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The Strange Case of Dr. Ho Man Kwok (2019)

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Re: The Strange Case of Dr. Ho Man Kwok (2019)

#41
post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wish people stopped invoking racism everywhere, when plain "being misinformed" explains things just fine. Millions of Koreans swear up and down that MSG is bad for health. Are we also being racist? (Against whom?)

This. Invoking racism and gender discrimination when it’s not the reason, causes more racism and it gives more than ample opportunity to actual racists within us to exploit it for their own nefarious needs.

There’s a long history of racism against Chinese immigrants in America. Among the only jobs they were allowed to have was having restaurants. Of course this led to rumours of Chinese restaurant being dirty and their MSG causing sickness. It’s a very long history and it’s well documented. While you’re at it, read on the Chinese exclusion act.

And now you’re saying that people who call this racism for what is is are the ones responsible for the racism. You’ve got to be kidding.

Re: The Strange Case of Dr. Ho Man Kwok (2019)

#42
The thing is, I have personal experience with CRS (specifically headaches), and have since I was a small child when I had never even heard of it or MSG. Obviously it isn't MSG (I use it as a seasoning more than salt and pepper), but am thoroughly convinced that there is something to it.

Re: The Strange Case of Dr. Ho Man Kwok (2019)

#43
post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wish people stopped invoking racism everywhere, when plain "being misinformed" explains things just fine. Millions of Koreans swear up and down that MSG is bad for health. Are we also being racist? (Against whom?)

Are they for different reasons? What is the reason Koreans think it's bad for health? As I haven't read about that. Given that in the west it was also dubbed "Chinese Restaurant Syndrome" I would think some form of prejudice played a part.

> Chinese Restaurant Syndrome

you'd think the name would give it away, but people are so quick to dismiss racism that this blaring red flag is just glossed over

Re: The Strange Case of Dr. Ho Man Kwok (2019)

#44
post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wish people stopped invoking racism everywhere, when plain "being misinformed" explains things just fine. Millions of Koreans swear up and down that MSG is bad for health. Are we also being racist? (Against whom?)

This. Invoking racism and gender discrimination when it’s not the reason, causes more racism and it gives more than ample opportunity to actual racists within us to exploit it for their own nefarious needs.

I've heard this repeated so many times but I don't actually understand what that means - can you elaborate? Mentioning racism causes more racism? Doesn't that make sense?

Sort of sounds like the same thing as "the more you test for COVID the more cases there will be"

I've read your sentence like 10 times and it makes no sense to me. How would one exploit someone calling out (false by your definition) racism to cause more racism?

Re: The Strange Case of Dr. Ho Man Kwok (2019)

#45
This article is trying to equate a medical controversy with racism. There exists a medical controversy over the effects of MSG. There exists racism, both in general and in particular against Asians in the United States. There also exists a very profitable industry that relies on flavour enhancers, and MSG is one of the most potent yet least expensive flavour enhancers available.

I'll tell you that I've inadvertently done the double-blind "Is MSG harmful" test too many times in my life. I'm one of the very, very few people who are negatively affected by MSG. But just like the hordes of non-celiacs who refuse gluten, there are many people who are not affected by MSG who prefer to avoid it as well.

What I do find disgusting is the attempts to conflate racism with the ill effects of MSG, in an effort to discredit those who do suffer from MSG sensitivity. It is telling that independent studies done in the late 1960s and early 1970s, as told in the fine article, found a connection between MSG usage and onset of negative symptoms. But when the knowledge of the connection began affecting the food industry, other studies with different findings started appearing.

Re: The Strange Case of Dr. Ho Man Kwok (2019)

#46
post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> MSG is a naturally occurring food substance, with a distinctive savory taste known by Japanese as umami. “It’s a chemical the same way water is a chemical,” said LeMesurier, who is herself of Korean descent, raised by white parents. “If you have ever eaten aged cheese or heirloom tomatoes, you’ve eaten MSG.” Its powdered form was created in 1908 by a chemist in Japan, and it made its way with Chinese immigrants to…

Cyanide is also a naturally occurring chemical found in food items like Cassava and to a lesser extent, potatoes. That didn't make it harmless.

Humans already seek out foods rich in MSG, while we don’t necessarily search out Cyanide.

Re: The Strange Case of Dr. Ho Man Kwok (2019)

#47
post #42

The thing is, I have personal experience with CRS (specifically headaches), and have since I was a small child when I had never even heard of it or MSG. Obviously it isn't MSG (I use it as a seasoning more than salt and pepper), but am thoroughly convinced that there is something to it.

what is CRS, please use the full name

Re: The Strange Case of Dr. Ho Man Kwok (2019)

#48

Dave Chang has a small scene in one of his Ugly Delicious (great show, by the way) episodes where he gets a group of non-Asian Americans, who claim to be MSG-allergic, to come and share their stories of MSG-related symptoms after eating at Chinese restaurants. He then hands out Doritos and American products that the participants claim they love and can eat all day. Hard to see where this is going... he says, all thes…

If the only food they know to contain MSG is Chinese food then it’s a stretch to call that racism.

[deleted]

Re: The Strange Case of Dr. Ho Man Kwok (2019)

#49
post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wish people stopped invoking racism everywhere, when plain "being misinformed" explains things just fine. Millions of Koreans swear up and down that MSG is bad for health. Are we also being racist? (Against whom?)

The racism addition into everyday online discourse is what 'flavors' an article or topic, kind of like MSG flavors Doritos or stir-fry. Is it racism, is it not, it leads to a heated fight-or-flight type of feeling, or an indignation, or a strong nod and interest. Similar to the way salaciousness gets our attention in an ad or gossip story.

I'll have my online discourse with an extra dash of racism accusations please, hold the logic.

Re: The Strange Case of Dr. Ho Man Kwok (2019)

#50

Dave Chang has a small scene in one of his Ugly Delicious (great show, by the way) episodes where he gets a group of non-Asian Americans, who claim to be MSG-allergic, to come and share their stories of MSG-related symptoms after eating at Chinese restaurants. He then hands out Doritos and American products that the participants claim they love and can eat all day. Hard to see where this is going... he says, all thes…

What a stupid comment. Are you really saying the only possible reason is racism? When all you have is a hammer...

> “do you think racism plays a part?”

> Are you really saying the only possible reason is racism?

I don't think that is what they're saying

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