From: macf@leland.Stanford.EDU (Macario D Feliciano)
Subject: *** "FLIP" SURVEY RESULTS ***
Keywords: flip survey results
Organization: DSG, Stanford University, CA 94305, USA
Date: Thu, 9 Apr 92 00:12:10 GMT

Here are the results of the "flip" survey.  To those who missed the
original posting, I've attached it at the very bottom for your 
reference.  Please keep in mind that this was a casual survey.

Sample population: 30+   Results were rounded to nearest 5%.

Is the term "flip" derogatory to you?
=====================================
		Answering	% of total
		Yes	No	sample population 
		----	----	-----------------
All:		40%	60%	100%
Male:		35%	65%	70%
Female:		50%	50%	30%
Ages 20-26:	50%	50%	50%	Median age = 26-27
Ages 27+:	35%	65%	50%

By Current Residence
====================
		Answering	% of total
		Yes	No	sample population 
		----	----	-----------------
U.S.		40%	60%	85%
Overseas	50%	50%	15%

U.S. Breakdown
==============
		Answering	% of total
		Yes	No	U.S. sample population 
		----	----	-----------------
East-Southeast	20%	80%	20%
Midwest-Rockies	20%	80%	30%
West-Southwest	50%	50%	50%

By Other (Arbitrary) Categories
===============================
Participants were asked to pick one of the following categories:
A) were born in the Philippines and reside in the Philippines
B) were born in the Philippines and moved to the U.S.
C) were born in the U.S. and have at least one parent born in Philippines
D) were born in the U.S., have at least one parent born in the U.S., and
      have at lest one grandparent born in the Philippines.
E) other, etc. (included mostly people born in Philippines and

		Answering	% of total
		Yes	No	sample population 
		----	----	-----------------
A:		 0%	 0%	0% 	
B:		30%	70%	50%	
C:		30%	70%	20%	
D:		50%	50%	10%	
E:		60%	40%	20%	

By geographic area identified by participant where he/she "grew up":
		Answering	% of total
		Yes	No	sample population 
		----	----	-----------------
Philippines	40%	60%	60%
Not Philippines	40%	60%	40%

Selected Comments by People Offended by "Flip"
==============================================
I consider it derogatory; to me it is equivalent to "Chink" or "Japs", etc, 
none of which (I believe) are used...to describe themselves.

EXTREMELY!!!!!!!  Believe it or not, I experienced plenty of discrimination
when I was growing up.  Flip was the way...to insult Filipinos... I am 
very very offended whenever "flip" is used...  It only brings back these 
horrid experiences.

Yes...The first time it was said to me I did not think much of it...
[but] I have experienced discrimination...The next time [I heard] the term 
was... from a redneck, and he followed it up with some cutting remarks 
about Filipinos/na.... No matter how you look at it, there is hatred and 
insult associated with the term.

Yes, back home [someone calling you a "flip"] means you are not thinking 
and behaving normally, in short, abnormal.

I think if a stranger would start referring to Filipinos as such, 
I would correct him nicely.

Yes it is offensive...If I were a Black person, I'd prefer to be called 
Black and not Negro, or if I were a Hispanic, a Hispanic not a Spic...It 
may not mean anything bad to others but as long as some people use it to 
discrimate against us Filipinos, I would object to its use.

Yes, whatever the original intent or origin of the term "flip", it has 
become perverse to a large segment of the population.  To those who 
treat it as an innocuous term or, worse, [term of endearment], it will 
be just a matter of time before you, yourself, experience a rude
awakening.  It is in our best interest not to "promote" a term that 
has demonstrated itself to be such an easy target for belittlement.

I definitely do not think the term "flip" would be appropriate in 
the work-place or in the educational system.  

Yes... as a child [if I were black]...being teased "Na-na blacky" or
"na-na colored" would be much more offensive than being teased 
"Na-na african-american"...  

I personally wouldn't use this term, and would urge others not to,
since it apparently offends some Filipinos.


Selected Comments by People Not (personally) Offended by "Flip"
===============================================================
No...I think it's because I have not been in a situation where I have 
been called (or taunted) a Flip.  I seem to understand it's just a 
slang people use.

To me the term "flip" is NOT derogatory.  I grew up thinking it was
a short, term of endearment for the word filipino.  

I've pretty much been called that since highschool.  The other flips even 
made up what "flip" stood for (Funky Little Island People... I even 
use it as a nickname for certain occasions.

I never heard "flip" used as an insult.  Ironically, the first time 
I realized that the term was regarded as offensive...was when I 
started reading the net.

I had never encountered [the term "flip"] until recently...  [A friend]
used it in a friendly and joking manner.

The term "flip" on a whole is not derogatory.  I, myself, have not heard 
the term in quite a few years.  If someone uses it in a negative way,
I perceive it as such... However,  most of the people I [associate with]
do not use the term "flip" in any way whatsoever. 

No.  I think the term is quite appropriate, since most Filipinos are 
crazy anyway.

No.  Just because I'm used to that word during college days
"Flip" is not derogatory to me. Maybe that's because of its common use.

Not at all.  I have heard it used for over 20 years now...Many 
Filipinos use it to describe themselves.

Borderline Comments:
====================
I think it's OK in many contexts. I don't use it myself.

I think Filipinos calling themselves Flip is OK as long as no one 
in the group takes offense.

I've become kind of immune to 'terms' used on other cultures
although my father has been known to use "flip" as a term to
put down his own culture... 

I have never actually been called a "flip" in any of the places 
I have been to...if somebody called me that in a derogatory fashion, 
then it will be derogatory to me...if somebody called me a "flip" 
with a complimentary intent, that's okay


CLOSING COMMENTS:
=================
I hope you found the results interesting!  

Obviously, this issue is not going to be settled here, and, in 
the end, it's your own personal choice.  I'm glad people were 
willing to discuss their own personal views and experiences, 
all of which should have implications on our personal decision on
whether to encourage or not encourage the usage of the term
"flip."  Make your own decision as to what the above data means.

If you would like to use this information in a newsletter or publication,
please feel free to do as long as you properly cite your sources, of
course, and inform me.

Finally, my thanks goes out to all who participated! 










-------------------------------------
Original "flip" survey posting:
-------------------------------------
There's disagreement on whether the term "flip" should be smiled or
frowned upon.

I would like to re-direct this discussion.  In order to answer the
question, "Is 'flip' a term we want to promote?", we first need to answer 
the question of what "we" exactly means?  

For example, how many people in this newsgroup...  
  a) were born in the Philippines and reside in the Philippines
  b) were born in the Philippines and moved to the U.S.
  c) were born in the U.S. and have at least one parent born in Philippines
  d) were born in the U.S., have at least one parent born in the U.S., and
      have at least one grandparent born in the Philippines.
  e) other, etc.

If people are willing, send me email answering the following questions.

  1. Choose which category you fit in.  
  2. Provide short description of yourself 
        - sex
        - age
        - occupation
        - geographic area where you currently reside
        - geographic area(s) you most identify with (where you did most of
           your "growing up")
  3. For "flips" in (b), specify what age you were when you moved to the U.S.
  4. Is "flip" derogatory to you?  (Yes or no, but feel free to explain why)

It will be interesting to find out the mixture of this newsgroup.  
The question on "flips" is specific to this discussion, but knowing
the nature of newsgroup members will be useful in general.