Per Angellebabie's request http://proazn.com/ProAzn_forum/showp...07&postcount=5

This is a blog from my myspace and other forums...

Photo shoot + social commentary...

Thoughts and comments are always welcome!

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Tankity top top top, er top...



Who knew I could look so thuggish??



The OTHER J.T. had a song about backs, didn't he??... duuuuuuurty baaaaaabe...



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The back story...

... (no pun intended! *whistles and looks around innocently*) behind all of this...

I had been corresponding with the owner of this site...

http://www.kdynamic.com/hot/

... and in short, about 4 months ago, she asked if I wouldn't mind submitting some photos for her site.

At first, I didn't think much of it... but then, I started digesting it... why not? It would be an opportunity for me to help support and promote the positive Asian male image... something that's sorely lacking in the U.S. media.

Besides, while I am personally nowhere near my winter season, I'm also no spring chicken either (those who know my age KNOW this... haha... for those that don't, well in short, I don't look my age... but then again, Asians are known for aging well... shoot, I know a LOT of Asian friends and relatives who are 55, but look 35).

SO I figured if I wanted to make a societal impact in this regard, NOW would be the time. I kicked my lazy butt into gear, and didn't skip even one ab session (I normally slack on those HARD... lol) during my daily gym visits over the past three months.

Then I got my photos done and submitted them... we'll see if she actually uses them. I'll keep you posted... *cheesy smile*

The back story BEHIND the back story...

So what finally triggered me to do something like this?

Well, ever wonder why you see SIGNIFICANTLY more Asian women with non-Asian men... than Asian men with non-Asian women? According to the 2000 U.S. Census, this is statistical fact.

Based on certain life experiences, and as an Asian-American male minority born and raised in the U.S... I've have been IMPELLED to reflect on and think about these types of things.

Before I begin, some of you may jump to conclusions...

... and immediately slap a "bitter Asian male" label on me without actually first LISTENING to and HEARING what I have to say. That label as it applies to me COULD NOT BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH. Those who know me, know that I differentiate things on a personal-level versus a societal level. On a PERSONAL level, those types of things don't bother me... I've accomplished way too much in life, and have been successful, on many different levels, to let things like that impact me negatively. However on a SOCIETAL level, as an Asian-American, I have the RESPONSIBILITY to think about, reflect on, and discuss these types of things. I don't and won't conflate the two.

While I understand there are MULTIPLE contributing factors...

... (and I can take each one of those subtopics 15 - 20 levels deep)... I fundamentally believe that ONE of the more persistent contributing factors to why you see SIGNIFICANTLY fewer non-Asian women with Asian men is due to the fact non-Asian women in GENERAL do not find Asian men attractive in the U.S. (with the exception of some of you open-minded lady MySpace friends... *wink wink nudge nudge*)

This became ever apparent during my 6-month match.com...

... experiment. Long story short, I separated my exercise into Asian women and non-Asian women. As you might suspect, no problems with Asian women. But what I presumed would happen (that non-Asian women would be less likely to consider an Asian man), was exponentially MORE so the case than what I originally anticipated, and I found it somewhat disheartening (again, less so from a PERSONAL perspective, but more so from a SOCIETAL perspective).

In short, over 6 months, and after looking at THOUSANDS of profiles, the number of times a non-Asian women had specifically written down "Asian" male as an ethnicity they would consider dating came to a mere 4% of the time! Out of 1000 women, that's a meager 40 people. Effectively, I was ruled out right from the GET-GO based SOLELY on race, and race alone. But yet, I saw numerous profiles that DID specifically state they WOULD consider dating "black" or "Latino" male minorities.

Why is this?? Well, no doubt, the negative stereotypes don't help...

... the "small penis" MYTH certainly doesn't help. I can tell you EVERY single non-Asian gal I've dated has had their girlfriends ask the stereotypical question "is it true what they say about Asian guys?" Not only that, the effeminate Asian male stereotype perpetuated by the media, such as Long Duk Dong and William Hung, doesn't help either (or kung fu expert, or gangsta, or geek... take yer pick).

For William Hung from American Idol, the media latched onto and would NOT let go of him for 2 years, poking fun at him in the news week after week, giving him record deals, showcasing him on talk shows, etc. etc. Think about it, the dorky white guy Keith from the year before NEVER got the exposure, records deals, or media attention William Hung got. William Hung has been referred to in numerous articles as the modern day Buckwheat. On a SOCIETAL level, it has set back the Asian male image 20 years. I can tell you that of the non-Asian gals I dated during that time... the first thing their friends would do once they heard she was dating a Chinese guy would be to break into "she bangs, she bangs" MOCKERY.

There are VERY few positive sex-symbol leading Asian men...

... in the media (without resorting to stereotypes). I PERSONALLY can name all the leading Asian men (there aren't that many) in Hollywood, but I bet mainstream America can't... can you? Thank goodness we have Daniel Dae Kim from Lost on the airwaves now (there's one... lol). Hopefully that ever slight upward tick will kick off the beginnings of a trend. *crosses fingers*

How big of an impact does the media have...

... on us? I fundamentally believe a very big one, especially given the fact that Asians-Americans only represent 3% of all Americans, thus the media becomes the main source of perceptions for many mainstream folks.

I read a study not too long ago showing that for countries / areas / cultures that originally were NOT affected by "Western" influences, but then later were... whereupon companies with MILLIONS in marketing dollars suddenly came into existence... cases of bulimia and anorexia then became rampant, WHERE BEFORE THERE WERE NONE.

This is similar in the sense that the mainstream media with MILLIONS IN MARKETING DOLLARS, can and will have an impact on and shape what people ultimately believe should be "the norm," whether consciously or subconsciously. It's been proven time and time again, study after study.

Even I bought into the stereotypes... so yes, it certainly had an impact on me as a teenager growing up in a predominantly white environment... where I hated being Asian and different, and considered myself a "twinkie" or a "banana" and tried to assimilate (instead of integrate) for the longest time (see my "twinkie" blog).

It wasn't until I visited Taiwan when I was 20...

... (and started opening up my eyes a little bit) that I realized there were some REALLY good-looking Asian males in this world, esp. in downtown Taipei where all the action and clubs were. I mean, I consider myself a decent-looking Asian fella, and I certainly don't swing that way, but I could recognize and give props to those good-looking fellas, who by the way, seemed MUCH more fashion-forward than American counterparts back home in the States. Matter of fact, I personally don't believe I held a candle to those Taiwanese dudes as far as looks go.

So long story, well, evidently LONGER (lol)...

... by doing this photo shoot and blog, I hope to, in short, open some eyes. I feel the need to reiterate that I differentiate things on a personal-level versus a societal-level, and don't conflate the two. On a PERSONAL level, I accept the hand I've been dealt, and work with what I've got. Again, this approach has helped me to become successful on many different levels, in many aspects of my life. But on a SOCIETAL level, as an Asian-American, I have the responsibility to help promote and support the positive Asian male image... as well as to raise some awareness... which hopefully I've done.

If you'd like to comment on my photos and / or my social...

... commentary, I MORE than welcome you. But if you decide to engage in the latter, before you do, I simply ask that you FULLY read and UNDERSTAND what I'm saying before doing so. My last serious girlfriend of 5 years was a PhD candidate in Political Science at an Ivy-level school... and I got used to having these types of social discussions with her on a daily basis. Since then, I've unfortunately made the mistake of presuming that seemingly intelligent people were also capable of having these types of SOCIETAL-level discussions without having them resort to taking it down to a personal level (I've saved my last e-mail response to a particular person as a reminder of this possibility).

Also, believe it or not, I've merely scratch the surface on this topic and it's subtopics. I've only touched on ONE of the MAIN contributing factors in this social situation... again, I can take this topic and each subtopic another 15 - 20 levels deep... and would be more than happy to do so with anyone who can do so in an intelligent and respectful manner (however, I will NOT hesitate to remove ANY comments heading in a personal direction).

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You got a nice set of abs on you J.T. I forgot that since I saw these pics on the other site.

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Yummy pics

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Once you go Asian, you'll never go caucasian

YEY HE POSTED IT

LOL Im gonna die a happy woman now.

LORD you are cut! You dont have a six pack you have an eight pack.

What is your workout regiment? Seriously

We don't need info! Just naked, hot asian men!

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I am keeping my eye on you

you ARE single right?

i live near you sorta, HIT ME UP YO!


lol

I'd also like to add a rather snyde comment-


Oh how I could imagion scratching my nails down THAT back!


wtf why dont the rest of you guys on the site post pics???? DOOOOO IT

P.S. - i know you from another site

You ladies should be ashamed of yourselves! Treating me like a piece of meat. I've got a brain too (and I even tried to show it!)

Tit for tat, tat for TIT!... YOUR turn! If you don't want to do it publicly, by all means ladies, I honor pics via private message!

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:: visit my blog :: visit my myspace :: win a shirt!