Google pulls 'Make Me Asian' app after uproar

So did they offer a "Make Me Black" app, too?

Asian American activists often complain that the community is depicted as being perpetually foreign, even though people of Asian heritage have lived in the United States for generations.

Geez I wonder why? Now maybe they'll understand how white folks in Asia feel too!

glad I downloaded before they took it off!

Instead of pulling it down for offending people, Google should have pulled it down for being stupid.

I always laugh when Asians freak out about such things while ignoring how minorities get treated in Asian countries. At least google listened. Loft still carries "gaijin" masks.

I don't think most Asian-Americans (specifically) beyond the first or second generation are very aware of--nor should they be held responsible for--the bigotry that non-Asians sometimes face in some Asian countries today. And the outcry over this app was largely generated by Asian-Americans.

I don't think most Asian-Americans (specifically) beyond the first or second generation are very aware of--nor should they be held responsible for--the bigotry that non-Asians sometimes face in some Asian countries today. And the outcry over this app was largely generated by Asian-Americans.

First off no one wrote that they should be held responsible; understand it that's all.

Second; Sometimes? No, daily!

We don't have a choice in the color of our skin, but we do make choices in where we choose to live.

How on earth did Google permit these apps in the first place? I'm sure if there was a 'Make me Black' app where you could paint your face black it would of course be met with the same kind of backlash, and rightfully so, so why allow it with Asians or body types, etc.?

They seriously were not thinking, and I hope they address the situation with more than just an app removal. What about a 'make me a Google employee' where you end up looking like an idiot?

Smith, they might of had one. They had a Russian and Irish one so it wasn't like Asians were the only one targeted.

No one is blaming second, third, fourth generations but a little awareness by everyone is needed. Japan us horrible for understanding such things.

You would think that Google, in the midst of the multicultural Santa Clara Valley, would have had just a little more common sense. I hate to think what the Make Me Irish and Make Me Russian were like.

Nothing unique in Google lacking common sense. Look at Microsoft's Windows 8 user interface, for example.

The stance taken by Asian Americans makes sense for the US. They are still treated as foreigners by many (not that others are not). After over 6 years in Japan and other parts of Asia I personally don't see western folks as being "picked" on in the same sense. Whites were always looked up to in the past from Europe or the US. Now when a few come here and get a little discrimination apartment hunting or in shops I feel its a good learning experience for them. So many I meet feel superior to the "natives" so to speak. The app was stupid for any race but there are anti pc people in the west who want the right to offend anyone they want. The US is still 60 percent white and many still feel you need to conform to their ways to be a true American. How many people still make ching chong jokes in the presence of Asian Americans? Too many. Google is made up of people and those people should have thought better. I am sure there are many Asians who sat in group meetings over this nonsence. Were they uncomfortable?

I thought that this app would be some sophisticated morphing technology to make an Asian version of your face. No, it just takes your standard photo and draws a silly moustache on it - you could just as well with a print out and a pen.

Virgo, I don't know where you live or what your experience is, but can you speak fluently so you understand what ppl really say? Have you been in a position of responsibility where you have to get things done, sometimes accomplish complicated tasks with many ppl? I've met a lot of great ppl here, but holding ingrained stereotypes here is seen as normal, acceptable, and while not everyone necessarily has the stereotypes, or the bad manners to make them a topic of public conversation with the foreigner in question, rarely will anyone protest the stereotype being aired or offer a defense, leaving the foreigner on his own. If you are on the surface, participation wise, or can't speak the language you may not notice so easily, but it is really really there. Koreans, who share many physical features and being born here, have no identifiable accent, are very aware of being foreigners, despite being born here. No, it is thick here.

That said, it sounds like a stupid app.

Damm!!! I look like a regular salary man!!!,,,,,, ha ha ha

USA Asian = East Asian UK Asian = South Asian (see BBC sponsored asain network for example).

So in anycase not going to "make me Asian" as they dont even know what Asian is.

The italic and bold were not working correctly so what appears in double asterisks are mine.

virgo: Now when a few come here and get a little discrimination apartment hunting or in shops I feel its a good learning experience for them.

So, racism is okay as long as it's directed at whites and part of a learning experience?

Google is made up of people and those people should have thought better. I am sure there are many Asians who sat in group meetings over this nonsence. Were they uncomfortable?

Of the 21 people listed on Google's Senior Management Team a full third are not white. If you'll notice, the person in charge of apps is Asian American. If all or any of them are so uncomfortable speaking up against racism, then who do they have to blame but themselves?

To paraphrase Mr. Burke, all it takes for evil to occur is a few good men and women to do nothing. Racism is not a "learning experience". It is racism, pure and simple.

Sundar Pichai Senior Vice President, Chrome and Apps - Asian American Nikesh Arora Senior Vice President and Chief Business Officer - Asian American David C. Drummond Senior Vice President, Corporate Development and Chief Legal Officer - African American Amit Singhal Senior Vice President and Google Fellow - Asian American Salar Kamangar Senior Vice President, YouTube and Video - Asian American Sridhar Ramaswamy Senior Vice President, Engineering - Asian American Vic Gundotra Senior Vice President, Engineering - Asian American

This thing is equivalent to what you gaijin always complain racist in Japan in YouTube. Now you know what exaggerated outcry over racism is. Eye for an eye.

Who is exaggeratedly crying out over racism? The Asians and or Asian Americans who don't like this app? Non-Japanese in Japan who don't like racism? I'm confused. By an eye for an eye, do you mean that it's okay to return racism with racism or that it's okay to exaggerate if someone else exaggerated first?

^ Gaijin-desu. Why so confuse? White people call it "racist" if they get stared a lot or if nobody want to sit next to him/her. Isn't this a bit funny? Are you sure you guys aren't exaggerated too?

Why so confused? Because of the way you've phrased things. Odd grammar aside, is racism funny? Hmmmm....I'm going to, again, go with no, it's not funny, regardless of who's doing it or who's on the receiving end.

You have no idea if I'm white, black, Asian, etc. so don't lump me together with "you guys", whoever that is supposed to be anyway.

If you find racism funny then you've got some sort of problem and I can only hope you can grow-up and overcome it.

I'm not going to waste my time repeating the same thing to you, so for the last time, racism is racism, regardless of who's doing it or on the receiving end and it's wrong either way. Try reading a little Malcolm X, post his visit to Mecca.

Unless you've got something to contribute to the conversation besides anger and hostility, that's the end of my engagement with you. Good day and good luck.

DeDe, would it be funny if you were being discriminated against?! Is it funny to you when kids born and raised in Japan are discriminated against?! You've got a pretty sick sense of humour and are very clearly immature if you think racism is a joke. I don't care who it is directed to, Asians, whites, blacks... But it is never funny. Grow up and think before you speak.

Loft still carries "gaijin" masks.

Racism at its finest. We should get rid of all the other Halloween masks while we're at it.

I suppose the Miso Horny erotic cooking app is out of the question.

tmarie, a party mask is just that. No need to overreact. Do you honestly think I support racism? I am of mixed race and I've had to deal with my fair share of discrimination. I have worked in Japan for over 10 years and I can honestly say that I face less racism here than in my country of origin, the US, which is a supposed "melting pot."

This should go under the heading "What were they thinking?"

A party mask isn't just a part mask though is it? Why do you go ack home to the US and dress up in blackface and see the reception you rightly will receive.

So as a joke, I can make buck teeth and slangy eyes and claim its just for fun, right? I can wear an Asian mask around and claim its a party mask? Any idea how ignorant such things are? Any idea how many Asians would, rightly so, complain? Hence the issue with the app and it being removed.

I'm sorry you face discrimination in your home country. If anyone should see an issue in this then, it's you, no? Or is it okay to be racist against whites?

I'm sorry but I don't find being nervous over foreigners renting your apartment when they can bail on you at any moment necessarily racism. And most of the people I met crying over it never experienced real racism in their home countries so maybe that little bit of a taste is a learniong experience for them to see how some others live. Being followed in a shop because a pre-judgeing store owner is nervous is small potatoes for a western person from North America. Get over it and understand non whites in your own country who still don't get jobs because certain people don't think they will "fit in".

An App to change people is not a big deal if it represents everybody but to have a make me Asian or Black or White and sell it as a gimmick opens up that "me ching chong" slanted eye game that kids thought was ok.

For starters Google did not make the app, it was a third party app....... so for all those wondering what Google was thinking they had nothing to do with the app a "KimberyDeiss" (username name) made it, there was others like Make Me Indian, Make Me Russian, Make Me Frankenstein and Make Me Fat. Those apps are no longer available and KimberyDeiss's Google Play profile has been deleted.......

Oh come on.. all this touchy feely politically correct BS, societies we live in! what about Japanese keitai apps that allows you to morph into all types of hings.. forgot the name but there are a LOT

*Things

How many Hong Kong films depict the 'white man' or the 'black man' as bad doers in their films, as drug dealers, corrupt or womanizers... it is ok to put down caucasians or blacks but when it comes to silly apps oh no lets force out freedom of speech for game developers... Or the new BioShock Inifinite game will shock many in that case about minorities in the founding in the US or Bio Hazard 5 (not the new game) game depicting blacks and arabians as zombies..

<www.bioshockinfinite.com>

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaQmoC-vMm8

http://www.bioshockinfinite.com

@virgo

You wrote " The US is still 60 percent white "

Really ? Please define a " white " person. ( US definition ).

My sister is japanese and married to a white american. Their son must be what you call an euroasian.

He is just got a child with a white girl. Their baby is considered white.

The US is still 60 percent white ??