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

submitted 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months 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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[-] fubarx@lemmy.ml 83 points 10 months ago

This is often a proxy for a different question.

[-] Tar_alcaran@sh.itjust.works 36 points 10 months ago

And that question is "why isn't your skin the same colour as mine?"

[-] phanto@lemmy.ca 11 points 10 months ago

Well, if he's from Canada (as I am, no hate!), the answer is "We get like 4 hours of sunlight per day here." I wear shades to block the glare of my own reflection in the snow.

[-] chicagohuman@lemm.ee 13 points 10 months ago

It's also a form of othering. You are different and they are establishing why

[-] lamabop@lemmings.world 3 points 10 months ago

Why is your skin colour the same as mine?

Fucking poser

this post was submitted on 20 Jan 2024

122 points (100.0% liked)

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