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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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[–] PowerCrazy@lemmy.ml 25 points 10 months ago (2 children)

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!"

[–] limitedduck@awful.systems 36 points 10 months ago (1 children)

The follow up question could have been "where in Canada", but it decidedly wasn't

[–] JimmyBigSausage@lemm.ee 2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I think they want to know why they ask at all?

[–] Crashumbc@lemmy.world 5 points 10 months ago

Because it is a standard getting to know you question in offices?

It's more uncommon not to be asked that question at some point.

I spent a lot of time working with vendors, it was a standard small talk question while waiting for meetings to start excreta..

[–] can@sh.itjust.works 3 points 10 months ago

I would say Canada because I'm multiple generations deep and it feels the most accurate.