda the way things are. I say this not out of bitterness, but in the same way it's just how the weather is. Not a lot we can do about it. I think the path I have walked has made me stronger.

    Reply
  16. mason.credible
    mason.credible says:

    Easy answer: Boba was always popular among Chinese and Taiwanese Americans and is now increasingly accepted among upper class Caucasian-Americans. Those are not the demographics that are responsible for the majority of hate crimes happening against the Asian American community…which unless you've been living under a rock, are mostly Black perpetrators.

    Reply
  17. D
    D says:

    I don’t think boba is making Asians soft, it’s actually making Asian people more confident in their identity. I like seeing more Asians being into the whole cute culture thing because that means they’re more comfortable and expressive with themselves.

    Back during the AZN era, we weren’t as allowed to be into the cute culture thing unless it was infused with gang-related content. I carried yugioh cards but I also carried pocket knives. I played Neopets but I named all my pets gangster names. I sold Pokémon cards but also sold some stuff-stuff on the side. The AZN era had plenty of cute culture stuff but it was infused with gang culture.

    Today’s cute culture doesn’t have to be gang-infused, Asians can just love and embrace it as it is. We of the AZN era had to run (literally from cops sometimes) so that the cute Asian era today could walk. And that’s the whole point. Like sometimes a generation has to tough it out and do the heavy lifting so the next generation can be who they want. There’s nothing wrong with that.

    Reply
  18. Mark Mark
    Mark Mark says:

    Big boobs tea was invented in Taiwan, and it made in roads to all cultures all over the world . It was probably the Icebreaker for the Asians around the world to be accepted ethnically and culturally . You need to be more like you were before , optimistic and working hard to bring cultures together rather than what you're doing now trying to divide cultures ! America is one of the most unracist countries in the world! Go to China and try to start a business! Go to China and try to immigrate! Go to China and try to get a green card! You're playing up on violence against Asians to prop up your viewer numbers? America has black lives violent protest, we have the Democrats calling for violence against the Supreme Court judges, we've got 2 million plus illegal immigrants crossing the border since Biden got into office, we have judges and prosecutors who are arrest and release, you have prosecutors who won't charge people with a crime unless very serious,! Of course, with more and more Asians Living in America, the odds to get larger that's something may happen. But I quit trying to blow it out of proportion! I got asthma when I was in Hangzhou China, and I got the Wuhan virus 3 weeks ago! Actually, I'm pretty angry that my only health issues are results of the Communist Party and their lack of concern for the environment and their intentional release of the virus on the world! So, yes people will attach the Asian country of China with the evil regime of China run by thugs and the Triad

    Reply
  19. Julie MacKenzie
    Julie MacKenzie says:

    It's all about cashing in…has nothing to do about Boba & racism. 🙄😳 I have been drinking Boba for years. I'm 60 years old. & A CBC…Canadian Born Chinese. It's not turning Asians "soft". I just enjoy a Boba tea once in awhile. Sheesh! 🙄🤷🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️ Racism exists everywhere…I can honestly say that I did not experience any disrespectful or rude comments or behavior in my city in Canada. 👍🇨🇦😊 Although, my Canadian friends (not Asian) who live in the US said it was horrific. The treatment of some of their Asian friends was racist. So, it may make a difference where you live.

    Reply

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