Cultural Appropriation being taken too far

[KitBumbleB]

DD is early secondary age and is exploring her hobbies and interests like other kids her age. One of her friends has discovered that she loves cooking and especially likes making Chinese food.
Last night DD was furiously typing on her phone and when I asked what was up she said one of her friends was having a go at the other for "cultural appropriation" because apparently cooking food of another culture or country is wrong.
The girl who likes cooking was incredibly upset and terrified of anyone else finding out as apparently this is the worst crime a tween can commit.

DD also tells me that according to TikTok, learning a language is also appropriation, especially Japanese as it is seen as fetishism

I know this is not AIBU, but am I the only one who thinks this is nonsense and is turning harmful, its like a mindless pile up.

DD and I are not white btw

I don't understand how it's a problem to want to learn Japanese due to being an anime fan. Surely it's natural that you would have an interest in the language if you are constantly being exposed to it from watching anime? Surely it would be handy to understand the language so that you wouldn't have to rely on subtitles?

I personally would like to learn Russian so that I can read Russian literature in the language it was written in, is that fetishising Russian culture?

I'm learning Irish in an online class at the moment and I have classmates from lots of different countries. Most of them came to the language through their love for Irish traditional music.

But being AMAB and AFAB is a thing - it's not a 'man being a woman'. There is a lot to unpack but most transfolk are reasonable people who are unnerved by the extremes and appreciate the need for single sex spaces. The issue is that there is still a shortfall on inclusive spaces.
Consider that most disabled folk needing accessible toilets didn't have a choice of mixed/single sex until relatively recently.

Music is now enormously problematic if we believe we’re only allowed to listen to music that comes exclusively from our country of birth. I mean, how on earth would you even begin to untangle this? Would we have to find out the antecedents of singer, songwriter, composer, conductor, orchestra or band before tapping our toes or singing along?

Have any of you who believe in this crap spotted a flaw in your illogical ‘reasoning’ yet? I hope you’re dashing to your music/art/cookbook/literature/film etc collections to, what exactly? Burn? Sacrificially bury? Weep bitter tears of shame over anything that’s not 100% ‘pure’ in your eyes? Don’t you realise how idiotic your ideas are? Why are you following this sheeplike religion? Time to think for yourselves eh? You might enjoy it and actually learn something once you take off your purity blinkers 😆

Whoa there! Sex is observed at birth, if not actually in utero. Do you think medical staff have a sorting hat to allocate natal sex? How amusing, and sadly ignorant.

Oh, and by the way, you can’t identify into having a disability, so that’s a frankly offensive argument for letting penis havers into women’s lavatories 🙄

I've been playing some Vivaldi on my cello today. Is that cultural appropriation of 17th century Italians? I had pasta for lunch to compound the issue

@PrettyVacancy Neo-Nazis have pursued “racially pure” music for decades (it sounds awful, no bass or drumbeat as those are “black”).

Bit ironic there are earnest teenagers on Tik Tok arguing that Neo Nazis have the right idea and the rest of us are the true racists

(I don’t think anybody over the age of twelve genuinely believes that listening to K-pop as a non-Korean makes you racist).

@FourChimneys OMG! Burn that cello ASAP and dig a big hole to bury any remaining pasta. Say whatever the purity spiral version of ten Hail Marys might be - hopefully one of the ‘enlightened ones’ 🤣 will be along to inform us shortly - and you may be redeemed.

There again, you may not 🤷🏻‍♀️

The day I realised I was on the same page as Hitler would be the day the purity scales fell from my eyes 😯

@GoodJanetBadJanet

If my neighbour (British born, but family heritage Ghanaian) wanted to open a restaurant, what food would she be allowed to serve? Both (can't be arsed to get into an argument over why, I mean come on if people really don't get the whole history and oppressor role of white Brits or choose to ignore, fine, whatever)

So if I (white British) wanted to open a restaurant, what food would I be able to serve?
Why would you make and sell say Chinese or Ghanaian food etc if you weren't?
It would hardly be authentic, would it.
More like a Westernised take on it.

Did "Both" mean that both of us would be fine to open a fried chicken franchise? That's fortunate, as she runs one.

Sadly, I don't think my Chinese or Ghanaian cooking, or even fried chicken would be up to much so I don't have plans to open one. I assume customers would vote with their feet and not eat there if they came expecting something authentic and I disappointed.

Would Chinese also come under the historical oppression by British? If the tables turn on the oppressor vs oppressee role, does that shift the ability to appropriate culture without offense? Who keeps the list of which nationalities can appropriate others without causing offense?

Could I get a job as a waitress or a dishwasher or leaflet deliverer for a Japanese restaurant? Whether or not I really like anime? I'd be profiting financially from it.

Cultural appropriation can be an issue - particularly when it's done from the perspective of a powerful majority claiming to do "it" better an "improved version of" the powerless minority. But trying to place rules on who can do what very quickly becomes ridiculous - as seen above.

If people are experimenting or learning or otherwise trying things out and not behaving disrespectfully, then what is the issue in learning Japanese or cooking Chinese food?

Where have our erstwhile ‘educators’ gone? If they truly believe what they’re saying, surely they have masses of facts to back up their arguments?

Haven’t read tft but honestly I think I would give my tween a one off full blessing to tell her friend to stop being a tedious twat/fuck off. Her cooking friend is simply doing what millions of other people do every day.

@Changechangychange

@PrettyVacancy Neo-Nazis have pursued “racially pure” music for decades (it sounds awful, no bass or drumbeat as those are “black”).

That is interesting. I didn’t know that.

I've just had pasta for dinner. I have no shame and make no apologies. Tomorrow I will have roast potatoes. If there's enough chicken left I might curry it on Monday.

Tiktok is a cesspit. My teen DD got told on Tiktok it was cultural appropriation to put a BLM poster up on her page (or whatever it’s called…I don’t use it). She is mixed race black/white and was told she isn’t black enough to support BLM because she is light skinned/half white and it was cultural appropriation to braid her hair, talk about issues that effect black people or any number of other minor and major things a young teen might want to do.

Just complete nonsense spouted by idiots who want to whine about every single fucking thing any experimental teen trying to establish their identity does. I’ve spoken to her at length about not letting loudmouth internet randoms dictate who she is or what she thinks and feels about herself. They aren’t the boss of her.

Tiktok is now banned in my house.

Music is now enormously problematic if we believe we’re only allowed to listen to music that comes exclusively from our country of birth. I mean, how on earth would you even begin to untangle this?

Has anyone actuality said this?!

[quote ScrollingLeaves]@Changechangychange

@PrettyVacancy Neo-Nazis have pursued “racially pure” music for decades (it sounds awful, no bass or drumbeat as those are “black”).

That is interesting. I didn’t know that.[/quote]
I'm sure drums must have a history all over the world. What about the bodhran, don't tell me it isn't Irish.

Had some chocolate today, while reading a paper in a foreign language, drinking tea and wearing a silk scarf.

I have no shame.

@ancientgran Come on now, step away from the spices. Be kiiiiiiiiind 🤣

I believe that MacDonalds is big in China
Nope - KFC is though.

@FourChimneys

I've been playing some Vivaldi on my cello today. Is that cultural appropriation of 17th century Italians? I had pasta for lunch to compound the issue

There is no saving you.

@GoodJanetBadJanet

Music is now enormously problematic if we believe we’re only allowed to listen to music that comes exclusively from our country of birth. I mean, how on earth would you even begin to untangle this?

Has anyone actuality said this?!

Yes dear, you said it if we are to believe your nonsensical theories. What music are we allowed to enjoy whilst eating our curries, drinking China tea and watching American films? Do please enlighten us. In fact I’m sure that many of us would love a complete list of approved music. It won’t take you long to compile since there will be nothing on it 🤣😂🤣

Yes dear, you said it if we are to believe your nonsensical theories. What music are we allowed to enjoy whilst eating our curries, drinking China tea and watching American films? Do please enlighten us
No, I didn't
Maybe try reading again what I actually wrote?!

@Pitafalafel

I believe that MacDonalds is big in China Nope - KFC is though.

It is huge 400 new restaurants a year opening, and the Chinese operating company valued at $3 billion

@GoodJanetBadJanet

Yes dear, you said it if we are to believe your nonsensical theories. What music are we allowed to enjoy whilst eating our curries, drinking China tea and watching American films? Do please enlighten us No, I didn't Maybe try reading again what I actually wrote?!

You said cultural appropriation is bad, not good Janet me old mate. Therefore, I ask you once again, to which music are we allowed to listen? It should be a simple question for you to answer. In fact, I’ll answer it for you, just to help you out as you’re obviously struggling- Answer: anyone can listen to any music! There, that wasn’t so difficult with my help was it? In case you’re still puzzled, anyone can also sing, play, conduct any music they like.