Why does it feel racist when people ask, "Where are you from"?

[Anonymous]

After all, It is a race question, especially when the conversation goes on to make you feel like you don't belong.

Updates

+1 y

You don't ask someone where they're from unless you assume they're an outsider. That assumption itself implies racial superiority as if it's the right to question someone's background is an entitlement you've earned being from where you are. The moral of the story is that there is a better way to interact with a stranger than point out their racial differences and assume they're belong to another land. Maybe you should try and live abroad to understand the pig picture.

[RebelinSteel]

It’s not a race question at all. You are asking what country they are from, it could be France Germany, UK, Italy, Spain etc no matter their skin colour or ethnicity.

[Asker]

It is a question about race though.

[RebelinSteel]

But it’s simply asking where a person comes from
If I hear an accent to someone speaking English in a bar I will ask where they come from

It might be an English accent such as Somerset, or Liverpool, it could be Aussie, American, French, German, nothing there says anything about race, how can it, the person could be any skin colour or ethnicity in the world

[Asker]

A person with social skills usually avoids personal questions to strangers. But it's a race condition, and it's undiagnosed. There has to be more to a person than race, religion, and accent and skin colour.

[RebelinSteel]

It’s not a personal question, if you hear an accent, you are curious about it, especially if it’s a girl, as it gives you a chance to talk to her.
You are literally asking what country she comes from.
From an accent can you tell a persons skin colour or religion?
A person with a Scouse accent, what colour are they, ethnicity, religion?

If it sounds French I may even ask if she is from France, she may not be.

How is any of that racist?

[Asker]

It is racist because your first interest is their race. For a pick-up, it can be used if that's your only game.

[RebelinSteel]

It is not it is there country, there is nothing whatsoever about race in a question about race.

Explain how asking if a person is from Liverpool because it sounds like a Scouse accent is asking about her race?
Exactly how?

[Asker]

As a brit you know damn well who's sccosser, Irish and brummy. Local accents are obvious. But to a person from the outside, you're literally making them feel like you're a landlord, and they're tenant or guests in your home, not you person because you probably conditioned to converse that way but most would ask about race and keep digging at the differences and pointing them out to make a person feel like they don't belong

[RebelinSteel]

The point is you don’t, it’s incredibly ethnically diverse
You mentioned Birmingham

So if I say a girl has a Brummie accent
What colour is her skin, what is her religion, how tall is she?

[Asker]

You're missing the point. Religion and the colour of skin were examples of what not to ask a stranger about considering the sensitivity of the topic. And it's a conversation that leads nowhere. But if you're going to walk up to a girl and question her race or ethnicity, at least make sure you share her culture, not just pointing the obvious, which she sounds different when noone in the country has the same accent. For the dude though, it's safe to share interest. Otherwise, no point starting an awkward conversation beginning with race

[Bricealan]

When I ask "Where are you from" ... I'm meaning WHAT PLANET are you from...(based on some of the questions I see) 👀👀👀👀🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤣

[Asker]

Drugs and alcohol do have that impact

[jahaims]

It doesn't, you are just stupid