Anger and Fear as Asian American Seniors Targeted in Bay Area Attacks

Hate has nothing to do with it if it's economically motivated.

@xboxnolifes. As I posted elsewhere, watch this and tell me if it looks "economically motivated". Even in the cases where this violence is "economically motivated", does that mean hate isn't a factor? So as long as I steal some money nothing is a hate crime? (I don't really know what I think of the category "hate crime", but if we are going to have them it seems the rules should be elucidated). https://abc7news.com/san-francisco-senior-attacked-sf-man-pu...

[edit for clarity: Not a fan of jumping to call things "hate crimes". Also not a fan of trying to caste a mitigating aura on violent crime by saying it is all "economically motivated", especially when that is not true of all these crimes. Double plus fan of police enforcing the law and keeping violent people locked away.]

As a matter of fact, some people do wait around for moments when they can get away with violent crime. I've met them and this is how some people think (maybe even most violent people are this way). During one weekend of the protests in Chicago this summer, there was a weekend with over 20 murders, which happened partly because people knew all the police were downtown and it was a good moment to settle scores (https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-52984535). I agree with you this could have something to do with the rhetoric you mention, just as well as other political rhetoric. It could also just have to do with virality, the impression of lawlessness/lack of repercussions, the "fun" of being violent, and people in public who shouldn't be. In the end, if you shoot a woman in the head with a flare gun, I'm not too concerned whether you claim you did it because "of the president's rhetoric", "to fight white/asian supremacy", or "to steal her pocketbook for economic motivations". I'm more concerned that the police arrest you and the government locks you up until you know better. Anything else looks like more deflection of responsibility to me.

A while ago, in my youth, I worked longside guys who had been let out. Yes, they do seek weaknesses and they know what they are. They know the vulnerable population and the population that does not fight. Example, they would hit richer folks for certain things because they would not get chased as they would more than likely have insurance. They had many stories to tell. They go to SF and they avoid DC (San Mateo Co.). It's not xenophobia or wealthphobia or whatnotphobia. No it's easyphilia.

This makes no sense, because Indians are literally and indisputably from Asia. What is Asian genetics but the genetics of people who live in Asia? Asian is not a specific nationality or people, and applies to the people of any Asian country.

FYI this isn't how gene pools work, mathematically; there's no specific profiles of genes which are "Caucasian" or "Asian". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedigree_collapse will get you started on a better understanding.

I could be wrong but I've always seen Russians identify themselves as Europeans than as Asians, even though large part of Russia falls in Asia.

Agreed - it's a great opportunity for "HN" to realise, whether they like it or not, that "asian" does not only relate to "east asian".

It is appalling that the commenter above had to edit their own comment based on these responses.

Is US pop-culture racial discourse really the arbiter of truth for discussions on HN? I understand that it can appear slightly confusing to people here in the united states, but over a billion people who you don't consider asian, refer to themselves as asian.

Historically Siam was part of Indochina; a confluence. Like the rivers.

Conflating the South East as a part of the South or East Asia because it has both names is as someone saying Texas is not West or Eastern US while being in the "middle" geographically.

South East Asia is markedly different to South or East Asia. It's a melting pot of both cultures + Melayu and other groups. South East Asians that descended from South Asia (Ex: Malaysian/Singaporean with Indian ancestry) mostly identifies as South East Asians. Same with people who have East Asian ancestry (Ex: mainly Chinese ancestry across SEA). The immigration happened hundreds or even thousands of years ago and some are very distinct groups and cultures from their origins due to time and separation.