Richmond bus shelter ads fuel language debate
 

:considered:

I might be wrong, but this is a fairly stupid thing to get upset about. There are English-language bus shelter ads for problem gambling throughout Metro, and you can find the phone number on the back of lottery tickets, in casinos, and at the bottom of most BCLC advertising.

In fact, it's a smart idea, because gambling is popular among traditionally minded or older Chinese who often struggle with English. Dictating that media must be in XYZ language is getting dangerously close to the Quebec way of handling things.

I'd like to hear from others whether I'm being unreasonable when I say this.

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:lawl: did she live in a box since 1992 and emerged in 2010?

Well , I'm Chinese I can not read the ad either. So what is the problem here.

That this new culture that was welcomed with open arms is now alienating the culture that welcomed them in the first place?

It should have both English and Chinese on ads, IMO.

LOL Kerry starchuk. My moms crazy ass friend. And prolific racist.
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I think this is a tad too much. I'm fine with the larger portion being in Chinese, but they should still have English on there as well. If not for simply being out of respect, but just so non Chinese know what it means. For all I know it could be spreading propaganda against Canada.

Plus, things start with baby steps. First one sign, then 2, eventually it's the norm. This is Canada not (insert non Canadian country).
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It has English :fuckthatshit: Irene Tang

while I understand the frustration in this, this Kerry starchuck sounds like the real racist... How private business like Shaw and Telus choose to target their advertising is not something she can/should control. It's simply a smart business decision, if the Democratic is mostly Chinese, then it makes makes sense to run an advertisement campaign targeting mostly Chinese speakers.

Gives me a vibe as the type that will interrupted you in public to tell you that "in Canada we speak English" if she heard you having a conversation in your mother tongue.
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^demographic


but ya i agree, if they don't choose to advertise in English then it's their loss or they're just targeting that audience. no harm done.
i can see the frustration in seeing something in public that you can't read, but that's part of being in a multicultural society. maybe take some Chinese lessons? opportunity to learn something new!

Official languages exist for a reason, if you aren't willing to at least print what your ad is about in english, don't post it. The same applies to french in Quebec, I'd expect people to respect that.

I wouldn't go around China posting ads entirely in english, why should it be treated with more leniency here? It is NOT racist to question why an ad does not include the official language of the country it is in, especially when the business behind it is trying to help immigrants "integrate".

If you want to integrate, learn the official language, moving to a country with a different language is supposed to be hard. Multiculturalism does not mean that the languages tied to those countries become official in this country, citizens in this country should not be expected to learn mandarin to read what an ad is targeting.

Money talks bullsh|t walks. A business should be allowed to advertise in any language they want because it's their money.

A bilingual ad would have avoided all this trouble. That's the most one can ask for without sounding like some kind of PQ nutter.

Although, it gets me wondering...if Telus or Shaw advertise a deal in a language other than English, can it be considered discriminatory, since only people who read that language will know the deal exists?

Or better yet refuse to offer the deal to you because you don't live in the area in which their ads was targeted.

Not sure if anyone of you know this but a few years ago Shaw was offer this $9.95 deal where you can get basic cable(include a HD PVR) , phone, and Internet 25 for $9.95 for each service. They only target downtown core (or rather where there are Novus service). Even if you have the ad they don't give you deal if you live elsewhere.

Ugh. This is one of the reasons that I support nationalizing (or partially nationalizing) the broadband infrstructure--because the private sector has proven its bottom line is profit and not efficient service.

Back on topic...at least (I'm assuming) the advertisement was in English, but I was talking about something different-only advertising the deal in a language other than English.

Someone should create a billboard ad with all 0 and 1's that spells out that they're recruiting a programmer or some such person. Or something that's so completely techno babble that no one but a hardcore computer person would understand.

Wonder what she'd think about that.

I'll say that's a clever method to screen the potential recruits.

it would only be known as...this is pretty damn cool and nothing else

I remember in grade school the supervision aide would command us to speak English
what a miserable witch
if you aren't in the group or i'm not speaking directly at you why the fuck does it matter...as long as i'm not yelling/cursing :lol

On one side, I'm like:

Well, it's a majority asian community, what's the problem? It is kind of cool to have different cultures and languages co-existing and creating interesting, different neighborhoods

On the other I'm like:

Shit, she doesn't want English speaker business! What a bitch!

McDonald's customer alleges language discrimination
CBC – Wed, 21 Aug, 2013

A B.C. woman is claiming she was refused service at a Richmond McDonald's because staff said they couldn't understand her English.
Hai Xia Sun ordered a hot chocolate at the McDonald's on Number 3 Road in Richmond last week, but said staff gave her a coffee by mistake.
She said she asked that her order be fixed, but alleges the manager refused and told her to get out of the store instead.
"She said, 'You don't know English,' and then she returned my order. She said, 'We are very busy, don't stay here,'" Hai Xia Sun told CBC News.
Sun called the incident discrimination.

"This is my second language right. And this is discrimination. Yes maybe I speak not very good English but she can't not service to us."
But a McDonald's spokesperson says it was an isolated incident caused by a "language barrier," not discrimination or poor service.
"We regret that this customer was offended during her recent restaurant visit. We have since been in communication with her son who has expressed appreciation for our efforts to resolve the situation," said a later statement issued by communications director Jeanette Jones.
"What is alleged to have taken place is not consistent with the franchisee’s commitment to quality customer service and to reflecting the cultural mosaic of the restaurant’s local community," the statement read.

The Vancouver suburb of Richmond is popular with Chinese immigrants. According to Statistics Canada, 41 per cent of the population lists a Chinese dialect as their first language.
Queenie Choo, CEO of SUCCESS, a Vancouver immigrant group, says incidents of discrimination are uncommon in local businesses.
"Well I think it's a very unfortunate situation. The way I look at it, it's a situation where there's a communication issue. It takes two to tango," Choo said.
Nevertheless, Sun's son David Zhao wants McDonald's to take action by hiring Mandarin speakers at local restaurants.
"In Richmond, how come they don't hire a person who can communicate in Mandarin. All right? That's not a big deal," said Zhao.

source: http://www.revscene.net/forums/68758...imination.html

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As a surrey resident, I'm writing to my MLA to make certain ads in hindi. Screw english

It's an ad. So long as it's not a warning sign or disclaimer, then it should just be treated like any picture/abstract art/advertisement.

if ever come back & start a business here, im gonna make sure my bloody ads are fucking "CHINESE & FRENCH", screw english im gonna just gonna troll on everyone in richmond :troll: