SM reader, Kikali K. sends me this humorous send up of Snoop Dogg’s inane song, Drop It Like It’s Hot. I normally don’t support FOB humor but this is pretty funny. Looks like it was shown at the 2005 SASA conference. Check it out.
SM reader, Kikali K. sends me this humorous send up of Snoop Dogg’s inane song, Drop It Like It’s Hot. I normally don’t support FOB humor but this is pretty funny. Looks like it was shown at the 2005 SASA conference. Check it out.
A mean-spirited, unfunny and disgusting display of intolerance. It’s baffling why American born and raised desis find it acceptable to maliciously ridicule immigrants. Especially from Northwestern students, who should have more common sense. What a travesty.
Horrified, That is just one of the reason that I think SASA sucks. On the flip side however its not THAT bad and Bollywood movies portray American and UK born desis in an even worse light in my opinion. This is obviously a spoof(even if in poor taste) whereas in Bollywood movies they sanctimoniously pretend they are doing an accurate portrayal of “ABCDs.”
Mean spirited? I don’t think so. Unfunny? Well it wasn’t brilliant, but it wasn’t bad either. Intolerant? Not really, there were no racial epithets, it was primarily making fun at stereotypes….how is that different many comedians who do so towards racial/gender stereotypes?
By the way, Northwestern or a community college what difference does it make in terms of intolerance
I didn’t think it was particularly mean-spirited or disgusting. Tasteless maybe, but a lot of funny stuff is tasteless. But, this wasn’t that funny either. There are only so many ways to deliver the same joke before people start figuring out that they’ve it before. But then again, maybe I’m missing something in my old age and this is hi-diddle-arious; it’s been known to happen.
Abhi, there is a difference.
Not all the US/UK born kids shown in the Bollywood movies are as stereotypical as any form of humor in movies or jokes like this, made by the ABCD community here representing the “FOBs”
Moreover in most Bollywood movies everything is unrealistic and not a true representative of how every Indian thinks. However things like this video stem from SASA like organizations that exist in every school in the country and actually reflect the way how they think of any Indian immigrants!
..me thinks the ABCDs have a FOB complex…
Horrified, it’s all in your perspective. In India recently I kept reading in serious newspapers the most appalling stereotypes of NRI’s and so-called ABCD’s. Even the name ABCD is far more insulting than FOB.
…Although, this clip is really offensive. It reminds me of a skit I heard on the radio last night involving a character called “Swami,” an Indian to whom the DJ was outsourcing his job.
It’s offensive when whites do it and it’s offensive when we do it.
to be so offended by this is a bit disheartening. should we not laugh at russell peters and his social commentary on the differences between him and his father? there is no point in being so serious about this within the community. if it were coming from outside the community, it would be a different issue. i, as an abd (american born desi), am not confused nor malicious in enjoying jokes about fobs, hell some of my closest friends from school were fobs. from outside the community, proving the humor about fobs is authentic and not malicious is much more difficult. that comes with the territory of being similar or different, imho.
Is there a particular lyric that makes this so offensive, or is it just the idea itself? It seems kind of harmless to me. And unfunny, but harmless nonetheless.
Its sad that these guy are being creative and down by using stereotypes of the desi community
it was kinda of creative in a mean-spirited way
By the way, FOB is a term used for ALL immigrants who are new to the country. “Fresh off the boat”, as in folks who just stepped off the boat in NY or wherever.
I’ve heard other immigrant communities use it too.
Indian movies and concepts are biased against ABCDs.
I claim to be an ABCD-EFG-FOB. All of them apply to me.
American Born Confused Desi Exported from Gujarat Fresh off the Boat
Lighten up guys…
I’m a FOB myself and found it pretty hilarious…OK.. after a while it starts to hurt.. touching a raw nerve, I guess, as far as the ladies are concerned.. :-)……but all desis (FOBs and ABCDs alike) should learn to take things less seriously.
I am not offended by humor that is balanced and not targetted to a particular section of people.
Whatever little I have seen of Russell Peters he never really singles out anyone as a FOB. His humor is based on making fun of all Indians FOBs or otherwise, infact people of all races. Another example is the hit BBC series Goodness Gracious Me which pokes fun of the entire immigrant community – first generation or not. And it actually is funny.
But this kinda humor specially coming from SASA organizations is defi. not funny…and yes I find it offensive too. You think they wouldve aired something trying to make fun of the confusion of ABCDs at the SASA show?
You implicitly assume next-gen desis are all confused, when in the U.S. they’re like fish in water. There’s nothing sexier than someone who can switch between cultures and is fluent in each. In fact, new immigration is often compelling drama precisely because it generates greater confusion.
And NGD’s aren’t trapped between worlds either, an original subculture is swelling. The classic response of those who don’t intuit a new subculture is to dismiss it out of hand– this is classic Crossing the Chasm.
As for this clip, it’s mildly funny with pretty lame lyrics, but it’s pretty slick on production values and sampled beats. Watch the guys in the background. It’s got some satirical, DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince flava.
By saying that I did not mean that all. I do not believe that ABCDs are confused but all FOBs dont wear ‘chappals’ on the street either.
Someone here asked me to see the humor in the clip, not believe everything and not take it seriously. That was my response…even when I dont believe that all American born Indians are confused, can I just say that – for the sake of humor?
I’m not sure what offends you more – that the clip was made, or that it was shown in SASA. If SASA had shown a clip that poked fun at “ABCDs,” would that make this any better in your eyes? You’ve made a couple of tables-turned analogies in your posts, so I’m curious.
actually wearing chapals on the street would be considered a pretty hip thing to do for, say, an indian-american hipster in a major city
thats why i don’t like the foba-phobia…i think it is a phobia…the same phobia that used to keep the desi boys and girls faaaaar away from each other in grade school (i’m not like him/her; i’m different so don’t belittle me)
i thought the sketch was not a solidarity thing, or really a shout-out to a shared heritage…it was foba-phobia
The FOB thing wasn’t so bad, it’s just that it wasn’t that creative… Seriously, it doesn’t take much thought to make fun of FOBs because no matter what boat you get off of and where, at some point you look like a complete dumbass when new to a country. Here’s a story:
A few years ago I moved to Mexico City and at the time, for whatever reason, I was having recurring headaches that required a heavy, daily-dose of drugs. Thus, every other day or so I’d go to the pharmacy and ask for pills using one of two phrases:
1) “Hola, tengo Dolores en mi cabeza, tiene Ibuprofen?”
or
2) “Buenas dias, tiene Ibuprofen? Tengo mucho dolares en mi cabeza.”
On most days, the pharmacists would either look at me with blank irritation, shake their heads or rattle off some remark that would get a smirk from a customer in the pharmacy. And I never paid much attention until one morning a petite Rx greeted me with a grin and “Que tal, maricon?” (“What’s up, faggot?”)…
In the neighborhood I was living in, if someone calls you a “faggot,” it’s best to knock the situation out right away. But, having minimal language skills, I left and only after returning with my roommate and a brief bit of chest-puffing (they thought I’d come back to fight), here’s what I was able to figure out:
When I said Phrase 1), this is what they heard:
“Hey, I’ve got this chick, Dolores, in my head–do you have any aspirin?”
And with Phrase 2):
“Good morning, I need some aspirin because I’ve just got too much money in my head.”
My Spanish was just good enough to make people believe I knew what I was saying and just bad enough to turn a thought sour. And, the reason the guy was calling me a “faggot” was because he was thinking to himself, “Who’s this pussy who, after a month, still can’t get over his girl and why the f*ck does he think I give a shit?”
Worse, however, was the pharmacist who scowled at me every time I came in and who, after hearing the explanation from my roommate, nearly choked to death with laughter because, apparently, with his minor salary, he was so offended by my repeatedly saying “I have too much money” that for the last month he was selling me sugar tablets, not Ibuprofen.
So, cut the FOBs some slack, even if they insist on wearing slacks, Trax and whatever else rhymes with those two words.
SO(F)Bs.
sd- LOVE the ibuprofen story!! Needed that this morning. thanks yaar!
I didnt think the clip was offensive. I think theres a difference between FOB’s poking fun at ABCD’s and ABCD’s poking fun at FOB’s. FOB’s dont normally avoid the ABCD’s but the ABCD’s who poke fun at the FOB’s usually avoid them as well. Also some ABCD’S tend to be a little more vicious and actually look down upon the FOB’s. I find it interesting that some communities do not make ‘fun’ of their FOB’s or atleast not to the same extent that some other communities do. Indians and Asians (East Asians) tend to make fun of their FOB’s way more than say Arabs, Persians or Afghans. I wonder whats the reason behind it ? Are the differences between Desi ABCD’s and FOB’s more pronouced ? Is it the colonial mind set ? Maybe some other reason …….
Al Mujahid, Your observation about other immigrant community’s FOB is right on the money. I think the reason is the “shame” that some people with lack of self confidence feel with being associated with “those” so not cool people in order to gain “approval” of the majority here. That is the reason why those who look down upon FOBs dont even want to associate with them. I say the above knowing very well that generalizations arent the best things. There are plenty of proud American borns who are secure in their identity (and are able to assert their identity) enough so as not to look down upon their own kind.
When some American born (I hate the term ABCD, so pretnetious) make fun of FOBs (I am myslef, I dont know if it counts after 10 years or not) they do it NOT considering them one of their own and that is like beating up a weaker kid by a school bully.
Good point RC. You know what’s funny is that my 1st generation parents (who came to the US in the 70s) even make fun of fobs now. I guess even immigrants who have been here for awhile want to distance themselves from the fobs somewhat.
As long as we’re talking about it, thought I’d bring up the small phenom of the uberFOB. This is someone who moved to the US a few years back but now make fun of the fresh arrivals. No jokes, this behavior is displayed by members of my extended family. With “American-accented” Indian English, they go to desi parties and refuse to mingle with the new guy/girl/couple who sit in a corner talking amongst themselves. UNLESS (a big unless) these FOBs are from one of the larger cities and have shown up in the latest Indian fashions and are about to dethrone the uberFOBs as the hot new things.
People/culture watching is fascinating. With a cup of rasagolas in my hand, I can sit for hours at these simple get-togethers and watch whole cultural pantomimes unfold.
Is it just me or are FOBs usually very kind to one another in the same boat, pardon the pun?
I really don’t understand the FOB-hating. Sure, growing up it was a really good alibi for my dad’s little quirks, “he’s FOB, don’t mind him” but as an adult, born and raised in US, I have to say I LOVE FOBs. (dare we coin the term FOB-hag?) I think it’s a really great symbiosis, in that they’ve never met a girl like me (or Anna!)in that we can talk and hang out and they don’t feel like I’m some didi or behenji, nor am I Kareena Kapoor’s “Poo” character from K3G. I feel secure in asking some really silly or obtuse questions about our culture– of which I have many questions, as my Dad came here in the mid-70’s and has spent much of his time here trying to assimilate rather than preserve some sense of his/our culture– enjoying similar interests, or trying new things. There are no cultural stigma with us, nobody judging, no aunties scolding. It’s actually just adults discussing life, the different situations they were raised in, and how we view 2 different countries… bas.
With that said, I didn’t find the video offensive at all. If they want to make a video and mock American Born Desis, I’ll help write the screen play. I make sure to laugh at myself first thing in the morning, that way the rest of you can do it the rest of the day…
Yes, I have seen that fobs of a feather flock together.
You see this crap in college campuses a lot, at least in the US. Even though it’s not high school, a lot of people still think they’re in a popularity contest, and that hanging out with people that may not fit their description of “cool” will hurt their social standing. It’s stupid and childish, but it’s the case with a LOT of people, desi or not. That’s why I find it so difficult to see this as overly offensive. I view this as more of a jock vs. geek thing than actual racial prejudice. And based on personal high school experience the geeks usually wound up winning that battle in the end.
rajesh, Then how do you explain that other immigrant groups dont do this extent of FOB bashing. ???
RC, That might be cause not all immigrants are considered as “uncool” as Indians.
Think Europeans or Australian speaking English in their accents vs Indians in theirs.
RC and Al, I think you guys are wrong on this one point. Other group DO make fun of “their” FOBs to the same (and sometimes greater) extent. Perhaps you didn’t click on the link in my post above, “FOB Humor?” I have seen plenty of joke sketches by the Korean and Chinese communities over the years that are no different than what we see here.
FOB-bashing applies mainly to Asian countries, China and Korea included. Europeans, Aussies, Latin Americans, etc. are considered “sexy” here so there is no need to bash them.
Abhi, I did not say that the Japanese and Koreans do not bash their FOB’s. This is what I stated ” Indians and Asians (East Asians) tend to make fun of their FOB’s way more than say Arabs, Persians or Afghans “
Anon and ST, As I stated earlier, Arabs and Persians do not bash their FOB’s or atleast no way near the degree the Desis so. You I am sure would agree with me that Arabs and Iranians are not considered cool in the US. I know a LOT of Arab/Iranian Americans and Arab/Irabian FOB. I have hung out with them, I have been to their parties and I have seem them interact with each other. They dont have the same tensions that ABCD and FOB Desis have. Having said that, I agree that there’s a coolness factor in play here, though I do not believe that the ‘uncool’ factor by itself explains this discrepancy.
Based on physical appearance alone, Arab/Iranian fobs don’t racially stand out as much in the US b/c they look closer to whites. So any “fobby” mannerisms they exhibit aren’t as easy for the general public to stereotype as those of desis/east Asians. Since this stereotype threat doesn’t exist as much, there isn’t much of a need for Arab/Iranian Americans to distance themselves from their fobs.
I also think that the hyper-competitive nature of most desis plays a role in the large extent of their fob-bashing. Desis aren’t really taught how to love and support others of their own race. I have seen this mentality in Chinese Americans as well.
The ethnic shame phenomenon American born and even new immigrant desis have is the key factor, others are just excuses. IMO anyways
Are you people serious??? NRIs and ABCDs get made fun of all the time in India. People need to learn how to take a joke. WE ARE ALL INDIAN! By the way, the video was hilarious!
It’s really interesting to go through all these comments. I’m an Indian FOB and I’ve socialized with a lot of different ethnic groups in my school, especially the Greeks, Iranians and Vietnamese. Of these, the Greeks have the maximum interaction between FOBs and Greek-Americans, followed by Vietnamese and Iranians respectively. My boyfriend who’s Greek says that within Greek-Americans, a boy from back home is quite a catch!
I don’t really agree that Iranian-Americans are any better disposed towards their FOBs than Indian-Americans. Most of my Iranian friends complain about the unwillingness of Iranian-American women to date FOBs. I think a big fear is being used as a ticket to a green card.
I have noticed though that there has been a change in the FOBs who’ve been coming to the US in the last couple of years or so (I arrived in 2000). I think a lot of them are liberalization’s children and are more globally savvy than certainly my generation of Indians are.
I wish everyone would stop saying Indian when they mean desi or South Asian or brown. Anyway…
The song was offensive, but more in a pathetic way than a scary way. the kids who made that probably need some growth time and therapy more than anything else and will hopefully grow to regret that they were so lame once.
but summa y’all need to lighten up (not the fobs…the abcds like me with the overdeveloped guilt complexes 🙂 ). can someone who’s so pissed off about bollywood portrayals of abcds give an example? i don’t watch enough, but i haven’t seen anything that was much worse than aladdin’s hilarious fob character in american desi.
On a more entertaining note, my (fob) friend Ayaz posted this at urban dictionary:
The state of being a homoFOB. The state of loving oneself as a homosexual who is also a FOB or in other words fresh of the boat. Not to be confused with homophobia which has the opposite meaning yet similar sound.
We watched “La Mala Educacion” and then went for Sushi at Gotan’s. We dissed ABCDs who think they are IT. Because it were WE homoFOBs who were IT. Then we sat around some bar table in the West Village and sang 70s songs by Noor Jehan and occasionally reminisced about the dialogue in movies like Sorraya Bhopali or Umrao Jaan. All in all, it was a very just a slice of my life full of homoFOBia.
Ummm….WTF. I not so much offended by the video, as I am by the fact that it was shown at the SASA conference.
Honestly there are enough stereotypical depictions of desi folk in mainstream media. I thought student groups were about empowerment, not perpetuating stereotypes.
So why a South Asian student group would show this video at their convention is beyond me.
This wasn’t shown at the SASA conference, it was shown at the SASA 2005 Show, put on by Northwestern University’s SASA chapter, which is ABCD-dominated. I actually attended the show, and this video was what started the program. If you thought that was offensive, you should have read the brochures.
PS – I don’t think it was offensive – just catering to the taste of the audience.
“If you thought that was offensive, you should have read the brochures” What was in the brochure ? Salivates 😉
Basically describing the three types of FOBs (in their opinion) – the wannabe macho man, the Bollywood freak, and the studious PhD student.
Based on what you say is in this brochure, it sounds like Northwestern University’s SASA Chapter is being run by some puerile jackasses.
I’m not quite sure why you guys are hating on the video so much. It was in no way intended to make fun of immigrant indians, especially when all of our parents (including the guys who made the video) are immigrants. Had you actually been at the show, you would have seen that their next skits included mockeries of boy bands and kids with multiple face piercings, as well as a cute remake of a scene from ‘dil chahta hai,’ without making fun of it. Even more so, is it really that untrue when they rap about outsourcing and jobs going to india? – at least they worded it creatively. And while they indeed mocked stereotypes, they weren’t very offensive in the manner that they did it (come on, “i am the boss, of ms-dos”…is that really insulting to anyone?) I think all these comments about the video stemming from FOB hatred and self-loathing are a result of people seeking and over-analyzing controversy in a place where no such issues even exist. These are not intolerant, ignorant boys who wrote this – they are aware, clever, and talented guys who were just trying to be funny, and they succeeded in doing so. The real fools out there will be the ones who watch this video and think it to be more than a joke.
Welcome to the Internet. Here’s your orientation packet.
hey–just wondering how do you guys know it’s northwestern’s SASA?
i found it hilarious–thats what’s good about our culture, we enjoy our own humor and its just some fun humor
Straight from the self-hating xenophobes’ mouth. I got this email from one of them:
Bystander, I’m trying to be on good behavior but there’s one thing you wrote that I have to respond to:
Wow!
If you believe that, I’ve got a bridge on sale at E-bay (no reserve!).