• isosphere@beehaw.org
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    1 year ago

    It’s “rice” because it’s asian; it’s a derogatory term used towards people and their cars. When I was younger, this term was used against asian drivers and their asian cars - and it was not a compliment.

    Looking at Urban Dictionary I see no mention of this anti-asian side of it, but it was there when I was growing up. Maybe others can chime in with their experience, I imagine it wasn’t the same everywhere.

    Not implying the people using it here are being racist, I don’t think they are aware of what I’m recalling here.

    • michaelmelanson@lemmy.ca
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      1 year ago

      The Wikipedia article says it’s derived from the term “rice burner” and talks about the history of the term.

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rice_burner

      I can say I first heard the term about 20 years ago about cars with unnecessary decals and accessories, and it definitely had a racist connotation then.

      I certainly wouldn’t use the term myself and I cringe when people use it here.