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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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[-] Crashumbc@lemmy.world 16 points 10 months ago

It's just a standard office getting to know you small talk thing. You'll get used to it.

FYI, they were looking for you to actually talk and engage with them, not a one word answer. Tell them what part of Canada, that your family was part of the Canada-US wars and locked the US's. And most importantly, ask them something in return...

[-] tja@sh.itjust.works 20 points 10 months ago

Skating it once might be standard. But asking where the grandparents are from is kind of strange

[-] Crashumbc@lemmy.world 10 points 10 months ago

Maybe, but they were probably thrown off or annoyed by his weird one word answer. Replying "Canada" when you're in Canada is just strange.

[-] tja@sh.itjust.works 3 points 10 months ago

Yes, indeed. That's also strange.

[-] peter@feddit.uk 1 points 10 months ago

OP says this has happened multiple times though

[-] kent_eh@lemmy.ca 2 points 10 months ago

But asking where the grandparents are from is kind of strange

Yeah, that's almost always a question based on racism.

this post was submitted on 20 Jan 2024

103 points (85.5% liked)

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