Comic Discussion > QUESTIONABLE CONTENT
WCDT strips 3931-3935 (4th to 8th February 2019)
hedgie:
The last time I did this, I hope I didn't fuck it up too badly. I asked a friend's husband (with a VERY Japanese surname) where in Hawaii he was from, 'cos I had assumed that he was from there given to a total obsession with everything there[1] and given the state's demographics, it seemed reasonable. He replied that he was actually from $local_area, and didn't seem offended. I still wonder if it was wrong to do so.
[1] as in peppering in words like "aloha" and "mahalo" frequently, going there 3-4 times a year, only playing Hawaiian music in his car, etc.
DSL:
The last time I visited a city of any size, I smiled to myself in delight as I left the store next to my hotel, thinking of the counter clerk of Southeast Asian appearance but with a name tag bearing a very French name, conversing in fluent Spanish with the customer ahead of me, and how different that sight would have been at a store of the same chain in my hometown.
I see now what a monster I was.
TheEvilDog:
A couple of years ago, my father was in hospital after having a hernia repaired. He was on the ward and one day when I was visiting him, he got very curious about one of the nurses. She looked Hispanic, had a Hispanic sounding name, but he was insisting that I ask her where she was from. I told him I couldn't do that, its rude and who cares where she's from. So eventually he just asked her. And she replied "Tralee" with a very thick Kerry accent (County Kerry being infamous for having an accent indecipherable to anyone not from Kerry). Everybody laughed. She explained its not the first time she's been asked and it wouldn't be the last. But it was an icebreaker and my father quickly became a favourite patient of hers.
People are naturally curious where others come from. In some instances, its a conversation starter. I've worked in Tourism and you have to ask people where they are from, you need to know so you can help them, even if it was just to use Google Translate to get them directions to a hotel or a bed and breakfast.
But it is very much dependent on the context. If someone is on a train, they've got a suitcase, you're going to be curious about what kind of journey they've made. Its a conversation, you're showing an interest in another person and the both of you are passing the time.
That said, when you're in a strange apartment, everyone is in a partial state of dress and you're a horndog looking to make another notch on your belt, then the question marks you as a colossal douche.
eschaton:
I'm reminded of the third verse from the Murs song DSWG. A great hip-hop song BTW.
--- Quote ---Now for you half and half of mixed girls
I know what the battle be
Every time you go out it's "whats your nationality?"
Everybody always wanna dig up in ya background
You don't look, now how does that sound?
I couldn't tell you were, oh is that right?
Do you take it as a compliment or start up a fight?
Venezuelan and Indian, 'Rican and Dominican
Japanese or Portuguese, Quarter of Brazilian
White and Korean, Black and Pinay
I could find out later
It don't matter, ya fly
It don't really matter to most of us guys
We just need an excuse to get close or say "hi"
I know they call you stuck up
Ya think you're too pretty
Spread rumors about you all throughout the city
So much attention, so many haters
But don't be bitter, you'll be better for it later
--- End quote ---
Is it cold in here?:
--- Quote from: DSL on 08 Feb 2019, 16:45 ---The last time I visited a city of any size, I smiled to myself in delight as I left the store next to my hotel, thinking of the counter clerk of Southeast Asian appearance but with a name tag bearing a very French name, conversing in fluent Spanish with the customer ahead of me, and how different that sight would have been at a store of the same chain in my hometown.
I see now what a monster I was.
--- End quote ---
How so? You smiled with delight at being in a multicultural situation as opposed to making someone uncomfortable by treating them as Other.
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