Asking People Where They Are From Is Aggression

[JoeMo]

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/07/02/political-correctness-101-praising-america-virtues-hard-work-dubbed-micro/?intcmp=latestnews

What will they think of next?!

[Stan]

Actually that is true, and is too often said in a derogatory way.

[Naomi]

Surely not .... we are all too sensitive.  Golly gee, sometimes I talk in my Texan voice, sometimes in the Midwest accents, sometimes like a New England-er.  It's fun when people ask < "Where you from?". 

On the other hand, I do raise my eyebrow at the improper English, "Where you from?"  "Where you at" 

[Outta Here]

In my hometown it is extremely common to ask people where they went to high school. The answer instantly reveals what city they are from, how affluent their parents were, which political party they likely swayed, and what religion they likely were. 

It shouldn't really matter, but the question is still common. It is aggression in a very subtle form.

[Liz]

I think its aggressive only if the person asking it is intending it to be aggressive. I love to know where different accents are from, I'm not trying to be rude or aggressive or racist, I'm just curious. Heaven forbid we ever try to get to know one another for fear of being too politically incorrect.

[Bravus]

[Naomi]

While a bit of humor in the video, it is over-the-top in making it's point.  I'm not sure aggressive is the word I would use for his behavior ..  perhaps rude be a more accurate description. 

Edited July 3, 2015 by Naomi

[Stan]

Just because things are not offensive to us, when we are being asked that in our own culture, does not mean it is not offensive to others.  It is like saying "you do not belong here do you?"

[Naomi]

Certainly I can appreciate your position, I still cannot see that if asked in a "polite, get-to-know-you" manner that it would be considered aggression.  Having been in several countries and lived for a while in one I had lots of people ask my origin.  Even living in this local people often ask, "Where you from?" 

Perhaps I am just dense and don't think of it as anything out of the ordinary.

[Gerr]

Since I look different, I consider it natural that white people would ask me where I came from, especially since there is still a tinge of foreigness in my speech.  But what bugs me sometimes is when they ask me if I ever go home even after learning that I've lived here 59 yrs!

[Naomi]

I can understand that Gerry.  I suppose we tend to think of "home" as our original birth place.  Even for me people will ask, do you ever go home .... and that's just a couple days drive away.

[hch]

Just because things are not offensive to us, when we are being asked that in our own culture, does not mean it is not offensive to others.  It is like saying "you do not belong here do you?"

I've certainly been educated by this thread

But people ask me that all the time about my daughters

and it has always like water off a ducks back

Edited July 3, 2015 by hch
left out a word or two

[joeb]

Just because things are not offensive to us, when we are being asked that in our own culture, does not mean it is not offensive to others.  It is like saying "you do not belong here do you?"

Well, if I go into another culture I'll certainly take this into advisement.  Until then?  I'll completely ignore it.  In Rome do as the Romans do.  In my culture I'll do what is acceptable in my culture.  For someone outside my own culture to enter my culture and expect me to understand all their culture mores and take offense because I don't is an unreasonable expectation on their part, not on mine.

This is simply political correctness run amok, once more, for I wouldn't expect them to honor all aspects of my culture inside theirs.  That would be an unreasonable expectation on my part.

[Gerr]

I can understand that Gerry.  I suppose we tend to think of "home" as our original birth place.  Even for me people will ask, do you ever go home .... and that's just a couple days drive away.

Perhaps I'm a little bit too sensitive about this, but what someone is telling me when I am asked if I ever go home in spite of knowing that I've lived in the USA for 50+ years is that I'm still a foreigner/outsider/alien; America is still not my home, and I still don't belong. 

[LifeHiscost]

Since I look different, I consider it natural that white people would ask me where I came from, especially since there is still a tinge of foreigness in my speech.  But what bugs me sometimes is when they ask me if I ever go home even after learning that I've lived here 59 yrs!

I've never noticed your accent, Gerry. Besides that we're all a little different than everybody else. When you know you're the child of the King, your happy with the way He made you. However if something is wrong in which you know your Father in heaven had little or nothing to do with it, He has this promise in which to look forward.

51Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

 

52In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.1 Corinthians 15

 

It's helpful to be assured to which family one belongs.

 

God is Love!  Jesus saves!   Shabbat Shalom!

 

Edited July 4, 2015 by Stan
To remove blank lines

[Outta Here]

Well, if I go into another culture I'll certainly take this into advisement.  Until then?  I'll completely ignore it.  In Rome do as the Romans do.  In my culture I'll do what is acceptable in my culture.  For someone outside my own culture to enter my culture and expect me to understand all their culture mores and take offense because I don't is an unreasonable expectation on their part, not on mine.

This is simply political correctness run amok, once more, for I wouldn't expect them to honor all aspects of my culture inside theirs.  That would be an unreasonable expectation on my part.

Are you American??? If so, be advised that I am also American. Born and raised a 5th generation on both sides -- and in MY culture, it's offensive and aggressive.

[whbae]

I think people are a little too sensitive in nowadays as the sensitiveness of racial problem is escalating. There are many who are just curious about you because you are not a typical caucasian or talk with slight accent, I do not consider this any offensive way.  When some of my patients come to my office with a slight accent I like  to ask them "where they are from" in turn they ask me where I am from.

Once a park entrance, an attendant ask me "what other language do you speak?" I said Korean.  She said you have a slight accent in  English.  No one ever asked me this way.  I guess she did not offend me by asking "where are you from" , a typical way of asking. Actually, I do not mind at all about asking me "where are you from" as I am proud of being Korean. No offense.  You guys may ask me any time "where are you from as your English grammar is off a little".

[Stan]

비빔밥, bibimbap is one of my favourite foods.

[Gregory Matthews]

I like Kimchi and once upon a time I used to make it and take it to church potlucks.  The only problem:  In order to take it to a potluck, I had to make it 3 - 4 week before the potluck.

[Gerr]

I've never noticed your accent, Gerry.

 

I don't recall ever having had a conversation with  you.

[whbae]

Stan, how did you type Korean here.  

Kim chee is getting so popular here nowadays, I never dreamed of any Korean dishes getting so popular in this country. Back in 50's I heard that Americans not only do not like spicy hot food they don't even stock any reddish  colored spice.

Sunday Boston Glove featured Korean dishes.  Amazing!

[joeb]

Perhaps I'm a little bit too sensitive about this, but what someone is telling me when I am asked if I ever go home in spite of knowing that I've lived in the USA for 50+ years is that I'm still a foreigner/outsider/alien; America is still not my home, and I still don't belong. 

I don't buy that at all.  For someone to ask you if you go "home" is to them, and it would be to me, simply asking if you go visit the place of origin of your parents.  I would love to go visit the my ancestral home but will never be able to go.  My ancestors emigrated here around the turn of the 20th century so I'm like 4th generation American, but the home of my ancestors still fascinates me.   I'm American through and through, but I still look at the place my ancestors came from as "home" too, for without it, as much as the US, I would never be who I am.

I take just as much pride in my ancestry as I do in my US citizenship, so why would I ever take umbrage at someone calling the home of my ancestors my home?  I guess for that reason alone I don't understand your attitude.

[Naomi]

I love cabbage soup and sour crout dishes

[phkrause]

I love cabbage soup and sour crout dishes

You mean sauerkraut?

[Naomi]

LOL  Yes,,,,,,,teach me to type in  a hurry with no glasses on.  Thanks