“Where are you originally from?” Is it racist to ask such a question?

[Rafael Passoni]

Nothing wrong to ask where a person is from. It's a super normal question, specially when that person stand out from locals.

[Nurzat]

Not at all, though I can see how it can be triggering for people who already feel as part of that society. Some people are just curious, and there's nothing wrong with that because in most cases it doesn't carry any ill intent.

it is rude, though. I never ask someone where he is from - you can take a guess from looks and accent, even though not precisely, but anyway I see no point in asking someone that, if you're not conducting a research. it has no relevance to anything, for example if you need to work with that person, you must only rely on work-related facts, how would it help to know that that person is a Gagauz, a Galician or a Kurd?

people will make available any information that they are comfortable to share without being asked abruptly

[catgeorge]

Epirus, Macedonia, Thessaly and Thrace

[Mortimer]

I prefer not to be asked because then I need to reveal information which has at least no benefit in society for me if not outright disadvantage I reveal it myself to people who are closer to me because then they have the chance to know if they still want to be my friends and if I don't reveal it others will shine light on it to my disadvantage like don't date him did you know he is a gypsy but I guess if it is a neutral nationality you don't need to be cautious

[TheMaestro]

it is rude, though. I never ask someone where he is from - you can take a guess from looks and accent, even though not precisely, but anyway I see no point in asking someone that, if you're not conducting a research. it has no relevance to anything, for example if you need to work with that person, you must only rely on work-related facts, how would it help to know that that person is a Gagauz, a Galician or a Kurd?

people will make available any information that they are comfortable to share without being asked abruptly

Yes, if you ask her if she is Albanian and not British you know that when you fuck up, her cousins and brothers will show up later XD

[Lemminkäinen]

The idea behind critique is that asking it you in a way don't think the anwerer being fully a member your society, even though you have lived long in the same country and she/he has citizenship. It is not about race/racism.

[Pro.crasti.nation]

dp.

[Pro.crasti.nation]

Yes, if you ask her if she is Albanian and not British you know that when you fuck up, her cousins and brothers will show up later XD

Funnily enough, I met an Albanian girl once, and I had to ask her what her ethnicity was. Gorgeous girl. I don't think I'd ever met an Albanian before (or after).

She wasn't upset, she'd asked me mine and we were making smalltalk so ...


The funny/awkward thing I find is, when abroad in Europe, people ask me where I'm from and expect England or "London", rather than "South Asian ancestry, by way of England". Then they usually have a dig at England (or London). expecting me to rise to the bait. It's fun banter but, feels a little surreal.

[RogueState]

This question is not an issue at all, just realistic situation of many diasporans living abroad, whose phenotype, names, or whatever else give away their foreign background

The more interesting topic for me, still in the same context, is who these diasporans, children of immigrants, mixed persons, do self-identify when abroad from their host country ?

Let's say, you are a British citizen of South Asian background, born and raised in Manchester, and you go to holidays to Budapest as a tourist. You go to shops, bars, restaurants there, and people ask you "Where are you from ?". What this person would say ? British ? Indian ? British-Indian ?

[Tellmewhy]

It is not racist, but it is too intimate as a question to be directed towards a person you barely know.