Is this sticker offensive? Man sparks debate after sharing a photo of an 'Asian driver' warning sticker that was secretly stuck to his friend's car
- Wayne Chang shared an image of a sign with a local Facebook group Thursday
- The card read: 'Warning. Asian driver onboard. Expect the unexpected'
- Mr Chang said a stranger secretly stuck the sign to his friend's car in Hornsby
- While the concerned friend was outraged, he asked if he should take it as a joke
- The act split the crowd, some agreeing it was 'racist', while others called it funny
A man has sparked debate online after questioning whether a sticker that a stranger secretly was stuck to his friend's car was racist or just a 'humorous' prank.
Wayne Chang took to a north Sydney community Facebook group on Thursday to share an image of the sticker that was stuck onto his friend's car in Hornsby.
'Warning. Asian driver onboard. Expect the unexpected,' the sticker read.
Mr Chang said he was outraged by the implied 'racist' message after constantly assuring immigrant friends that Australians are accepting of foreigners.
Wayne Chang shared an image of a sign (pictured) placed on his friend's car with members of a local Facebook community group on Thursday
'Obviously, the person who did this lacks the moral strength to discern what is right and wrong at this day and age,' he wrote.
'I have been a long term advocate in assuring to my new immigrant friends that there are NO apparent racist discrimination here in Australia and REFUSE to believe that the implied messages of this card align with the majority world view of our friendly community.'
However, the concerned friend asked others whether he was being too easily offended, and whether he should instead perceive the act in jest.
'I don't want to be too naive to think that there aren't any boneheads out there,' he continued.
'Am I lacking humour in dealing with this type of gesture, or should I just chill?'
But the gesture split opinion, with some agreeing it was 'racist' and unacceptable.
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'Terrible. You have every right to feel angry,' one woman wrote.
'I would say this is definitely racist. Australian racism hides under a layer of superficial niceness, i.e. jokes. This is clearly targeted. I wouldn't joke about a stranger I've never met at all, it's just inappropriate,' another comment read.
Someone else added: 'This is why we need to educate people. No one is born like that and let’s all start with our own children and hopefully they will all do right thing throughout their lives and do the same to their children.'
'It’s disgusting! You’re right to be mad!' a fourth said.
Mr Chang said his friend discovered the sign while parked at Hornsby Westfield (pictured) but it could have been placed on the vehicle during an earlier stop at PRP imaging
Others said he should take it as a light-hearted joke.
'Laugh it off man. There is a bit is truth behind this so the stereotype is kinda founded,' one man wrote.
'My mum is a terrible driver she cannot drive in Asia but she drives in Australia. So I feel sorry for the people out there.'
Another man said the sign appeared to be purchased from a gag store, and should be interpreted as such.
'Of course a joke/prank from a stranger can be a bit of a shock,' he wrote,' But the sign itself is cute.'
'I'd put one up just for laughs.'
'It’s actually hilarious sorry,' a man, who appeared to be of Asian descent, added.
Despite calls for him to see the humour, Mr Chang doubled down on his opinion, pointing out this situation was particularly alarming as his friend had been stalked and targeted.
It comes as Asians in Australia have reported increased incidents of racism in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. A Chinese-Australian family's Melbourne home was vandalised in April (pictured)
'The fact this was targeted at someone doesn't make it okay. It's very different if it was clearly a case between two friends,' he said.
One woman said she had been a victim of racism in the same area while one man called on Mr Chang to contact police.
It comes as Asians in Australia have reported increased incidents of racism in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
Last month, a woman was filmed berating two young Asian woman in Melbourne for speaking to each other in their native language rather than english.
In April, an Chinese-Australian family's Melbourne home was targeted by vandals who spray painted 'leave and die' on their garage.
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