[Ken]

As a 35-year-old Asian male without spikey gray hair, maybe I'm not the best person to answer this question, but my experience living in the United States for 25 years was that most of my white friends grayed or became 'hair challenged' far earlier than Asians. It seems to be a matter of your experiences. The spikey gelled hair issue is consistent with what I saw in the early '90s, when many blacks began shaving their heads (a la Michael Jordan). Without the diversity in hair colors of whites, it's more difficult to express oneself physically for African Americans and Asians. Here in Korea (and Japan), no one these days has black hair, as everyone under the age of 30 is into the bleaching and highlighting craze. Red, yellow, green and blue - hairstyles and colors are even more diverse here than in the West.

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Name : Ken, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Asian, Religion : Agnostic, Age : 35, City : Seoul, State : NA Country : Korea, Occupation : Public relations, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Ken]

I dated African-American and white women in college, but never a fellow Korean. In fact, I found Asian women too 'ethnic' for my tastes. Although my US friends still can't believe it, I married a Korean woman. I still don't know when the change in my preference occurred, but in the end, I know that although my parents never said anything to me about who I should marry, they're probably somewhat pleased with my decision. My sister, on the other hand, married a white guy, who probably treats her and my parents better than any Korean man ever could have!

User Detail :  

Name : Ken, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Asian, Religion : Agnostic, Age : 35, City : Seoul, State : NA Country : Korea, Occupation : Public relations, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Ken]

Damned if you do, damned if you don't. If the original poster wasn't sensitive to this issue (I would have also assumed that blacks would be offended by such a meal as well), she would be a redneck, but by pointed out the issue, she's overly PC. One thing I learned living in the US is that no two racial groups think alike when it comes to what is considered offensive or acceptable. I developed all of my beliefs about culture and sensitivity from the media and my peers. Even into the 90's whites were still referring to Asians as 'Orientals' and while offended, I bit my tongue. Other non-white friends of mine were less understanding...

User Detail :  

Name : Ken, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Asian, Religion : Agnostic, Age : 35, City : Seoul, State : NA Country : Korea, Occupation : Public relations, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Ken]

One thing I've learned living in both Asia and North America is that one set of standards isn't always better than another. Sarah C.'s response shows her hostility toward her own culture by not trying to understand that her grandmother's comment isn't meant to offend and I doubt that she's 'dumb'. The difference in skin color in any one ethnicity isn't limited to just Asians, as Sarah seems to imply. It exists in Latino and African-American cultures as well. Your explanation of the reasoning behind the Asian skin color issue is right on the nose, however, your characterization of its as being 'embarrasingly stupid' shows that you're very ignorant when it comes to discussing the reasons things are the way they are. Dark skin on caucasians in America is a sign that you have money and can afford to sit on a yacht and tan all day while the rest are stuck in their cubicles M-F. I don't think that's such an embarrasingly stupid conclusion to make, even though it's a gross stereotype.

User Detail :  

Name : Ken, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Asian, Religion : Agnostic, Age : 35, City : Seoul, State : NA Country : Korea, Occupation : Public relations, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Ken]

To turn the point around, many Koreans ask me why westerners wear their shoes indoors and even when lying on their beds/couches. I never gave it much thought when living in America, but it seems downright filthy having lived in Korea these past seven years...

User Detail :  

Name : Ken, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Asian, Religion : Agnostic, Age : 35, City : Seoul, State : NA Country : Korea, Occupation : Public relations, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

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