Jump to content

Recommended Posts

When is it proper / what is the best way to ask "Where are you from"


After a check up with my new dentist I was intrigued by her accent and rather strange name. I raised the question by saying "may I ask you where you are from?" but wondered afterwards whether I had been politically incorrect in presuming she was not born British.


It turned out she was Iranian.

I'm not sure what political correctness has to do with it


The only people you have to worry about are you and her - if you asked and she said she was born in Hammersmith, would either you or she feel bad?


If I hear an accent I don't recognize I always ask where it's from

I think that it is OK to ask about where people are from - you can of course get the answer "Burnley", in which case you offer a comforting shoulder.


I ask "Were are your roots?" or "Where are your family originally from?".

Just rephrase the question. "I love your accent! What is your background?" or "What a fantastic name! What's your background?" or "you are very short. Are you a midget?". Obviously the third one is a joke and is not a good way to start any line of questioning.


Charlie

blinder999 Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> A friend mine of Kashmiri parentage (born in the

> Midlands) said conversations often went like

> this:

>

> "Where are you from?"

> "The Midlands"

> "No, where are you really from?"

>

> or even

>

> "What nationality are you?"

> "English?"

> "hahaha no you're not"


I've had both of these reactions ever since coming to live in Britain and found them really insulting (especially the first one).

Could be worse, when I say my parents are from Cyprus people always assume that they are Greek Cypriots, and not Turkish Cypriots. That really f**ks me off, not because I dislike Greeks but because it highlights the ignorance of the person making the assumption.As Cyprus was a British colony, they have always held British passports even before they came to England, but when they say they are British they always get the same response, "you can't be". Don't get me started!

There is absolutely nothing wrong with politely asking someone where they are from if you are interested. When you are in another county and the locals ask you where you are from do you get offended? It is just a common way of making conversation.


Like anything though if you say ?Where the hell are you from anyway you @?*$*% -- (?*$&(?(??

Then it is a different story.


I really don?t think people have to walk on eggshells.


Well just as long as people stop asking me if I?m Australian. ;-)

*Bob* Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> atila the gooner Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

>

> Or are you just

> > another dumb Anglo-Saxon?;-)

>

> I'm afraid it's worse than that, Atila. I'm from

> the Black Country.


Oh that would explain it, you've obviously been to the Sam Allardyce school of charm which espouses the "I'm English and northern and I'l say what I bloody well like no matter who it upsets" & "foreigners are to blame for all the ills of our glorious country" approach.

atila the gooner Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Could be worse, when I say my parents are from

> Cyprus people always assume that they are Greek

> Cypriots, and not Turkish Cypriots. That really

> f**ks me off, not because I dislike Greeks but

> because it highlights the ignorance of the person

> making the assumption.As Cyprus was a British

> colony, they have always held British passports

> even before they came to England, but when they

> say they are British they always get the same

> response, "you can't be". Don't get me started!


Atila, but what about Greek spurs supporters?

atila the gooner Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Oh that would explain it, you've obviously been to

> the Sam Allardyce school of charm which espouses

> the "I'm English and northern and I'l say what I

> bloody well like no matter who it upsets" &

> "foreigners are to blame for all the ills of our

> glorious country" approach.


No, it just means I have a sense of irony.. not that this is native to the West Midlands, of course.

*Bob* Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> No, it just means I have a sense of irony.. not

> that this is native to the West Midlands, of

> course.



In your case, for a sense of irony read insulting and racial stereotyping, and not knowing the difference.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Latest Discussions

    • Per Cllr McAsh, as quoted above: “We are currently updating our Enforcement Policy and changes will allow for the issuing of civil penalties ranging from £175 to £300 for visible smoke emissions, replacing the previous reliance on criminal prosecution. " Is anyone au fait with the Clean Air Act 1993, and  particularly with the state of 'Smoke Control' law and practice generally?  I've just been looking  through some of it for the first time and, afaics, the civil penalties mentioned  were introduced into the Clean Air Act, at Schedule 1A, in May 2022.  So it seems that, in this particular,  it's a matter of the enforcement policy trailing well behind the legislation.  I'm not criticising that at all, but am curious.  
    • Here's the part of march46's linked-to Southwark News article pertaining to Southwark Council. "Southwark Council were also contacted for a response. "Councillor James McAsh, Cabinet Member for Clean Air, Streets & Waste said: “One of Southwark’s key priorities is to create a healthy environment for our residents. “To achieve this we closely monitor legislation and measures that influence air pollution – our entire borough apart from inland waterways is designated as a Smoke Control Area, and we also offer substantial provision for electric vehicles to promote alternative fuel travel options and our Streets for People strategy. “We as a council support the work of Mums for Lungs and recognise the health and environmental impacts of domestic solid fuel burning, particularly from wood-burning appliances. “We are currently updating our Enforcement Policy and changes will allow for the issuing of civil penalties ranging from £175 to £300 for visible smoke emissions, replacing the previous reliance on criminal prosecution.  “This work is being undertaken in collaboration with other London boroughs as part of the pan-London Wood Burning Project, which aims to harmonise enforcement approaches and share best practice across the capital.” ETA: And here's a post I made a few years ago, with tangential relevance.  https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/278140-early-morning-drone-flying/?do=findComment&comment=1493274  
    • The solicitor is also the Executor. Big mistake, but my Aunt was very old, and this was the Covid years and shortly after so impossible to intervene and get a couple of close relatives to do this.  She had no children so this is the nephews and nieces. He is a single practitioner, and most at his age would have long since retired - there is a question over his competence Two letters have already gone essentially complaining - batted off and 'amusingly' one put the blame on us. There are five on our side, all speaking to each other, and ideally would work as a single point of contact.  But he has said that this is not allowed - we've all given approval to act on each others behalf. There are five on her late husband's side, who have not engaged with us despite the suggestion to work as a team, There is one other, who get's the lion's share, the typicical 'friend', but we are long since challenging the will. I would like to put another complaint together that he has not used modern collective communication (I expect that he is incapable) which had seriously delayed the execution of the will.   I know many in their 80s very adept with smart phones so that is not an ageist comment. The house has deteriorated very badly, with cold, damp and a serious leak.  PM me if you want to see the dreadful condition that it is now in. I would also question why if the five of us are happy to work together why all of us need to confirm in writing.             The house was lived in until Feb 23, and has been allowed to get like this.
    • Isn’t a five yearly electricity safety certificate one of the things the landlord must give for a legal tenancy?
Home
Events
Sign In

Sign In



Or sign in with one of these services

Search
×
    Search In
×
×
  • Create New...