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Show HN: Silicon Valley Dictionary – Urban Dictionary Meets Silicon Valley

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Re: Show HN: Silicon Valley Dictionary – Urban Dictionary Meets Silicon Valley

#41

Post by GFK_of_xmaspast »

CONTRARlAN wrote: post #10
JesperRavn wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I found the Jian Yang entry offensive. Within liberal culture, it's typical to allow offensive stereotypes against Asians, on the basis that it is actually mocking the stereotype, not Asians. But this is inconsistent, since no one would accept this logic if it were applied to Black people or gays.

Are you offended by the definition of Jian Yang, or the actual character in the show? That's like being offended by Wikipedia's entry on the KKK because it accurately describes their position. Anyway–it's not stereotyping Asians, it's stereotyping Chinese-national engineers in Silicon Valley. That's a pretty specific cultural subset. > no one would accept this logic if it were applied to Black people or gays. No? Bec…

I haven't seen the show, but from your defense it smells like racism no matter how thin you try to slice it.

Re: Show HN: Silicon Valley Dictionary – Urban Dictionary Meets Silicon Valley

#42

Post by GFK_of_xmaspast »

mimighost wrote: post #18
JesperRavn wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's hard to make humorous shows without exposing some group to ridicule. While males are of course an acceptable target, but then the show looks too "PC". So in order to show that we're totally cool and not PC, a safe target is needed.

Actually, I am OK with certain stereotyping, because that is how comedy works. However, burning trash is not remotely funny and not true anymore, it is not representative at all. In that case, it is not even a good stereotype, it just lazy thinking & writing because they don't bother to understand what it is like to be an Asian nerd.

"that is how comedy works"

Says whom?

Re: Show HN: Silicon Valley Dictionary – Urban Dictionary Meets Silicon Valley

#43

Post by ams6110 »

GFK_of_xmaspast wrote: post #41
CONTRARlAN wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are you offended by the definition of Jian Yang, or the actual character in the show? That's like being offended by Wikipedia's entry on the KKK because it accurately describes their position. Anyway–it's not stereotyping Asians, it's stereotyping Chinese-national engineers in Silicon Valley. That's a pretty specific cultural subset. > no one would accept this logic if it were applied to Black people or gays. No? Bec…

I haven't seen the show, but from your defense it smells like racism no matter how thin you try to slice it.

Making jokes about cultural differences is not racism. It's comedy.

Re: Show HN: Silicon Valley Dictionary – Urban Dictionary Meets Silicon Valley

#44

Post by ams6110 »

harryjo wrote: post #36
rgbrenner wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So is this article wrong[0]? Landfills currently handle roughly half of China's MSW, while only about 10% is incinerated. Official credo suggests that landfills will continue to play a dominant role. But Beijing's push to increase the share of burned waste is unmistakable: a central target calls for 30% of MSW to be treated by waste-to-energy incineration by 2030. And late last year they opened the worlds biggest inc…

In the show (and the stereotype; I have no idea if it is true), "burning trash" refers to burning trash at home , not at a controlled municipal facility. http://www.epa.gov/solidwaste/nonhaz/municipal/backyard/inde...

You might be amazed to learn that this is very common in rural USA.

Re: Show HN: Silicon Valley Dictionary – Urban Dictionary Meets Silicon Valley

#45

Post by GFK_of_xmaspast »

ams6110 wrote: post #43
GFK_of_xmaspast wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I haven't seen the show, but from your defense it smells like racism no matter how thin you try to slice it.

Making jokes about cultural differences is not racism. It's comedy.

Even tho racist jokes are still jokes, they're also racist.

Re: Show HN: Silicon Valley Dictionary – Urban Dictionary Meets Silicon Valley

#46

Post by 001sky »

ams6110 wrote: post #44
harryjo wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In the show (and the stereotype; I have no idea if it is true), "burning trash" refers to burning trash at home , not at a controlled municipal facility. http://www.epa.gov/solidwaste/nonhaz/municipal/backyard/inde...

You might be amazed to learn that this is very common in rural USA.

yes...this is not at all uncommon and I imaginge in many other places around the world for the same reasons...

suprisingly, its not as terrible for the environment as it looks. but its not pleasant to see or be around regardless.

obviously, don't do this in CA b/c wildfires...etc.

Re: Show HN: Silicon Valley Dictionary – Urban Dictionary Meets Silicon Valley

#47

Post by pnevmatico »

kilimchoi wrote: post #35
stevebot wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks, awesome job. I'm loving the definitions I'm seeing so far. How long did it take to create this?

I believe the whole website was built in a few hours. But, it took us a few days to add the definitions.

What platform have you used for the website? Very cool idea, BTW.

Re: Show HN: Silicon Valley Dictionary – Urban Dictionary Meets Silicon Valley

#48

Post by throwawayyca »

JesperRavn wrote: post #11
mimighost wrote: post #8

Chinese(Pan-Asian, whatever), don't burn trash anymore for quite some time as far as I can remember, although I grew up in urban area, which might be a little different. Honestly, I don't know where this stereotype comes from, and why the show runners choose to pick this one opposed to many others out there which might be even more interesting, IMO.

It's hard to make humorous shows without exposing some group to ridicule. While males are of course an acceptable target, but then the show looks too "PC". So in order to show that we're totally cool and not PC, a safe target is needed.

Edgy comedy doesn't have to be derived from covert racism. There are many different ways for the show to be un-PC. It's simply a cop-out for the writing team and the creator. This is also evident when the only prominent black character in the show is a prostitute and the only Latinos are portrayed as thugs.
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