How do you define "Asia" and "Asian"?

[Maklohi Vai]

What is Pelopenesian? That's not a real word or grouping as far as I know.

I'm aware that I messed up there. Apparently I mixed up Polynesian with Pellopenesian..
Damn you, Greek terms.

In any case, the name given to the native inhabitants of Hawaii, New Zealand, Australia (To an extent), and some parts of South-East Asia are Polynesians. I view them as such as a result.

This post makes me want to scream in fury. Polynesia ≠ all of the Pacific, let alone SE Asia.

[Syberea]

Here's an image that gives you a glimpse of the Polynesians, by the way.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/c ... spread.png

[New Waterford]

This is Asia.

[Ksclve]

Depends on the context, really

but I wouldn't call russians asian

[Maklohi Vai]

Here's an image that gives you a glimpse of the Polynesians, by the way.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/c ... spread.png

No, no, no. That map is almost surely not backed by any reputable historian or ethnologist, unless I am gravely mistaken about what it is supposed to represent.

EDIT: That map was from a scholarly book, my mistake, but it was one FROM 1934! Severely outdated, especially with what we've learned since then.

[Cetacea]

What is Pelopenesian? That's not a real word or grouping as far as I know.

I'm aware that I messed up there. Apparently I mixed up Polynesian with Pellopenesian..
Damn you, Greek terms.

In any case, the name given to the native inhabitants of Hawaii, New Zealand, Australia (To an extent), and some parts of South-East Asia are Polynesians. I view them as such as a result.

Hehe yeah I was a bit confused on the southern greece connection too, but Ive seen weirder links on NSG.

Now the correct term you're looking for is Austronesian which is the more accepted term linking Malays, Micronesians and Polynesians. Austronesians are also native to Taiwan and Champa , Vietnam, Madagascar and had some linguistic influence in parts of India.

We all use to all be called Malays and in the 19th century even enjoyed status as a fourth 'race' on top of the caucasian-mongoloid-negroid schema, but later we were further subdivided and people are still arguing our origins.

Also Australian aborigines aren't polynesia, they are probably Austroloid as are the Papuans and Aeta (aka negritos)

[Arumdaum]

What is Pelopenesian? That's not a real word or grouping as far as I know.

I'm aware that I messed up there. Apparently I mixed up Polynesian with Pellopenesian..
Damn you, Greek terms.

In any case, the name given to the native inhabitants of Hawaii, New Zealand, Australia (To an extent), and some parts of South-East Asia are Polynesians. I view them as such as a result.

No, holy shit, that's ridiculous.

Australia was never settled by Polynesians, nor are all Austronesians Polynesians.

here's a map man

[Arumdaum]

I'm aware that I messed up there. Apparently I mixed up Polynesian with Pellopenesian..
Damn you, Greek terms.

In any case, the name given to the native inhabitants of Hawaii, New Zealand, Australia (To an extent), and some parts of South-East Asia are Polynesians. I view them as such as a result.

Hehe yeah I was a bit confused on the southern greece connection too, but Ive seen weirder links on NSG.

Now the correct term you're looking for is Austronesian which is the more accepted term linking Malays, Micronesians and Polynesians. Austronesians are also native to Taiwan and Champa , Vietnam, Madagascar and had some linguistic influence in parts of India.

We all use to all be called Malays and in the 19th century even enjoyed status as a fourth 'race' on top of the caucasian-mongoloid-negroid schema, but later we were further subdivided and people are still arguing our origins.

Also Australian aborigines aren't polynesia, they are probably Austroloid as are the Papuans and Aeti (aka negritos)

The current accepted theory is that the Austronesian languages originated in Taiwan and then gradually spread out.

Australian aboriginals are from the first human migration out of Africa, and then no other group really migrated to Australia after them until relatively modern times.

[Arumdaum]

Yeah, and why?

Is it because they all look the same to you?

Is it because you don't know anything about their cultures and just assume them all to be the same?

Do you know that the Peloponnese is the peninsula in Greece with Sparta in it?

Did you know that Asia at first meant Turkey, the Levant, and Egypt east of the Nile?

How are Malays, Vietnamese, Cambodians, Laotians, the Thai, and the Burmese not Southeast Asian?

Are you blind? Seriously? I'm fairly sure in the image I provided you can take a look - With your EYES, that is- To what I initially drew up. Southeast Asian is Asian, no? Is it not? Huh?
It's my personal conviction to view these people as Asian, SouthEast Asian or whatever else there is, because they share cultural links with the 'Asian' people on a more distinct level than the Indians and Russians do, causing for some to not be considered Asian.

I view people as individuals, not as part of a 'race' or ethnic group. However, considering that in my lifetime I'm hardly ever going to be capable of meeting all the people from Asia, I drew up those boundaries in my head.

The other reason is that I'm from Yakutsk, Sakha Republic, Russia. I don't perceive myself as an Asian because I'm Caucasian in skincolour, I have green eyes, I'm a brunette, I speak European-Slavic languages (Aswell as Germanic ones) and I have no links with Asia. Is this too hard for you to understand?

Are you unable to read? Your post didn't answer any of my questions.

This is about how you grouped those countries together, which, by how you don't perceive yourself as "Asian" because you have green eyes and you're white, probably indeed has to do with physical characteristics you probably associate with race. It also shows your ignorance of how the people of the region generally look, as the Ainu look very different from say, the Burmese.

Pretty much all your posts, including this one, have only shown your complete ignorance of the cultures of the region. Did you know that places such as Thailand, Myanmar, Bhutan, and Nepal are culturally more similar to India, and have had more Indian influence than Chinese? Or did you only group together Southeast Asia together with East Asia because you assumed that because in your opinion they look similar, that they're culturally similar?

What is "Asian culture" to you, really? What do you even know about it? "Asia" originally didn't even mean places like China or Japan when it was coined, but rather places like Egypt, Turkey, and Syria.

[Arumdaum]

I'm aware that I messed up there. Apparently I mixed up Polynesian with Pellopenesian..
Damn you, Greek terms.

In any case, the name given to the native inhabitants of Hawaii, New Zealand, Australia (To an extent), and some parts of South-East Asia are Polynesians. I view them as such as a result.

Hehe yeah I was a bit confused on the southern greece connection too, but Ive seen weirder links on NSG.

Now the correct term you're looking for is Austronesian which is the more accepted term linking Malays, Micronesians and Polynesians. Austronesians are also native to Taiwan and Champa , Vietnam, Madagascar and had some linguistic influence in parts of India.

We all use to all be called Malays and in the 19th century even enjoyed status as a fourth 'race' on top of the caucasian-mongoloid-negroid schema, but later we were further subdivided and people are still arguing our origins.

Also Australian aborigines aren't polynesia, they are probably Austroloid as are the Papuans and Aeta (aka negritos)

Negroid/Australoid/Mongoloid/Caucausoid are all pretty outdated things when people liked to group people into races, and thought that East Asians evolved from Homo erectus, and Europeans evolved from Neanderthals.

[Arumdaum]

If your definition of Asian is what's in Asia, then Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan aren't "not very Asian."

It has a less Asian feel, though it's geographically in Asia.

What has an "Asian" feel to it?..

Asia isn't a place of just exotica and monolithic sameness.

Japan doesn't have the same feel as Syria.

Manchuria doesn't have the same feel as Malaysia.

Kyrgyzstan doesn't have the same feel as the Philippines.

[Blasveck]

It has a less Asian feel, though it's geographically in Asia.

What has an "Asian" feel to it?..

Asia isn't a place of just exotica and monolithic sameness.

Japan doesn't have the same feel as Syria.

Manchuria doesn't have the same feel as Malaysia.

Kyrgyzstan doesn't have the same feel as the Philippines.

Silly Arum.

All Asians are the same. *nods*

[Syberea]

I'd have to apologize for my inaccuracies- Asia-related topics are out of my comfort zone.
I do want to state, though, that I don't quite view anyone as "Asian".
I'm sure we wouldn't want to be called Asians if we were all Japanese or Chinese. Would we?

I suppose it's comparable to the Germanic people;
The United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria..
Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Faroe Islands, Iceland..

Or comparable to the Polish and the Russians.
To my knowledge, the Polish don't really like me. Even though we're both a Slavic people by definitions someone created.

What I'm trying to say is, maybe we shouldn't debate over what's Asian and what's not Asian. Because before you know it China is going to start a war because they don't want the Japanese to be defined equally to them as 'Asians'. >.>

The Chinese are coming! *panics*

[Syberea]

I have the answer to this thread.

We're all human.
...Well, except for me and my countrymen & women.

Correction:

We're all human or Russian.

[Maklohi Vai]

I'd have to apologize for my inaccuracies- Asia-related topics are out of my comfort zone.
I do want to state, though, that I don't quite view anyone as "Asian".
I'm sure we wouldn't want to be called Asians if we were all Japanese or Chinese. Would we?

Yes, we would. Because we would be Asian.

What I'm trying to say is, maybe we shouldn't debate over what's Asian and what's not Asian. Because before you know it China is going to start a war because they don't want the Japanese to be defined equally to them as 'Asians'. >.>

They're both Asians, i.e. the same race. They are different ethnicities within the Asian race.

I have the answer to this thread.

We're all human.
...Well, except for me and my countrymen & women.

Correction:

We're all human or Russian.

Very well done.

[Euronion]

Asia: A Geographical location
Asian: an ethnicity used to describe people who are not from Europe, Africa, Russia, India, or the Middle East in the geographical location of Asia

[Cetacea]

Hehe yeah I was a bit confused on the southern greece connection too, but Ive seen weirder links on NSG.

Now the correct term you're looking for is Austronesian which is the more accepted term linking Malays, Micronesians and Polynesians. Austronesians are also native to Taiwan and Champa , Vietnam, Madagascar and had some linguistic influence in parts of India.

We all use to all be called Malays and in the 19th century even enjoyed status as a fourth 'race' on top of the caucasian-mongoloid-negroid schema, but later we were further subdivided and people are still arguing our origins.

Also Australian aborigines aren't polynesia, they are probably Austroloid as are the Papuans and Aeti (aka negritos)

The current accepted theory is that the Austronesian languages originated in Taiwan and then gradually spread out.

Australian aboriginals are from the first human migration out of Africa, and then no other group really migrated to Australia after them until relatively modern times.

The Sundaland theory is gaining ground as it better fits the dna history. It suggests that 60000 yrs ago the first wave from Africa reached continental Sundaland and some of these crossed to Australia. Sundaland suffered flooding post-glaciation and became the islands of SE Asia.the inhabitants scattered with some moving north to south china were they mixed with Austro-Tai speaking Baiyue before being displaced by the northern Han. They moved to Taiwan and developed the Austronesian language which was later reintroduced to the Islands.

The earliest Sunda inhabitants were Austroloids and probably ancestors of the Australian aborigine, Papuans and Aeta. Austronesians arrived later but are infact a back migration and became dominant.

Btw the Aboriginal people of Cape York, Northern Queensland have Austronesian dna and show Austronesian influences in their language

[Arumdaum]

They're both Asians, i.e. the same race. They are different ethnicities within the Asian race.

The concept of race is a social one, and is unscientific.

[Maklohi Vai]

They're both Asians, i.e. the same race. They are different ethnicities within the Asian race.

The concept of race is a social one, and is unscientific.

Yes, of course it is. It is, however, a recognized social construct that exists whether we like it or not. Even if we try to change it, it still remains for many people. Ergo, it is a relevant point of discussion.

[Conscentia]

Asia: The area of the Eurasian continent that does not include the European or Oceanian subcontinents.

[Conscentia]

The concept of race is a social one, and is unscientific.

Yes, of course it is. It is, however, a recognized social construct that exists whether we like it or not. Even if we try to change it, it still remains for many people. Ergo, it is a relevant point of discussion.

No it isn't. By having that attitude, you perpetuate the nonsense.
People who believe in race are just plain wrong - they need to know that.

[Towson]

Asia were ever we bomb next.

[Maklohi Vai]

Yes, of course it is. It is, however, a recognized social construct that exists whether we like it or not. Even if we try to change it, it still remains for many people. Ergo, it is a relevant point of discussion.

No it isn't. By having that attitude, you perpetuate the nonsense.
People who believe in race are just plain wrong - they need to know that.

My god, did I ever say I believed in it? No, I think it's absolutely ridiculous, and my comments implied that. What I mean by that clause, to clarify, is that because most people still view race as something tangible, we have to recognize its existence in that sense. We have to be aware of those who "perpetuate the nonsense" in order to move society away from race. You can't start a revolution without knowing what you're revolting against.

[Conscentia]

No it isn't. By having that attitude, you perpetuate the nonsense.
People who believe in race are just plain wrong - they need to know that.

My god, did I ever say I believed in it? No, I think it's absolutely ridiculous, and my comments implied that. What I mean by that clause, to clarify, is that because most people still view race as something tangible, we have to recognize its existence in that sense. We have to be aware of those who "perpetuate the nonsense" in order to move society away from race. You can't start a revolution without knowing what you're revolting against.

Well that's fine then. Apologies for the misunderstanding.

[Cetacea]

Hehe yeah I was a bit confused on the southern greece connection too, but Ive seen weirder links on NSG.

Now the correct term you're looking for is Austronesian which is the more accepted term linking Malays, Micronesians and Polynesians. Austronesians are also native to Taiwan and Champa , Vietnam, Madagascar and had some linguistic influence in parts of India.

We all use to all be called Malays and in the 19th century even enjoyed status as a fourth 'race' on top of the caucasian-mongoloid-negroid schema, but later we were further subdivided and people are still arguing our origins.

Also Australian aborigines aren't polynesia, they are probably Austroloid as are the Papuans and Aeta (aka negritos)

Negroid/Australoid/Mongoloid/Caucausoid are all pretty outdated things when people liked to group people into races, and thought that East Asians evolved from Homo erectus, and Europeans evolved from Neanderthals.

Well, it is now believed that Aborigines and Melanesians (Papuans) have about 6% denisovan dna and accounts for the blondhair common in Melanesia. Denisovans have a genetically distinct mtdna lineage from other modern humans.