Current Events > Actual cultural appropriation example

(+) Yeah! (+)

In my home state of Hawaii we have a dish called poke which is typically high grade raw fish (usually Ahi aka tuna) in a mixture of onions and shoyu (aka soy sauce) etc. and is incredibly popular throughout the state and has been making its way to the mainland for the past few years. And I'm sure everyone knows of the Hawaiian word "Aloha"

Well there is a company called the "Aloha Poke Co." which is trying to trademark the words "Aloha" and "Poke" and has sent cease and desist letters to the dozens of companies in Hawaii that use either of those words in their name. Oh and this business is also based in Chicago by some fucking haole (aka white guy). This is actual cultural appropriation where a white man far from Hawaii is trying to appropriate parts of Hawaiian culture and take legal ownership of them away from the place and people who actually came up with it. As you can imagine he is not the most popular person in Hawaii at the moment.

See this is far different than someone dressing up like a Native American or a white person wearing dreads or any of the other nonsense SJWs find time to cry about on Twitter. No this is legal action against a native people with the aim of taking legal ownership of part of their culture. They are actually legally appropriating someone else's culture for monetary gain. Its bullshit and actually something that needs to be taken seriously. Any thoughts? Here's a link if anyone wants to read up on the story:

http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/38770937/no-aloha-chicago-eatery-goes-after-poke-shops-for-trademark-infringement

Correction: or rather a clarification. They're not trying to trademark "aloha" and "poke" they're trying to trade mark "aloha poke"
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Hawaii still has the Union Jack of Great Britain in the state flag.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ef/Flag_of_Hawaii.svg

That same Great Britain that the United States told to fuck off in 1776.

That's fucking stupid. You guys should file a class action lawsuit against the company.
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LordFarquad1312 posted...

That's fucking stupid. You guys should file a class action lawsuit against the company.

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Questionmarktarius posted...

Hawaii still has the Union Jack of Great Britain in the state flag.

Yeah it does, what's that got to do with anything?

LordFarquad1312 posted...

That's fucking stupid. You guys should file a class action lawsuit against the company.

There have been rumblings of legal action, but I think they'll likely just wise up once they get enough heat online.
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While that is an entirely scummy thing for the company to do, and I hope any and all legal battles on this issue end up going against them, I'm not entirely sure I would actually call this cultural appropriation. They're trademarking a generic word that real people use. Even someone who wasn't Hawaiian, didn't directly partake in Hawaiian culture, yet also used those words would be subject to this company's shitty behavior all the same.

That's honestly the most extreme version of it, with a bonus with being tied to capitalism.

I don't actual think it "exists", though my mom got ultra pissed when Black Panther was popular. Peeps be wearing traditional clothing as movie "dress up" in public viewing.
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I heard if you go to Hawai'i and ask for a Hawai'ian pizza they will love you and treat you like a king for enjoying Hawai'ian food.
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Dragonblade01 posted...

While that is an entirely scummy thing for the company to do, and I hope any and all legal battles on this issue end up going against them, I'm not entirely sure I would actually call this cultural appropriation. They're trademarking a generic word that real people use. Even someone who wasn't Hawaiian, didn't directly partake in Hawaiian culture, yet also used those words would be subject to this company's shitty behavior all the same.

I don't understand exactly what you mean. Can you clarify?

SauI_Goodman posted...

I heard if you go to Hawai'i and ask for a Hawai'ian pizza they will love you and treat you like a king for enjoying Hawai'ian food.

Yeah and be sure to tell the locals that they're welcome for allowing them to join the USA and that they really should be more thankful for everything the white man has done for them.
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SpinKirby posted...

LordFarquad1312 posted...

That's fucking stupid. You guys should file a class action lawsuit against the company.

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nicklebro posted...

Yeah it does, what's that got to do with anything?

If the state chooses to do so, it none of my concern, nor should any state that still incorporates the Confederate battle flag.

nicklebro posted...

Yeah it does, what's that got to do with anything?

If the state chooses to do so, it none of my concern, I guess.

Questionmarktarius posted...

nicklebro posted...

Yeah it does, what's that got to do with anything?

If the state chooses to do so, it none of my concern, nor should any state that still incorporates the Confederate battle flag.

You're comparing the British flag with the Confederate flag?

lol you obviously came in here with the sole purpose of shitposting.
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nicklebro posted...

lol you obviously came in here with the sole purpose of shitposting.

gamefaqs.gamespot.com. We're all shitposters here.

My own state is the French colors, with a couple of bears added.

no one cares
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Questionmarktarius posted...

nicklebro posted...

lol you obviously came in here with the sole purpose of shitposting.

gamefaqs.gamespot.com. We're all shitposters here.

My own state is the French colors, with a couple of bears added.

I'm not.

catboy0_0 posted...

no one cares

Tons of people care. But its ok if you don't, I wouldn't expect someone who has no connection to Hawaii to care all that much. Well, unless they're left leaning, cuz then they actually care about people other than themselves.
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nicklebro posted...

Dragonblade01 posted...

While that is an entirely scummy thing for the company to do, and I hope any and all legal battles on this issue end up going against them, I'm not entirely sure I would actually call this cultural appropriation. They're trademarking a generic word that real people use. Even someone who wasn't Hawaiian, didn't directly partake in Hawaiian culture, yet also used those words would be subject to this company's shitty behavior all the same.

I don't understand exactly what you mean. Can you clarify?

I mean that they're not taking culture for their own. Rather, they're taking words. And the reason I make this distinction is because even those completely removed from the original culture would receive the same treatment if they also happened to use those words.

Dragonblade01 posted...

I mean that they're not taking culture for their own. Rather, they're taking words. And the reason I make this distinction is because even those completely removed from the original culture would receive the same treatment if they also happened to use those words.

But those words are a massive part of the culture. I mean it doesn't get much more Hawaiian than Aloha and poke. They have tried to take ownership (appropriate) of the words "Aloha Poke" in order to make a profit. If that isn't cultural appropriation, then nothing is. It doesn't matter if someone who wasn't Hawaiian is also forced to not use those words, Idk why you think that'd matter. The point is that "aloha poke" is a ubiquitous phrase used in tons of Hawaiian businesses and was created by Hawaiian people and Hawaiian culture, and someone outside of that culture has tried to break off a piece of Hawaiian culture and laid ownership to it.

Idk how else to explain that that's the literal definition of cultural appropriation.
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nicklebro posted...

Dragonblade01 posted...

I mean that they're not taking culture for their own. Rather, they're taking words. And the reason I make this distinction is because even those completely removed from the original culture would receive the same treatment if they also happened to use those words.

But those words are a massive part of the culture. I mean it doesn't get much more Hawaiian than Aloha and poke. They have tried to take ownership (appropriate) of the words "Aloha Poke" in order to make a profit. If that isn't cultural appropriation, then nothing is. It doesn't matter if someone who wasn't Hawaiian is also forced to not use those words, Idk why you think that'd matter. The point is that "aloha poke" is a ubiquitous phrase used in tons of Hawaiian businesses and was created by Hawaiian people and Hawaiian culture, and someone outside of that culture has tried to break off a piece of Hawaiian culture and laid ownership to it.

Idk how else to explain that that's the literal definition of cultural appropriation.

I think the distinction matters because those things within your culture are still firmly yours. The problem is not that you have an asshat trying to own your culture. The problem is you have an asshat trying to own generic words. It would be like trademarking the word football, or peanut butter, or vodka, or any other word that people just use. The effect is on the word itself, not on the culture from which the word originates.

And I should point out that I would definitely say "nothing is cultural appropriation" sooner than not.

LordFarquad1312 posted...

That's fucking stupid. You guys should file a class action lawsuit against the company.

They can't. The trademark has already been registered (and even then, the most they could do would be oppose the registration.)

What they can do is fight it if their pre-existing business is threatened, then demonstrate in court that they should never have been given the trademark in the first place.
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Dragonblade01 posted...

I think the distinction matters because those things within your culture are still firmly yours. The problem is not that you have an asshat trying to own your culture. The problem is you have an asshat trying to own generic words. It would be like trademarking the word football, or peanut butter, or vodka, or any other word that people just use. The effect is on the word itself, not on the culture from which the word originates.

And I should point out that I would definitely say "nothing is cultural appropriation" sooner than not.

Oh ok so you just don't think cultural appropriation exists. That makes far more sense than anything else you've said so far. Cuz to call "Aloha" a "generic word" is extremely ignorant of exactly what that word means in Hawaiian culture, comparing it to the words football and vodka or peanut butter is frankly absurd. You seem to be saying that as long as the entire culture still belongs to the people, that no matter how much of it is stolen and legally appropriated by outside forces, it doesn't count as cultural appropriation. Idk how anyone could find that a logical stance to take but hey, we all have different points of view and that's ok. But one part you're wrong about is when you say those things in your culture are still "firmly yours" because that's clearly not the case when he legally owns them and uses the law against anyone who tries to use them. That means Hawaiian people are not allowed to part of their own culture, because it was legally appropriated by some white dude from Chicago.

What you're not getting is that Aloha is a Hawaiian word, part of its language, which is an inherent part of culture, as well as poke which has the added value of being one of the staple foods that we eat on Hawaii. So you have the most important word in the Hawaiian language, language being a massive part of culture, but you're saying that that has nothing to do with culture because... Well you don't seem to think any words have anything to do with any cultures. That's pretty silly to me.
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Serious Cat posted...

LordFarquad1312 posted...

That's fucking stupid. You guys should file a class action lawsuit against the company.

They can't. The trademark has already been registered (and even then, the most they could do would be oppose the registration.)

What they can do is fight it if their pre-existing business is threatened, then demonstrate in court that they should never have been given the trademark in the first place.

Some businesses have already been forced to change their names. And these guys have responded by denying the accusations and making a bunch of excuses for their behavior and admitted no wrong doing whatsoever, but are actually acting like the victims in this case. Its infuriating to me tbh.
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This sounds like a legal battle over trademarking, which is defined by law and determined through the court system when dispute arises. "Cultural appropriation" is a made-up thing that has no bearing on our laws. I don't know enough about trademarks to take their side or not take their side but clearly, "cultural appropriation" is not the issue at hand here.
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nicklebro posted...

Oh ok so you just don't think cultural appropriation exists. That makes far more sense than anything else you've said so far. Cuz to call "Aloha" a "generic word" is extremely ignorant of exactly what that word means in Hawaiian culture, comparing it to the words football and vodka or peanut butter is frankly absurd. You seem to be saying that as long as the entire culture still belongs to the people, that no matter how much of it is stolen and legally appropriated by outside forces, it doesn't count as cultural appropriation. Idk how anyone could find that a logical stance to take but hey, we all have different points of view and that's ok. But one part you're wrong about is when you say those things in your culture are still "firmly yours" because that's clearly not the case when he legally owns them and uses the law against anyone who tries to use them. That means Hawaiian people are not allowed to part of their own culture, because it was legally appropriated by some white dude from Chicago.

What you're not getting is that Aloha is a Hawaiian word, part of its language, which is an inherent part of culture, as well as poke which has the added value of being one of the staple foods that we eat on Hawaii. So you have the most important word in the Hawaiian language, language being a massive part of culture, but you're saying that that has nothing to do with culture because... Well you don't seem to think any words have anything to do with any cultures. That's pretty silly to me.

It's not ignorant to call it a generic word if you understand what I mean when I call it a generic word. I mean that it's a word that people use as part of generic conversation. This is distinguished from something like, say, "pop-tarts" which is the name of a specific product/brand. And no, comparing it to those words that I mentioned is certainly not "absurd," and to suggest otherwise would be far more insulting than me referring to aloha as a "generic word."

And I say that it's still your culture. You still have it. That doesn't change. What's happened is that you can't use the specific words because someone is trying to trademark it. Your culture hasn't actually been taken from you, this company is trying to stop you and anyone else from using the words.I wouldn't say that's cultural appropriation, I would say that it's them trying to own generic words, which is an awful thing to do in its own right and shouldn't be allowed.

And I'm not saying language isn't tied to culture. I'm saying that culture isn't taken by someone trying to prevent others from using words. Culture can't be taken. It's abstract. It's constantly changing. An area's culture is that area's culture no matter what happens. The problem is that the company is trying to own a word that they should not reasonably expect to own, because it's a generic word in the language.

cultural appropriation doesn't really exist, i dont see any real reason for anyone to care about a white person eating a taco or a black person using the internet
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Rika_Furude posted...

cultural appropriation doesn't really exist, i dont see any real reason for anyone to care about a white person eating a taco or a black person using the internet

OR this


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Questionmarktarius posted...

Hawaii still has the Union Jack of Great Britain in the state flag.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ef/Flag_of_Hawaii.svg

That same Great Britain that the United States told to fuck off in 1776.

Union Flag* It's only the Union Jack at sea @Questionmarktarius
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Funbazooka posted...

This sounds like a legal battle over trademarking, which is defined by law and determined through the court system when dispute arises. "Cultural appropriation" is a made-up thing that has no bearing on our laws. I don't know enough about trademarks to take their side or not take their side but clearly, "cultural appropriation" is not the issue at hand here.

It is a legal battle over trademarking, you seem to think that is somehow proof that this isn't cultural appropriation. Idk why you'd think that tho.

You are obviously conflating the misused version of cultural appropriation and this actual, real version.
A people's culture was appropriated by an outside force for monetary gain. I mean what more do you need? Of course this has nothing to do with people wearing Native American headdresses and nonsense like that, that's just SJW nonsense. But this? This is a real issue that is dealing with an actual culture being taken advantage of.

Dragonblade01 posted...

It's not ignorant to call it a generic word if you understand what I mean when I call it a generic word. I mean that it's a word that people use as part of generic conversation. This is distinguished from something like, say, "pop-tarts" which is the name of a specific product/brand. And no, comparing it to those words that I mentioned is certainly not "absurd," and to suggest otherwise would be far more insulting than me referring to aloha as a "generic word."

And I say that it's still your culture. You still have it. That doesn't change. What's happened is that you can't use the specific words because someone is trying to trademark it. Your culture hasn't actually been taken from you, this company is trying to stop you and anyone else from using the words.I wouldn't say that's cultural appropriation, I would say that it's them trying to own generic words, which is an awful thing to do in its own right and shouldn't be allowed.

And I'm not saying language isn't tied to culture. I'm saying that culture isn't taken by someone trying to prevent others from using words. Culture can't be taken. It's abstract. It's constantly changing. An area's culture is that area's culture no matter what happens. The problem is that the company is trying to own a word that they should not reasonably expect to own, because it's a generic word in the language.

Why would you think you understand Hawaiian culture and the Hawaiian language and the importance of the word Aloha more than I would, much less more than Hawaiians would? It isn't a generic word that is part of normal conversation. Hawaii is literally known as the Aloha state, Aloha goes far deeper than a generic word with a definition that is used just like any other word. That's why I said it was ignorant, cuz it objectively is.

And again, cultural appropriation doesn't mean that your entire culture has been stolen from you, that's a pretty crazy argument to even think of so I don't want to waste much time on it, I'm sure you'll agree if you stop and think about it for a second.

But just for clarification, what words in any language would you consider to not be generic words?
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Rika_Furude posted...

cultural appropriation doesn't really exist, i dont see any real reason for anyone to care about a white person eating a taco or a black person using the internet

I was wondering when someone would post without reading the topic. This is the problem with people misusing the term cultural appropriation to mean absurd things like what you're referring to. I mean you'd know that if you read the topic, but whatever its CE its not like I can expect much lol.
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thats just a shitty company being shitty but you knew that
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Yes its a shitty company being shitty by appropriating a people's culture for profit. Hence the topic.
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There are plenty of examples of companies trying to trademark ridiculous shit. This one just happened to try to trademark words from another language.
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shnangyboos posted...

There are plenty of examples of companies trying to trademark ridiculous shit. This one just happened to try to trademark words from another language.

They're not trying to trademark words. It's a specific combination of words intended to identify a unique product, neither of which they're claiming on their own. That said:

nicklebro posted...

Some businesses have already been forced to change their names. And these guys have responded by denying the accusations and making a bunch of excuses for their behavior and admitted no wrong doing whatsoever, but are actually acting like the victims in this case. Its infuriating to me tbh.

No, some businesses have chosen to change their names instead of fighting it in court. Prior use is a valid defense against trademark infringement and could even result in the registration being invalidated.
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Wait, they're not trademarking the individual words? Specifically, "Aloha Poke Co?"

Guess we better sue Panda Express
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Serious Cat posted...

No, some businesses have chosen to change their names instead of fighting it in court. Prior use is a valid defense against trademark infringement and could even result in the registration being invalidated.

... hows that different than what I said?
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catboy0_0 posted...

no one cares

How do you come into a topic where there's active, mature discourse on the subject and post this dumb shit?
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nicklebro posted...

... hows that different than what I said?

You said they were forced to change. They weren't. They chose to change rather than litigate or ignore the threats.
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SauI_Goodman posted...

I heard if you go to Hawai'i and ask for a Hawai'ian pizza they will love you and treat you like a king for enjoying Hawai'ian food.

Did you record yourself saying that and then listen to the recording?
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This shit makes me mad, you cant fucking trademark a culture.
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twitterfriends posted...

This shit makes me mad, you cant fucking trademark a culture.

People try to Trademark everything!
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That company is all kinds of shitty for various reasons but nah, cultural appropriation is not a thing.
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nicklebro posted...

Questionmarktarius posted...

nicklebro posted...

Yeah it does, what's that got to do with anything?

If the state chooses to do so, it none of my concern, nor should any state that still incorporates the Confederate battle flag.

You're comparing the British flag with the Confederate flag?

lol you obviously came in here with the sole purpose of shitposting.

To be fair, during colonial times the Brits weren't much more humane than Confederates were. Idk when Hawaii became a state or the story behind them having that on their flag, but it's silly to deny that they didn't have beliefs that were in some ways just as bad as the south did

Serious Cat posted...

nicklebro posted...

... hows that different than what I said?

You said they were forced to change. They weren't. They chose to change rather than litigate or ignore the threats.

They were forced to change because they could not afford a court battle. I mean if you're gonna argue that isn't technically forcing then ok, but Idk why you're nitpicking semantics like that.

Bacon_Pancakes posted...

To be fair, during colonial times the Brits weren't much more humane than Confederates were. Idk when Hawaii became a state or the story behind them having that on their flag, but it's silly to deny that they didn't have beliefs that were in some ways just as bad as the south did

Every country has bad beliefs in their history, so what? But the Confederate flag isn't a flag of a country with some opposing opinions, its literally a flag of traitors. I really don't get why its worth bringing up. Hawaii was friends with the British during King Kamehameha's rule and was gifted a British flag by King George, which was eventually incorporated into the Hawaiian flag along with the 8 lines to represent the 8 main islands.
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Coffeebeanz posted...

Wait, they're not trademarking the individual words? Specifically, "Aloha Poke Co?"

Guess we better sue Panda Express

Yeah, are they trademarking an actual company name?

I see zero issue if that's the case TBH.
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chrono625 posted...

Coffeebeanz posted...

Wait, they're not trademarking the individual words? Specifically, "Aloha Poke Co?"

Guess we better sue Panda Express

Yeah, are they trademarking an actual company name?

I see zero issue if that's the case TBH.

No they're trademarking solely "aloha poke" which is already part of dozens of businesses names in Hawaii. And these businesses that are actually in Hawaii and mostly run by actual Hawaiian business people have coexisted just fine until some schmuck from Chicago has tried to say that no one other than him is allowed to use "aloha poke" at all.
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nicklebro posted...

Every country has bad beliefs in their history, so what? But the Confederate flag isn't a flag of a country with some opposing opinions, its literally a flag of traitors.

Not traitors, different beliefs. It was over state versus federal rights. You can't call half of a nation traitorous; it's a slippery slope.

So was Israel Kamakawiwoole a huge icon in Hawaii?

Always wondered.
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Bacon_Pancakes posted...

nicklebro posted...

Every country has bad beliefs in their history, so what? But the Confederate flag isn't a flag of a country with some opposing opinions, its literally a flag of traitors.

Not traitors, different beliefs. It was over state versus federal rights. You can't call half of a nation traitorous; it's a slippery slope.

They were the definition of traitors. They literally took up arms against their country, they're traitors. I can't believe someone would actually argue this.

DrizztLink posted...

So was Israel Kamakawiwoole a huge icon in Hawaii?

Always wondered.

Was and IZ.

Braddah IZ is a huge legend in Hawaii and always will be.
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Damn i camn in thinking tcs side would be stupid but its quite the contrary....
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nicklebro posted...

Was and IZ.

Braddah IZ is a huge legend in Hawaii and always will be.

I figured, but had the feeling if I said "is" some smartass would being up him passing.
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