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Why do people keep asking where I'm from? (lemmy.ca)

submitted 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) by Shampoo_Bottle@lemmy.ca to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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Up until I started working, I didn't really encounter that question. When I did start working, people started asking me that question.

Them: Where are you from?

Me: Canada.

Them: Where are your grandparents from?

Me: Canada.

Them: Ok, where are your great grandparents from?

Me: Canada.

It's irritating sometimes. I just want to exist, do my job and go home, like anyone else. Once is ok, twice is odd, three times is weird, and the fourth time is a pattern.

The only accent that I might have would probably be from Newfoundland, Canada, as I grew up with a lot of people from there. I also talk too fast sometimes.

Have you had similar experiences, and if so, how did you handle it? Can fast speech patterns cause this? Why do random people care so much?

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[–] nutsack@lemmy.world 47 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (3 children)

they're trying to figure out your race or whatever

[–] ArcaneSlime@lemmy.dbzer0.com 28 points 2 years ago (1 children)

He says in another comment that he's a white newfie, so, doubtful, unless he now lives in like, Kolkata. More likely, he has a slight accent or is just upset about small talk.

As a white guy myself, ~~white~~ all kinds of people constantly ask things like "where you from," in the same cadence of "nice weather we're having, huh?" It's a part of getting to know people, what's your name, where you from, what kind of music you into, etc. I don't think they're trying to find out if I am originally of Saxon or Angle stock, I think they're just trying to make small talk.

[–] nutsack@lemmy.world -5 points 2 years ago (1 children)

if someone says something about the weather or my weekend I tell them I have to take a shit

[–] ArcaneSlime@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 points 2 years ago

Might as well just start calling them a cunt for talking to you, that'll sure as shit get em to stop.

[–] kent_eh@lemmy.ca 9 points 2 years ago

That's exactly what it is.

Light haired white people don't generally recieve this type of question.

[–] Shampoo_Bottle@lemmy.ca 1 points 2 years ago

I mean, there is a chance that somewhere along the way someone was sneaky, so 🤷‍♀️