This is often a proxy for a different question.
this post was submitted on 20 Jan 2024
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Why is your skin colour the same as mine?
Fucking poser
It's also a form of othering. You are different and they are establishing why
Sounds like the correct answer to the question is Newfoundland, if it isnβt the accent it is probably some regional colloquialisms.
When someone asks me where I am from I normally say the city / province. I would never answer Canada while I was in Canada having the conversation.
If you're now in Australia, it is polite to ask "where y'from" as a starter convo, as knowing who your mob are is part of getting to know you. An Aussie would find the answer [insert country name here] as pretty standoffish (sort of an "I don't want to talk about it or be friends with you" answer) but if they were determined to get to know you they might then ask patiently "where in Canada?" or ask about the part of Canada you might originate from, knowing it is a large place. This helps them to understand who you are and work better alongside you in big projects in future. Unfriendly people aren't really worth working with or helping out if the going gets tough.
Think of it this way: If you have spoken four words to someone "Canada" and "why do you ask?" they are less motivated to cover your shift. If they know you are from that cool place with several excellent bands and a beautiful landscape and you often chat about whales or whatever, they might try to help you out. Also, how cold and bleak your life would be without the occasional conversation with someone at least once a day. Many people live alone.
How do you first get to know your work colleagues? Ask about a sport or the weather? Or ask about something else? Is small talk and office acquaintances not a thing where you are from?
Seems like if the follow up question is "where are your parents from" they're really asking about genetic heritage
Why would you say Canada? Is Canada homogenous from coast to coast? If I'm talking to people and getting to know where they are from zero of them say "america," because that doesn't give any information whatsoever, what do you even expect them to respond with? "Wow I'm from canada too!"
The follow up question could have been "where in Canada", but it decidedly wasn't
They're either making conversation or racist, depending on context. Answering the country you're from if you're currently in that country is pretty odd.
But that is the answer to the question. I'm not understanding the alternative. If the person wants to ask, "What race are you?" They should ask using those words.
I can't recall a time ever needing to know anyone's race. So I've never asked this question in 50 years, but perhaps one day? Idk, seems like a potentially insensitive question.
Personally when someone asks me where I'm from, I respond in order of:
A) if I'm in my home city, I tell them the province I grew up in (because I came from a small town I would never expect anyone to know, if it was a big city I'd say that.)
B) If I'm away from my home city in my home province, I tell them my home city.
C) if I'm away from my home province, I tell them my home province.
D) if I'm away from Canada I'll tell them I'm from Canada
E) if based on context it seems they're asking about my ethnic background, I tell them I'm some kind of western/northern European mutt.
Now obviously I'm white as hell and no accent, but OP is saying they're basically that as well, so I'm not sure why race would be the assumption for them either. I don't even know how I would respond if i asked someone at work where they're from and they answered Canada.
I don't think being interested in the (ancestors') race of a co-worker is necessary racist. I worked with people with all kinds of cultural backgrounds and it might be just an interesting topic to talk about. If someone has family in Iran, Senegal or Indonesia that's definitely more interesting to me than a conversation about weather or last night's football game.
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Why are you asking us instead of them? Surely they would know.
I never know how to answer this. I grew up till middle school in Canada and the rest of my school in India. I rarely get dentist with many Indian traditions, but I also didnβt spend enough time in Canada to be a βrealβ Canadian.
I just flip a coin in my head and answer each time. And then get the follow-up asking where my parents are from. Just ask my race, you coward.
What IS a real Canadian, though? I know some immigrants who love this country much more than some of the people who were born here.
Many of us are also only here from our ancestors immigrating. How far down the line does one have to be to be a real Canadian? You can't judge that by DNA, either.
After the second time you should just respond "don't overthink it"
I have a classic NZ voice as well as a tan and get asked this often because I'm in the most Caucasian place outside of Europe (I'll let you guess). Half the time they don't even assume where I'm from because they don't have enough education about the world to hold any stereotypes about me (which makes them draw a blank about countries), which ironically gives me the freedom to respond however I want.
because I'm in the most Caucasian place outside of Europe (I'll let you guess)
π€
Israel?
Anyone whoβs asked you four times where youβre from is not paying attention.
Yea but where are u from?