The world is getting smaller, and we’re all going to have to get used to it. The internet, in particular, seems to be shrinking the world at a rapid pace. Challenges of diversity and multiculturalism become greater as we are exposed to greater diversity and more cultures. How do we handle these challenges?

8 Asians posted about the bookmarking site “Mister Wong.” “Mister Wong” originally had a slant-eyed cartoon logo, with the subtitle “Master of all bookmarks.” One of the “Mister Wong” logos had this chingchongery: “Ping pong, King Kong, Mr. Wong.”

The 8 Asians post received the usual types of responses. Really, they’re predictably boring. Can’t you guys think of something new?

I (a white American guy) would not in any way be offended if a Chinese website called itself “Mr. Jones” and had a cartoon of a white guy on it.

It’s just funny and has nothing to do with the reality.

Why can’t you Amerians (of any race or colour) be a bit more relaxed?

Instead of complaining that some German website using a drawing of an Asian guy as its logo dared to give him Asian features, why not focus on REAL racism?

oh ernie, so little sense of humor, unbelievable….

Pull out the Checklist for Defense of Racists™. Textbook examples.

But the founder of the Mister Wong website didn’t respond in a textbook racist way. In part, he wrote as follows:

We removed the original illustration off the top of the page some time ago, when the issue first arose, in hopes that no one would be offended by it any longer. Though this was met with great disappointment from many of our users, we felt it was the right thing to do.

We consider each individual comment and suggestion made to us with all sincerity. We would like our users to feel as though they are part of our team by knowing that their opinions count. We’re a social bookmarking site that welcomes 2.5 million international visitors each month, which makes the social part very important to us.

“The right thing to do”? When was the last time you heard this in response to a charge of racism?

The recognition of being a company that has international visitors also brought up a lot of interesting issues.  And I am beginning to think that while it is impossible to know every rule or norm in every culture, it is possible to know how to respond.  Thanks to Kai Tietjen for recognizing that.

(Maybe there’s something to naming a guy “Kai.” ;-D)