Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Rent a White Guy

theatlantic.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

31–40 of 71 posts

Re: Rent a White Guy

#31

Post by RyanMcGreal »

patio11 wrote: post #26

Ahh, this brings back memories. Japan has a tradition called "sakura" -- bringing in non-essential people for the sake of keeping up appearances. I've been a sakura, quite frequently. For example, at my ex-ex-job at the technology incubator, one of our incubated companies started selling their technology abroad. They were very happy and even got local press coverage -- a photo on page one. But what can you use as a p…

Isn't 'sakura' also the Japanese name for the cherry blossom tree? What's the connection?

Re: Rent a White Guy

#32

Post by patio11 »

RyanMcGreal wrote: post #31
patio11 wrote: post #26

Ahh, this brings back memories. Japan has a tradition called "sakura" -- bringing in non-essential people for the sake of keeping up appearances. I've been a sakura, quite frequently. For example, at my ex-ex-job at the technology incubator, one of our incubated companies started selling their technology abroad. They were very happy and even got local press coverage -- a photo on page one. But what can you use as a p…

Isn't 'sakura' also the Japanese name for the cherry blossom tree? What's the connection?

Sakura are beautiful and wilt quickly.

(My dictionary reports that the usage is originally from the theater, where folks would be allowed to attend for free if they audibly demonstrated approval when required. That is the classic usage of sakura -- planted questions in an audience, etc -- but our little photo-op was referred to as sakura as well.)

Re: Rent a White Guy

#33

Post by patio11 »

wyclif wrote: post #8

In Japan there is a similar phenomenon for couples about to get married; it's called "Rent a White Minister." Japanese couples who want a fancy wedding often rent a white guy to perform the ceremony. Very often, probably most of the time, said white guy isn't even an ordained minister in any Church.

Someone tried to recruit me for this at the church I used to attend in Kyoto. (Not anybody we knew -- they just walked in after Mass and came up to speak to me.)

My priest responded on my behalf with all the moneychangers-in-the-temple enthusiasm you would expect.

Re: Rent a White Guy

#35

Post by petercooper »

There was an article in [can't remember] (something good like the NYT) recently that talked about the phenomenon of black guys being hired as security guards in Arabic countries under similar intentions. The choice wasn't for negative reasons (e.g. cheaper labor or to "scare" criminals), but because they were seen to be exotic (a good trait for the high end boutiques being guarded). I seem to recall the black guys who were interviewed were bemused by the idea but appreciated the work nonetheless.

Re: Rent a White Guy

#36

Post by apower »

[deleted] wrote: post #30

[deleted]

Why is it that everytime China is mentioned, some Indians are going to jump in and say how Indians are better in such and such way? Do Indians just envy?

Re: Rent a White Guy

#37

Post by modoc »

[deleted] wrote: post #30

[deleted]

I know a number of Indian, primary out-sourcing, tech companies who employ folks I know as "token white guys". They are technically knowledgeable for sure, but magically there's always one token white guy presented as the project architect or tech lead during client meetings, who ends up shifting to the next project in the sales cycle without actually fulfilling the tech lead role.

Not all companies do this, but enough do that it's more the norm than the exception.

Re: Rent a White Guy

#39

Post by ww8520 »

sesqu wrote: post #12
Unseelie wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How is the fact that Chinese businesses want the chinese people to think that they're american businesses a proof that china is on the rise? All it shows, is that China thinks the west is better. A point in time of china's opinion, not even a view of a changing opinion.

It shows that China cares more about image than function. That suggests, to me, that they have more money to invest than time to vet applicants.

That's what marketing is all about, creating the image and perception. It only shows that they've learned very well from us.

Re: Rent a White Guy

#40

Post by mkramlich »

I'm reminded of the Republican Party's recent chairman Michael Steele. One of the microscopically few black men, percentage-wise, in a party of almost entirely white people, and he suddenly becomes Chairman, and the timing happened to be just before or just after (I forget which) the election of Obama, a black man, to the Presidency. Coincidence? I think not.
Post reply on HN