Is this relevant?

[Bettyonholiday]

I am selling some old clothes of DD through an internet classifieds page. After some to-ing anf fro-ing with a potential purchaser, I was asked the question (and I quote) "sorry to be nosey, but are you an African".

AIBU to not sell my bundle to this person, I mean FFS why is this relevant?

Rational MNs, please tell me your thoughts!. Thanks

I would ask them why they want to know...

What on earth would that have to do with anything?

Email them asking why they need to know this?

squeaky - I did think about that, but I didnt want to get into a prolonged debate about it. Maybe I should..

Bizarre! Very very odd indeed.

It's very odd

But I don't know how anyone can make up their mind whether you're unreasonable not to sell to them, unless you actually ask the person why they want to know.

I don't see how it could possibly be relevant but I'd like to hear their justification nonetheless. I wouldn't be able to resist asking them why they want to know.

Worra - I take your point. I think just being asked the question put me off, and I havent probed it further. Still not sure I want to email them back, its just too weird for me.

E-mail them and say that you "will not be selling the clothes to them.
That's all, goodbye!"

Why Kitty?

OP, if you're as curious as I am just reply with any other info and add the words "Why do you ask?"

It doesn't have to be hostile or overly chatty either.

You never know, you may have used a certain phrase or some of the clothes may be 'African style'.

They may reply with "because I am African and I thought it would be nice to talk to someone from my home country"

You literally don't know if you don't ask.

Worra that's true.
It's the negative implications that me. 'Are you from Africa' is a strange question to ask someone selling ordinary clothes.
However, if OP is selling traditional African dress or fabric that cannot be bought in the UK easily "Are you from Africa"

( in other words, did OP buy these things when abroad) is a genuine question and the person asking is just being curious as to where the items originated from.

mrsk, worra - the clothes are mostly from Gap and Zara(jeans, dressses), and the purchaser knows this (and has seen photos). There is nothing that could be said to be of African origin/influence.

and as such, I think its such a strange thing to ask. Whether I am or not, its just not relevant.

Are you African?

Just wondering whether you might have said something that suggested to them that you might be, this has pricked their curiousity, they've had a touch of the Columbo's and think they've identified something about an anonymous person on t'internet and now want to find out if they're right or not.

Perhaps they're just a twat.

But, you won't know unless you ask.

Oooh g'wan and ask them why!

Tell 'em Worra wants to know

But you're right, it's not relevant so I'd ask them, or ignore them completely.

Is your username somehow african?

I would think it was due to something a word or phrase you've used tgat has made them ask, if it were me I would ask why.

"No I'm from outer space and I'm just visiting Earth to appear in ads for Argos"

Must admit I'm curious too now - you have to enquire as to why they're asking.

Please

Does your RL name indicate African origin? As Worra said, maybe it is a "oh, I'm from ...too"
If not, yes ask them.
If they give no explanation or come back with some racist stuff then my original thought: E-mail them and say that you "will not be selling the clothes to them. That's all, goodbye!" stands!

They're not worried you're a African scammer, are they? Nigerian scams are very prevalent in internet small ads especially.

You can stop replying to that person any time you like.

YANBU to think it is a strange thing to ask.

Erm, surely no one who was 'African' would say that, as it's so unspecific? Like me saying I'm European? Doesn't really tell you much?

There are threads across MN asking if people speak other languages,there may be an innocent reason.

When i worked in a takeaway. I had a man come in to ask where the owner was from, he wanted to find someone who could read Punjabi and translate it into Urdu. His MIL spoke only Urdu and didn't read well, i cannot remember the exact details as to why, he was white British and wanted a support system if possible, whilst his MIL was here for medical treatment. Which my employer set up.

I have known tutors etc to help with these issues for students.

I was asked on Ebay, if i was from Liverpool (my user name points to that), he offered to pay me to take a picture of a grave and email it to him, which i was happy to do for free.

Lots of reasons as to why someone may ask.

Ok, just emailed the person, and asked why they want to know! Will report back.