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IndigoShirtProd
Apr '21

This is an off shoot of the AAPI thread. I want to start by saying the titling of the thread and what the goal is for the promotion is muddled in the national origin of Tapas as a company. Tapas is American based and because of that, there are culturally significant months and holidays in America that seem to take precedence over those in other countries. And while this is understandable, it feels unfair to users who are not from America and may not be tuned in to what is culturally relevant over there. Some are very bothered by this and other want solutions. This doesn't particularly to do with AAPI heritage month but with cultural months and Tapas as a whole. I want inclusion but realize that falling short in some places is a part of the journey.

here's the other thread:

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KhanSpring
Apr '21
1

Thank you for creating this thread!
As I stated in the other thread, though a little out of place, why does Tapas, a site that although managed by an USA, host a great number of creators from all over the world. Creators, who's cultures were also surpresed and over whiched were attempts to be supresed and even erased. And people were killed for celebrating their traditions. And people had to fight these opresions.
I can't speak for each and every of the foreign creators of Tapas, however I am sure we all have a day, where our cultures celebrate and we want to share that with the rest of the world, because we survived, because we are still standing here and we will continue to be here for many more years to come.

darthmongoose
Apr '21

I was looking at the thread and thinking "....but what if a creator is like... Asian British? Or like... Asian and living in Asia? Is this only for Asian Americans specifically?"

The St Patrick's day event was... a bit.... uncomfortable too. I don't really understand, given that Irish people do still face discrimination and who are currently struggling with political unrest since Brexit, why this kind of problematic "lucky shamrock!" theme was chosen. The whole "luck of the irish" trope and confusing/conflating shamrocks with 4-leaf clovers, has some pretty racist background to it. Why not celebrate Irish creators? My best friend, the creator of Alien Heart, is an Irish woman from Dublin, and she can't be the only prominent Irish creator on the platform. St. Paddy's may be just an excuse to wear green and get drunk in America these days, but elsewhere it's a celebration for a group that's had to put up with centuries of awful treatment.

IndigoShirtProd
Apr '21
KhanSpring

And that a valid and great thing to strive for. It's just that I, personally, don't see the practicalities in hoping that a company will do that for you. Now I'm not saying to not petition Tapas to look into other countries and cultures to be more inclusive with their promotions. It's just that there are so many that someone is always going to feel left out (and yes, I realize people feel left out as it stands now and that's kind of the whole point of this discussion).
It's just I've seen how the cultural significance of some holidays kind of become increasingly commercialized and removed from its origins. For example, Easter just happened but it's not as though Tapas was going to do easter promotions that were directly related Christianity. Instead they did tangential, commercial promotions related to thing like easter eggs and easter bunnies.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I don't really see what your expectations are. With all the heritage and history months, there's going to be some overlap, and then Tapas is like going to choose what's worth focusing on i.e. what more commercially viable. Should Tapas be more inclusive, yes, and I think propping up AAPI heritage month is one of their ways of doing it. But is Tapas going to be inclusive in they way you think they should, probably not.

vothnthorvaldson
Apr '21

But why not use these opportunities (like this month) to be more inclusive?
It would be very interesting to compare the differences and similarities between Asian American authors, Asian authors and authors of Asian orgins living somewhere else.
It's a great opportunity to learn about each others in the context of a common heritage.

IndigoShirtProd
Apr '21

Yea they should. I don't know why they labeled the promotion as is. It doesn't make sense for their creator or user base. I highly doubt they want to exclude Asian people who live outside of America, but the name of the month is the name of the month. They didn't come up with the heritage month, they pulled it from somewhere.

KhanSpring
Apr '21
IndigoShirtProd

I am not hoping that a company would do that for me. It is something that we could do, as people, after all this company is run by people.
And yes, you are right, companies do put profit first, however, do they also not miss profit by staying in the bubble of being USA centred?

IndigoShirtProd
Apr '21

Yes I agree. It shouldn't just be labeled Asian American Pacific Islanders Heritage month rather Asian And Pacific Islanders heritage month would solve the problem.

IndigoShirtProd
Apr '21

If you think you can get away with it I'm not going to stop you. I just think they should change the name so that Asians from outside the US don't feel as though they're not welcome.

joannekwan(ง ˙o˙)ว here to help~
Apr '21

I would like to think this is in specific response to the anti-Asian sentiments, hate, and attacks on Asian elders that's been happening recently in the U.S.
Asian Americans have been historically shunted by the U.S government and media for decades from the Chinese Exclusion Acts that barred immigration to Japanese internment camps during WW2 to the emasculation of Asian men in Hollywood among other usual racist fare. And with covid, anti-Asian sentiments specifically has come to a boiling point.

I'm aware that anti-Asian hate has risen in countries like the UK as well, but I can't speak specifically on it since I don't personally know any Asian Brits.

rajillustration
Apr '21
IndigoShirtProd

If someone says they are a ___ American, that is a very important distinction being made and you need to respect that. When you come here, you basically get cut off from your country of origin. You are a pioneer in your own right, and have a very unique life experience that is different from an Asian living in China, India, Europe, or the Philippians. This isn't about them. This is about what's going on in the States.

vothnthorvaldson
Apr '21

I don't think someone is denying that. And I think most US people here and at least some non US people understand the US context right now.

rajillustration
Apr '21

But demanding that all Asian people be part of the same context is the issue here. Asian Americans are going through something totally different. This about them.

vothnthorvaldson
Apr '21

But as was already discussed it is very unrealistic to make special events for everyone.
So it is either find a more global approach to culture and heritage (and I am certain there would be a way to do that while still talking about more local, US relevent issues), or restrict events only to US interests. Which is what Tapas is going for, but one has to expect an international public to not be too enthralled..

TAMAnnoyingThe Cow
Apr '21
rajillustration

This is pretty much my issue with all amarican “issues” their are Asians suffering and dealing with discrimination across the globe. Free Hong Kong was a huge thing for the rest of the world, but not amarica. In fact many companies tried to ignore it.

Meanwhile the moment anything happens in amarica we have to signal it to the entire world and make ourselves look good for doing so.

It never actually feels like they actually care about these people and always feels more like a “me me me me” experience or worse, simple virtue signaling for clicks.

joannekwan(ง ˙o˙)ว here to help~
Apr '21

I saw lots of people I know in my social circles support Hong Kong and on social media too. But since it happened during the last presidency, I'm sure Trump, along with many corporations, wanted to stay on China's good side by not addressing it.

rajillustration
Apr '21
TAMAnnoying

Straight up your memory must be bad because everyone was talking about Free Hong Kong.

We could do nothing, that's a thing we could do. But if they want to do a tiny bit of charity--we shouldn't get on their ass for that--otherwise you'll just get nothing. Why not let a good thing happen, especially following some very terrifying mass shootings?

I'm not saying virtue signaling isn't real--but part of the problem is people don't think racism is real. So taking it down would only further the belief that the racism shouldn't be regarded as racism.