First a little background. I am working for a Korean company so lots of Koreans, few scattered other Asians (2 Flips, 1 Viet, 1 Chinese just left company though), few hispanics (1 PR, 1 Mexican, 2 American born hispanic, 1 mixed hispanic) and some caucasian (in the home office, not talking about the field people). The new head of HR is caucasian. Several people have commented that they're being racist about their new hires (interviewing mostly caucasian and leaning towards hiring gay white males) but they tend to complain and discuss it amongst the non-caucasian staff.

Anyway, on 4 separate occasions/ 4 separate people came to me to complain about the new hires and tell me they were racist and were only hiring white people and that the new people wouldn't talk to them because they're not white. When one of the assistants in my department came to me to complain about it I looked at her and laughed (coudn't help myself) and said I'm white you fool. I was one of the first people she discussed it with. I agreed about noticing that they seem to be interviewing and hiring way more white candidates for the office. But the conversation snowballed and now the big joke around the office is I'm not white. They keep joking with me about it and say its a compliment. That I judge people for who they are and not whether they are my same race, etc. OK, so its a back handed compliment for me at best. I take it in good humor because they mean well by it but really its a slam against my race to lump all of my race (or any race) into one category and say we're all this way or that. The fact that they all say I'm not white is supposed to mean I do not fit the stereotype but I feel its not only wrong to have racial/sexual preferences in hiring but also wrong to feel all of one certain type of people are racist because of the color of their skin.

I've talked to them about it but they don't see and think I'm kidding and just repeat yeah, but you're not white. Just think its a strange "compliment" as I'm told it is. So what's the strangest compliment you've gotten?

and yeah, sorry this was a little bit of a rant too...but I feel better now :P

I too work for an Asian company (Japanese media), but there is also many other Asians as well (especially Filipino). Due to my friendly nature I of course talk and interact with everyone, but I really fell in with a Filipino group. They call me a Filipina and tell me I'm not really white as well It's recurring with me as well, I hear it almost daily.

I do view it as a compliment, but I guess since I really adore my co-workers (and since I'm still new) I really take it as they really have accepted me and like me not only as a co-worker, but as a friend. I was quickly able to break down a barrier.


The real strangers compliment I ever got was that "My eyes are freaky". I was like uh, usually people like them.......She said no, they are awesome, I've just never seen colors like that (my eyes have a gold ring on the outside, a green ring in the center and a deep green ring around my pupil). I was like, then why didn't you just say "awesome" instead of "freaky"????


Weird.

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I would be offended if I was given "a compliment" of not being white. As if being white is something bad?!?! I'd feel honored if they said to me that they don't see my difference of looks when they talk to me or that they regard me as a good friend etc.

What if I said to an Asian person that he is not Asian to me, and that that is a compliment? Or what if I said to a black person that he is not really black, and that it would be a compliment?

I am what I am, and I would NOT take "compliments" of not being a member of my race/ethnicity/nationality.

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Honey-bunnyyyy...

if they were to say that to me, I'd ask what a white person was like.

Good call.

Yeah, I tried that tactic mimi. Didn't work. They don't see it as offensive.

OK, so here is another probably less contraversial one. An old co-worker (male) once came up to me at a happy hour and said to me (paraphrasing this was years ago) Cat ya know, redheads are either gorgeous or butt ugly. You're lucky you're not ugly. Smart ass me replied, well I guess I'm not gorgeous either cause I'm naturally blonde. :P He stammered over his words no, that's not what I meant, you're beautiful. I said, see there, much more clear when direct. Oh what does he know. He was drunk...LOL.

lol..

ook, this one is really weird.

I had a Chinese guy I was talking to online look at a full body shot of me. Well ya I'm big, but also curvy..anyway, I was kinda bracing for a negative response, when instead he starting laughing. Now I'm really baffled..then said if we got togethor he'd be the happiest landlord over such a fertile land for his future children..

so ya, I'm a peice of farmland, I had no response to that one.

Ah, mimi, I'm gonna place a bid on that plot of land. Its pretty fine in my book.