Asking someone where they are from

Dis86 · 4 Dec 2022 at 23:27

SexyGreyFox said:
Back in the 70s, most ex Pats were invited to be Chiefs.
I wish I could find the photos because they had me blacking up in a Kaftan holding a bow and arrow
Thinking about it now they were probably taking the pee out of me.

Probably were but hey, didn't hurt your feelings and seemingly left you and no doubt them with good memories. Sounds like win-win to me.

arknor · 4 Dec 2022 at 23:43

I'ma dress like a Russian and then get offended if anyone asks where I bought my tracksuit now that adidas have pulled out of Russia

builder22 · 4 Dec 2022 at 23:59

I'm a Russian and I Moscow, from this thread

arknor · 5 Dec 2022 at 00:37

builder22 said:
I'm a Russian and I Moscow, from this thread

That's just putin the boot in

Bassmansam · 5 Dec 2022 at 07:55

Mods can get some stats on posters that have posted most frequently from Friday 6pm - to now please? Just curious

AndyCr15 · 5 Dec 2022 at 08:05

Thekwango said:
If the auld Biddy had asked ‘where do your people come from, the people who’s traditional dress your wearing, where do they come from’
Would that have been racist?

I'm with you. It really shouldn't be,

AndyCr15 said:
Racism - "Racism is the belief that groups of humans possess different behavioral traits corresponding to inherited attributes and can be divided based on the superiority of one race over another." (Wikipedia)

Or maybe - "prejudiced against or antagonistic towards a person or people on the basis of their membership of a particular racial or ethnic group, typically one that is a minority or marginalized." (Google)

Again, according to either of these definitions, I don't see why it would be?

I think some people are just out to be offended by anything and are (probably rightly) then defended by 'you can't tell me how to feel' I guess they have the right to be offended, but we then have the right to ignore them and think they're a d*ck?

Jono8 · 5 Dec 2022 at 08:20

AndyCr15 said:
I'm with you. It really shouldn't be,

Again, according to either of these definitions, I don't see why it would be?

I think some people are just out to be offended by anything and are (probably rightly) then defended by 'you can't tell me how to feel' I guess they have the right to be offended, but we then have the right to ignore them and think they're a d*ck?

Well, i imagine the people from Yougov have done far more research into the whole thing than you and other OCUK forum members, and they identified asking where someone really comes from as racist.

Lots of previous talk about it

In 2018 - https://www.abc.net.au/everyday/where-are-you-really-from-how-to-better-ask-race-question/10610346

While you might not hesitate to ask the question, because you mean well, asking where someone is from (or worse, where they're "really from") is both loaded and personal.

In 2014 - https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2014/07/question-where-are-you-from-racist/373818/

"One of the most common submissions to The Race Card Project is some formulation of, 'So, where are you really from?'" Norris said. "To a lot of people that hits their ear the wrong way. It feels like someone is trying to point out their otherness: 'You're quite obviously not American, so where are you from?'"

There are loads of others too.

This isn't some new phenomenon or phrase that has suddenly declared as racist. SH should have known better in her role.

C Kent · 5 Dec 2022 at 08:27

Jono8 said:
Well, i imagine the people from Yougov have done far more research into the whole thing than you and other OCUK forum members, and they identified asking where someone really comes from as racist.

Lots of previous talk about it

In 2018 - https://www.abc.net.au/everyday/where-are-you-really-from-how-to-better-ask-race-question/10610346

While you might not hesitate to ask the question, because you mean well, asking where someone is from (or worse, where they're "really from") is both loaded and personal.

In 2014 - https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2014/07/question-where-are-you-from-racist/373818/

"One of the most common submissions to The Race Card Project is some formulation of, 'So, where are you really from?'" Norris said. "To a lot of people that hits their ear the wrong way. It feels like someone is trying to point out their otherness: 'You're quite obviously not American, so where are you from?'"

There are loads of others too.

This isn't some new phenomenon or phrase that has suddenly declared as racist. SH should have known better in her role.

Again you seem to be missing the context (no surprise there) the larper was at an official royal function wearing traditional African dress, folks who wear clothing like that would be from Africa under usual circumstances so it's no surprise she would be asked. There were plenty of other non-white people there and yet no one else was asked in the same manner. Why do you think that was?

Bassmansam · 5 Dec 2022 at 08:32

C Kent said:
Again you seem to be missing the context (no surprise there) the larper was at an official royal function wearing traditional African dress, folks who wear clothing like that would be from Africa under usual circumstances so it's no surprise she would be asked. There were plenty of other non-white people there and yet no one else was asked in the same manner. Why do you think that was?

Is it because they were not dressed in traditional clothing from another country?

dowie · 5 Dec 2022 at 08:38

Bassmansam said:
Mods can get some stats on posters that have posted most frequently from Friday 6pm - to now please? Just curious

A couple of the usual suspects are still no1 and 2, I don't think either stopped with their outrage much over the weekend:

C Kent · 5 Dec 2022 at 08:45

dowie said:
A couple of the usual suspects are still no1 and 2, I don't think either stopped with their outrage much over the weekend:

You have to give props to Jono, a good 80 odd posts in the thread over the weekend, that's true commitment to the cause..

Jono8 · 5 Dec 2022 at 09:03

C Kent said:
Again you seem to be missing the context (no surprise there) the larper was at an official royal function wearing traditional African dress, folks who wear clothing like that would be from Africa under usual circumstances so it's no surprise she would be asked. There were plenty of other non-white people there and yet no one else was asked in the same manner. Why do you think that was?

Again, you seem to be missing the point that she could have just asked her what her heritage was, without implying that she couldn't possibly be from the UK.

Jono8 · 5 Dec 2022 at 09:05

dowie said:
A couple of the usual suspects are still no1 and 2, I don't think either stopped with their outrage much over the weekend:

LMAO

Dowie of all people trying to pull the "lol look how much they have posted" card. :cry:

Tony Edwards · 5 Dec 2022 at 09:07

GIBURROWS said:
Dressed like an African, having Caribbean parents, changed her name all while saying she's British, it's all just so odd and that's without her being mic'd up!

Thekwango said:
If the auld Biddy had asked ‘where do your people come from, the people who’s traditional dress your wearing, where do they come from’
Would that have been racist? I’d genuinely hope it’s not because it’s something I could quite easily ask in that situation if I was curious to know the history or background of the clothing she was wearing - traditional tribal clothing has always interested me, be that Native American, African etc.

That actually begs the question, is that an interest that could somehow be construed to be racist?!

Bassmansam said:
Is it because they were not dressed in traditional clothing from another country?

She wasnt wearing traditional Africa dress. Are you all saying because it was animal print ite must be African? Or was it just because she is black ?

African dresses are much more colourful.

Chris Wilson said:
The wife was watching Crocodile Dundee earlier and made the comment that anyone would think Lady Hussey had asked the woman in African dress "What tribe are you from?"

That is basicaly what she was asking if you had any clue in your head.

C Kent · 5 Dec 2022 at 09:08

Jono8 said:
Again, you seem to be missing the point that she could have just asked her what her heritage was, without implying that she couldn't possibly be from the UK.

Something badly worded doesn't mean it's racist... You've nearly got there, keep going, I believe in you!

dowie · 5 Dec 2022 at 09:26

C Kent said:
Something badly worded doesn't mean it's racist... You've nearly got there, keep going, I believe in you!

Especially when the "transcript" he's relying on to make his argument with by focusing on the exact words used is just a recollection from memory and is several lines, pretty much no chance it's 100% accurate and that's before we consider that the accuser is known to lie and know to make hyperbolic claims about the Royals.

I'm not sure he will get there though, seems too far gone with this for any logical thought process to be applied tbh...

Jono8 · 5 Dec 2022 at 09:35

C Kent said:
Something badly worded doesn't mean it's racist... You've nearly got there, keep going, I believe in you!

If you're argument is that the words used don't matter, then i literally don't know how you can even have a conversation about it.

You and everyone else's arguments boil down to "yeh but if she used completely different words, it wouldn't be racist"

Which isn't an argument at all.

Jono8 · 5 Dec 2022 at 09:36

dowie said:
Especially when the "transcript" he's relying on to make his argument with by focusing on the exact words used is just a recollection from memory and is several lines, pretty much no chance it's 100% accurate and that's before we consider that the accuser is known to lie and know to make hyperbolic claims about the Royals.

I'm not sure he will get there though, seems too far gone with this for any logical thought process to be applied tbh...

If you don't believe the transcript, then it isn't worth you even discussing it surely? You can just say you dont believe it is true and that is fine, but i dont see how you can then add anything useful to the conversation surrounding the wording.

The discussion surrounds verbal racism. If you don't think the words matter, then i cannot even comprehend your thought process.

NVP · 5 Dec 2022 at 09:39

Jono8 said:
If you're argument is that the words used don't matter, then i literally don't know how you can even have a conversation about it.

You and everyone else's arguments boil down to "yeh but if she used completely different words, it wouldn't be racist"

Which isn't an argument at all.

What you appear to be missing, Mr Jono8, is the fact that the use of words alone does not automatically mean racist. I can say *****/er without being racist, correct? It's all about context, intent and presence of malice.

That is why everyone (and I do mean everyone) else has been able to infer she was simply asking about her heritage, and why you're simple-mindedness is preventing you to see past the OUTRAGE OF SYNTAX!

This is why the majority of us agree is was an outdated turn of phrase she used, but it was not racist.

C Kent · 5 Dec 2022 at 09:42

Jono8 said:
If you're argument is that the words used don't matter, then i literally don't know how you can even have a conversation about it.

You and everyone else's arguments boil down to "yeh but if she used completely different words, it wouldn't be racist"

Which isn't an argument at all.

As opposed to your entire arguement where context and intent dont matter? Basically 'it's racist because it's racist'. Brilliant