You Are, However, Appropriating My Time And Energy
I’m on the subway when a man I don’t know starts talking to me while staring at my chest.
Man: “Hey, what’s the deal with your shirt?”
Me: “Um, it’s a historic site in my hometown.”
Man: “What kind of site?”
Me: “It’s the oldest Chinese temple in Canada.”
The name of the place is clearly displayed and easily Googleable.
Man: “But like, you’re not Chinese.”
Me: “…okay?”
Man: *Still staring* “So like… why?”
Me: “I wanted to give money to a good cause, and I like the shirt?”
Man: “But you’re not Chinese.”
Me: “I’m not sure what you’re getting at.”
Man: “Isn’t that, like, racist or something?”
Me: “How is it racist?”
Man: “I thought that kind of thing was, like, appropriate or something?”
Me: “You mean appropriation?”
Man: “Yeah, that.”
Me: “…no. I’m not pretending to be Chinese or ‘borrowing’ parts of the Chinese folk religion. I’m just saying I support the preservation of my hometown’s history.”
Man: “I just don’t really, like, get it.”
Me: “Okay, well, I’ve explained it, so maybe you should go away and think about it until you do get it? Also, you’ve read the shirt; you can stop ‘reading’ it now.”
